Stephen Jones

From Medieval taverns to sold-out football stadiums, music has been one of the quintessential forms of expression in the Western world. For hundreds of years, people have used music  to spread stories of great victories in battle, express tales of forbidden love, and convey great emotion: a trend that continues to today. With this almost essential part of human life, comes the constant need to innovate to meet the ever-increasing demand, and this is definitely apparent in the modern era of instant gratification.

Over the years, the ways in which a person listens to music has changed multiple times, and the recurring trend seems to favor convenience over quality. Today, digital albums are more popular than the physical CD and vinyl record in America; but even though digital albums might be one of the most accessible ways to listen to music, the quality takes a hit. In a digital form, data is compressed to a point where clarity is noticeably worse than a physical copy, such as a vinyl record, where the data is uncompressed. If vinyl record sales are any indication, a growing number of people seem to realize this difference in quality. According to Rolling Stone, Nielson Music reported a 51.8 percent increase in 12-inch vinyl sales and a 9.4 percent drop in digital sales from 2013 to 2014. Although there is a drop in digital sales, audio streaming, a form of digital music consumption one can listen to for free, rose 54.5 percent. Taking these numbers into account, people who want to listen to music on the go for free would prefer streaming, and those who want the best quality at home would rather buy vinyl records. In this modern culture of convenience and quantity over quality, any trend that supports the contrary is a breath of fresh air to those who crave better quality in their everyday life.

If there is one solid conclusion to make about the future of music, it is that no matter what medium the public prefers, music will always be an integral part of human culture and expression.