To dl or not to dl?

[black_wreath]

Please tell me kids, how many albums do you own? And when I say albums I mean on CD or Vinyl complete with a case and sleeve and possibly a bonus free CD or DVD that the band included to try and persuade you not to download it. Am I the only one who thinks it's bad that the next generation may not know what it's like to actually work for their music? That they could go online and like magic have instant music as an option they would probably choose (and who could blame them). I'm no corporate shill but while record companys may find any way they can to both fans and bands over, they are also they reason the band gets paid at all (at least on a large scale) and without the money how can the band afford to tour the world and perform for the fans in person. Do none of you feel a thrill when you take a chance on a band you've never heard before by buying an albums of theirs just because the sleeve art made want it? Files don't have sleeve art they're just a list of names. On a closing note my friend and I compared our album collections and even though he has more songs (about 2 GB worth) he found mine to be more impressive which was just around 75 CDs all complete with cases and sleeves while his was just endless text on a screen.

Not sure what the point of this thread is guess i'm just venting. And I should learn when to start new paragraphs.

[premiumdancer]

I love buying actual albums. For me, opening up the case and looking at the album art for the first time is part of the whole experience of buying an album. I feel less connected to the music when I don't have that. I'm proud of my album collection, though it may not be the most expansive.

Some of the musicians I listen to wouldn't notice one person not buying the album. But I listen to a lot where it really matters. They're not hugely popular bands, and need all the financial support they can get.

I mourn the ushering in of the technological age.

[IYorEdElric]

I buy the actual albums.
The only time I'll ever download if it's a singe song I'm interested in.
The unwrapping, the first time you hold the CD, the artwork, I couldn't give that up.

[~[{Gaara*s}{Girl}]~]

Personally, I think that if your whole entire income is revolving around CD sales, you've gotten too big. That being said...

I listen to Japanese artists, so it's kind of hard to find their CDs over here. Also, a lot of people are flaming pissed because of the RIAA's attempt to get you to buy CDs: DRM. DRM is a really, really bad idea. I understand that they're trying to get people to buy CDs, but can't we let the recording business collapse quietly and not give it a jolt every once in a while?

If you've noticed, people do still have to pay for songs. iTunes, cell carrier-specific music services {Such as Alltel's Jump Music and Verizon's V-Cast service}, Amazon...the list goes on and on. And then there are those services online that use ads to generate revenue. iMeem is the only one I've used, and they do a good job - you get to stream songs, but if you wish to download, you have to do it via Amazon or iTunes, which makes you pay.

The reasons why so many have switched to downloading are that downloads are cheaper, easier to store, and you don't have to worry about CDs breaking. You do have to worry about accidentally erasing your music folder, taking up hard drive space, and your computer crashing, but that's no problem if you back them up on a jump drive or external hard drive or something such as that.

I do have a few CDs that I've actually bought, from before my Japanese conversion. I didn't buy a lot because I had to go out-of-town and rely on my parents' income, but I never downloaded. I just relied on what I had, and used the built-in FM tuner of my mp3 player for what I didn't. Now, though...it's kind of hard. No Asian stations, so my radio is nixed.

Anyways, you presented a good argument, black_wreath. You as well, premiumdancer. I respect your opinions; the above is mine.

[rockerchic24]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm....
26 last time I counted.
I wish I had more though...
I'm planning to get some more soon though.
Unlike most kids, I don't have an MP3, so CD's are the only way I get music.
^.^
It's kinda funny, because the kids on the bus stare at me when I take my CD player out.

[black_wreath]

Hmm, I do see your point about obscure or international artists. Ironically it's the cash-strapped undeground bands who make most use of the internet where as the mainstream artists who don't really need the money from record sales who seem to be most against it cough. Lars Ulrich.

Luckily I live in Melbourne where all I have to do is jump on a train for an hour and I can get virtually any band's work in the world.

[premiumdancer]

The internet has always worked for me when it comes to obscure artists. I've (almost) never not been able to find an album online.

[Sadness_Of_The_Snow]

I dont buy albums(no money).so I download songs and burn them on a CD.

[scorpio grl]

I do see your point, all of yours, and I agree on a lot of things, though I actually rely on Youtube for most of my music. You see, my CD player is kind of..well, sickly. Dying. Committing CD player-ocide, and it's trying to take down what CDs I do have with it. I do have quite a few CDs--not nearly as many as you all, though, because I live in a fairly small town where I have to go out of town just to get to a Wally World or something to buy one--but I also have to rely on my mother's income to get or my friend's to let me borrow/give me CDs; that does not happen often, let me tell you.

I don't have an ipod or an mp3, though I just might get one or the other for my upcoming birthday if my father comes through with it. I'm pretty sure I'm getting a new CD player from my birthday from my friend, but that's only because I've been begging to get one for months now. But still, there's the money issue. I'd still have to pay for more songs to put on an ipod or whatever, and I'd still have to pay for CDs with money I don't really have.

So you see, I'm kind of forced to use the internet for my music..

[~[{Gaara*s}{Girl}]~]

You're not alone, scorpio_girl. And black_wreath, any of the music stores within my access {Wal Mart and Best Buy} do not carry imported music. I'd buy from the Internet, but it's just so much easier and more economic to use the mp3 player my parents lovingly clunked $100+ for me for my birthday and record songs from streams. Saves a hella hard drive space too...

As for buying from the Internet: I'm attempting to help my parents be able to afford me a cell phone, and CDs are expensive enough already. Shipping/handling would just add on and yeah...

But for those that can't do this...I suggest you drop your iPod and get something with line-in recording capabilities. {Joking. But seriously...give one a try if/when your iPod breaks.}