The way Americans consume music has changed dramatically in just a few short years. Earlier this month, Apple celebrated the fifth anniversary of iTunes, which recently beat out Wal-Mart to become the top music store in the U.S. Meanwhile, CD sales continue to decline.
Soundcheck wants to know how you spend your money when it comes to music. Do you spend a little? A lot? Where do you spend it? Or, perhaps you don't even buy music anymore.
Click here to leave a comment that responds to the six questions below. The deadline for responses is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. We’ll feature the results on our show on Thursday, May 22.
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
5. Your neighborhood or town
6. Gender and age
NOTE: Normally we would welcome additional comments, but we would like to limit the posts on this page to answers to the above questions only. We’ll take other comments during the show on May 22. Thank you!
1. $70/month
2. Physical store
3. More
4. $40
5. Bed-Stuy
6. Male, 31
1. 20/mo.
2. itunes mostly
3. less
4. 20/mo.
5. UWS
6. f, 42
1. $35-50/mo
2. Physical, on-line, and used stores
3. Somewhat less
4. $75 - 150/mo
5. Brooklyn & Albany
6. Male, 59
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
0
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
none
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
less
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
20-40
local venues (barbes, freddy's, etc.)
5. Your neighborhood or town
park slope
6. Gender and age
42m
$85
70% online-30% Downtown Music Gallery
more
$110 major venues
$25 locally
Harlem
male
49
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month? at least $30
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other) Mostly I get my music from Emusic.com, it costs $20 for 75 songs from independent lables. The music I can't find from Emusic.com I get off itunes or buy a cd.
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today? I spend much less
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month? maybe $5-$30
5. Your neighborhood or town: Brooklyn, NY
6. Gender and age: female, 27
1. $10 on average
2. almost exclusively through iTunes
3. I spend a little bit more money on music now, but not much
4. usually around $20 to see a few shows where friends are playing, but I have spent up to $100 in a month when I went to a big concert on top of my usual shows
5. Park Slope
6. Female, 24
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month? probably about 30$
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other) usually offline unless someone gives me a gift certificate somewhere else, OR, i buy cds as shows i go to -- i like handing the money straight over the the artist.
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today? probably about the same. i was in undergad then, and music was so easy to trade and share via itunes and networks and burning cds, that to have to buy something was often unnecessary, unless it was something you heard of first. when i visit my hometown, i usually spend about 20$ on cds at the local used record store there. otherwise, i probably bought something at a show or off the internet.
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month? probably about 20$. i usually only go see smaller/ local bands play. when they play at a place like pete's candy store in williamsburg, the shows are free, so i'll buy the artist's cd, or give them some money when they pass the bucket around. otherwise, if they play somewhere with a cover, the shows are usually about 6-12$ to get in. so. it's not that much to go to two or three shows a month.
5. Your neighborhood or town- bedstuy / brooklyn
6. 24 yr old female
0
I might start buying off of itunes, but I usually get my music from my library which actually has a great collection.
less...
I've never been to a concert...although I would like to go
Philadelphia, PA
female, 23
1. $4
2. 80% from the Library, 20% online download, Amazon if all else fails.
3. Much less
4. 0-$10
5. Bed Stuy
6. 29 year old male
1. $10
2. Mostly iTunes. Some VirginMegaStore. Every now and then a musician's website. (My youngest brother & my partner both regularly download pirated music (and movies) and often burn me disks--whether I express an interest in them or not.)
3. Much, much less.
4. In Los Angeles I would spend $100 or so monthly. In NYC, where I recently returned to live, NOTHING!
5. NYC 10002
6. Male, 45
1. About $15 per month.
2. iTunes, amazon.com, amazonmp3, myspace.
3. A lot less.
4. $0-$5.
5. Woodside.
6. Female, 25.
1. $30
2. physical store, online store, used vinyl store
3. way less
4. $30 average
5. Monmouth NJ
6. M 48
XM Radio @ $145.00 monthly. No longer need to spend $ on CDs with such a nice XM Radio selection.
1. 10
2. physical store
3. more
4. 50
5. williamsburg, BK
6. 24, female
1. $50-$100
2. store...music matters or albums on the hill in boulder, co (via email)
3. same
4. i only go if i get free tix
5. gowanus, brooklyn
6. 25/f
1. Depending on what mood I'm in, what record is released that week/month...what drunken conversations lead to a marathon of iTunes downloads...probably an average of $40 a month
2. When I do buy, I prefer mainly to buy from bands at shows, independent stores, used vinyl stores, random stores in random towns, iTunes
3. WAAAY more now because I am in a band/bands. It just keeps growing. My moods keep changing. I don't need to "keep up" with any trend, it is just that I get obsessed with certain sounds from whatever time in history.
4. Paying for shows: average $35 - $65, depending on if the band is really big or really small
5. Greenpoint, Brooklyn
6. 33, F
1. $100/mo
2. 80% iTunes, 10% other online store (emusic), 10% physical store-used or new
3. more than 5 yrs ago
4. $50/mo. average on live music
5. NYC (New Orleans)
6. F 55
1. $0-30 on average
2. Borders, Amazon (used and new CDs), other internet sites for music not available from US distributors.
3. More than 5 yrs ago
4. Usually about $50-100 but this summer more like $160-200 since ticket prices have increased.
5. Glen Head, New York
6. 48F
1. $0 - $100
2. iTunes generally
3. Much more
4. $0
5. Jersey City
6. 24 Female
1. from 50-200 a month
2. emusic, local stores (Sound Fix, Bleeker Street Records), label websites, WFMU record fair!,
3. more, definitely more-
4. If I wasn't in the backwoods of Kauai, I'd probably spend in the neighborhood of $25-$100. When I get back in June, Tom Waits,Nick Cave, Wilco anybody? Maybe the best summer ever-
5. normally Red Hook
6. Male/30
1. $1.00 to $12.00
2. I sample all music online via iTunes. If I only like one or two songs, I download them there. If it's a great album, I will buy a physical copy from a Best Buy, Fred Meyer or Target. Someplace where the price is still somewhat of a bargain.
3. A little bit less.
4. $0.00. I see maybe one to three concerts a year.
5. Seattle, Wa
6. Male. 38.
One more thing: I do know several young people who...in the wake of Napster and Ka-Zaa, still refuse to pay for music. Even a dollar is too much to them. It blows my mind. You don't care about the music of one artist enough to fork over a dollar? If you've gotten thousands of songs for free, how many of those artists do you truly care about? If you had to go back and buy them, would you? Or do you just have thousands of songs that you 'kinda' like' or that are simply familiar from the radio? If you truly have a passion for the music, it seems worth paying for. And a buck is the best price I've seen in my lifetime.
Clear Channel destroyed d.i.y. punk and indie music. They are like Disney but worse. They turned it into a proto-totalitarian ideology of the corporation. I also know for a fact the would often call the police or firemen of local towns to shut down small owned and operated music clubs, music halls and makeshift venues, in short anything that were deemed as competetors. They strong-armed the old school d.i.y music scene out of the picture.
1. approx. $75
2. mostly online stores -- especially Other Music, which is a local physical store with a good download site -- and then sometimes iTunes, sometimes record label sites
3. more
4. probably average $30
5. East Village, NYC
6. Woman, 31
1. $10ish
2. iTunes, or at live shows
3. More
4. $20
5. Sunset Park
6. Female, 24
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
$20
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
iTunes
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
More - I used to steal it/get it for free.
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
$20 - $60
5. Your neighborhood or town
Prospect Lefferts Gardens - Brooklyn
6. Gender and age
Female - 23
1. 0
2. I don't buy music
3. way less, I used to spend $400-$600 per month until I started to have to move all the cds every time I moved. I first threw all of the jewel cases and album art out, and a poor garbage man thought he struck gold until he had sorted through about 20 of the empty cases. Poor guy :( I have since discarded all of the discs as well by giving them away and donating them. There is no reason for me to have to have the disc when I can find it digitally.
4. $300 or so per month and more when I just HAVE to go to one of these new mega concerts with 50 bands over 3 days time...they usually run about $300 alone. Thank god for the free South Street Seaport shows!!!
5. Elizabeth, NJ
6. male, 33
I spend about $50.00 a month. I buy CD's and download to IPod. (not asked here, I buy about $80.00 a month in Audio Books, on CD).
I buy most of my music from Amazon.com (95%).
I spent more 5 years ago, things are tight these days.
No concerts, but I spend about $150. a month on Braodway Musicals, usally 02 per month
I live in New Brunswick, New Jersey
Gender is Male, age is 52.
1. $80 per month
2. Primarily online; used store a few times per year.
3. About the same.
4. About $120 per month per head: concert tickets and bar cover charges only.
5. Troy, NY
6. Male, 65
1. $60
2. Beatport.com, Boomkat.com, iTunes, and some CD ordering through different sites when necessary.
3. More.
4. Including DJ nights, $40-60
5. Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
6. Male, 27
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
30- all only on indie rock vinyl and 7's from UK
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
rebel rebel and when I'm in LA or SF i drop hundereds of dollars at amoeba.
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
about the same
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
maybe 20 maybe less.
5. Manhattan, NY
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
••• $15
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
••• iTunes... I have not been in a record store for years!
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
••• Less
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
••• Zip
5. Your neighborhood or town
••• Divided between Pound Ridge (Westchester) & Hell's Kitchen
6. Gender and age
••• Male, 59
1. Approximately $30.
2. 60% amazon download, 20% independent music store, 20% large retailer (borders).
3. I spend a little more based on inflation.
4. $20
5. Bluemont, VA.
6. 46, M
1. $20 but it should be more!
2. emusic has satisfied for a few years, occasionally I will order from amazon (I live in VT!!!) if in nyc its Other Music / DTMG.
3. Less because of emusic, but I get more music for my $
4. I live in VT, not much interesting music, Id say $20 a month plus gas for driving there.
5. Arlington Vermont
6. M, 33
1. negligible - 2-4 cd's a year
2. concerts or on line
3. less
4. 35-125/mo. in season (Merkin,Zankel, occasionally the Met)
5. Summit NJ
6. F54
1. $75
2. mostly online, some used stores though
3. spend way more
4. $40/mo on concerts
5. Astoria, Queens
6. M, 23
I get my music from flmusicservice.com
1. $0
2. Best Buy, Thrift Stores
3. LESS (Bittorrent)
4. $0, would like to see some eventually
5. Morningside Heights
6. Male 22
Hey John, very cool pol.
1. About $50.00. It's sort of incremental, I already have 41.5 gigs, Classical, Jazz, Rock.
Now I choose to buy only living composers' music. I know that leaves out a whole bunch, but I assume that some others will take care of them. This gives me a focus.
2. Amazon mp3 downloads. Or companies like Canteloupe for Bang on a Can.
3.Five years ago about the same, incremental into an existing LP and/or CD collection.
4. No concerts/live music, I am claustrophobic.
5. Male, 67
>>RSM
If I can't share music w/ friends, what about spouse or brothers and sisters who live under the same roof? I think it's extravagant for us to have multiple copies of the same CD between me and my wife.
How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
$25
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
eMusic, Yourmusic.com, iTunes, mp3sparks.com
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
more
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
see about 4 concerts a year
5. Your neighborhood or town
Stamford CT
6. Gender and age
Male, 52
1) 100/mo
2) 25% Physical Store
70% Online Store
5% iTunes
3) More
4) None (Getting Old, Too Expensive)
5) Rockland County (Nothern Suburbs)
6) Male 35
1-- Under $6 per month I've gotten pickier
2-- iTunes only since last year
3-- Less money-- I used to waste $20 on CD albums where I only liked two songs. Now I just buy the song I like.
4-- None-- I prefer studio productions
5-- Brooklyn, NY
6-- Male/48
1. $0/per month. (Maybe $50/year in gifts? which includes 1 CD for myself)
2. online
3. less
4. $0
5. Bay Ridge, Bklyn
6. F, 41
I am a 25 year old grad student, so I suppose that would put me smack in the middle of the mp3 download (with or without paying) generation. Yet, for some reason, I buy everything -- on CD (I suppose if I were of an older generation, I would be the curmudgeon insisting on some older formats).
1- I spend probably between $50 and $75 per month on albums, mostly jazz/world
2- Primarily from Amazon
3- I spend much more; 5 years ago, I might have bought one album every couple of months
4- About $50 to $75, mostly jazz
5- Upper West Side of Manhattan
6- Male/ 25 year old
1. 20
2. physical store: Academy & J&R
3. more
4. 20
5. Brooklyn
6. male, 28
Friday on Soundcheck
The Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, a great Jazz band from Boston.
Their first CD, "The Year of the Snake" on Innova, was very impressive.
Now, they have a new CD, "Forked Tongue" on a new label.
Expectations are running high.
So, be here, Aloha.
>>RSM
Are there folks out there who would like to see the return of Hearts of Space to WNYC?
If so, let the music people at WNYC know.
You can, of course, subscribe directly at hos.com. There are a number of pricing plans to suite your needs and desires.
But, Hearts of Space deserves to be back in the broadcast media of the greatest metropolitan area in the country, New York City.
1. $5-20
2. iTunes Store singles, or CDs at a concert.
3. More now. Five years ago, I stole all my music. But, now I am trying to be a nicer person.
4. $50-100
5. Rockville Centre, Long Island
6. Female, 30
1. $30
2. iTunes & Emusic
3. About the same
4. Averages out to about $50 a month (more in the summer with festivals, etc, less in the winter when I just stuff the tip jar at local shows.)
5. Williamsburg
6. Male 32
1. $30 or so a month
2. Physical record stores (Rocket Scientist, Academy, etc.), flea markets, and record fairs
3. Less
4. $40-60
5. Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
6. Female, 26
I wanted to add that while I spend about $30/ month on music, I also get a lot of music for free by trading files with co-workers and friends.
Probably average about 2 gigs a month of new music.
I don't use file sharing sites.
-Matthew
1. $50
2. Mostly iTunes
3. Same
4. $30-70
5. Boerum Hill, BK
6. Female, 27
1. $50
2. Discogs.com and Amazon.com
3. Less
4. $50
5. Ridgefield NJ
6. Male 26
1. How much money do you spend on albums/songs per month?
On average, less than $1.00.
2. Where do you buy music? (physical store, online store, iTunes, used store, other)
iTunes/Amazon's mp3 store
3. Compared to five years ago, do you spend more or less on music today?
SIGNIFICANTLY less.
4. How much do you spend on concerts/live music per month?
Averages out to $7/month.
5. Your neighborhood or town
Maplewood, NJ
6. Gender and age
M, 33
1. $50-100
2. Amazon, iTunes, iTunes Wireless store, then physical store if I can't find it.
3. Way more.
4. $50-100. Varies a lot since sometimes there aren't any shows.
5. Park Slope, Brooklyn
6. M 23
1. 0-$120
2. Physical Stores or at Concerts I almost exclusively purchase special boxed sets or LPs
3. Less
4. Upwards of $100 every month. Shows = Best Things Ever.
5. Astoria, Queens
6. F 24
1. $12/ month
2. stores/ used stores (independent only) / amazon
3. more
4. $40-$50 month
5. Hoboken, NJ
6. f/24
1. $10-20
2. Sometimes online (Amazon). Mostly directly from artist, whether at their show or through their website.
3. Much less.
4. $50
5. Long Island City
6. M 29
1. I spend about $20 a month for two satellite radio subscriptions.
2. I use XM Satellite Radio which has niche channels. My player records songs, and over time my player begins to fill up with songs I like. It also acts as a referral service in that I don't have to spend time learning what is new other than turning it on to listen.
3. I spend more, a monthly fee rather than the occasional CD purchase. Plus I do still buy the odd CD.
4. I never go to concerts anyore, so zero.
5. Park Slope.
6. Male, 35.
1. Varies but between 10 and 200, but on average $50.
2. I buy cds at stores (especially used) and at concerts, clubs.
3. I think more now, I buy cds more.
4. Maybe $20 - $50.
5. Williamsburg
6. 25
1. $30-$45/month
2. physical stores mostly - Music Matters, Other Music, Kim's, Sound Fix. I rarely download. I also buy CD's directly from artists at shows or through their websites.
3. about the same
4. $40-$50/month
5. Park Slope
6. f, 40
1. $0-$15 per month
2. Physical purchases mostly. I like CDs, from bookstores or music stores. I recently made my first iTunes purchase-- three songs.
3. $0-$15 per month
4. Prospect Heights
5. Female, age 27
1.$5-$30 per month. (I listen to a lot of NYPL CDs, too)
2. Thrift stores; eBay (including non-U.S. eBays); iTunes
3. I spend more on music now.
4. Maybe $60-$100 every three months or so.
5. UES
6. Female/55.
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