The Racquette

Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: A&E

Media Credit: Ben O'Brien Smith What will happen to the album in the digital age

The art of the album is slowly dying. Though not overnight, the recording industry has changed drastically. This isn't news to most people. We've been downloading mp3s off of the Internet for over a decade now. People are recording songs in their bedrooms with technology that rivals what was available in professional studios not long ago. The number of people purchasing physical albums on a regular basis has seriously decreased as well. This doesn't come as much of a surprise either, considering we've been conditioned for the instant gratification of online downloads and being able to listen to music seconds later on an iPod or other mp3 player. Physical CDs require room for storage and such room is often tough to come by.

We have been convinced that quantity is better than quality. Whether or not you notice the difference in audio quality between an mp3 file and a wav file, it is undeniable that degrading compression takes place on some level in order to save storage space for more music. It has been hypothesized that in the near future we will listen to music primarily through subscription services that allow us to enjoy any song, anywhere and at any time. We will have the ability to be our own DJs with an infinite library of music available to us.

As a result, it is quite probable that manufacturing CDs will become a lost art. Despite the efforts of the record industry and record stores, CDs are not selling like they used to. Even larger stores like Barnes & Noble and Borders are sizing down their music sections. There just isn't the demand for physical albums anymore.

From the artist's perspective, it's quite a hassle to make full albums, given the return. Just the costs associated with CD production are over the top, especially if you're not riding the bankroll wave of a major record label. The time required to record, mix and master an album of material is also a factor. Some artists would much rather release a digital download single or digital EP every once in a while and spend more time on the road performing. There is much more money to be made from performances and, let's face it, everyone needs to make a living. Musicians have to eat too.

Though CDs can be distributed far and wide, musicians are far more likely to build a solid fan base and continue to add to it if they're putting their time and energy into performing as often as possible. Some independent artists offer digital downloads direct to USB drives available at their shows as a substitute for compact discs. Going the way of digital music is a simple way for independent artists to cut down on costs to put their music out into the world.

Sadly, all of this means that a portion of us music lovers are going to be left in the dust. There are many people, myself included, who absolutely love holding a physical CD, reading liner notes and flipping through album artwork. It is part of the artistic product that we expect when we purchase music. Sure, there will still be artists putting out music in a tangible medium for quite some time, but it is likely a dying art.

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