I know there's already a few posts about how people listen to, or discover new music, but I wanted to see how other people get their music. Do you buy CDs or vinyl? Digital downloads? Use streaming services? Something else? And why?

Until a few years ago, I would jump between streaming services depending on the best deals I could get, but got very concerned the more I read about how little money most musicians get from streaming listens (especially via Spotify) - and given I tend to listen to less popular bands/artists, it seems particularly bad for them.

I have a small selection of CDs and vinyl, but mostly buy my music digitally - directly via Bandcamp if the artist is on there, or through an online store like 7digital (or even sometimes if no other option, Amazon) if not. I have a home server where I keep my music and like to be able to stream it directly to my phone, so this tends to be the best of both worlds for me.

Interested to know what others do!

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[–] SweetSitty@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I started going mostly digital about a decade ago. I had moved overseas and so my space was limited. After the initial move, I was constantly moving, so buying physical copies just didn't make sense, especially when I had different regions to contend with.

[–] borlax@lemmy.borlax.com 1 points 2 years ago

Admittedly I go straight to one of the streaming services, but for smaller bands I like who are on bandcamp, I’ll use that to buy their stuff and throw it on my plex/jellyfin. I am also trying to cultivate a local music library again after finding my iTunes library from 2006 lol.

[–] mbryson@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

Streaming services for casual listening, but I have an archive on a home theater PC of music I use for my college radio show with each song in mp3 format.

[–] jay2@beehaw.org 1 points 2 years ago

I still buy CDs. I have a quite large CD collection. It's large enough that I've had to buy multiple pieces of furniture to accommodate it. For me, there's a particular romance with listening to the disc that first time, in order, and while flipping through the liner notes. After that, I'll listen to it in the car or at work for a few weeks, taking note of which songs to record into my mp3 playlist. Eventually, I'll record any songs I want in my home playlist and shelf the CD with the others so that no harm comes to it.

[–] ving_thor@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago

I buy it digitally via Qobuz or Bandcamp. I then put it in my nextcloud. That way I can stream it to my phone.

[–] boysmithers@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

Mainly Bandcamp for new electronic music, FLAC and cassette or CD for certain artists that I really like. Discogs for CDs of older music and Tidal for streaming older music.

[–] Evkob@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

I use Spotify for its convenience and music discovery capabilities. If I particularly like an artist, I'll buy their stuff on vinyl (if available) or I'll buy some merch.

I also support my favourite artist directly on Patreon.

[–] MrGreebles@lemmy.one 1 points 2 years ago

CD's, Beatport, Beatsource, iTunes. Sometimes there are only tracks and albums only available digitally.

[–] Chapi_Chan@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Radio, believe me or not. I try to fish on some indie radios. Also, through podcast or YT: I like when they tell you the story or meaning or help you understand in any way. It helps me enjoy music. Then is easy to pull the threat to jump from one artist to the next.

Then I buy CD on their official website, but don't really listen to them.

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