Streaming offers entertainment, while vinyl offers an experience; listening to vinyl is an experience that can never and will never be felt any other way.
Music is a form of expression that paints a picture that words alone cannot capture, and this is especially true when you drop the needle on a fresh vinyl. In an age dominated by digital streaming, vinyl offers a profound way to deepen your love for the art of music. This isn’t just about listening; it’s about truly engaging with music on a deeper level.
Listening to music on vinyl offers an immersive experience that enhances your appreciation for music and provides a tangible connection to the art form.
“When I play [a vinyl], I’ve done something more than just click a button on Spotify. I’ve had to put more work and thought into it,” said the moderator of the Brophy vinyl club, Dr. Steve Smith ’96, in an interview, “…the fact that I had to make a little bit more effort to play the song and the album that I wanted enhances how I feel about the music.” Dr. Smith ’96 said.
This deeper connection with music starts with the process of setting up a vinyl, turning listening to music into a more meaningful encounter. The tactile experience of vinyl contrasts sharply with the immediacy of streaming, which is just a click away.
“I think it’s nice to kind of go back to having something tangible in your hand so you can read the program notes and read the history of the piece,” said music professor Dr. Johnathan Robinson. “…you lose that with streaming.”
This hands-on interaction with music enhances the listening experience and helps one appreciate the album as a whole.
Vinyl records encourage a deeper appreciation for the entirety of the album, not just the tracks society deems popular.
“…how many songs will have been lost to time because they weren’t hits,” said Dr. Smith ’96. To further compare this to literature, “We don’t do that with books, you know, let’s just find the one chapter that’s the best in the book. Instead, read the book; you get the whole experience.” Dr. Smith ’96 said.
Vinyl records help listeners appreciate the artist’s work, much like savoring a full author’s work and not just the “best” chapters.
