Music Burnout in the Digital Age

I've built up a collection of over 1500 CDs.  No handle on LPs and the cassettes (which I used to have).  I don't really care for downloads.  You Tube on the other hand...
I can identify with the burn out.  I started a thread a few years ago on the overload.
I was invited to be a crossover evaluator a few years ago but had to step down.  Found I was discovering too much stuff that I wanted to get. 

I don't really have this problem. Though I do have alot of music I haven't listened to yet.

Finnforest wrote: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: I feel like this is a good problem to have. Yeah.....to me it falls under "what's not to like?"   I love old favorites and looking for new music.  The internet has been so great for seeing rare stuff I might not get the chance to elsewhere.  I'll always prefer the physical format but I don't see the addition digital choices as a problem by any means.  Today alone was a smorgasbord of format and content I indulged in, in the various places I went.  CDs in the car, streaming at work, DVD on home theater, and finally YouTube tonight.  I feel fulfilled, not burned out

I'm listening to Bob Seger on Youtube right now (not because I want to, but because each member of my band is taking turns sending out albums that we all have to listen to.  Some of these songs are actually pretty good though).

Really, the only difficulty I have with the abundance of music available comes as a performer, not a listener; even though it's easier than ever to record and put your music out for the public to see, with so many bands competing for attention it's hard to distinguish yourself from the crowd, no matter how good or unique you might be, simply because of the sheer volume of music available.

I feel like this is a good problem to have.

Edited by wilmon91 - August 11 2012 at 14:41

I've been listening to a TON of new music lately, and I have mixed feelings about the experience.  In one aspect, I think it has made me more open to new music and styles I might not otherwise find enjoyable.  But in another sense, I do find that I feel as if I don't KNOW my favorites as well as I'd like to.  And I wonder if things do get lost - like maybe because I am listening to so much new music, I might be blowing right past a great album and only listening to it once because it just gets lost amongst all the new music I listen to.  But all that being said, I like listening to new music - I like the novelty of listening to something new, so I'll probably keep listening to a lot of new stuff.

One thing I really like now is that you can download an album and burn a CD immediately. I did this recently with Chicago VII as it was so cheap and the sound quality is more than acceptable. It does become a bid addictive though. I probably still buy more CD's then I download (often they are cheaper) but the balance is now about 65% CD's to 35% downloads something I would never have imagined happening just a few years ago.

When I was in college, I used to listen to just one artist - ok, one who was more prolific than Beatles, Floyd and Wonder put together - all the time.  Often the same songs several times and sometimes twice-thrice in succession.   After that, I had a phase when I listened to lots and lots of music, lots of new artists.  I have slowed it right down again because I just don't feel like bombarding myself with more and more music all the time.   Which is not to say I don't listen to new music - either actually new or just something I haven't already heard - anymore. But I make sure I take the time to appreciate what I am listening to deeply and derive a lot of pleasure from it instead of feeling compelled to 'move on'.  

I have lost count of how many times I heard the Idler Wheel in the last few months.  I thought I am past the stage where I would repeat albums I love endlessly but it seems as if it is just a question of slowing down the pace and cherishing the experience.   Nothing much is going to happen if I don't listen to something that people say is amazing, except I am going to miss out on some good music.  Which I am going to anyway, given the sheer amount of music there is.   I don't want to be in the position where I have had thousands of albums lying in my rack that I barely got through three-four times.  Far more productive to squeeze the last drop out of what I have before moving on.  Saves some money too. 

My CD obsession is something that I've been seriously trying to reel in for years. I've got hundreds of CDs that I haven't even heard yet. Thankfully, I've got just about all the classical and jazz recordings I want, so when I came back after about a 12 years hiatus from progressive rock, I found that I was terribly out-of-touch and have been trying to find new music that I think I would enjoy based on my preferred tastes in this music. Anyway, I would say I have been blessed in the regard that I'm fortunate enough to obtain this music. I'm also thankful that YouTube exists so I can sample songs from albums I'm currently looking at. I've saved myself a lot of money by just relying on YouTube to weed out the junk that I simply would never listen to had I just took the chance on it. One thing I miss about record stores is the thrill of the hunt but one thing I don't miss are those stores like Borders who charge outrageous prices. Anyway, I'm rambling on a bit too much here but let me just say that music is neverending journey. Just when you think you've heard it all, something completely incredible is waiting for you just around the corner.

Edited by Mirror Image - August 10 2012 at 23:37

I thought this topic would have brought about more discussion.....