As the New Year is upon us, many find themselves in a state of reflection and uncertainty, partially brought on by the troubled economy. As a welcomed respite, surely people will turn to music for relief-perhaps along with a stiff drink.It’s these small indulgences that can bring the spirits up.
However, today’s society is consuming music differently than it did in the past. Instead of sorting through folders on a desktop or iTunes playlists on an iPod, people are turning to vinyl LPs, both old and new, for a new listening experience. If you thought vinyl was only for elitist music-snobs or DJs, you’re wrong.
Another new pattern is the fact that for the first time ever iTunes individual songs have reached one billion downloads from its website. Steve Jobs might be laughing to the bank – but illegal downloading of free music is still rampant, and the waning sales of CDs a reality.
The death of CDs and resurgence of vinyl is just one trend that has been tracked by the industry “watch dog” Nielsen SoundScan, who publishes yearly reports on consumer habits. And though some things will never change – your uncle will always love Springsteen’s blue-collar sensibility, and hipsters will continually adhere to Pitchfork’s recommendations – things will be different in ’09.
Check out the full story in next week’s issue.
QUICKSPINS: Perverts — Ethel Cain
Hayden Anhedönia brings the listener into the eerie world of Ethel Cain in her latest EP.
