01-04-2009, 18:08
I voted "Yes, They Already have"
I understand Jon's point about singles always having been released, and that albums are a more recent development. But, for almost all of my music-consuming life, it's been albums that I'm interested in. I only really think in terms of albums, to the point that I only ever listen to music in albumular units (yes, I know that doesn't exist !!) that play from start to finish, and the music that's loaded onto my i-Pod is albums with all tracks "joined" to preserve the merging of tracks that I'm familiar with. The album as a coherent work is important to me, although I acknowledge that many albums are just collections of songs. I guess the industry isn't particularly interested in my preferences, which means there is a threat to my listening habits.
Reflecting on what I've voted, I think I should have opted for a less extreme choice, as I have no problems in buying music in CD format at the mo, but I am concerned. I buy most of my music via Amazon, and downloads don't seem to be squeezing out CDs as yet, but some of the other major players appear to be dropping the CD option increasingly. I've seen this sort of thing before when my beloved vinyl slowly disappeared from the High Street. I know that even now, some 15 years later, vinyl is still pretty widely available, but it costs...
I also know that I could still download and burn a disc of pretty much any album, but I don't want to. I want the info that comes with the disc, and I don't want to have to print a facsimile of the CD cover, or have a disc with hand-written or typed track listings.
I can't see into the future regarding where this will all go, but I can see the album as I know & understand it disappearing, in favour of just songs.
Another point for me to consider is that if the CD album disappears, I'll need to shell out a not insignificant sum for decent kit to play downloaded sounds.
I understand Jon's point about singles always having been released, and that albums are a more recent development. But, for almost all of my music-consuming life, it's been albums that I'm interested in. I only really think in terms of albums, to the point that I only ever listen to music in albumular units (yes, I know that doesn't exist !!) that play from start to finish, and the music that's loaded onto my i-Pod is albums with all tracks "joined" to preserve the merging of tracks that I'm familiar with. The album as a coherent work is important to me, although I acknowledge that many albums are just collections of songs. I guess the industry isn't particularly interested in my preferences, which means there is a threat to my listening habits.
Reflecting on what I've voted, I think I should have opted for a less extreme choice, as I have no problems in buying music in CD format at the mo, but I am concerned. I buy most of my music via Amazon, and downloads don't seem to be squeezing out CDs as yet, but some of the other major players appear to be dropping the CD option increasingly. I've seen this sort of thing before when my beloved vinyl slowly disappeared from the High Street. I know that even now, some 15 years later, vinyl is still pretty widely available, but it costs...
I also know that I could still download and burn a disc of pretty much any album, but I don't want to. I want the info that comes with the disc, and I don't want to have to print a facsimile of the CD cover, or have a disc with hand-written or typed track listings.
I can't see into the future regarding where this will all go, but I can see the album as I know & understand it disappearing, in favour of just songs.
Another point for me to consider is that if the CD album disappears, I'll need to shell out a not insignificant sum for decent kit to play downloaded sounds.