Six reasons why I don’t buy CDs at the store anymore…
 

1. easier to preview tracks online rather than drive to the store and wait for an open listening station
2. running out of storage space for all the CDs I bought just for 1 or 2 tracks each
3. I never know what the store has in stock and what they don't and it's a pain to try and find specific CDs in some of these places where their alphabetical tabs have all been moved around out of order
4. expensive ~ I pay less $ for each track online, and don't have to pay for the tracks I don't want. I'm tired of spending over $20 bucks for a 10-12 song disc with maybe 2 or 3 tracks that I actually like.
5. It just saves time and it's so much easier. Plain and simple.
6. Car listening. Whether you're using a 1 disc player or a 10-disc CD changer in the car, you know what I mean when I say that it's far better to have compilation discs loaded in with songs you like on them. Having a car filled with CDs that you have to change over frequently is a hassle (and sometimes a hazard)

So, I’ve finally come to the point of concluding that I’d rather do my music shopping online than to physically go to the store. I'm curious to know how many other people are following this trend now, and what service has been the best for you. I don't have any interest in the file-sharing services, primarily because they're illegal and artists get cheated out of their rightful share. Just subscription-based ones.

I think there is a time and place for both. I personally am enamored with having the physical disc, the liner notes, the jewel case. Its kind of like a trophy to me. There are artists whose albums I will run out and buy the day they are released. There are artists of the past with albums of such pure perfection and cohesiveness that it would be almost a sin to not listen to the whole thing as it was originally mastered.

But say I'm listening to the radio and hear a song by some new band. I might like it. In that case, yeah, I'll open iTunes or whatever and download the song I like, and maybe a couple more that catch my interest. Maybe I will like them enough to elevate them to "CD purchase" status. If not, well, I have the songs i like and can forget about the rest. Everybody wins.

File sharing services are not illegal.

iTunes + iPod == Music heaven.

I have Rhapsody, and they tend to make new music available pretty quickly...I listen to it at work, at home, whenever. Now that doesn't help me when I want to listen to tunes in the car, so eventually, if I really like something, I'll have to buy it. If I only want a couple of tunes, I'll go buy them at buymusic.com (and maybe iTunes now).

But if I want the full CD, I'll go buy it at the store--usually Best Buy or Tower (if they have a good sale). I enjoy the liner notes and free goodies that come with 'em these days.

BTW, you can go here to find out what that song is you're hearing on the radio.

Very handy Bruce, thanks

Min hit it right on the head. Having a better CD collection than anyone else is a badge of honour.

Doesn't matter though, because usually the collection is so dizzying that the host ends up picking out all the music for an evening. Or if you're like my friend, you just do it anyway because hey, it's your place, might as well listen to what you want.

So Hoboken, eh? Like, totally So-broken offf from NYC. I do, however, LOVE arthur's. WHat a great steak place. :)

That's cool, but it worked better with albums.
BTW, welcome to the Cellar, to you the 1100th member and your chicken.:D

*excited face* You've been to Hoboken???? I thought no one ever visited here unless they are forced to by thier relitives!!! That's great! Do you live there???
Yeah, and you're right about the music thing, but that's how it is huh :)

Haha ... yeah, I was dragged there by relatives, but not in that ear-tugging kind of way. My cousin lives there now, and my brother and other relatives live in NYC, Staten Island, etc. I'm from Princeton, so I'm up in Hoboken and Manhatten all the time. I do, howver, work near Philly, so I've had to divide my allegiances. :(

My daddy grew up in Manhatten. It's a pretty awesome place, no? All of my relitives live in Manhatten. They don't understand why we live in Hoboken. When they ask my mom smirks and says -Because Manhatten is expensive. - For whatever reason they never really catch the hint and continue to ask. It's thier waste of breath, not mine :) My mom grew up in Phili, so I've been thier a couple of times. What I observed in Phili: There are lots of Jews. There are no decent bagels. They never made a movie there about a giant chicken. It is not that much bigger than Hoboken. My friends all loved my dinky $2.00 key chains I got them of the Liberty Bell. Go figure :) But seriously, it was pretty cool even though Pink (the 'artist') dislikes it throughly for whatever reason.

NYC and Philly rock for their respective reasons. I want to do the city thing for a few years - but I'm a suburban warrior at heart.

Manhatten is expensive, but Hoboken is just as costly (depends what part of town in which you're living, I guess). True - there are no jews in philly, but there are plenty in the suburbs. I've never had a bagel in philly, but that's because I'd much rather eat a cheesesteak.

Lawng Island just happens to be overrun by Jews ... and I went to college with all of them. Skewed perspective, in my opinion.