Physical or Digital Albums?

Jim Nash is back and today he’s asking how you buy YOUR music!

Hope ya’ll had a Hillbilly Holiday! Let’s start the New Year off by talking about your music.

Back in December, I saw some offers to download Keith Urban’s latest release Get Closer for only $4.99 from Amazon. It’s still available for $5.99. Target on the other hand offers this CD for $8.99 with a Deluxe Edition for $11.99. In today’s economy, that may mean the difference between making or not making the purchase…or does it?

Long gone are the days when the only option was to pick up an album (am I dating myself?) or a CD. Nowadays, you can also get your music streaming online via free or subscription based music services, via radio stations that offer a live audio feed online, through satellite radio or songs a-la-cart through iTunes, Amazon or Wal-Mart.

I would say I’m still old fashioned in this regard. While I listen to country music online, when it comes to purchasing my music, I’ll pick up the CD.

Here’s the process that works for me. Once I hear at least 2 songs by an artist that I like, it’s probable that I’ll like a few more tracks off their CD. Or, if I already have a track record with an artist, I’ll pick up their CD anyway. Otherwise, if an album comes highly recommended from someone who’s opinion I trust, I’ll pick it up.

I like CDs for a few reasons. When away from a computer, I listen to a lot of music on a portable music player, but my car has a 6-CD player and no auxiliary input for said portable music player. I even have one of the FM transmitters but they don’t work all that well. And once said portable music player is in it’s protective case, it doesn’t fit in the FM transmitter holder. Grrr…

I also like to look at the liner notes. See who wrote the tracks, the lyrics, some photos and other amusing information. Even though some digital purchases now offer something similar to download and view, who’s going to do that.

Oh, and usually as soon as you open the CD, a little card falls out with instructions on how to get free ring tones of these songs on your phone. Great. CDs also make great Holiday gifts.

Lastly, I like they way they look on the shelf. Your music collection says a lot about you, so when friends come over, are they going to peruse the titles on your portable music player?

The one thing I dislike is that it takes me around 10 minutes to finally free a CD from its “coat of armor.” Seriously, the cellophane plastic rips into a million pieces sticking to everything with static, then the tape that seals the CD shut, I can never get started! There must be an easier way.

But every now and then I’ll download a track. If it’s a single oldie or a brand new song that I don’t want to wait until the CD is released.

What do you think? Is Physical going the way of the Dodo?

Keeping it Countriversy,
Jim Nash V.

Jim Nash V is a contributing writer with a passion for country music. Jim works to promote line dancing and country music in Long Island New York. For more on Jim, find him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jim.nash.vafeas or visit www.YeeHawLI.com.