In the age of smartphones and instant access to music, streaming services dominate the way people listen to their favorite music. Apps like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music allow listeners to access millions of songs on demand. Despite this convenience, vinyl records are still used by young listeners. Many music fans today are choosing to both stream music and collect vinyl records, even though the two formats offer different experiences. Zoe Sherman, a Senior at Blue Valley North shared her thoughts on the subject.
“I usually listen to it after school, and I’ll put on a record if I’m cleaning my room or doing homework,” Sherman said.
Sherman has built a collection of around 35-40 vinyl records. While she used to visit local record stores more often, she now frequently purchases records online
“I used to go to this one place, Uptown Records or something, but now I order a lot of vinyl online, or go to like Barnes and Noble,” Sherman said.
For Sherman, listening to vinyl is different from streaming because it encourages a more focused listening experience. Instead of skipping around between playlists, vinyl listeners listen to the album from beginning to end.
“I think with vinyl, it feels more intentional,” Sherman said. “You usually listen to the whole album rather than randomly different songs from different artists”.
Streaming music, however, offers a level of convenience that vinyl cannot match. With streaming apps, listeners can play music anywhere and at any time. Freshman Aiden Irey said streaming is a constant part of his daily routine because it’s easy to use.
“I always use streaming more,” Irey said. “It’s a constant thing for me. I use it every single day”.
Irey currently uses Apple Music and previously used Spotify. Whether he is at home, at school, or traveling, streaming allows him to quickly find and play the music he wants to hear without needing physical copies of the album.
“It’s just easier and more accessible,” Irey said. “You can bring it to places and listen to it easier”.
Although streaming dominates how many people listen to music today, vinyl records still hold a special appeal for collectors and music fans. Sherman believes buying records can be a meaningful way to support artists and connect more deeply with their music.
“I think it’s a good way to support your favourite artists,” Sherman said. “It’s like merch that doesn’t have to be a sweatshirt or anything.”
Even though Irey mainly streams music, he still sees Vinyl as something interesting and fun to collect. His favorite artist is Daniel Caesar and he hopes to eventually buy one of his records to add to his collection.
“I think it’s a fun hobby,” Irey said. “I don’t know if it’s definitely worth it, but I think it’s a cool thing to collect”.
