Do you still buy music on CD?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The only time I ever buy downloaded music is when it's not available at all on CD. At all other times I will buy the CD.

I do this because I like having the physical media as the ultimate backup - I am sure that there are situations where both one's computer and iPod can be damaged.

Besides, if a more advanced audio codec comes along, I can re-rip. With downloaded media, you're stuck at whatever encoding method (and bitrate) it used.

 

[Neeka Keet]

Very rarely do I buy CDs anymore. I download from iTunes and other places that are cheaper (free).

 

[TrekNut87]

Only on very rare occasions do I buy music on CD anymore. I usually download from iTunes and various others.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Well, I don't buy much music in general. I used to download a lot of free songs (back in high school during the Napster days), but never whole albums. Just random songs from an artist who I don't normally listen to. If I really love a band I will buy the cd.

Once the free downloads stopped, I didn't download any more music online. I just don't think it's worth the money. I don't own an mp3 player and rarely listen to music on my computer so what's the point? I'm not a big music fan. But sometimes I really feel the need to listen to a particular song/band and so I do. These are always CDs that I already own, as my music tastes are very much geared towards the late 90s (although I also love 70s rock). I also listen to CDs in the car. So as you can see, they are still very useful for me.

 

[I am not Spock]

I'm an old timer too! (raises hand) I only ever buy music CDs. Don't like the concept of downloading music. I like the thrill of actually physically having the album, and flicking through the liner notes.

Call me old fashioned! (btw, I'm 26! )

 

[Harvey]

I buy anything I want on CD.

That said, I don't think I've bought more than five CDs in the past year. From memory, the soundtracks to The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Michael Clayton, and the X-Files: I Want to Believe. Hell, I guess that's only four.

College is too expensive to be buying more than a few things on CD.

 

[EnsignRicky]

Nah, that costs money.

 

[Shintaek]

If I want the whole album, I really like the artist/band, or I can't find it on iTunes or others, then I buy the CD. Only time that ever happens is if I'm buying from an online shop in another country.

 

[PK95]

I still buy CDs for the majority of my music. The funny thing is that I used to buy lots of new CDs every year but now the majority of CDs that I buy are either musical scores or greatest hits albums. Looking at my CD collection I have only bought two CDs that were not a score or a greatest hit album this year....and only one more that I plan to buy. My how times have changed.

 

[Ashu]

I only ever download to see if i want to spend the money on the cd. I love having the physical copies of them

 

[Kronos]

Only if I download it first and declare it worthy of a purchase, other wise just the songs I like.

CD take up space

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I generally buy the CDs, as I like having some physical, but generally try and listen to a few songs before I buy a new CD. It helps having a good radio station also.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

We used to buy Cd's buts its been a good few years since we bought any CD or even anything new music wise......i think the last CD i bought was the Beatle Love album from my local supermarket.

 

[Pingfah]

I still buy some new albums on vinyl

But yeah the bulk of the music is buy is on CD. I only DL mp3s if i'm so looking forward to the album that I can't wait for the release date, and then I buy the CD anyway later.

 

[Hermiod]

I only buy things I can't get through any other legal means - the last CD I bought was the Battlestar Galactica season three soundtrack.

 

[MyCylon]

I still buy CDs. I never felt comfortable with the download stores. Some of the main gripes I have (which have already been mentioned) are:

- DRM (they turn off the servers, buy, buy music in many cases).
- You're getting a lossy format.
- The prices should be WAY lower than they are. Very often you'll get the physical CD at the same price or cheaper.
- No booklet.

I also don't tend to buy individual songs since I tend to get fed up with them too quickly. So I'm more likely to get albums, and then I feel I might as well get the CD.

 

[Kemaiku]

I still buy CD's, I just like having my music collection physically there.

 

[archeryguy1701]

I still buy only CD's. The only times I have considered going to downloads is for a single song that I want, but I don't want to waste money on an entire CD for it.

 

[stoneroses]

I still buy CDs because I have a back up when I stick them on iTunes. I buy stuff on iTunes too when I just want the odd song or if I want something in a hurry.
I like to listen to stuff on http://www.Lastfm.com too, great for finding new bands.

 

[Rii]

I do this because I like having the physical media as the ultimate backup - I am sure that there are situations where both one's computer and iPod can be damaged.

There are many situations in which your CDs can be scratched, lost, or otherwise rendered useless too. Ease of backup is a strength of electronic media. One can distribute a dozen copies of an electronic collection around the globe such that nothing short of the apocalypse is going to kill it in less time and with less effort than is required to duplicate a CD collection once. It's certainly true that corporate asshattery wrt DRM works to mitigate many of inherent advantages of electronic media in actual use, but that's an argument against specific services, not the concept itself.