Coexistence: the symbiotic RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VINYL AND STREAMING By siri harrison

The debate of vinyl vs. streaming has long existed, but I believe it’s finally time to lay it to rest and agree that both modes of listening have strengths to bring to the table. Without streaming, many listeners would never have discovered unreleased gems such as Hole’s “Best Sunday Dress,” or Billie Eilish’s “True Blue” and “Fingers Crossed.” The ease of creating playlists is a benefit of streaming as well. Mixing and matching songs to create the perfect soundtrack for a character or story is incredibly fun. This being said, there’s something special about building a collection of CDs or records that you can hold in your hands. The colors and images gracing the album covers act as decoration in your home, and serve as a testament to your music taste. For me, a child of the technological age, seeing the needle drop, watching the record spin, and hearing the full-bodied sound it produces is a sort of magic. I feel immersed in a unique listening experience, because when one side of the record plays out, I have to flip it, and if it crackles, I have to clean the dust from it. Vinyl listening, even CD listening, for that matter, is a more involved and delicate process than typing a name and hitting a button. Of course, this could be what draws some people to streaming. It’s low-maintenance. There’s also the matter of money. The cost of building a tangible music collection can really add up over time, but if you’re sick of ads and unwilling to pay for a Spotify or (good grief) YouTube premium subscription just to listen to your favorite album unmolested, I highly recommend opting for a cheap, used record or CD in good condition. I’ve found myself appreciating the peace of the brief pauses between songs on a CD or record, and the heavenly silence after they play to their end, where you’re not being assaulted by “Liberty Mutual customizes your car insurance so you only pay for what you need!” Or “your music, your way!”