Record stores, I miss you ...

I open my mobile phone,

I type the song

I want to listen to on a music app or Youtube and then ,

click!!!

All it takes is 15 seconds. I enjoy the power of choosing the library of millions of songs and playing it in seconds, with utmost quality .

If you rewind few years, things weren’t so rosy. There was a struggle the music industry faced because many of us had taken music for granted.

There was a period during 1998- 2000’s where “the internet boom” happened and piracy was born. But this time it crippled the music industry .Thanks to Piratebay and torrents, we all ripped 100’s of songs on a cd or download songs, for free!!!. Eventually everyone stopped paying for music and having music for free. Why should I pay when I get something for free. The Billion dollar industry crashed .

Piracy was uncontrollable and artists count make money because people got it for free. A song would be famous and a hit but it never fetched money. These were the darkest years of the music industry . No matter what they did , piracy was uncontrollable, it grew bigger .

Then came Apple Corp, who made songs available for 99 centsin iTunes . So now you need not buy an entire album so that you could listen to your that one favourite song.Few years later, Spotify was launched as the first streaming music website which revolutionised the music Industry

But I miss those days of going to a music store. Surrounded by cassettes ,CDs and vinyls . There would be cabins where you could listen to the latest music tracks on a headphone with a quality that use to blow my mind. It was private space where you could feel your music. I enjoy having human interactions with the sales or music fanatic who gives me suggestions and info about the artist and the story behind it rather than goggling paid reviews. Going to a music shop was a social spot, where music lovers come and buy a piece of art.

I believe we humans love to touch and feel . That’s what creates a long lasting impression. Owning a cassette, cd or vinyl was an emotion for many .Lending them to fiends and loved ones, making a mixed tap of your or others favourite songs was an everlasting gift.Learning lyrics of our favourite track was easy because we were limited to our options and ensured we listened to the entire album coz you needed effort and patience to skip a song. Maybe that is why Radio stations had it’s own charm.

The unexpected airing your favourite song would cheer you up and uplift your mood.There are many who still love the radio even now, but I guess it doesn’t bring the surprise and wow effect because you can access them within seconds ,that too whenever you want, has many times as you want.

But whatever form it is , Music serves only one purpose, to enjoy and cherish it. Times are changing and so does lifestyles and technology .

Music will always hit you because music is a feeling and that’s all it matters .