When Music Wasn’t in the Cloud
Yes, I’m old enough to remember that time. In fact, a family friend had a reel to reel recorder, although I started off on a Boots Audio cassette recorder with an auxiliary mic socket. I loved that thing. Not only did I record the chart countdown on a Sunday night - complete with audible on /off clicks - I also recorded tapes of me singing along to the radio, playing guitar and electronic organ and making up songs of my own. Thank goodness those weren’t saved for posterity! I’m not sure that much of that could be described as music either, but it was my first introduction to that arena and my life would be much poorer without its soundtrack.
There was a remarkable scheme when I was in secondary school called ‘Youth and Music’ which gave young people access to classical music at major venues in London. I was exposed to all sorts of music I might not have heard in my working class home. I tried to do some research for this article, but can only find the charity Music for Youth, which was more about providing young people with opportunities to play an instrument. I’m pretty sure I didn’t make it up, as I would never have had the money or vision to go to classical music concerts under my own steam!
Music, for me, has always been about an experience - a package of investing and learning - and live music will always be my first love. Even though I didn’t really develop a love of classical music, I developed a love of performance and clamoured to see bands from the age of 11, although I didn’t go to my first concert until I was 14!
The first record I ever bought was ‘Blinded by the Light’ by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, from their 1976 album ‘The Roaring Silence’, although it was originally written by Bruce Springsteen and appeared on his debut album in 1973. I wish I’d kept the single as it’s listed a ‘rare vinyl’ these days. My ex-husband still has all my vinyl records. I have nowhere to store them and my record player, whilst working, doesn’t have a stylus. I always feel like a little bit of me is missing, not because I’m into possessions per se, but because music and record collecting was such a big part of my youth. I saved my pocket money and then my Saturday job money, for albums. I loved the Record Shop (that was its name) in Fife Road, Kingston, which had all sorts of non chart albums and imports with exciting covers and spent many a happy Saturday morning there. Later, I travelled further afield (2 bus rides) to places like Ealing, where the famous Greensleeves Records started out before moving to its iconic Shepherds Bush home. As an aside, I found out a couple of year’s ago that a friend’s Dad actually started that shop and run the Greensleeves Records label, along with a friend. What are the chances?
The record sleeves were part of the whole deal - a visual and tactile experience beyond simply listening to the music. I collected imports and special editions. The album covers defined a band back then as much as the music. More than simply a protective cover, they became a blank canvas for artistic expression. Some of the most iconic are probably by people like Bowie and groups like Pink Floyd, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan and Mott the Hoople. Deep Purple’s slightly trippy album covers are some of my favourites and their creation is a fascinating story in its own right, especially considering they were made in pre-Paintshop days. My personal favourite of theirs is Stormbringer, incase you’re interested. They were always band that sold albums, not singles, and I’m pleased to say kept the vinyl going more than most.
Digital is very convenient medium, but you definitely miss out on that immersive full-range experience, although this article isn’t about to lambast the digital era. My husband has a syndrome which means he has shaky hands, so letting him lose with your precious record collection is not a sensible option! Streaming is simple, handy and relatively inexpensive, but it’s nothing like taking a record out of its sleeve and listening on a decent sound system. The art, the extras, the lyrics, as well as the quality of sound, all add up to something special. In my view anyway.
CD’s took over from tapes in the early 80’s and quickly became the way to buy and store music. By the 90’s vinyl had all but disappeared and the many manufacturing units had closed their doors. Their decline had begun in the early 80’s with the introduction of the Sony Walkman. CD’s were the final straw and the switch to the medium was total. In 2006, however, vinyl started to make a comeback, mostly from users new to the medium. The experience is much more immersive than looping a playlist on your streaming device. It demands concentration and attention, which streaming doesn’t. Who knows why people started buying vinyl again, maybe an element of acquisition? I think the vinyl record buying ‘community’ is also a factor. Buying records from a record shop certainly fosters connection in a way that streaming doesn’t. There are strong arguments against buying vinyl albums, not least the fact that they are made from PVC and their manufacture produces significant carbon emissions. This is not an argument for everyone to switch to buying vinyl records. However, storing and processing music digitally requires enormous resources and energy, which also contribute to climate change. With people having access to and buying more music the potential cost to the climate is still high. Is there perhaps too much streamed music out there?
There is no question that it is now easier for bands to produce and distribute their music, more so than any time in history. It means indie bands without budgets or record deals are able to get their music ‘out there’ to a listening public. It broadens the music pool and democratises music making, which has to be a good thing.
There are lots of ‘anti streaming’ arguments based on its resource use and pitiful payment to musicians. There are certainly issues surrounding ‘per stream’ rate and how musicians payments are calculated and some argue that it’s almost impossible for musicians to make a living from producing music for streaming platforms. I’m not knowledgeable enough on the ins and out of this to be able to comment, though I have done some reading around the subject. David Hesmondhalgh from the University of Leeds has put together a more in depth article if you would like to pursue the subject further. See link at the end of this post.
Such has been the concern, that some bands have taken to producing and selling their own music to try and consolidate their income streams. Fans have largely responded positively, but it is still the case that streaming accounted for 80% of music revenue in the US in 2020. I can’t find any accurate up to date figures for the UK, though I’m guessing it would be a similar picture.
Music streaming may be all you have ever known. I’m not bashing it, but if you know someone with an existing vinyl collection, maybe take some time to have a session listening with them and see what you think. Listening to records is way more social than streaming. Support live music where you can and buy your music directly from musicians. Maybe think about making your own music too if you fancy having a go. Learning an instrument is a revolutionary action that requires time, commitment and practice and maybe one day, in the not too dystopian future, it may be all the music we have!
Is music streaming bad for musicians? Problems of evidence and argument by David Hesmondhalgh, University of Leeds, UK.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1461444820953541
Excellent essay! I remember mix tapes as being the best thing about cassette tapes. We've definitely lost a lot with the move to streaming, though that does have its advantages from a music listening perspective. Thanks for sharing the information about the environmental impact of vinyl and streaming.