Video killed the radio star, but has streaming killed vinyl? Not just yet. In fact, research shows that vinyl is becoming popular again as a preferred music source. From vinyl to CDs to streaming, the platforms in which we choose to listen to music have changed drastically over the years.
Many times it is just a matter of preference which music source we choose to listen to. Determining which is the best is an incredibly complex and personal choice — making it impossible to agree across different groups. But, we can maybe understand why vinyl is on the rise again if we take an in-depth look at all three musical platforms.
CDs Aren’t Dead Yet
MP3s and streaming have given the compact disc a bad rap. While they do offer more convenience, CDs provide a different set of advantages. However, in the interest of fairness, they also come with their drawbacks.
Although they can get scratched or broken, CDs are relatively resilient. This resilience is preferred over that of vinyl, as well as the possible hard drive failure or accidental deletion of digital music files. Additionally, CDs provide a clear, high-quality sound by cutting frequency impurities and providing compression. The sound quality of CDs may be enjoyed by some, but audiophiles may conclude that this cuts out the personality of the music.
Storing CDs is easier than storing vinyl. However, streaming and MP3s win the music storage match. In today’s world, storing CDs just isn’t as easy as digital music. Additionally, CDs also come with the threat of video and audio hacking. Maryville University alludes to the Mr Robot TV series in which “a street vendor gives a music CD to a targeted victim. When the victim plays the CD on his computer, a hacker gains access to his webcam and blackmails him.” While this is likely not to happen to the ordinary person, CDs are vulnerable to valid cybersecurity threats.
Is Music Streaming the Best Platform?
The convenience and new emergence of music streaming may cause some people to overlook the negative aspects of it. With the many advantages music streaming brings, it is not perfect.
Music streaming and digital music files allow us to bring up practically any song at any time. It can provide us with music almost instantly. Furthermore, with services such as Spotify, it is a cost-effective way to listen to music while algorithms also recommend new music for us to discover. Digital files and music streaming especially have exploded recently due to these many conveniences.
Audiophiles can tell, however, that the sound quality of streaming isn’t the same as vinyl. Digital files can be even worse. Additionally, digital data such as MP3s — and the devices needed to play them — has become outdated. There is also a bit of required storage with streaming. While digital files won’t be left behind in your car or house, such as in the case of CDs or vinyl, they do take up space on your device. And, when your iPod, tablet, or computer becomes obsolete this data usually gets left behind on the device and could be lost.
From an artist’s standpoint, streaming your music may be easy, but won’t get you very much money. Each song you stream on Spotify gets you a fraction of a cent whereas selling your CD or record will earn you more money. Your hard work deserves more than cents on the dollar, and putting your efforts into CDs and records over streaming is, to some extent, revolt against the record companies who want you to do so.
Why Vinyl May Be Gaining Popularity
Vinyl records are large. In fact, one of the first things to go in the yard sale is your boxes of vinyl because they are cluttering your home. Vinyl is perhaps the most fickle of music sources. To complicate matters further, they are also the biggest. As a result, records need special care when being stored. In many cases, people choose to store their 12-inch vinyl in boxes or crates. Additionally, can warp over time if they are not stored vertically and in a cool, dry environment. So, if you have a lot of essential vinyl records, this means a lot of boxes to clutter your household. Although the storage of vinyl isn’t ideal, the sound quality is.
Vinyl is an analogue music source that gets as close to the original recording it can get regarding sound quality. Any audiophile will tell you that they preferred the sound of vinyl over CDs and streaming. Vinyl’s popularity is primarily chalked up to a feeling of nostalgia you get when playing them. However, this feeling goes beyond nostalgia — as taking out a record, placing it on the turntable, and putting the needle on provides an enjoyable experience. Other music sources just feel more impersonal than vinyl.
Vinyl does have a problem with scratching and breaking, however, as they are not as resilient as CDs. But, going back to sound quality again, it is these faint crackles and little noises that add to the experience of putting a record on. Overall, vinyl just has an X-factor that the other two music sources don’t.
Many considerations go into your preferred music choice. For some, it is cost, for others, it is the ease of storage. Whatever the case, personal reasons will go into why you choose the music source that you do. Vinyl may be becoming popular again simply because it provides a more personal experience when listening to a record.
Courtesy of Desmond Rhodes
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