Why collect CDs?

For the Artwork CD's are pieces of art in and of themselves, irrespective of the music thereon contained.  Each one is amazingly unique in it's artfullness.  

For the Lyrics

For the Additional Information, the liner notes: Who played what instruments, who wrote the songs, etc.

For The Quality of the sound

For Ownership : you are not renting the music, you own it.

For the ART: The music is presented in the form the artist intended : most artists put a lot of thought into the album they've created, the order of the song presentation, the artwork added, etc.

For Storage: You can rip the CD to your computer and store it that way

Economics: It's often cheaper than buying the album on iTunes

Variations: CDs often have extra cuts that are not on the streaming service.

Rarity: The artist and music may be obscure and not available on streaming.  Or they might not be there next week.

The Master:  The song version on the CD may be different than the one on the streaming service:  Some songs have been recorded by the same artist multiple times, different ways, or with different mixes.  Often the streamer just has one of those versions.

For Nostalgia: they are cool.  CDs are a souvenir of a specific time, a concert or a period in your life

Privacy: The music you listen to on CDs is not monitored

Dependability:  The music on a CD is fixed.  It was mixed and mastered a certain way and it will never change.  The iTunes or Spotify version of the song may be remastered, remixed and dynamically altered, and the old version removed:  Here you go, we want you to hear it this way now.  (I have multiple copies of the same music on CDs mastered at different times.  They sound different from each other.) 

Support the Musician: Buying a new CD supports the artist much more than a stream does.  Why should (s)he work for 0.00001 cent per stream?  Why make another album?

Disconnect, from cyberspace.  Put your phone away.  Play the CD on a real stereo system, turn down the lights and really listen.

Social: You can display your collection, share them with others, discuss them with other people.  You can give them to other people as gifts.

Memories: Having them reminds you to listen to them.

They are fun to collect.

Last note: In 1985 or 1995 I could have bought anything I wanted on an LP at a very reasonable price.  Nobody wanted vinyl in those days.   So, how about now?  Today, vinyl records are highly collectable and expensive.  But currently, you can buy anything you want on a CD at a very reasonable price.  Who knows, maybe this situation won't last forever either.

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