Music

In what may perhaps be seen as my own effort to "stem the tide", although nothing as altruistic was in mind, I have purchased more recorded music, both CD and vinyl, in the last 5 years than in the whole of my life until then.

In main, the interest and the ability to do so, have both been generated by the phenomenon of the "interweb" and the ease with such things can be sourced and purchased from all over the world.

I have purchased much music of which I would have known nothing without the "net", met fellow music lovers and spent time, both virtual and in real life, with many whom I might well have never met in any other way.

I have, indeed purchased some music as download only (in high resolution format), but in general prefer the physical medium, aside from the fact that I prefer vinyl anyway.

On another forum I frequent I see a goodly number of student age, who come along for advice and tips about purchasing and setting up hi fi systems at budget levels and the headphone forums are alive with them, so there is definitely significant interest in quality reproduction and the subsidiary issues that you mention.

The ephemera will be as they always have been and the stuff of lasting value will continue to be appreciated for what is is, all that has changed is the information pertaining to it and the accessability of both that and the material itself.

I see much good coming of the digital age, in the opportunity it gives artists to manage their own output, both in terms of SQ and of distribution.

Niche producers have, I think, greater opportunity for survival with exposure to a world market.  That applies to equipment manufacturers, specialist recording studios and individual artists.

While I have never shovelled much snow, (not seen much ), I can recall digging house foundations all day for not much more than the price (then) of an LP record.

I do expect to buy a few more than that for a day's work these days.