There was once a time when the only way to get your grubby paws on music was to pay for it.  When you bought  a CD you were investing in your entertainment.  For your money you got a booklet, original album art, music, and lyrics to all your favorite tunes. Purchasing a CD meant that you were going to do everything in your power to enjoy it. A musical collection was a reflection of your personal tastes.

Music was an all encompassing experience.  Release dates were highly anticipated.  Supply was limited to the number of CDs shipped to your area. Some CDs even came with goodies! (bonus tracks, t-shirts, etc)

In 1997 Napster was launched and music consumption changed forever.  You no longer had to buy the CD!  The entire experience was watered down into 3 clicks.  Just fire up your computer, search, and  download.  Precious items like the booklet, album art, and lyrics no longer held value.  The album art and lyrics could be found online and the booklet was exposed as a waste of paper.

The first people to cry about downloading music were the record companies.  Their profits and income tanked.  In 1997 the RIAA issued 254 platinum certifications.  In 2010 the RIA issued 38 platinum certifications.  11 of 2010′s platinum certifications were for artists that no longer perform (5 for The Beatles and 6 for Elvis Presley).

By now it is established that consumers aren’t concerned about the profits of record executives and artists.  When downloading first began consumers were wary of downloading for fear of prosecution.  Consumers soon realized that record companies didn’t have the resources to drag half the population into court for downloading.  Once the word got out then downloading became a mainstream practice.

We already know the impact that downloading has on record companies, but what about the consumer.  I, for one, have changed tremendously.  Of the 3924 songs in my Itunes library I’ve listened to 816 of them (558 of them just one time). Gone are the days of immersing myself in an album, memorizing the lyrics, and truly enjoying the for months on end.  I simply can’t do it. After I’ve listened to an album 3 or 4 times I find myself immediately looking for something else.

So the question is this…

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