The future of music
Over the years, the way we listen to music has changed drastically. Growing up, I listened to LP’s (vinyl records) and 8-track tapes. Remember those? My husband and I still have quite a few LP’s from our youth that we’ve kept, and we still have a stereo system to play those records if we ever want to. Not that we have in the past 20+ years — but hey, you never know when that urge is going to strike! There’s something about those LP’s that makes us reminisce about simplier times and make it very difficult for us to part with any of them.
Then came 8-track tapes. (Some of our bloggers may not even know what those are!!!) Recently, while cleaning out the boxes we have stored in the rafters in our garage, I came across a big box of 8-track tapes with artists such as The Carpenters, Styx, Journey, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, Merle Haggard, Bee Gees, Bay City Rollers, and many others. We even had the 8-track player from way back when. Don and I laughed, we reminisced, and then packaged it all up for our upcoming yard sale. Hopefully, our “trash” will be come someone elses “treasure”.
It was funny to see how big and bulky those 8-track tapes were, and it’s easy to see why they didn’t last long in the music industry. However, that said, I do believe that the 8-track tape did pave the way for the more popular cassette tapes, which Don and I had a ton of, too! Cassette tapes were a huge success – they were small, compact, convenient, and how cool was the portable Sony Walkman that we could use to play those tapes and wear headphones? And remember boom boxes that played cassettes, too? I loved cassette tapes, and according to research, the audio cassette became the most widely used music format during the 70’s, 80’s, and part of the 90’s.
That is, until the compact disc (CD) took the music industry by storm. This disc format was the coolest way to play music – how amazing was it that all that music could fit on a shiny silver disc and sound so good? The cassette tapes looked so bulky in comparison, and it didn’t take long for them to become outdated and a thing of the past! I think CD’s is the music format that most people know the best, probably because it’s so current. My two daughters, born in 1990 and 1992, have only bought music on a CD. They’ve seen vinyl LP’s, the 8-track tapes, and the cassette tapes, but have never played any of them. To them, it’s ancient history. Over the years they’ve bought and collected dozens and dozens of CD’s, and most of the time they’d use their CD player to listen to the music.
A few years ago we bought them their first iPod, and it took them a while to “get into it”. MP3 players are truly amazing. I mean, here’s this little thing that fits in the palm of your hand that holds THOUSANDS of songs. Who would have ever thought that would be possible? Don and I have also gotten an iPod, and all those CD’s we bought over the past 20+ years we’ve converted into digital music and downloaded them to our iPods. Yes, it’s very cool to have every single CD we own on our iPods - - it truly boggles my mind!
But even now, with MP3 players and Ipods dominating the market and quickly becoming the main source of playing music, my girls still love CD’s. While most people are buying and downloading their music via the internet and iTunes, my girls still insist on buying the CD version of the album they want, then copying it to iTunes and downloading it to their iPods. When I recently told them that someday, possibly soon, that CD’s would be obsolete, they were both pretty upset. While they love their iPod, they also really enjoy the “physical” part of having a CD. But, chances are, within the next ten years or so CD’s — just like vinyl, 8-track, and cassettes — will become nothing more than a part of history. And that really does makes them sad.
Right now, it’s all about digital music. And I have to admit that it’s awesome and way cool, but it also makes me wonder how we’ll be listening to music another 10-20 years down the road. Each year, sales of CD’s are declining in lieu of MP3 players and downloadable music. And quite honestly, I’m going to really miss CD’s, too.
So, how many of you remember playing vinyl records and 8-track tapes? What is your main source of listening to music now - - CD’s or iPod/MP3? How do you feel about CD’s become obsolete in the future? Will you miss them or have you already moved on with your MP3 player?
You forgot 33’s and 45’s- both of which I listened to growing up. and then there was my neighbor that collected old Victrola recordings and i used to listen to them too.
I primarily use my ipod because I am tired of buying an album/cd and only finding a couple of songs that are worth playing over and over. However, I am finding artists have realized this and more songs on albums are getting better.
I know at Border’s we just cut down the section of music because of low sales of cd’s. And they totally quit making casset tapes last year. My car still has a tape player- which i primarily use to pop in the tape that I play my ipod through.
I love the fact that I can put a whole book on my ipod and not have to switch cd’s while I am driving. Or I tend to throw it on Country Music/shuffle and never know who I am going to hear.
Our local VA hospital still has a functioning 8 track player in one of the floors, but not a lot of tapes.
My first 8 track was Moody Blues, Knights in White Satin. Used to put it on and let it loop all night.
Am I showing my age here????
Comment by ev — April 24, 2008 @ 6:15 am
Here’s one for the record books- I beat Stacy!!
Comment by ev — April 24, 2008 @ 6:16 am
I listen to both, but I’m more of a radio person - I love the variety of different stations. Even my portable CD player has a radio, but it’s the headphones/earphones that keep me from listening as much.
My boss has something where he can bring his ipod to work and plug it in and listen to it in the office. He always gets the latest gadgets. Me, I’m not that cool.
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 24, 2008 @ 6:18 am
LOL Ev! Not by too much though.
Comment by Stacy ~ — April 24, 2008 @ 6:19 am
Electronic music download, as, to a lesser extent, e-books, has a problem. That is, I want art and liner notes. I also actually want the chance to hear the songs by my favorite artists that I don’t know. Which is why I buy CDs and put them on my i-pod and why if I enjoy a free e-book I buy a hardcopy one. I want to own my music/book and to be able to give it to someone else if I choose. I also want to survive a hard drive melt down with more than a memory.
Comment by G — April 24, 2008 @ 6:47 am
Thanks for the stroll down memory lane, Janelle. :-) What a great blog for today!
I remember vinyl records and 8 track tapes well. Also 33’s and 45’s. Remember the little “Hi Fi’s” in a box that you just opened up and the speaker was built into the top? I remember setting that up in our dining room that had no dining room table and playing Wendy by the Association and dancing by myself and singing along to the music and dreaming my young dreams. Also, I can remember listening to my first Beatles 45, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on one of those things.
My husband and I still have a bunch of our old vinyl records too and with a turntable to play them on. But from those olden days the thing that stands out for me is this radio station I used to listen to “WBBQ–Tiger Radio” I can still hear the station jingle, the Dj’s voices and the conversations they had with Mrs. Reed, the lady who cleaned up the station for them. Somehow, no matter what was going on, just listening to them and the music they played made everything okay–you know, God in his heaven and all’s right with the world? :-)
Didn’t you just love the music back then? There was no hip hop, rap or new age stuff–just really good songs with good lyrics when songwriters were still writing good lyrics, when they took more than five minutes to write a song. Remember the old Elton John songs when he was first starting out like “Your Song? Those were the best. It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to remember music from those days. :-)
“When they begin the Beguine
It brings back the sound of music so tender,
It brings back a night of tropical splendour,
It brings back a memory ever green.” —-Cole Porter
Have a great day all,
Cher
Comment by Cher — April 24, 2008 @ 8:03 am
I’ve left my CDs in the dust and never looked back. I have the video iPod with the most memory you can get . . . and at that I have days and DAYS and DAYS of songs, all downloaded from iTunes, and loaded up from my CDs. I am my own DJ now and I love it!!!! And my DH is getting me the iPhone . . . so soon I will have my phone and music and movies and videos and photos and everything . . . all in one device.
E
Comment by Erica Orloff — April 24, 2008 @ 8:24 am
I remember buying cassettes as a teenager and then moving into CD’s. I also had some records, but they were all used and from older cousins that handed them down to me. I remember 8 tracks from my grandparents house. LOL But honestly, I love my Ipod. I wouldn’t trade it for ten cd’s. I love that I can only buy the songs that I want and forgo the inconvenience of a cd that takes up room. That’s not to say that I don’t miss hearing all of an artists songs, but now I satisify myself with the 30 second sound byte that you get on Itunes. If I really want to hear the whole thing I just go to Yahoo Music and listen to the album. There’s a way around everything. LOL
I think that it’s funny that your girls are so attached to their cd’s. My kids are young, 11 and 8 and they worship their Ipods the same way as your girls with cd’s. I guess it’s just a sign of the times. Technology is everywhere.
Comment by Patty L. — April 24, 2008 @ 8:33 am
I listened to LP’s and 45’s. That was all I would buy. My mom bought the 8-tracks and she had a ton of them. I listen to CD’s now and radio. I don’t have an ipod but will borrow my daughter’s from time to time. I still prefer the radio.
Comment by Michelle J. — April 24, 2008 @ 8:47 am
right now we have been going through my old LP’s and figuring which ones we will be hanging on the wall when we finish painting. Along with her guitars.
I still have my original 45 of American Pie. And the old stereo equipment. Hubby has a load of reel to reels (he’s REALLY old) and a player. I want to get them to cd one of these days.
As for hd meltdown- everything is on a seperate drive and once purchased there is a record of it if I lose it. And I don’t take up landfill space with scratched cd’s, the broken cases and plastic wrap that they sell them in. On the other hand, I can always make a copy of what ever I dl to a cd if needed or if I want to give it to someone else. I do tend to buy the whole album for my favs but when it comes to others, I only get the current song that has piqued my interest.
I also tend to buy the book besides listen to certain ones on audio, but usually only in pb because I just don’t have the room any more.
Comment by ev — April 24, 2008 @ 9:09 am
I totally remember 8 tracks. I remember getting them growing up. Hubby still loves records, says it is the best sound quality (he also has a converter to digital). I don’t have an ipod, but I think it is a good idea.What’s funny is hubby has an ipod, but it is now so huge compared to the ones now. Hubby is our music affacionato in the family. I don’t think I’ll ever go to ebooks…I like the physicality of it (plus, my eyes are old and it gets difficult to read them.
Comment by katie — April 24, 2008 @ 9:14 am
I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Partridge Family, The Monkees on my 45’s and loved them. I still have a couple of albums that I can’t part with - don’t know exactly why since the stereo is long gone. I do remember laughing at my parents when they first brought home an 8 track player. I went slowly from my cassettes to CD’s but now I am firmly entrenced in the CD world. I don’t like being plugged in to an Ipod/MP3 player. I guess I ‘m to afraid I’ll miss something around me. I do marvel at the fact that so much music can be stored there. But, for all that I like my CD’s I usually go for the radio first. That way I can choose country, oldies, classical, rock, soft rock - I guess its’ more adaptable to my moods than reaching for a stored CD in the car or having to search for a favorite at home.
Comment by Barbara-Jo — April 24, 2008 @ 9:17 am
I never bought many cd’s in the first place, so I don’t think I’ll miss them too much - they are pretty and shiny though. I think I do the opposite, get mp3’s, then burn them onto cd’s to play in my car, because I don’t have an ipod adapter. I’m in the “might not know” camp. I think I bought one or two cassettes? And I listened to them as a kid, but very quickly it was all cd’s. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an 8 track being played :X
Comment by limecello — April 24, 2008 @ 9:18 am
I think it’s not just the format that is moving with the times. What we’ll eventually see is the demise of the full-length album. Those “B” side songs artists don’t need to create anymore in order to fill the space of an album or CD.
Projects like the Sgt. Pepper album will never exist in this new era because people aren’t buying compilations anymore, they’re buying singles. And that’s a bit of a shame. Some of my most favorite songs are those that grew on me over time, not just the hits that caused me to buy the album in the first place.
I don’t know enough about the industry to know how that changes things. I think of it as a writer making money off a really good love scene instead of having to write a whole book. But maybe that’s not the best analogy.
Comment by Lori Borrill — April 24, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Oh yeah, I had all those too. Since I’m the same age as the monkeys I was right there with you. When my oldest wanted an iPod I remember saying, “Why do you need 10,000 songs on one device that you can listen to? Are you really going to listen to that many songs?” And I was so mean, I made him save his money and buy it himself.
Now we all have them, and I’ve actually worn out 1 and am on my second one. And he never lets me live it down how I made him save and buy his own. But he’s like your daughters and he still buys the CD’s. He wants that booklet in his hands, he wants the actual disc in his hands, and then he puts them on his iPod.
He’s a musician and so he has tons of CD’s. Just before Christmas someone broke into his car and stole the big CD books that he had - 400 CD’s total!
Everyone said, “Why did he have that many CD’s in his car in the first place. That was stupid,” and acted as if it was his fault that someone had stolen them. But he delivers pizza, he’s in his car for hours and hours every night and he truly listened to all of those CD’s. Fortunately, most of them were loaded onto his iTunes and so when he replaced the stereo he got one with an MP3 player hookup and so now he uses his iPod in the car.
As for those 8 tracks…maybe you should try selling those on e-bay. I bet someone out there would be willing to pay a bunch for those. I know someone who sold an old turnstyle stereo for a couple of hundred dollars to a collector.
Comment by Jodie — April 24, 2008 @ 9:45 am
I still remember my sister getting a new stereo when I was 7 or 8 and it was so cool because it had a radio, 8 track player and a turn-table. We did eventually have to get the converter to play cassette tapes on the 8 track player. I have tons of cds, and still listen to most of them in my car when I travel. I love my ipod! I have almost every cd I’ve ever owned or borrowed from the library on it, plus books, movies, and tv shows. I have playlists for the gym, travel, and even sleep. I never thought I would buy one, but am actually looking at getting another one with more memory, so I can load all seven of the Harry Potter books on it too.
Comment by Liza — April 24, 2008 @ 10:04 am
I remember listning to Sesame Street Records on my little record player. I still have a bunch of cassette tapes. I have Cds but hate when my kids get a hold of them and scratch them I have a only a Ipod shuffle but I do love it eventually maybe I will get a bigger one and move away from cds.
Comment by Michele — April 24, 2008 @ 10:08 am
My first record: Mousersize by Minnie Mouse.
My first CDs: Millie Vanille (sp) and New Kids on the Block.
Thankfully, my tastes have expanded!
I absolutely LOVE my MP3 player, but everything on there is music (or audio books) I’ve ripped off my CDs. (I had to buy a potable hard drive b/c all my music files had filled up my computer!)
The only thing I’m interested in buying as a digital are the B-sides that bands have on their web sites and live tracks that don’t get released in CD form but you can get online.
The best thing about tapes: MIXED TAPES!!! I think iPods are just GIANT mixed tapes.
Comment by Cas — April 24, 2008 @ 10:19 am
I remember the 8 tracks, anything vinyl tapes and sometimes still use cd’s. I’m a techno geek
so everything that could be played or play on that was electronic I begged for when I was a kid the bought and still buy as an adult. I remember having a little white record player that I picked just so it could match my room and played 45s all day when I was out of school. Until I was fussed at to finish my homework which I responded. “but the music help me think” 
I’m paying for those days now with a 14 year old that’s, as my mother tells me “she’s just like you were”. 
Don’t ya hate those comments. hehe.
Melanie
Comment by Melanie W — April 24, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Oh I remember lps and 45s. When my son was little, he saw a turntable. He turned to me excitedly and said, “Mom, were CDs really that big when you were young.” I don’t have a mp3 player. Everyone else in the family does.
Comment by flip — April 24, 2008 @ 11:14 am
I have fond recollections of vinyl and cassettes. I still have several cassettes and my parents have a great deal of vinyl records. Today we listen to CDs. No MP3s of Ipods in our house, at least not yet. Except for purchasing the Amazon Kindle we are always late buying new technology. We purchased our first digital camera and dvd player two years ago. I’m sure as our daughter gets older we will become more technology minded.
Cool topic Janelle! Happy Thursday everyone!
Comment by Kelly H — April 24, 2008 @ 11:16 am
My early memories of recorded music begin with the “78s” of the 1940s , followed by the “45s”in the
1950s, and followed by all the formats listed by Janelle. My husband and oldest son collect recordings,
so we have some of all the technologies by which music has been recorded. That includes the “reel to reel”
player which my husband still has in the garage. I remember my older cousin teaching me to “jitterbug”
to the big band music on those “78s”!! Of course, I was a very young child at the time!!!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 24, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
I had tons of 45’s. Not many 8 tracks. Then cassettes. Still have a lot of albums. Can’t replace some of that artwork, you know?
Comment by Kirsten — April 24, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
Like Patricia Cochran I go back to listening to Mom’s 78’s, my 45’s, then LP’s. Somehow I completely skipped 8 track tapes & mostly cassettes! My car is a 2002 that only has a cassette player in it which baffles me so I’m always on the lookout for cassettes! I find them at the thrift stores & last weekend at the library Book Faire. The car has all kinds of other upgrades I don’t know why it doesn’t have a CD player. I bought the car used so you take what you get! I love the car!! Mostly I play the radio except when I’m traveling in areas that I can’t pick up music I like!! Then I play my tapes. I don’t own an MP3 or a iPod, it is hard to keep up with the technology and then there is the expense!! I still have some of my LP’s but not sure why. I’m going to donate a bunch to the next Book Faire sale.
Thinking back to listening to the 78’s & all the great music they had in the 40’s makes me very nostalgic, Glenn Miller, the Dorsey brothers, Tony Martin, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby the music was fabulous!
Thanks for a trip down memory lane! Music is a must just like reading romance.
Comment by Donna M — April 24, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
I remember the 45s and the 12 inch records. I still have my record collection. I still listen to my cds, but I use my iPod most of the time.
Comment by Jane — April 24, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
I still have all of my old LP’s and 45’s but I haven’t listened to them in years. They have a lot of sentimental value not to mention the memories and it would be hard to part with them. I let go of the 8 tracks and cassettes way faster. Hmmm.
Comment by Carol R — April 24, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
I have 78’s, 33’s, 45’s, eight tracks, casettes and cd’s. I listen most to cd’s.
Comment by Estella — April 24, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
I was in Disney singing along with the music and I told the girl behind the counter that I had one of the songs on 45. She looked at me blankly.
My uncle had reel-to-reel. Does that make him old or a music snob?
Comment by ThatBrunette — April 24, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
My thanks to ThatBrunette! Now I know that we are not the only people to have
reel to reel! We get such weird looks when we mention that type system! Like,
whatever are you talking about? P.S. Honey says that makes us old!!
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 24, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
I remember my sisters listening to 8 tracks. Tooooo funny!
I have a lot of old lp’s, and even have a turntable to play them on, although it’s not hooked up. Most of the music that I really liked I have replaced on cd over the years. And Bruce got me an mp3 player for my birthday, which I listen to when I’m traveling. In the car, I really like Sirius radio so I can get exctly what I’m in the mood for!
And I remember reel-to-reels! My grandparents in Newfoundland had one, and my aunt & uncle in Hawaii, as well as my parents. We’d all record messages for each other and send them through the mail, ’cause long distance was SO expensive, dontchaknow. lol!
I am currently in possession of all our family’s r-2-r tapes. I can’t play them, but I would really like to find someplace to transfer them into digital files so everyone in the family can have them.
Comment by Leslie — April 24, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
I still have records, casset tapes and of course cd’s. I received a radio that has all componants that I can play all listed. I don’t have a MP3 or IPOD and wished they would stop changing everything.
Comment by Dina — April 24, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
Great blog today Janelle…I am going to try my best to remember some things….
So, how many of you remember playing vinyl records and 8-track tapes?
Well, I remember playing LPs and 45s, actually, I remember my mom playing them…groups like the Commodores, The Whispers, The Shilites (sp), The Ojays, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Supremes, etc…as a matter of fact, she still plays them…I have seen an 8 track, but I never saw the machine that were used to play them…they were huge like a video casette…remember those?
What is your main source of listening to music now - - CD’s or iPod/MP3?
My main source of listening to music is CD’s. I haven’t gotten on the iPod or MP3 player bandwagon….yet…
How do you feel about CD’s become obsolete in the future? Will you miss them or have you already moved on with your MP3 player?
I don’t know what I would do if they became obsolete…I just might be the only one left with almost a 1000+ CD’s if that ever happens…I will miss them tremendously…I still have an CD player, so the only thing that would really get me is if batteries became obsolete…gosh, I still own a walkman, and the tapes to play in them…
Ev, I have never heard of the 33s…what are those like? Estella, what are 78s? I was born in the 70s, but I have never heard of those two…
Janelle, thanks for taking us way, way, way back…
I hope that everyone had a wonderful day…ttyl
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — April 24, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
I do remember 45’s, but I’m all about my iPod now. I have all my music on my computer and my iPod and I don’t miss CD’s at all. I really like being able to listen to just the songs I want to and it’s fun to make playlists for various activities.
Comment by Cynthya — April 24, 2008 @ 11:54 pm
Paula R.,
“78s” were the recorded musical discs of the 1940s and played at 78 rpms (78 revolutions
per minute). “33s” are also known as “LPs,” 33 rpms being their playing speed.
Pat Cochran
Comment by Patricia Cochran — April 25, 2008 @ 12:28 am
I started out with the $.99 45’s and LP’s for $3.99. I listened to a lot of radio …WLS from Chicago.
Now, I don’t own an IPOD or an MP3 player so I’m still buying CD’s. I have a tape player in my van. Never got into the BULKY 8 tracks.
Comment by Laurie G — April 25, 2008 @ 6:35 am
I’ve never actually seen an 8-track. The only LPs I’ve seen are the ones my parents kept and are currently in the family room, along with a record player my brother bought them a few years ago.
The first music I bought was a tape by Boyz II Men when I was in middle school. I really liked their music and having that tape led me to buy some of it as sheet music to learn to play myself.
I shifted over to CDs pretty quickly, though. I have a ton of CDs and still prefer to buy my music that way. Once I have it, though, I upload it onto my iTunes library on my external hard drive. I only have an MP3 player and have only downloaded just a bit more music than I need to cover the 5K pub run I do with my brother on Saturdays. There is more room on the MP3 player, but I’ve been too busy to add more music to it from my library. I also have iTunes at work and have uploaded my favorite CDs there as well.
Like your daughters, Janelle, I like having the physical CD to look at, not to mention the information and song lyrics that are usually included. And, though I don’t have as extensive a library of CDs as Jodie’s son had, I have more CDs than any of my friends or family. Just bought three more, in fact. It will be a sad day for me when CDs go the way of LPs, cassettes, and all other forms of recorded music before them.
Comment by Karin — April 25, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
I use my ipod and tons of CD’s as my main source of music. I do remember my Dad’s 8 track collection (and rolling my eyes every time he told me how cool they were…
. My Mom is hooked on records. She calls DVD’s “CDs” and sometimes calls CD’s records. Bless her technology challenged heart. I am certain I have tapes galore somewhere……
I have even seen the things where you can download books. Somehow, I just can’t bear the thought. Curling up with a book in a machine just doesn’t have the same feeling! I love the book itself.
It is amazing just how fast technology swirls around us! Sometimes it is just plain dizzying!!!
Looking forward to the new book.
Amy
Comment by Amy P. — April 25, 2008 @ 9:09 pm