Introduction
The late ’90s internet boom—like many other technological revolutions—changed the music industry forever. Music began shifting away from physical media toward MP3 files. The problem was, most of these MP3s were pirated. People started ripping CDs and sharing the digital files across various download platforms.
The music industry took a massive revenue hit from this wave of illegal file sharing and attempted to fight back through lawsuits. However, these legal battles were costly, and major corporations eventually realized that the internet wasn’t something they could control or suppress.
Apple, on the other hand, embraced the change. They recognized that music consumption had fundamentally shifted—and that there was no turning back. Capitalizing on this transformation, Apple launched the iPod, a portable music player that could store and play digital files. Alongside it, they introduced iTunes—a platform not only for organizing your music library but also for purchasing music legally and transferring it to your device.
In the years that followed, internet bandwidth—especially on mobile networks—grew exponentially. This paved the way for music streaming services. Led by Spotify, these platforms gave us the ability to play almost any song instantly, anytime and anywhere. No more downloading. No more file transfers. Just search and press play.
However, this illusion of convenience masked a more destructive force: the subscription model.
In my opinion, the subscription model is one of the most insidious inventions ever created by large corporations. It’s not a new concept, and in some areas, it used to make sense—take monthly magazines, for example. You’d subscribe, pay a monthly fee, receive a new issue each month, and own that issue.
But what we’re dealing with now is fundamentally different. We’re subscribing to services that offer no ownership whatsoever. The software industry has also adopted this model. The promise was that, in exchange for a predictable revenue stream, companies would deliver regular updates and new features. That promise has largely proven false.
There are a couple of key reasons. First, software can already be “complete” for what you need. If you’re satisfied with the current features, why should you keep paying for updates you don’t want or use? We’ve lost the freedom to purchase a perpetual license and use the software as long as it suits us—upgrading only when a new version offers something of real value.
Second, companies often stop innovating once they dominate their market. Instead of reinvesting that steady stream of subscription revenue into product development, they focus on maximizing profit margins and appeasing investors. Just look at the growing discontent between Adobe and its user community.
The Listener
Music streaming services are no different. You don’t own any of the albums or songs in your library. You’re merely renting access to them. If you stop paying, your entire library disappears. In other words, to keep listening to your own collection, you have to keep paying—forever.
If you’re an audiophile, the gear is a means to an end—a tool to reproduce music, not the end itself. Yes, we care deeply about the equipment. We invest significant time and money into it. But ultimately, the real purpose is—or should be—to enhance the joy we get from listening to music.
For me, music itself is what truly matters. And owning my music matters just as much. The music I listen to is a reflection of who I am—an expression of myself. I want to collect it, preserve it, enjoy it, and most importantly, share the music that defines me with my child, my loved ones, and my friends.
The records my grandfather owned are still with us. My father listened to them. I listen to them. And when my son grows up, he’ll listen to them too.
This sharing of musical taste across generations is priceless—and it’s only possible through physical media you actually own.
The Artist
Owning your music may or may not resonate with you—but there’s another, arguably even more important, reason to consider it: the artists.
Even the most popular musicians on streaming platforms barely make a profit. The rest can’t even recoup the cost of recording an album. I know this firsthand—my brother is the lead singer of a rock band. Despite having millions of streams, the income they’ve earned is, frankly, laughable. And as you might expect, it doesn’t even begin to cover the cost of recording, mixing, and mastering.
The current business model discourages many artists from pursuing a career in music—unless they’re producing disposable, mass-appeal content. For music lovers like me, that’s devastating. It means that high-quality new music, especially in niche genres like jazz and classical, is slowly disappearing.
The Album
The word album has quite a history. In the early days of music reproduction—long before electronics were involved—the primary medium was the 78 RPM phonograph record. These discs could hold only 3 to 5 minutes of music per side. To release a full work, multiple records were packaged together in a bound set resembling a photo album. That’s how the term “album” originated, and over time, it came to define a curated collection of songs.
For many decades, artists poured their hearts into crafting albums. Song selection, sequencing, and flow were all intentional. A well-made album was like a great novel—you pressed play and were drawn into a complete, immersive journey.
But that concept is rapidly disappearing. Today, most musicians focus on releasing singles, promoting one track at a time. Creating a full album is expensive and risky under the current streaming-driven business model. For many artists, it’s simply not sustainable anymore.
Final Verdict
We have the power to change this. If you truly care about an artist, I encourage you to buy a physical copy of their album—whether on CD or vinyl. Artists earn significantly more from physical sales, and you own those albums—forever.
Streaming isn’t going away anytime soon, and it is a valuable tool for discovering new music or listening on the go. But when you come across an album that truly resonates with you—one you want to revisit and treasure—buy it. Support the artists you love, and help keep the music alive for future listeners.