Why We Collect

[humprof]

Since the two people comparing notes here (Jon Caramanica and Hua Hsu) are both prominent music writers--and music collectors--I think this podcast will speak to a lot of QQ'ers. . . .
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/11/arts/music/popcast-collecting.html

If you know a collector, you know about how collections are more than just agglomerations of items. They are stores of history, stores of emotion. They have a representational value that often far exceeds their literal financial value.

They also take up space, physical and mental. They are often private ventures, not public displays. They scratch very personal itches in ways that are often invisible to anyone else.

 

[ar surround]

Why do I collect? To paraphrase Bill Clinton: Because I can.

 

[DuncanS]

Why do I collect? To paraphrase Bill Clinton: Because I can.

....... close, but no cigar

I collect music because I have to!

 

[Soundfield]

Music collections are usually intensely personal things of great power and import, but they mean largely nothing to anyone else who isn’t carrying the same emotional baggage. Can there be anything less interesting than someone else’s record collection (apart from their holiday photos of course)? Hence why most record collections get chucked away after we die. Sic transit gloria mundi.

 

[Bill B]

I collect music because I want to be able to listen to any song that I like whenever I want to hear it, and I don't ever want to not be able listen to it in the future. However, I must admit, there is also an addictive nature to collecting as well.

 

[Bill B]

.... Can there be anything less interesting than someone else’s record collection (apart from their holiday photos of course)? ...

I'm not sure about that. While I may not be interested in examining your collection knowing that your tastes are very different from mine (your collection is mainly classical), I would probably enjoy looking through collections of those whose musical taste are closer to mine (rock and pop). That doesn't mean I would want to keep them physically, just peruse through them.

 

[Marplot]

All true. I will add to support, in a very small way, musicians who have created music which is important to me and maybe help prolong their ability to continue to do so.

 

[DuncanS]

Music collections are usually intensely personal things of great power and import, but they mean largely nothing to anyone else who isn’t carrying the same emotional baggage. Can there be anything less interesting than someone else’s record collection (apart from their holiday photos of course)? Hence why most record collections get chucked away after we die. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Gloria Mundi suffers from travel sickness? Never was any good with languages

 

[The Rang]

I’m always fascinated to flip through the record collections of others (unless they’re full of nothing but the trendy and obvious).
Tells me a lot about them and it’s cool to find rarities/oddities.

 

[mlrocker]

may all collections be passed on far into the future, that is my hope

 

[Tornado Red]

If you want to know how a recovering alcoholic is doing, you don't ask him, you ask the person sitting beside him. In my case when it comes to collecting music, you'd be better off asking my wife. I believe her answer would be way different than mine.

 

[MidiMagic]

I collect music because I want to be able to listen to any song that I like whenever I want to hear it, and I don't ever want to not be able listen to it in the future. However, I must admit, there is also an addictive nature to collecting as well.

I collect for two reasons:
- I want to be able to hear that piece of music whenever want.
- I like the quadraphonic placement of the parts.

 

[cbmmm3]

I collect music because I enjoy music

 

[Bill B]

I collect music because I enjoy music

Well... yeah, but you could still enjoy music without collecting.

 

[cbmmm3]

Well... yeah, but you could still enjoy music without collecting.

I could - but I like to enjoy music in a form that I enjoy

 

[dr. simple]

I’ve been looking for a place to share this:

 

[kfbkfb]

Some older movies have been edited for content for some of the streaming services, so far, I haven't heard about any editing for content of older music (from streaming services), but, (IMHO), it could happen due to Political Correctness concerns.

Although not a concern when I began buying albums (1972-06) and singles (1971-07), I continue to buy physical copies of albums because they can't be edited once I own them.

Lately, I have purchased several singles (mp3s) from Amazon (songs I hear on the radio or YouTube streaming services), I don't subscribe to any (audio only) streaming services [I get HBOmax free w/AT&T Fiber].

I back up my PC content at least once a month (includes saved mp3s).


Kirk Bayne

 

[Bill B]

I’ve been looking for a place to share this:

Well, I definitely feel worse about the future of music (and streaming specifically) now that I've viewed it, but all good points and probably all valid. Well most of us have been collectors and we will be fine but not so much for future music lovers. Of course, as long as downloads are available there will be some model for ownership and thus the preservation of music. One could also argue that the way computer files are passed around and shared, music is being propagated more now than ever. As long as someone saves the file somewhere it will always be floating around out there on the internet.

Here is a final thought. If music ownership is ever completely removed (even with regards to downloads), will that mean our massive collections will become more valuable over time?

 

[hafquark]

I’ve been looking for a place to share this:

Gioia is musically erudite and really fascinating to listen to. Rick Beato did a long interview with him about 3 weeks ago called "A Warning on the Future of Music." Recommended if you have an hour to spare.

 

[madscot]

I've had people look through my collection and call me a freak, Michael Jackson and metallica?, Elton John and judas priest?, disturbed and Donna Summer? i'm sure a few others have had a similar response lol