Introduction
Streaming has become much, much more popular in recent years, and the pandemic has only exacerbated this. However, music streaming services like Spotify and YouTube haven’t always been around. Not so long ago, CDs were all the rage, and a great source of income for musicians. So how did CDs go from being the big thing to being a relic?
How Streaming Music Began
Streaming began in the 1990s through downloading music onto a TV. Though, not quite as conveniently as one can today with a smart TV. Streaming really kicked off with the introduction of YouTube in 2005. People could now upload and watch music videos from anywhere, at any time. Eventually, it became easier and faster to download music than to buy a CD. CDs were no longer the cool thing to have, nor were they practical. While it is true that there is still an element of excitement and permanence in buying a new CD, most people who want these feelings have actually gone back a generation to purchase vinyl records instead.
The Decline of CDs
A significant factor in the decline of CDs isn’t just that people stopped caring, but that advertisers no longer tried to get people to care. The music industry saw that more and more people were moving online, and it decided to follow them. If there’s one thing that describes the music industry, it’s adaptability. They took full advantage of this to make sure they could reach the largest crowds with the most convenience and the least cost, since they no longer need to create the actual CDs. And since the popularity of online services has gone up so much since the pandemic’s start, it’s understandable that music would become even more ingrained in the internet.
Conclusion
In the end, it’s not that CDs did anything wrong, but more that the internet did everything right. Music has always grown alongside its audience, and this is a perfect example of that in action. Listening to CDs with friends or family gave fond memories to so many, and they are an integral part of music’s history. Unfortunately for them, music never likes to sit still, and it’s moved on to new pastures.
Now that we’ve covered how the music industry got here, you might be wondering where it’s going next. You can find out by reading this article about the Boom on the Horizon. If you’ve still a hankering for some learning, you can always check out FerryGodmother.com to explore all sorts of topics.