In the modern day, people most commonly use online streaming platforms to listen to music. From the roots of music playback devices all the way to the present day streaming platforms, music playback platforms have had an influence on the different eras they emerged from. The creation of music playback devices first started in 1877 when Thomas Edison created the first phonograph. This was the first machine that was capable of recording and playing back sounds.
From 1900 to the 1940s, audio was recorded on disc-shaped records that were made out of shellac. However, World War II caused a shellac shortage, which led to the use of polyvinyl chloride or vinyl, a synthetic plastic, in its place. This new material improved both the durability and sound length of the records.
In 1982, Sony and Philips released the CD and the CD player. This was the first time that a digital music format was widely available to all people to use in their homes.
Then, in the late 1980s to early 1990s, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits created the first MP3 player, capable of playing an audio file. They created it to make music files digital and easier to store, and they reached their popularity when the release of the iPod occurred in 2001.
In 1999, music started to integrate onto the internet when Napster — an online music platform that allowed users to download MP3 music files for free from other users — was released. It was shut down, however, because they received lawsuits from artists and music labels for copyright infringement. Since then, more music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and others have changed the music world and moved music streaming to become more web-based rather than in physical form.
In 2020, COVID-19 had a huge impact on the rediscovery of vintage ways of listening to music. The intense desire for some comfort and nostalgia to escape modern times led to the return of vintage music playback devices, like CDs and vinyls. This gained widespread popularity across social media, particularly on TikTok. Many artists have released their music in vinyl forms but this new surge encouraged them to seize this opportunity and sell their new albums and new releases. To make the most of the popularity of vinyls, many artists have multiple vinyl variants, like signed versions, limited editions and store exclusives. A notable incentive to listen to vintage music is the warm and nostalgic feeling that it offers and the new experience it creates for the listener, and for that reason FHS sophomore Charlotte Painter holds a deep liking to the use of vinyls.
“I really like to collect vinyls, because sometimes the vinyls will reflect a different kind of sound than Spotify will, and the artist’s voice will sound different,” Painter said.
The listening experience is overall different. As the sound from the vinyl crackles in the background like a soft fire, vinyls “set the mood”. One can do this by listening to music while in the midst of preparing dinner, getting ready to go out to see an artist or while getting ready with friends to go to prom.
“I think it’s, just like romanticizing the experience of listening to music,” FHS sophomore Ella Khamaji said.
Even though online streaming services are most popular in the present day, timeless music playback platforms are definitely worth experiencing.
