For classical music, I essentially download FLAC (be it a public domain record or not). Conductors and orchestras don't need my money - they are sponsored by hedge funds, Rolex and banks. So much for American and (some) European orchestras going "bankrupt". I already perpetuate the system booking overpriced tickets once or twice a month.
The differences between buying a CD and downloading a digital file (not to mention illegal downloads) could be discussed forever. The implications, I believe, are much greater than a debate on buying something material, though this must be the core of it.
Music produced in the era of digital files loses some of the signified and the message actually conveyed is the signifier, notably the wonders of technology (how fast music loads from the hard drive, how fun it is to pilot an iPhone and to download complete discographies). The construction of meaning and the frontier self/not-self fade out.
Also, one must think what would happen if, for some reason, all CDs were to become obsolete at once. Would people complain? Do we have all we need, stored in multiple lossless formats? Can we save it on a physical support, etc. ? I'm not doubting it could happen but a) many websites charge an extra 50 % if you go for FLAC instead of MP3 files, which is absurd if you think of the ratio server space/content sold ; b) it doesn't really matter, because music produced in the era of digital files is only not tied by its immanent properties but by the system it is part of.
Current events shed a light on what it means to buy a CD and up to when we will be able to buy it. Though we might want to get rid of such a habit, we have been conditionned.
High speed dirt.
The differences between buying a CD and downloading a digital file (not to mention illegal downloads) could be discussed forever. The implications, I believe, are much greater than a debate on buying something material, though this must be the core of it.
Music produced in the era of digital files loses some of the signified and the message actually conveyed is the signifier, notably the wonders of technology (how fast music loads from the hard drive, how fun it is to pilot an iPhone and to download complete discographies). The construction of meaning and the frontier self/not-self fade out.
Also, one must think what would happen if, for some reason, all CDs were to become obsolete at once. Would people complain? Do we have all we need, stored in multiple lossless formats? Can we save it on a physical support, etc. ? I'm not doubting it could happen but a) many websites charge an extra 50 % if you go for FLAC instead of MP3 files, which is absurd if you think of the ratio server space/content sold ; b) it doesn't really matter, because music produced in the era of digital files is only not tied by its immanent properties but by the system it is part of.
Current events shed a light on what it means to buy a CD and up to when we will be able to buy it. Though we might want to get rid of such a habit, we have been conditionned.
High speed dirt.
