Accessing Music - The Old Way! Where Have All the Music Shops Gone?
(Picture source Keystone Features)
Just take a look at this picture. We might think this is crazy nowadays that people actually did this but it was how people back in the 1950's would sample music. These listening booths were installed, initially, in music stores across London from the 1950's. I think they're fricking great!!
But that was the way back then. It wasn't about streaming, downloading or buying a CD. If you wanted to check out the latest releases without buying during those times it would mean a trip to your local music store and then plonk yourself in a listening booth.
Once comfortable you could then pop your vinyl record onto the turntable and sit in the booth listening to your chosen pick. You would have an entire booth to yourself. What's also striking about the picture above is the absence of headphones. So the booth would be fitted with speakers and you would have to listen to your song while all the other booths played different songs chosen by different customers all at the same time.
I have no idea how sound proofed these booths were but I can not imagine there would not be a clash of songs as booths pumped out song after song to potential buyers.
It's easy to look at this picture and have some sense of nostalgia for a bygone era that I was never part of. I think it would be brilliant if I could find a music store in my vicinity, trundle on down to it and slot myself into one of those booths to sample a song or two!
But while there is nostalgia, nowadays we have access to far more music than ever before, and we don't even have to leave our own home. There is an advantage for sure to the way shifts in the way we access music but there are also negatives. Music stores have all but vanished from most towns these days. Go to the city and you might find the odd remaining music shop, selling only second hand records, CDs and tapes.
The demise of the music shop is a tragedy really. It wasn't just about buying music, it was also a hangout and even for grown ups there was a social aspect to paying a visit to your local music store. Growing up in my town there was a number of music stores we used to hangout and buy music from. These days you will struggle to find any. Times change sure, but it's not all progress.
Peace!
You know this is a topic that I cherish.
I started building my music culture going to music stores. I brought my first Led Zeppelin albums there.
The problem with streaming - and it's well known now - is that it is devaluing music. We've entered an era where artists are told to prefer quantity over quality. Most people are musically numb, they're not able to think anymore.
Zombie listeners, boring playlists devourers...
Yes, we have access to all the music in the world almost for free. But at what price...?
Thanks man for your comment, I think this is a topic that strikes a chord for all people who truly appreciate decent music. It doesn't surprise me one bit that this topic resonates with you.
I think so many of us, thankfully, started our music journey by visiting actual music stores and buying music. But as you are aware in the digital age streaming is the new normal and there is no doubt it has devalued not just the monetary aspect of music so artists earn less and less money, but also it has devalued the intrinsic value of music.
Yes, there are advantages living in the digital age when it comes to music consumption but there are also too many disadvantages. I'm just pleased there are people like you who acknowledge that streaming has an ugly and detrimental side.
You are absolutely right to use the word zombie - sadly there are so many of them now in this world.
Free music wasn't a good idea.
And streaming was initially conceived as a way to fight music piracy... At least to pirate music you needed to put some effort into it
Ha yes very true! Do you remember the old bootlegs some of us as teenagers would often go to great lengths to get our hands on!
I've spent a lot of time browsing in record shops. That often led to finding new music and sometimes the album cover would be enough to entice me. We have lost some of that exploration. There are a lot less places to go and buy music these days.
Exploration - great point @steevc! That of course is another, now vanished, aspect to the power and influence music shops used to once have. Browsing in stores would bring you closer to the artists in my opinion, so you would be tempted to learn more about them and sample their music, which could often lead to a purchase.
You would be in an environment conducive to learning, where you could discover artists you may never have heard of purely because the cover of a CD grabbed your attention. And physically digging out a CD, tape or record you could then read the back and the accompanying booklet to learn more. You would be prepared to spend more time reading and learning about just one artist.
Music shops were important on so many different levels, they were true bastions and guardians of culture.
Thanks for your comment and support.
The death of music shops is part of a wider breakdown in the music industry. There's always been pop music but no generation has felt as much pressure to please an algorithm at the expense of creativity and authenticity.