Physical Media

"Media" meaning the plural form of medium, that is, the means of conveying something.

The term physical media is usually used in comparison to streaming media. Physical media includes things like vinyl, cassettes, CDs, Blu-rays, etc. Streaming media includes stuff like spotify, or netflix, and the sorts. 

I love physical media. I love being able to hold music or film between my hands and know it is mine, and not something I have to pay for each month. There is an appeal to physical media that I think is sparked by the massive streaming industry. There is a control that comes with physical media that you cannot get with streaming services. I'm sure you all know what it's like to find out one of your favourite movies has been taken off netflix (I think it's less common to find out stuff removed from spotify, though). Also I think that physical media also eases the hoarder inside of me lol

To me, there is almost a mystery to physical media too. The way you can carve a piece of plastic, and run it over a needle to make sound fascinates me. The same thing goes with CDs and cassettes. I think they are a demonstration of human creativity and science together. It feels magical to listen to music in this way, and to think about how much effort is put in to create a CD or vinyl or cassette.

Also, there is no feeling like that of finding a local music store. Browsing through shelves of vinyl and looking at the cassettes. I imagine that physical media enables people to broaden their tastes and try out new (to the individual, the music/movie might be, time-wise, older) movies or albums that they have not heard before. 

Streaming platforms often show what is popular in general, and edit their recommendations every time you use them, limiting the variety and different kinds of music or movies you might see. Sometimes it is nice to get something that you already know you will like, but I also think it is worth it to try finding something unexpected through stores.

They are also a good way with connecting with much more local music.

It's unfortunate, however, how expensive physical media can be compared to streaming. A good turntable may be around 400$ and a walkman could be over 100$. And not to mention that every album you want to get costs you extra, too. If only it was more popular, and there was more supply! I think it is worth it though, but I am biased because I love collecting vinyl :)

Digital media also has an appeal, but I mostly am concerned with streaming services. I love the internet archive, for example, and I like putting music on my mp3 player too.

Just thinking about all this because I am currently making some CDs to burn!! I'm thinking how I am just young enough to have not really experienced CDs. I've never made my own before, so it's going to be a learning experience for sure..