Streaming platforms allow you to play thousands of songs at the click of a button. So why are so many people still investing in vinyl records? Read on to find out.
Thanks for the great analysis. In a sense, listening to streaming is a bit like renting a home - you pay to use an asset but never own it and don't participate in the long-term value increase of the asset. Owning vinyl is, on the other hand, like buying a property you love - and enjoying it - whilst benefiting from its value appreciation potential too.
Thank you for your comment! This is such an interesting comparison and I had never seen it from that angle, but you’re absolutely right. You never truly own the music that you stream and therefore you miss out on all the benefits that come with ownership.
And, Andres, between the LP and streaming eras, I never quite manifested the adoration and appreciation for my all-plastic CD collection as I did for the cardboard and vinyl of my records!*sigh*😉🎼🎸
That is truly fascinating to read for someone like me who didn’t have access to vinyl until much later. I still have some love for my CDs but I think it’s mainly because they take me back to my childhood. However, nothing compares to the feeling of owning, playing and listening to a vinyl record. No wonder it’s a format that has seen - and survived - so much (within and outside) the music world.
Well, I certainly understand your love for the medium you knew growing up! But, I'm old enough to have lived through the day (in 1982, I believe, with an ABBA album being the first to be released...in excessive long boxes, yet!) record companies gleefully dangled "this new medium" in front of us, and all but dared us to spend double what we paid originally for the same album we now "should" buy again, "because it sounds so much better"!! But we did!
I can totally understand and it’s crazy how the way a certain format is presented to us (or the way we come to know about it) can shape our perception of it for years (or forever). I feel fortunate that I was influenced by some people who knew that vinyl was better… but it was just so hard to find in 1990s Argentina!
Your spot-on analogy, Stephan, makes me feel better about feeling like I was "living inside the music" as I amassed (and carefully handled and adored) my 2,000-LP collection over the decades! But, I grew up with a music-loving Dad who had us surrounded by 20,000 LPs and 78s (mostly jazz) in custom-made cabinetry!
I acquired my vinyl love by osmosis apparently, and quite naturally (while somehow managing to avoid contracting PVC poisoning)!!💿🎶😁👍
Last week, I was in the lift with a colleague at work and he asked why I bought so many records all the time... besides telling him I'm still in my "I want everything" stage, it's also the amazing quality of music you usually get as opposed to streaming. He literally asked me "does it REALLY sound that different?" Oh boy... yes, it does! (and a random person in the lift smiled when I said this!) It is an incredible difference and the whole experience is just unique.
I also do the "test-listening" - I honestly tried buying "random" albums from random people but I just can't, I'm glad to know this is not a "you are not a real vinyl person if you don't do this!"
It's crazy how many people still think there is no difference. If vinyl wasn't worth it, it wouldn't have survived (or resurfaced) the way and at the scale it has. This phenomenon is almost unique in the history of music technology.
For me, there is still some value in streaming, particularly to test listen or discover new music. But I only buy records that I am absolutely sure I want to own. That makes the investment (and the experience) even more satisfying :)
Thanks for the great analysis. In a sense, listening to streaming is a bit like renting a home - you pay to use an asset but never own it and don't participate in the long-term value increase of the asset. Owning vinyl is, on the other hand, like buying a property you love - and enjoying it - whilst benefiting from its value appreciation potential too.
Thank you for your comment! This is such an interesting comparison and I had never seen it from that angle, but you’re absolutely right. You never truly own the music that you stream and therefore you miss out on all the benefits that come with ownership.
And, Andres, between the LP and streaming eras, I never quite manifested the adoration and appreciation for my all-plastic CD collection as I did for the cardboard and vinyl of my records!*sigh*😉🎼🎸
That is truly fascinating to read for someone like me who didn’t have access to vinyl until much later. I still have some love for my CDs but I think it’s mainly because they take me back to my childhood. However, nothing compares to the feeling of owning, playing and listening to a vinyl record. No wonder it’s a format that has seen - and survived - so much (within and outside) the music world.
Well, I certainly understand your love for the medium you knew growing up! But, I'm old enough to have lived through the day (in 1982, I believe, with an ABBA album being the first to be released...in excessive long boxes, yet!) record companies gleefully dangled "this new medium" in front of us, and all but dared us to spend double what we paid originally for the same album we now "should" buy again, "because it sounds so much better"!! But we did!
I can totally understand and it’s crazy how the way a certain format is presented to us (or the way we come to know about it) can shape our perception of it for years (or forever). I feel fortunate that I was influenced by some people who knew that vinyl was better… but it was just so hard to find in 1990s Argentina!
Your spot-on analogy, Stephan, makes me feel better about feeling like I was "living inside the music" as I amassed (and carefully handled and adored) my 2,000-LP collection over the decades! But, I grew up with a music-loving Dad who had us surrounded by 20,000 LPs and 78s (mostly jazz) in custom-made cabinetry!
I acquired my vinyl love by osmosis apparently, and quite naturally (while somehow managing to avoid contracting PVC poisoning)!!💿🎶😁👍
Last week, I was in the lift with a colleague at work and he asked why I bought so many records all the time... besides telling him I'm still in my "I want everything" stage, it's also the amazing quality of music you usually get as opposed to streaming. He literally asked me "does it REALLY sound that different?" Oh boy... yes, it does! (and a random person in the lift smiled when I said this!) It is an incredible difference and the whole experience is just unique.
I also do the "test-listening" - I honestly tried buying "random" albums from random people but I just can't, I'm glad to know this is not a "you are not a real vinyl person if you don't do this!"
Thanks for all the great info! :)
It's crazy how many people still think there is no difference. If vinyl wasn't worth it, it wouldn't have survived (or resurfaced) the way and at the scale it has. This phenomenon is almost unique in the history of music technology.
For me, there is still some value in streaming, particularly to test listen or discover new music. But I only buy records that I am absolutely sure I want to own. That makes the investment (and the experience) even more satisfying :)