It's strange, simply because when the format changed, it wasn't really an organic change. It was a forced change. If you go into Tower Records, Sam Goody or Musicland, the places where 80% of people buy their music, there's no option to buy vinyl. It's not there and it's too bad. The funny part is, I remember when I was younger, the only shops that would sell CD players were the audiophile shops where everything was really expensive. Now the only place you can buy a new turntable is those same places that were responsible for switching the format. A lot of the audiophiles like the vinyl so much more.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Cornell critiques the forced shift from vinyl to digital formats, noting that mainstream stores eliminated vinyl options while audiophile shops remain the only source for turntables.
- In plain terms
- The music industry pushed people away from vinyl without a natural transition, making it hard to find records now.
- What can you take from it?
- Format changes driven by industry pressure can alienate consumers and limit access to preferred media.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do format changes impact artistic intent?
- Should retailers cater to niche preferences?
Another view
The decline of vinyl was also driven by convenience and portability preferences of the average consumer.
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