Consumer music trends research

[EssexDave]

Thanks for the responses :)

[NTECUK]

Done ;)

[EssexDave]

Much obliged!

[Littlepeahead]

I'd be interested to see people's responses to this so I will email but here's my answers:

1. Do you prefer to buy music on physical products (like CDs) or digitally (such as MP3s or from the iTunes store)? - I generally buy heavyweight vinyl and this often includes a download code and sometimes a CD as well.

2. Given the choice, would you prefer to purchase your music, or to pay a flat-fee for a subscription based service? I like to own the music as artists make more from a physical purchase and it's then mine to keep/lend/play on any device

3. If you had a streaming based music service, would you also consider purchasing music (either digital or physical)? Yes

4. Do you think there is a difference in what you purchase if you purchase digital or physical music, and if so what do you believe these differences are? I think many MP3s are not as rich in sound as the vinyl, CDs are a bit better. However, I have a top notch set of separates, subwoofer, floor standing speakers etc. and I know most people will play music through a phone through cr@ppy Apple headphones so most of the quality is lost on them anyway. If I do play music on my phone I use decent headphones.

[timwilky]

I am surprised that you start from the premise that people buy music!

So any freeloader cannot answer your questions, but you could presume they prefer digital music.

[EssexDave]

Hi Tim,

It's actually not my premise and I don't want to bore you with the details, but essentially pirated music forms a different part of the equation because I'm considering the impact on the wholesale side (i.e., consumers behaviour alters the amount retailers need to buy, and so it will also impact on wholesale quantities and potentially prices). All I am trying to establish is that they are substitutable to a lot of people (and by no means everyone).

Those who pirate music are not changing the amounts because they were not buying music in the first place.

[L3nny]

What about Sound cloud and YouTube? That's how I get all my music. Free and legal(ish)

[Littlepeahead]

Before YouTube did you go to HMV and buy a record?

I often put YouTube on at work to play something, really no different to putting the radio on which I also do via TuneIn as you can get some great overseas stations, but I'm a firm believer that if you like a song, buy it, own it, make it part of your heritage. Appreciate the artwork on the sleeve, read the liner notes, enjoy the smell of the new packaging, the creak as you open the gatefold for the first time. Maybe I'm just weird, I did spend ten years DJing, working in a record shop then record companies so that's probably why I feel that way. I.put a lot of effort in on some albums.

Imagine if Abbey Road had been an MP3 only, I would not have to give tourists directions from, Baker Street every day!

[Red ones]

I have a different view.

Yes I'm a freeloader. But. I use Spotify, YouTube, tunein etc.
surely this is similar to radio in monetisation, ie advertising pays.
I don't care for owning physical music due to space constraint and degradation of the medium.

[NTECUK]

My floorboards are creaking under the weight of the vinyl I own!
It's nice it fits on the ipods and ssdd's.

[Littlepeahead]

I have a different view.

Yes I'm a freeloader. But. I use Spotify, YouTube, tunein etc.
surely this is similar to radio in monetisation, ie advertising pays.
I don't care for owning physical music due to space constraint and degradation of the medium.
It depends, way back in the early 90s when I worked fire a label an artist/writer would be paid £26 every time their record was played on the radio. 25 years later that £26 would be nearly £60 if the rate had stayed the same, but artists don't get paid that sort of money for you listening on You Tube or Spotify.

[L3nny]

Before YouTube did you go to HMV and buy a record?


Back in the olden days I would dedicate whole days to record shopping, I'd get the train 40 minutes into Oxford and go to Massive records where I would spend hours listening to vinyl and I'd spend all of the money I earned from my part time job on them. A single track was between £5 and £10 and that was 20 years ago.

Finding a rare import, limited edition or that amazing tune that was on all your Helter Skelter and Dreamscape tapes was a source of pride. I'd then invite all my mates over and I would proudly play it on my 1210s :tiesto:

All of this vinyl as well as tapes and CDs are now in the loft and haven't seen the light of day in years. I don't own a record player or a tape player and the only CD player is in my car.

I can now do the same without leaving my house, just by trawling Youtube, soundcloud, mixcloud etc. I can make playlists and share them with my friends without seeing them in person. I can download them and put them on my Ipod or phone and it doesn't cost me a penny.

Each have their benefits but I'm pretty sure the current system is more convenient.

[Littlepeahead]

I'm waiting for the new Blur album to arrive, £30 on double vinyl plus postage. My big regret is leaving all my Blur stuff behind when I left my last partner, along with 600 CDs and vinyl, many of which were albums I'd worked on. Mr LPH bought me Blur's complete back catalogue for my birthday on CD with download codes, but I still miss my 12" Boys and Girls Pet Shop Boys remix. But I used to love spending time in Record shops and this thread has prompted me to head to Portobello Road tomorrow, visit Honest Jon's.