I think I may have inadvertently upset some residents at the old folks home when I brought up the topic of streaming music. While I consider myself part of the older generation, I’ve always embraced new technology. I grew up with vinyl records, transitioned through 8-tracks and cassette tapes, moved on to CDs, and even indulged in downloading music through Napster.
Eventually, I settled into the era of buying songs on iTunes and now rely on streaming via Apple Music. The surge in downloadable music began as a response to the rampant illegal downloading of songs. The music industry had to find a way to combat piracy, leading to legal alternatives.
The problem is that many people find it easier and more appealing to download music for free through peer-to-peer applications rather than shelling out large amounts of money. Streaming services provide a solution similar to having a radio that plays music for you, though my experience with Apple Music has been a bit disappointing in terms of discovering new and enjoyable songs. While I find Spotify performs better in this area, I’ve given up on it.
I encourage those who love older forms of music to continue enjoying them, but I believe streaming is the future of how most people will access music. Niche markets, like vinyl records, will always exist, as evidenced by their resurgence. There will always be demand for physical music formats, and companies will respond by providing those products.
Similarly, if there is enough interest in downloading MP3s, there will be services available to meet that need.
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