How To: Collect Digital Music
- Buy it: Make sure it’s DRM free so that you actually own it, not licensing. Bandcamp, Qobuz, etc.
- Download it: Go lossless and enjoy that quality! No mp3s. I’m team flac, personally. Some people go all in on wav for uncompressed sound, but you can save the storage.
- Organize it: Store your albums in a folder, then collect those in one big media folder. For PCs there is a music folder you just drag your stuff into. Plus, it automatically indexes your collection in the media player app.
- Enjoy it!
Bonus: Get a Digital Audio Player. Take your collection with you apart from your phone. There are some affordable options available that store your music and perform at a high-quality level.
Bonus 2: Used CDs are super cheap right now. Buy a CD player, go bargain hunting, and rip your music. You can fill out your collection at a very low cost.
Bonus 3: Not only are there DRM free digital options for music, but also eBooks and Audiobooks too.
Why buy music?
It helps support artists for their great work!
Plus, you get to own the art that you love, rather than a giant tech corporation. No one can delete it, paywall it, or change it when it’s stored by you!
Paying artists helps to create a space for both performer and audience, where more challenging and personal art can be created and discussed. Work that often gets overshadowed by the mainstream.
At a time when companies are trying to dispossess you of ownership, disconnect you from culture, and devalue artists, fight back and support your community!