Life After Streaming
A few weeks ago, I made the decision to cancel my Spotify subscription after being a dedicated user for over ten years. Reflecting on my journey, I remember the launch of Spotify in 2011 and how it revolutionized music consumption for over 600 million daily users. While I appreciated the vast access to music, I often questioned the ethical implications of such an inexpensive service for artists and the industry.
The Burden of Convenience
Streaming became my default way of listening to music, despite my growing unease about its impact on my relationship with music. With all that music available at my fingertips, I began to feel as though it was losing its significance in my life. The convenience of instantly accessing any song or album meant that I no longer had to invest time into discovering music or reflecting on my tastes.
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Gaining Connection
When I finally quit streaming, I realized what I was losing, such as the ease of finding songs I wanted to hear and the personalized playlists that Spotify created for me. Yet, what I didn’t expect was the immediate sense of relief and the space I created in my life for music to return in a more meaningful way. I had reduced my listening options to the music I owned, forcing myself to engage with it differently.
I started listening to entire albums again, paying attention to the sequencing and the artist’s choices, which had previously been obscured by passive consumption. I was now trading access for connection, not just with the music, but with the people around me.
Rekindling Relationships
Music has always been a critical part of my social life. Many friends I have today I met through shared musical experiences, whether at gigs, shows, or just talking about our favorite artists. After quitting Spotify, my partner and I began playing records more often at home. We take turns picking albums from our collection, reminiscing about the moments tied to those records. We even opened our old computers to rediscover music we had bought in better times.
Investing in Artists
Recently, after hearing a song stuck in my head, I sought out ML Buch’s music on Bandcamp, a platform that emphasizes supporting artists directly. I was determined to own her album, even if it required importing it from Denmark. This act of purchasing music felt like a tangible way to support an artist whose work had impacted my life significantly. It was refreshing to place real value on something I truly cherished.
Reassessing Streaming
As I reflect on my streaming experience, I can’t ignore the recent controversies surrounding platforms like Spotify. Issues have arisen regarding the ethical implications of leadership decisions and advertising practices that some artists find troubling. The increased discomfort with these practices has led many users, including myself, to reconsider our relationship with streaming services.
In the end, I realized that by letting Spotify dictate my listening habits, I lost my sense of authority and ownership over my music experience. I stopped engaging deeply with music and the artists behind it. By stepping away from streaming, I have started inviting music back into my life in a way that feels meaningful again. It’s clear to me now that listening to music should require a bit of effort and intention, and that investment might just be one of the best things I can do for myself and the artists I admire. If you’re interested in exploring more about supporting artists directly, check out Bandcamp.
Ultimately, life after streaming has become an exploration of both the past and the new, and I find that it’s leading me to a richer musical experience.
