Is music streaming "enough"?

Isbjørn · 06-18-2013, 06:49 AM

Hey.

Now that Pink Floyd is on Spotify, my need for purchasing their albums to fill my collection has decreased. I can simply listen to them digitally. Still, I feel that it isn't enough. Owning albums, on vinyl or CD, seems to mean much more to a fan than just streaming music online. But streaming serve the same purpose, right? You just don't "own" the music, and you can't take it with you (though you can if you buy the MP3s, or use a mobile service).

For example:
If you listen a lot to Black Sabbath on Spotify, have Black Sabbath playlists, but do not own any of their albums, can you consider yourself a fan?

Music streaming is increasing in popularity, so people say, yet some artists choose to distance themselves from the trend. Pink Floyd, for instance (it wasn't their choice to be added to Spotify, after all). I am thinking a bit of the same thing. Streaming is cheaper, but can you consider yourself a "fan" by just streaming the music? Or do you have to at least buy the band's MP3s? Or their CDs? Their vinyl albums?

Any thoughts?

Paedantic Basterd · 06-18-2013, 06:59 AM

You can absolutely call yourself a fan. I don't think we should be defining a fan through materialism.

anathematized_one · 06-18-2013, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

You can absolutely call yourself a fan. I don't think we should be defining a fan through materialism.

I agree with this, even though I personally prefer to get the albums, and I never open them. First I illegally download an album, then if I don't llike it, I delete it and if I do like it, I purchase the album and never open it.

I used to talk to the vocalist, on-line, of Hortus Animae and when they released a limited 100 box set, I asked him if he could include a burned copy of all the disks so I wouldn't have to open them aand I can keep it in mint condition. He did it, which was fantastically awesome of him.

I am so anal about my collection tthat I bought Dornenreich's live DVD &bdquo;Nachtreisen“, which has two performances on it, one is their performance at Summer Breeze and the other is an acoustic performance at WGT. I could not find a download ANYWHERE of the WGT show, so I HAD to open it to rip it. Because of that, when I have money, I am going to buy another copy (it is like $30 USD + VAT + import fees + shipping). Another reason I am re-purchasing it is because, since I had to open it anyway, I tried to carefully remove the FSK sticker (German equivalent of the MPAA ratings) and the packaging is a digipak with a matte finish and it tore.

Although I would go through paying another $80 for this album because of those two things, I would never consider somebody who doesn't own any of their merch to be less of a fan than I.

Not to mention the fact that purchasing an album doesn't net the actual artists very much...
TechDirt: "RIAA Accounting: Why Even Major Label Musicians Rarely Make Money From Album Sales (Music Industry)"

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Mojo · 06-18-2013, 08:27 AM

I think it's possible to be a fan of something without owning it yourself. I dont think owning a physical copy of something is a necessity to be able to make that claim. I admit I am sometimes a little bemused however when someone tells me just how much they like a band, how a band is their favourite band, and they are a huge, massive fan of something...yet they refuse to buy any of their material.

Thats maybe just because of the attitude I take personally to music though. I stream, I pay for Spotify, I love it, but it doesn't replace my love of buying and owning music. I need a CD or a record to claim I own music, and so for me streaming is brilliant but not necessarily "enough".

Trollheart · 06-18-2013, 08:41 AM

The thing about streaming is that you generally can't take it with you. When I'm reviewing albums I often want to hear them more than once, because I may not form the correct opinion on first listen: I might hate the album but then grow to like/love it, or even sometimes vice versa. If I have to be at my computer all the time to do this then it's a little restrictive. Also if I'm at my PC I'm probably doing other stuff too so not giving the music my undivided attention.

I come from the age in which you had no choice: you listened to music you liked on the radio and then if you wanted it you bought it, or if you were very lucky a friend had a copy and you could tape it. But I must have spent thousands on albums, tapes, CDs over the years. That was when I was working. Now I'm not, as such, so I can't afford to just buy what I want, so I download what I can, and steam what I can't. Does that make me less a fan? Let's see.

I just last night experienced Slowdive for the first time, on Spotify. Now I liked them so much I'll buy their albums or download them, because when I stream something and like it I want to have a copy I can play whenever and wherever I like. Does that make me more, or less, a fan than someone who's been into them since the beginning and has all their albums? I don't know, but even if I didn't buy their material I would still at this point consider myself a fan, because I like their music.

Sometimes there are albums we would like to buy but the financial realities intrude: I'd rather have a roof over my head thanks...

Mojo · 06-18-2013, 08:47 AM

If you have a smartphone, you can take streaming with you. I use my Spotify Premium subscription all the time.

I do love the advantages of digital downloads and streaming, having so much music readily available to you like that. I gotta say though, I'd be sad to see physical music, of any description, completely become a thing of the past. I don't feel I own anything if its a digital, and I love to own music and have a collection.

Isbjørn · 06-18-2013, 08:48 AM

Can you talk about how much you ABSOLUTELY LOVE a band if you have heard every single song they have released (by streaming or borrowing a record from a friend), but do not own any of their albums?

anathematized_one · 06-18-2013, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

Can you talk about how much you ABSOLUTELY LOVE a band if you have heard every single song they have released (by streaming or borrowing a record from a friend), but do not own any of their albums?

Definitely. What does the format matter?

To be a fan or absolutely love a band is to love their music, CDs and records are just a medium through which what you love is delivered.

It is out of love for a band that people pay for their merch when they can, not the other way around (buying merch in order to love/become a fan).

The album or record or whatever will eventually get worn out through use and you will be unable to listen to it anymore. Buying (or "stealing") the music is more important than having or borrowing a physical copy.

Whether or not you own it doesn't change how you feel about the music.

It is like the argument some use when you dislike a particular artist they love. "Can you play that?" Doesn't ****ing matter if I can or can't play it or if I even play an instrument or not, I have ears and am not deaf. I can say I think something sucks if it sounds like it sucks, you don't HAVE to play an instrument or write music to be able to appreciate it.

You don't HAVE to own a band's music to talk of how much you love them.

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TheBig3 · 06-18-2013, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

Hey.

Now that Pink Floyd is on Spotify, my need for purchasing their albums to fill my collection has decreased. I can simply listen to them digitally. Still, I feel that it isn't enough. Owning albums, on vinyl or CD, seems to mean much more to a fan than just streaming music online. But streaming serve the same purpose, right? You just don't "own" the music, and you can't take it with you (though you can if you buy the MP3s, or use a mobile service).

For example:
If you listen a lot to Black Sabbath on Spotify, have Black Sabbath playlists, but do not own any of their albums, can you consider yourself a fan?

Music streaming is increasing in popularity, so people say, yet some artists choose to distance themselves from the trend. Pink Floyd, for instance (it wasn't their choice to be added to Spotify, after all). I am thinking a bit of the same thing. Streaming is cheaper, but can you consider yourself a "fan" by just streaming the music? Or do you have to at least buy the band's MP3s? Or their CDs? Their vinyl albums?

Any thoughts?

Fact: There were no music fans before the record was invented.

duga · 06-18-2013, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

If you have a smartphone, you can take streaming with you. I use my Spotify Premium subscription all the time.

I do love the advantages of digital downloads and streaming, having so much music readily available to you like that. I gotta say though, I'd be sad to see physical music, of any description, completely become a thing of the past. I don't feel I own anything if its a digital, and I love to own music and have a collection.

I've found I've been enjoying music a lot more since I got Spotify premium...even when traveling. I actually spend time the day before I have to leave somewhere deciding what albums I might want to listen to on the the trip. It actually makes my listening experience during that trip so much better. With my entire collection with me, I feel like I have so many options it's hard to figure out what I'm in the mood for. Having a limited selection helps me think about what I picked and I actually get excited to listen to them.

I did also grow up collecting actual albums, so I love that side of it too and I completely agree it would be sad if owning physical music died out. I actually think this is why vinyl has made such a huge comeback...a CD - even with artwork - is still a collection of digital files, it's small, and doesn't feel nearly as epic as purchasing something as big as a vinyl record. It adds another level to the experience and just the fact that you can find almost any contemporary indie album on vinyl now gives me hope that there will always be people interested in it.

Most of us grew up when vinyl was still common...at the very least most of our parents had vinyl. We are still pretty close to it and we still find it intriguing. For the next generation, I think the further we get away from it, the more intriguing that format will become.

06-18-2013, 06:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Is music streaming "enough"? Hey. Now that Pink Floyd is on Spotify, my need for purchasing their albums to fill my collection has decreased. I can simply listen to them digitally. Still, I feel that it isn't enough. Owning albums, on vinyl or CD, seems to mean much more to a fan than just streaming music online. But streaming serve the same purpose, right? You just don't "own" the music, and you can't take it with you (though you can if you buy the MP3s, or use a mobile service). For example: If you listen a lot to Black Sabbath on Spotify, have Black Sabbath playlists, but do not own any of their albums, can you consider yourself a fan? Music streaming is increasing in popularity, so people say, yet some artists choose to distance themselves from the trend. Pink Floyd, for instance (it wasn't their choice to be added to Spotify, after all). I am thinking a bit of the same thing. Streaming is cheaper, but can you consider yourself a "fan" by just streaming the music? Or do you have to at least buy the band's MP3s? Or their CDs? Their vinyl albums? Any thoughts? __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

06-18-2013, 08:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I think it's possible to be a fan of something without owning it yourself. I dont think owning a physical copy of something is a necessity to be able to make that claim. I admit I am sometimes a little bemused however when someone tells me just how much they like a band, how a band is their favourite band, and they are a huge, massive fan of something...yet they refuse to buy any of their material. Thats maybe just because of the attitude I take personally to music though. I stream, I pay for Spotify, I love it, but it doesn't replace my love of buying and owning music. I need a CD or a record to claim I own music, and so for me streaming is brilliant but not necessarily "enough". __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

06-18-2013, 08:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	The thing about streaming is that you generally can't take it with you. When I'm reviewing albums I often want to hear them more than once, because I may not form the correct opinion on first listen: I might hate the album but then grow to like/love it, or even sometimes vice versa. If I have to be at my computer all the time to do this then it's a little restrictive. Also if I'm at my PC I'm probably doing other stuff too so not giving the music my undivided attention. I come from the age in which you had no choice: you listened to music you liked on the radio and then if you wanted it you bought it, or if you were very lucky a friend had a copy and you could tape it. But I must have spent thousands on albums, tapes, CDs over the years. That was when I was working. Now I'm not, as such, so I can't afford to just buy what I want, so I download what I can, and steam what I can't. Does that make me less a fan? Let's see. I just last night experienced Slowdive for the first time, on Spotify. Now I liked them so much I'll buy their albums or download them, because when I stream something and like it I want to have a copy I can play whenever and wherever I like. Does that make me more, or less, a fan than someone who's been into them since the beginning and has all their albums? I don't know, but even if I didn't buy their material I would still at this point consider myself a fan, because I like their music. Sometimes there are albums we would like to buy but the financial realities intrude: I'd rather have a roof over my head thanks... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-18-2013, 08:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	If you have a smartphone, you can take streaming with you. I use my Spotify Premium subscription all the time. I do love the advantages of digital downloads and streaming, having so much music readily available to you like that. I gotta say though, I'd be sad to see physical music, of any description, completely become a thing of the past. I don't feel I own anything if its a digital, and I love to own music and have a collection. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

06-18-2013, 08:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Can you talk about how much you ABSOLUTELY LOVE a band if you have heard every single song they have released (by streaming or borrowing a record from a friend), but do not own any of their albums? __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

06-18-2013, 06:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	You can absolutely call yourself a fan. I don't think we should be defining a fan through materialism.