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!

  • I eat wordsAEnglish
    9·
    2 years ago

    mostly listen via youtube, sometimes buy music via bandcamp, but usually not downloading nor listening via it, it is just an act of reward and encouragement.

    i have a several vinyls and a cd, that i cannot get rid of, because the artist does not sell his music anymore. (but i have no way to play it).

  • Radiant Crab@lemmy.demonoftheday.euEnglish
    9·
    2 years ago

    I use spotify for most of my listening, but I also buy a lot from bandcamp (digitally). I keep my purchases downloaded on my home server and on my phone for offline use.

  • Domi@lemmy.secnd.meEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    I usually download my FLACs from Bandcamp or Deezer. Sometimes I rip them from CD when I can’t find an album anywhere else.

    I stream them from Jellyfin afterwards.

  • andyMFK@beehaw.orgEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    Spotify for finding new music and most of my listening.

    I’ll buy vinyl for my favorite albums or if I see something at the record store that takes my fancy.

    I’ll usually listen to my records while cooking or if I want to just sit and listen as a primary activity

  • emptyother@beehaw.orgEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    When I find a song, I like to keep it. Streaming cant do that. You can create playlists of course, but they may at any time silently remove or replace that song. You dont know suffering until you’ve heard a bad cover of Hotel California.

    Now I only buy mp3s. Mostly from 7digital.com or Bandcamp. Amazon dont sell music to Norwegians somewhy. The last album I bought I finally had to download iTunes because thats the only place except for Amazon they released. The app wasnt as intrusive and DRM enforcing anymore as it used to be a long time ago. So I might use iTunes a bit more now. (Yeah, I tend to hold a grudge against software companies for a LONG time. You hear that, reddit!)

    Got all my mp3s (23 GB) stored on Onedrive, and use CloudPlayer on android to stream it wherever.

  • 😈MedicPig🐷BabySaver😈@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    5·
    2 years ago

    I have some vinyl and pick up more occasionally from yard sales or thrift shops.

    I’m really big on using a YouTube converter to MP3. I try to find HD/HQ versions of songs I want and then pick highest conversion rate.

  • sexy_peach@feddit.deEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    yt-dlp from yt, SoundCloud etc. Download from Bandcamp, Spotify free. Basically I use everything where the music lives and then download it.

  • themollusk215@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    I actually use archive.org for a lot of live concert recordings. bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish have been allowing/sort of encouraging fans to record and freely share their concerts for a long time and it’s all just out there to listen to and download as much as you want. there’s also the official streaming services like nugs.net and LivePhish for higher quality professionally recorded concerts, the subscription is kind of pricey but I think the artists get a better cut than on regular streaming services.

    other than that I do use Spotify a bit and try to buy stuff on Bandcamp to support the artists when I can.

  • 💡dim@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    Independent artists: buy physically in person or online, or digital from bandcamp.

    Mainstream or in affordable stuff: rip flacs from deezer

    Everything on a self hosted airsonic instance

  • Terevos@lemmy.oneEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    I buy mostly from bandcamp and Amazon.

    I use Plex to host my music. It’s not super difficult to set up. And Plexamp is a pretty good player.

    Plex also has the option for you to subscribe to Tidal, which I do. And the ability to stream my own music that’s not available anywhere on any stream plus almost everything out there that Spotify has is the best combo.

    Jellyfin is another server like Plex, but I haven’t ever set it up so I don’t know how involved it is.

    • sheinar@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
      3·
      2 years ago

      I use Jellyfin, and this was my first home server. Think if I managed it it has to be relatively easy for most people comfortable enough with computers. Probably slightly more involved than Plex though I imagine!

  • David@beehaw.orgEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    Mostly Pandora for music discovery with some occasional Spotify mixed in

    yt-dlp to download a few favorites to listen to in car via phone

    • moral_imperative@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      I’m not jazzed that they’re trying to turn it into an Instagram/TikTok of sorts. I don’t want little video clips with my music - I just want the music!

      • kbtaco@lemmy.oneEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        You can turn the clips off in the settings if you want. That’s what I did because I also think those little clips are annoying

  • ipha@beehaw.orgEnglish
    3·
    2 years ago

    Just Spotify and my pre-spotify (yarr) collection.

    I’m interested in vinyl, but I don’t have space for it ATM.