depends on where you are and how far your vision extends.
Gen X, Y, and geezers are not buying the latest LPs from whomever is offering the 180gram
virgin vinyl, colored red, with picture in vinyl. they have already accumulated all they'll ever
need in the past 30,40,50 years. (I haven't bought new/used/CL lots in at least 5 years)
its the millennials that are buying this new LP/album stuff. we just don't see it. Ask someone over
50 if they're going to Barnes and Noble to buy a new LP.
look at the new TTs from cheap to expensive. its not us buying them. millennials show up
here on AK with their $100 ATs and we (not I) look down on them - suggesting some $2k
monster when the geezers started with cheap 2 tube turntables back in the 50's and 60's
and have reached up to the quartz-phase-lock-direct-drives with low mass arms and
moving coils that cost $1-5 to play per hour. so the millennials are starting low and
hopefully they follow our footsteps.
and judging from new product announcements, increasing sales of music in all forms,
and the general need to have music on everywhere (shower, breakfast, exercise, work,
commute, dinner, relaxation, sleep) there's spillover and that means more
TT sales, and more LPs sales, and even more CD sales. and from those who buy -
not us old geezers who have everything.
Gen X, Y, and geezers are not buying the latest LPs from whomever is offering the 180gram
virgin vinyl, colored red, with picture in vinyl. they have already accumulated all they'll ever
need in the past 30,40,50 years. (I haven't bought new/used/CL lots in at least 5 years)
its the millennials that are buying this new LP/album stuff. we just don't see it. Ask someone over
50 if they're going to Barnes and Noble to buy a new LP.
look at the new TTs from cheap to expensive. its not us buying them. millennials show up
here on AK with their $100 ATs and we (not I) look down on them - suggesting some $2k
monster when the geezers started with cheap 2 tube turntables back in the 50's and 60's
and have reached up to the quartz-phase-lock-direct-drives with low mass arms and
moving coils that cost $1-5 to play per hour. so the millennials are starting low and
hopefully they follow our footsteps.
and judging from new product announcements, increasing sales of music in all forms,
and the general need to have music on everywhere (shower, breakfast, exercise, work,
commute, dinner, relaxation, sleep) there's spillover and that means more
TT sales, and more LPs sales, and even more CD sales. and from those who buy -
not us old geezers who have everything.
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SA-708
Appalachian-American
Then why this disclaimer in the author bio: "The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer."
First of all, these trends are not international. The Forbes piece is about the US music market, so I'll stick to that.
Back in the mid-to-late 80s, when I came of age, there were three basic categories of music consumers. Some bought singles (not single songs like the article claims; there were B-sides), some bought albums, and there were also some die-hard music fans that had to have everything recorded by the favorite act(s) so they bought albums and singles (for alternate mixes and b-sides not on the albums). Then the major labels got greedy. They would briefly release a single (so it would qualify for the Billboard singles chart) so once the song became popular, it was only available on an album. Eventually the labels got Billboard to change the rules so album tracks could make the singles chart, and singles (CD, 7" or cassingles) were pretty much dead as format. The die-hard fan boys/girls had to turn to imports to get the extra singles they desired, as the music market (and chart rules) oversees was different and CD singles (often multiple ones for the same song) were still in production in the UK. Some singles buyers grudgingly bought the album when they would have been happy with the cheaper single; others turned to the Internet and Napster to get just the songs they wanted A-la-carte music downloads (legal or pirated) is what started the demise of the album; that cat was let out of the bag decades ago.
I'm an old fart; I'll add music from my hard drive (ripped CDs and downloads that came with LPs) to the day's playlist an album or EP at a time. My teen daughter listens to single songs off of her Spotify playlist. Album sales have been dropping as album listeners have aged, and would have been a more steady decline instead of looking like a cycle due to the dip in singles sales in the 80s/90s from the record labels shooting themselves in the foot and Napster downloads not counting as sales. Billboard counting track-equivalent-albums and stream-equivalent-albums as album sales has also muddied the data.
So why exactly do we need Billboard singles and album charts in this day and age?
In the investment dominant 21st century we like to look at everything as either a winner or loser, either the next big thing, or yesterday's news and now dead and forgotten. Seems hardly a year goes by without some grand old company shuttering its doors. Sure, much has died over the recent years, succumbed to digital for the most part. I don't see the Polaroid Camera making a comeback and so I will place that on the pile of burning formats that simply couldn't cut it in today's world.
However to place the CD on that same pile is less easy for me to do. Other than streaming which to me still has many problems to overcome, how will I, and people like me get lossless music in our homes if not for hard copy? Sure there are download sites but often they are more expensive and don't have everything either.
Perhaps when the last of the boomers are lowered in the grave and with them the last generation that had grown up with high fidelity as a real, even dominant source of entertaininment in homes then yeah, the CD will be dead, but until then, even if the new cars don't have cd drives (I have not personally played a CD in a car in at least a decade ) the CD will continue on as the best option as a vehicle to deliver music to our homes and for those many who still want to own music,collect it, and support the artist in a proactive way even. Once we are dead than whoever is left crawling on the earth can figure out what to do with all the billions of CDs that are left while they rot their music senses listening to crappy mp3s on 59 cent ear buds.
Of course I am speaking of the CD as a delivery system. I don't actually play CDs in my car or home but rip them to drives.
vmartell
Active Member
And I find that "filler" to many people is a pejorative to anything not a hit - we music fans call those "Deep Tracks" !
I was never and I am not a singles collector - and I am the only one - even within people of my own age group - that still listens to full albums...
[Edited] And yes more controversially I will add - it is implied in my post, but it deserves to be said clearly - remember that music is an art and that art has also been co-opted for entertainment, when stripped of anything challenging - single listeners are not music (art) lovers - they just want entertainment...
ducks
v
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eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
Good post.
I think there is some validity in the story and don't forget, the statistics he quoted were not opinion.
I found it interesting and valid that streaming is likely putting pressure on the album concept.
So much stuff I run across that is an EP now a days or mimicking the 60's where a single was released then another then an album. (I gotta think the album get' scraped if the singles fail)
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
interesting that you say you don't spin CD's, you rip them, yet prefer them to downloads... (I am the same)
But for me it is not a quality issue as downloads can offer higher quality than CD. For me it's about the collection.
So my question is, why do you think CD a better delivery vehicle?
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
And I find the filler to many people is a pejorative to anything not a hit - we music fans call those "Deep Tracks" !
I was never and I am not a single collector - and I am the only one - even within people of my own age group - that still listens to full albums...
I don' even use playlists or that scramble feature they have.
I am old school, one album at a time, beginning to end. I am too set to change I fear although I am making progress... As I now listen to mostly classical (the past few years) I sometimes do not listen to a complete album. I do however always listen to the complete composition.
SA-708
Appalachian-American
You're too late. Instant cameras (including Polaroid and Fuji) have already made that comeback.
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2017/12/instant_cameras_are_on_the_rise.html
SA-708
Appalachian-American
For me, it is having a hard copy backup. I work in IT and know that digital media from a glass stamper will degrade less over time than flash memory or magnetic discs or burned CDs.
I do still spin CDs. I have a 101 disc changer at home, and a 6 disc changer in a first gen Toyota Highlander. To be honest, i'd be fine with playing CD rips in the car and leaving the CDs safe at home.
eljr
Koyaanisqatsi
but it's only a niche like vinyl in audio
MoreBeer
Money + Money =More Money
CD's are on the death watch. I never go to Target but was in there yesterday and there were hardly any CD's and most of them were marked down to $5.99. They also had a very small selection of vinyl. A few Beatles, James Taylor and a couple others of the same era and all appear to be collecting dust as I doubt anybody goes to Target looking for vinyl.
And regarding vinyl....Vinyl Resurgence is likely peaking and about to wind down although it'll take a while. Yep....all the insane makers of ultra expensive hyped TT's that sound the same as $250 TT's will all be bending over to assume the position.
And regarding vinyl....Vinyl Resurgence is likely peaking and about to wind down although it'll take a while. Yep....all the insane makers of ultra expensive hyped TT's that sound the same as $250 TT's will all be bending over to assume the position.
MoreBeer
Money + Money =More Money
I've ripped many CD's to FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF and MP3 320 and could not tell the difference between the MP3 320 and lossless. Those who do hear a difference between FLAC and MP3 320 ripped from the same source simply want to hear a difference. Give them a blind test and the results would be all over the map and become a guessing game.
depends on the music. there's a track called "ambush" by Chris Babida (crap version on youtube)
and "tsunami" (very famous Japanese Taiku) on soundtrack to Connery/Snipes' "Rising Sun"
both have incredible drum sequences that, to me, only sound good, in high resolution on
a good system. does not sound right on headphones, as MP3, in cars, portable CDPs, etc.
the drums sound different on every system mostly flabby bass for the drums.
and "tsunami" (very famous Japanese Taiku) on soundtrack to Connery/Snipes' "Rising Sun"
both have incredible drum sequences that, to me, only sound good, in high resolution on
a good system. does not sound right on headphones, as MP3, in cars, portable CDPs, etc.
the drums sound different on every system mostly flabby bass for the drums.
Target itself is also probably on the death watch too....
Actually I prefer the best option economically. I often times check HDTracks when I am looking for a particular album, and if they are within a few bucks of Amazon I just download it and enjoy it that evening. Most of the time however they either don't have it, and if they do it is upwards of twice the price of the CD from Amazon, so I order it and wait. I am in the camp of CD quality is good enough , but not mp3. I do like the hi rez, 24/96 I have downloaded but having nothing to compare it to track to track I am unsure what the SQ boost is, if any on my vintage rig.
Have you ever considered that just because your hearing, or listening abilities, or perhaps your equipment itself is the reason you cannot tell a difference? Just because you cannot tell a difference, doesn't mean others can't..
Enjoy your 320's and don't worry about what others think they are hearing!
roadrunnerx
Active Member
The reason that I believe an end is coming is that the lower end of the market seems to be gone.
Used to be every young man would drool if they saw some of our stereo equipment. They all dreamed to have their own stereo.
Not any more.
I've had dozens of young people that have passed through the house, and the lack of interest is stunning.
Now show them a new cell phone and WoW, they get excited.
Last time I was at B Buy, I could not find much selection compared to 20 years ago. Cheaply built, light weight boxes.
Most people are happy streaming. Just a fact. Soundbars for TV, and Amazon Alexa for their music.
Just what I am seeing.........
Now add in tiny houses.....
Used to be every young man would drool if they saw some of our stereo equipment. They all dreamed to have their own stereo.
Not any more.
I've had dozens of young people that have passed through the house, and the lack of interest is stunning.
Now show them a new cell phone and WoW, they get excited.
Last time I was at B Buy, I could not find much selection compared to 20 years ago. Cheaply built, light weight boxes.
Most people are happy streaming. Just a fact. Soundbars for TV, and Amazon Alexa for their music.
Just what I am seeing.........
Now add in tiny houses.....
+48V
hi-fi or die
Upon the high seas of music piracy, the USS Album~Demise left port on April 28, 2003. Today, on-demand streaming is just a continuation of that explosive paradigm shift.