Since 2005
How has the landscape of music (and my engagement with it) changed since 2005? Here are the thoughts that come to mind:
- mp3 format and streaming (Spotify, etc.) dominate access, with smartphone as Player. CDs and vinyl are now niche products
- the streaming Playlist has replaced the Mixtape/Compilation Tape
- Podcast as distribution medium first appeared in 2004
- I did a lot of collecting of mp3 files 2005-2010, and some curation work, notably British Isles and Greek, but most are still in disorderly heaps of broad categories (African, Scandinavian, Middle East, Old Timey, etc. etc.)
- payed more attention to Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music and its successors
- rely on Spotify account for most access: the algorithm knows what I've listened to, and keeps me supplied with new material and much of what I seek (e.g., obscure RootsWorld items) can be found by searching Spotify
- much less CD buying than before 2010, though I still grab things that especially appeal, or that I want the liner notes to learn more about the players and the material
- frequent purchase of downloads from Bandcamp and Canary Records (pretty much indie-produced stuff, a lot of archival reissues)
- a lot of instruments via Jake Wildwood ==> improved fretboard skills, and shoes continuing to drop re: music theory
- almost no use of vinyl, and the cataloging project for the collection is scarcely begun
- music books abound, continue to accumulate, and await better curation.
- ditto downloads of YouTube music performance