Digital music downloaded from online sources is the most popular way to purchase music, and unless you are a big fan of the good old days of music records, CDs and disk players, chances are that most of your music collection has been built in this way. Physical music stores have plummeted both in numbers and demand, and in keeping with the current trend, many of them have resorted to creating a digital section that sells music players, to attract a greater footfall.
The loss in the market’s appetite for music CDs can be largely attributed to the rise of the online stores. For a decent sum of money, you can buy individual tracks as well as complete albums. The biggest positive about the online format is the convenience of receiving the music file immediately, no matter where you might be, without having to make the physical effort of going to the store. Payment options are safe and encrypted, so you don’t need to worry about jeopardising your account details. Besides, it would reflect poorly on the site and cause a huge loss in customers if a breach of trust were to occur. Online streaming is another way for you to enjoy music, and with many portals being free of charge or based on a nominal monthly subscription, this is a challenge even to online stores.
Pros and cons
The sales figures for CDs and DVDs at music stores may be dropping at a swift rate, but they have retained a loyal audience who appreciate pressing down on the play button rather than clicking on it. Indeed, the physical act of sifting through piles of CDs, exploring aisles that stock unfamiliar genres and artists, and finding limited edition packages or bonus tracks can make a trip to the store worth your time and energy. Sampling music CDs on headphones is another experience that may be missing on online portals. Once you have paid and downloaded an album without testing it, there is no going back.
You can also rely on local stores to stock the work of emerging artists, old collections, and collectible cover art. Online stores, on the other hand, do not feature all musicians and albums. Popular global and regional artists are suggested based on collective trends, and the not-so-popular ones cannot bypass this queue. Digital rights management is another issue that many may experience with soft-format purchases, because it restricts the type of devices that accept and play the tracks that you have paid for.
Save more with smart decisions
To counteract the dip in commercial returns, stores now offer loyalty cards and appealing schemes to their regular customers. These will help you save money when purchasing different services, and benefit you in the long run. You can avail yourself of such deals and rewards through Grouptrader on LinkedIn.
Though online music gains its power from the masses that subscribe to it, people love both digital and store-bought music. Ultimately, choosing one format over another is completely dependent on your lifestyle, how much leisure time you have, your musical preferences, and the satisfaction derived from either manually paying at a cash counter or swiping your card.
