The Lowdown on Downloads

Confession: I am not an early adopter. I have no aversion to technology at all. In fact, I savor the many conveniences and treats technology can provide, and I enjoy learning new things. But I won’t run out and acquire something just because “everyone” has one; there has to be a demonstrable need or application to convince me. I didn’t even bother with a cell phone until a couple of years ago because I truly did not need one. However, once that balance tipped, I went out and bought the newest smartphone on the market at the time. It was similar with CDs and downloading music. I’m still in the transition period for that. Having started in radio right as CDs were becoming the standard, I still have a significant quantity of them. But, slowly, downloading is taking over and I find myself wondering how long it will be until the transition is complete.

How about you? Do you buy music to enjoy in your home, car or office? Do you still buy CDs? Do you download? Do you stream from an online service? Besides listening to the radio, how do you listen to music? What devices do you use? Are you still hanging on to your turntable and LPs? Do you have different sources for different genres of music, maybe listening to classical music from CDs but other genres on your iPod, for example? I’m curious to know your listening habits. Now it’s your turn to fess up!

12 thoughts on “The Lowdown on Downloads”

  1. DJ of San Diego

    No, I have yet to D/L any of my music.
    Yes, I still have a turntable. How else can I play all of my old MHS LPs?
    I’ll only give up my CDs when they pry them out of my fingers when I’m dead.
    Do I get credit for streaming SB early left-coast mornings each Sunday?

    1. Yes, you most definitely get credit for streaming AND for having the turntable – Love it!

  2. You may not be an early adopter, but you have the smartest show on radio!

    My purchasing between downloads and cds is about 50 to 1 (in favour of downloads). There are a few artists for whom I must have the cds. Alina Ibragimova is one of those; Isabelle Faust is another.

    Recently I added Spotify to my tablet. I use Spotify to listen to cds for which I found opposing reviews (Gramophone and BBC Music often disagree). I also use Spotify to listen to a bit of some music that has received a good review and with which I am not familiar.

    By the way, I purchase/download music based on hearing on SB. A rough estimate, maybe 15-20% of what I hear on SB. And you have intro’d me to music and performers I had not previously known.

    All to say, well done!!!

    1. I love Spotify! It’s a great way to listen to listen to recordings before buying them and to discover new music based on your listening habits. You can also share your playlists with your friends and introduce them to new music!

  3. Raymond Harrison

    I still purchase cd’s and do not download or stream music. I have no cell phone . Since LP’s are once again gaining in popularity I hope to buy a turntable so that I can play my old lp’s. I listen to music from cd’s in my car and have been upset that some new cars have no cd players built in. My car even plays cassette tapes! I prefer to listen to stereophonic sound on tower speakers. I do not like to listen to headphones. I do listen to cd’s on my I-Mac.

  4. My kids gave me a CD player about 10 years ago that holds 300 CDs so I’m still mostly a CD guy. It’s loaded with everything from Bach to Led Zeppelin. I put it on shuffle so the transitions can be a little jarring at times. I still buy used CDs and the occasional new one. More often, I’ll download things I’ve heard one at a time and then make my own CD out of them. These too can sometimes be a pretty wide mix. When I’m in the mood for 100% classical I go to Sunday Baroque online…and I’m not just saying that!

  5. My kids gave me a 300 CD player about 12 years ago. I load it with everything from Bach to Led Zeppelin and put it on shuffle. The transitions can sometimes be jarring! I still buy used CD’s and sometimes download individual pieces that I’ve ID’d via Shazam. I then make a mix CD out of them. These too can cover a wide range of styles. When I want to listen to just classical my go to place is Sunday Baroque…and I’m not just saying that:)

    1. DJ of San Diego

      Larry, consider a Sonos system. Yes, it’s pricey but I believe it’s worth it. Using it will allow you to duplicate the function of the CD library but without the 300 disc limit. There are other advantages. You would have to rip (copy) the CDs to a computer hard drive (a SAN device is best). You can built the digital music library over time — you don’t have to rip all 300 CDs immediately.

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