Reflecting on My Musical Journey from 45s to Streaming Era
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Chapter 1: Early Years of Music Listening
As I reflect on my life, the discontinuation of the last iPod model by Apple prompts me to consider the various ways I’ve experienced music over the years.
During my childhood, I spent countless hours enjoying the 45s and LPs that my parents owned. This early exposure cultivated my love for music from the 1950s and 60s. While LPs allowed for some choice in song selection if handled skillfully, they also came with the risk of scratches if not treated with care. In addition to my vinyl listening, I absorbed music through the radio, mostly tuning into whatever my older sister was playing, and occasionally listening to 8-track tapes in my father’s car.
Section 1.1: The Rise of Cassette Tapes
As I entered middle and high school, cassette tapes began to outshine LPs in popularity. The invention of the Walkman revolutionized music consumption, enabling me to carry my favorite tracks wherever I went. I remember the thrill of recording songs from the radio—waiting patiently with a tape recorder to capture my favorites while avoiding the DJ's chatter. My Walkman remained a staple throughout college, and I even joined the Columbia Records club to amass a collection of cassettes for just a penny each. Today, I still have boxes of these tapes stored in my basement.
Subsection 1.1.1: Transition to CDs
As I moved into married life and transitioned from college, compact discs (CDs) began to dominate the market. With a car equipped with a CD player, I found it much simpler to navigate through tracks compared to cassettes. The ability to shuffle tracks and the later option to burn custom CDs allowed for the continuation of the mixtape tradition. During this time, I also witnessed the gradual shift in libraries from cassette audiobooks to CDs, which took considerable time and persuasion to fully embrace.
Chapter 2: Embracing Digital Music
As my parenting journey began, I noticed another shift from CDs to iPods. With my children being just 1 and 5 years old when the first iPod was released, I wasn't in a hurry to adopt this new technology. Eventually, I acquired an mp3 player as a gift, which allowed me to curate my favorite tracks from my CD collection, bypassing the ones I didn’t enjoy. This was a dream come true for a music enthusiast. I later transitioned to an iPhone, transferring my cherished songs to the device.
Section 2.1: Streaming Era and Reflection
Now that my youngest is nearing college graduation, the news of the iPod’s discontinuation signifies a shift to a fully digital and streaming world. We now opt for subscriptions to services like Spotify and Apple Music instead of purchasing physical albums. The practice of pre-saving new releases has replaced visits to record stores, and our phones have become the primary means of listening to music.
It appears that every significant milestone in my life has coincided with a major evolution in music technology. Perhaps it’s just a sign of getting older, but I feel compelled to dig out my old cassettes and find a way to experience them once again.