"What will happen to my music library when Spotify dies?", asks the title of this Atlantic article by Joe Pinsker. Assuming you've foolishly put all of your eggs in the Spotify basket, then the answer is surely obvious - but apparently the fact that your ability to access music digitally is entirely at the whim of major corporations still merits or needs pointing out.
In truth, the question itself suggests a lack of understanding of what streaming entails - there's no ownership involved, so talk of a "music library" is nonsensical. As has been mentioned here several times before, while I do use Spotify and have amassed a number of albums on MP3, I love having a tangible music collection - and if that makes me a materialist, then so be it.
Admittedly, though, this conveniently ignores the fact that physical formats can and do become obsolete, and that (as Pinsker notes) they can and do deteriorate over time - the thought that many of my tapes are in such poor shape as to be unplayable is too painful to contemplate. And he also makes the point that, for the digital generation, the concept of ownership may itself be obsolete: "They may not expect, or even desire, the permanence that I grew up with." Perhaps - but don't expect us fortysomething fuddy-duddies to ditch the physical and throw ourselves at Spotify's mercy.
(Thanks to Glenn for the link.)
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