14 Comments

Still going strong on mp3s and music/culture/asset ownership. Buying albums is meaningful financial support to artists vs streaming revenue, and when Spotify jacks up the monthly sub$$ a couple more bucks some folks gonna be wishing they hadn’t converted to renting all that access.

Expand full comment
author

you are appreciated (c) Tupac

i have this really dark fantasy that one day the hackers will crash the music streaming services and it will send the world into a tailspin.

Expand full comment

I'm not ruling anything out these days. If music streaming gets taken down, the price of records and tapes would shoot up! Have to put the retractable steel gates in front of the shelves at home like it's a jewelry store. See folks hustling thumb drives in the streets priced by the MB. But everyone would start appreciating it in a new way once they lost easy access. Revaluation. Not all downside. I might even root for it.✌🏼🫡

Expand full comment

I gave up on digital ownership a couple years ago. Subscribed to Apple Music so I can listen to anything. If I love it I’ll buy the vinyl.

Expand full comment
author

man it's so hard not to buy vinyl! i have so much and i keep getting more.

Expand full comment

Needed this! Also I don't like mp3s prefer wavs but I think Pharrell knows this project is kinda more of an mp3 type project so I'm not mad. What do you think of Hip Hop apologies?

Expand full comment
author

i know that it's an unpopular opinion but i am honestly not mad at apologies. I also think that nobody wantedt that battle to begin with. they wanted drake and kendrick. for years the narrative was 'cole is boring' which doesn't really jive with wanting him to be a damn battle rapper LOL

Expand full comment

Love a digital file, still keeping a well maintained library here. Mostly from Bandcamp or artist websites or the download cards that come with physical copies. I mostly try to download the .wav files now and keep them on a NAS hard drive that I can access with my phone, laptop, etc.

Expand full comment
author

what is a NAS hard drive and how do you set up your own server? you basically buiilt your own streaming service! that is CRAZY! haha

also can you help me organize my music files? it is MADNESS lol

Expand full comment

I’m not an expert and had to work to figure it out. It’s basically just a hard drive or several hard drives that you slide into a case that connects to your network. It uses some software to organize files and you can install a music specific phone app that links to it and can download from it for mobile use. I do use it like a personal streaming service! I used to use iTunes for organizing and was diligent for many years. I now use a basic metadata editor to rename and add cover art. It takes some work but I find it relatively relaxing though less so as I get older and time is at a premium or feels like it.

Expand full comment

It’s not Not madness what I’m doing I realize

Expand full comment

I would like to get Beyoncé’s take on this Pharrell album

Expand full comment
author

can't wait for the BeYacht Rock album

*drumroll*

Expand full comment

Man! I love the new music plugs!!!! Can't wait to listen! Thanks! I have been talking about legacy and keeping music alive. I know for a fact, I will be listening to vinyl passed on to me by my family or music I have purchased myself. I doubt that I will log into anyone's account after they pass, and I know I can't if the bill isn't paid. Although I love the access, am not sure how streaming supports the legacy of musicians in the future. I also love having access to all the music out there via streaming BUT that means people put stuff out at any time. That's cool but if I had to pay to put my music out on vinyl, I would be a bit more concerned about quality and may take more time with what I put out. Having something tangible to share and keep is invaluable and ups the quality level! My 2 cents...

Expand full comment