Chatter

By Mighty Joe

April 17, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

I hate downloading music. I hate having the on-line store I download from telling me what I can do with the music after I buy it. iTunes told me I could only copy a song 7 times. Other companies give a limited amount of time you can use a song. If you only download the “hits” you’re going to miss “album cuts” that sometimes prove to be the best songs on a CD. By not going to record stores you’re going to miss out on posters, magazines and new and different music you won’t find anywhere else.

By Greg

April 17, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

I have downloaded from apple but only because someone bought me a gift card. The music I listen to is too obscure to be found on download sites. I agree with Joe about missing out on everything the artist wanted you to hear on their CD.

By Steve

April 17, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

I was thinking about this the other day. There are no good record stores anymore. HMV, in lenox, was good but it closed and the best one of all, Tower Records, closed. Media play was good too and even those stores have closed. Whats going on???? Now the only place to buy music is best buy or walmart or stores like that. When i was a kid in the 70’s 80’s record stores were everywhere.

By dawgmom

April 17, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

This old-timer remembers true record stores and the wonderful, warm sounds from vinyl. I never download and only buy the occassional CD. Bring back vinyl and bring back Peaches!!!

By Old Guy

April 17, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Record stores are in trouble because: 1. Radio doesn’t play anything worth buying. (Hell, most people’s only exposure to new music these days is American Idol.) 2. CDs cost too much. $15-20 for a something unknown or a bunch of soundalike filler doesn’t make sense when gas costs $40 a fillup. 3. Most record clerks are condescending wage slaves who are waaay too cool for you. (See High Fidelity.) 4. Let’s face it, in a musical climate where hip-hop and diva-pop are the foremost genres, my interest level is practically non-existent. I haven’t bought a CD this year and may not. This makes me a little sad, but iTunes (and Amazon now) is quick and easy. Oh well.

By I i-Pod

April 17, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

I will buy a CD if the cost of the CD is less that the cost of downloading the songs I like from it. Otherwise I will download songs individually. I don’t go to record stores any more - there is nothing good in my area and, wow, have you seen the price of gas lately? I buy CDs off eBay or Amazon - it’s usually cheaper and get shipped right to the house. The only drawback is the wait.

By Tesha

April 17, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

I am glad too see most of you like to buy music from a real record shop…there is nothing like that experience…some say CDs or print music is going to be obsolete…

I agree with Joe; an album is a work of art—a full experience, you can’t just take bits and pieces—that is what you get from entertainer…Plus, I don’t like how iTunes tries to regulate my music collection or how have to keep it all on my computer or it will auto- delete my iPod when I sync it.

Last, I unfortunately buy most of my new releases are brought from major retailers, because of the price cut, but when I buy older music, I go to independent retailers…as a bonus, the clerks usually play good music and I enjoy the information they share with other music junkies, like myself.

By LeftWingLoon

April 17, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Buy the album, but buy it used. It’s ridiculous to spend $12-14 for an album when you can get the same one for $7-8 at CD Warehouse—no scratches and no problems.

By Steve

April 17, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Actually, I do both. My Ipod works great when I’m shopping or taking a run and I still enjoy browsing the shelves and talking music with the clerks in record stores. But face it, a lot of the problems of the record industry are of their own making. They’re the ones who pretty much priced themselves out of a lot of kids ranges with 20 buck CD prices. This thing started way back when they stopped making 45’s. Then they stopped making vinyl which took art out of the equation. Then they came up with CD’s which were much cheaper to make than vinyl albums, yet they charged twice as much for CD’s as they needed to make a good profit. And all of the good radio stations started being snapped up by conglomerates and began playing homogenized, sanitized playlists of the same old same old. Don’t just blame Apple. The record industry has managed to kill it’s own golden goose by it’s decided un-consumer friendly pricing and policies. And radio helped too.

By Steve

April 17, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Actually, I do both. My Ipod works great when I’m shopping or taking a run and I still enjoy browsing the shelves and talking music with the clerks in record stores. But face it, a lot of the problems of the record industry are of their own making. They’re the ones who pretty much priced themselves out of a lot of kids ranges with 20 buck CD prices. This thing started way back when they stopped making 45’s. Then they stopped making vinyl which took art out of the equation. Then they came up with CD’s which were much cheaper to make than vinyl albums, yet they charged twice as much for CD’s as they needed to make a good profit. And all of the good radio stations started being snapped up by conglomerates and began playing homogenized, sanitized playlists of the same old same old. Don’t just blame Apple. The record industry has managed to kill it’s own golden goose by it’s decided un-consumer friendly pricing and policies. And radio helped too.

By BPJ

April 17, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

I prefer buying CDs (a mix of jazz, classical, rock, and hard-to-categorize), but we sometimes download through iTunes. The important thing is to pay for it, somehow. The artist doesn’t get paid otherwise (& please, no rhetoric about corrupt record companies or “information just wants to be free”).

By Dion

April 17, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

I do both.

By Jim Sallee

April 17, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

I’m lost since Tower closed. Best Buy has the absolute worst selection for what I like to buy (Jazz) So until something else comes along, I listen to XM and buy CD’s on eBay.

By Fulton

April 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Never downloaded a song in my life. If I want music, I prefer the old fashioned tangible product, that I can touch, feel and read about. In fact, even CD’s are too glossy in sound and too small to read. As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats the warmth and visual artistry of the album. My 300 albums are my most prized posession. Too bad most of this has been lost on the new generation..

By Mommy's Alright

April 17, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

“I agree with Joe; an album is a work of art—a full experience, you can’t just take bits and pieces”

An album is a work of art only when you’re listening to an artist. When the CD came along, albums were forced to grow from 40 minutes to 75 minutes (or more) and frankly, there aren’t a lot of artists with that many good ideas. Some artists are best taken in 3-4 minute bursts and that’s where downloading shines… it’s the return of the 45. And that’s okay by me, but it’s bad for record stores.

By Eric

April 17, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Mommy’s Alright….I agree! I’m from the old school. I miss the old days of vinyl albums where you had really good songs and there were no more than maybe 10. Now days cd’s have anywhere between 12-20 songs or more and most of it’s garbage. I have never downloaded music before and I’d probably have to get the younger generation to assist me. LOL

By EarWax Fan

April 17, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

You all didn’t mention Earwax. It’s one of the best to get vinyl and hard to find CDs.

And why are you buying CDs anyway. Most of the junk that’s out there is not worth buying. I hope this is American Idol’s last season. No talent on the show. The best ones always get booted first.

I’m gonna download for FREE and there will always be a way to do it. The reason the retailers are closing is because they got greedy. Yes I support Wax and Facts and the others because I need something to play on my turntable. As for digital downloads….Why make Steve Jobs rich. F#ck em!! Get your stuff for free. The artists are always complaining about not making money. If it wasn’t for the net many of these weak artists would not have been known anyway. Just be happy that we come to your concerts and put money in your pockets that way. You got pimped from your record companies anyway. The indies are smart if they use the net. They can get their music out to the masses. And reach audiences they didn’t know that had. Look at how many not so well known American artists are filling the stadiums in Europe and Japan. That’s because of the net and a P2P called bit torrent.

No one was banging on doors back in the 80s because you made a copy of an LP on cassette. So why is it so bad to get a digital download from a friend and you want to put someone in prison. Now I can see if it was being sold and I’m not cool with that. But I’m not gonna buy something I can easily get for 20 seconds over the net. Why would I waste my gas and drive over to BestBuy or Walmart to get a funky CD. I’d just sit in my drawls in front of my laptop and download away. Sites like Last.fm and Pandora are the future. Best Buy and Walmart will eventuall cease to sell. You cannot get explicit lyric at Walmart anyway. Although Itunes is a good model, $.99 is a ripoff for many of the songs they have online. So you indies keep doing what you are doing, because I will still come into the stores and buy what I can’t get for free over the net. So who’s losing out anyway………Maybe Warner Bros. F#ck em.

By Daddy's Alright

April 17, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

If I want music, I prefer the old fashioned tangible product, that I can touch, feel and read about.

The problem with that is there are way too many collectors out there with rooms full of plastic they never listen to or even touch. The disc becomes the thing, not the music inside. After moving my sizable record and CD collection for probably the last time, I’m coming to appreciate the portability of digital music.

I get just as excited cranking up my favorite songs on my iPod as I ever did my stereo, and it weighs a whole lot less.

By Ice Cream

April 17, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

I get excited when I sit in Starbucks and turn on my “jailbroken” Iphone and download songs from Seeqpod.com using their free wifi……free songs, free wifi….What would top that off is free coffee?….Well the money I saved NOT buying that CD will buy me two coffees…mocha latte…BS…!!

By Fred

April 17, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

EarWax Fan… a typical me-first selfish brat who wants what he wants and he wants it for free. And he hates most music but will gladly listen to it if he can steal it. This is why musicians keep their day jobs.

Grow up, dude.

By Ha Ha

April 17, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

You mean to tell me CD Warehouse is still around. I enjoyed that experienced but I hated one of the clerks who worked in the Buckhead (Panera is now there) and the Sandy Springs location. He’s Mr. Know-It-All. Some of you are laughing because you know exactly who he is. What a jerk, better yet a hole of an a$$. He would always comment on the collection you were trading like he knows what is good and what wasn’t. Punk you just work here, take the damn CDs and give me my money.

By EarWax Fan

April 17, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

Like the old saying goes FRED…Don’t quit your day job…..You were the guy playing at THE EARL that we threw tomatoes at…It’s bad when the club owner gives the patrons vegetables to pelt the performers. Next time I’m at Burger King, when I say no onions on my Whopper, I mean no onions…You know what Fred, I’d gladly pay for your CD….If you had one….LOL…Bring it on baby…The people reading this needs a good laugh.

By EarWax Fan

April 17, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

By the way folks, Fred is the jerk that use to work at CD Warehouse that Ha Ha is talking about. He still works in Buckhead….At Burger King near Peachtree Battle. You can catch him daily around noon singing to those charbroiled burgers. If he’d pay more attention he would mess up so many orders.

By ed

April 18, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

mmmmmmmmm… waffles