Buying New Music in 2018

After trying to locate Shinedown’s new album, Attention Attention (released May 4, 2018), I finally came to the realization of the sad fact that the way I had been buying new CDs, for what feels like the last 20+ years, is now jacked up due to Best Buy no longer selling CDs in store (or on their website for that matter). This is mostly because I refused to accept the reality that I would no longer be able to purchase music from Best Buy. (I originally read an article back in February that stated they would eventually stop carrying CDs.) Hell, the last new CD I was able to buy at an actual Best Buy store was the new self-titled Stone Temple Pilots (with bonus tracks!) release back on March 18.

Here’s the deal, I’ve been buying physical releases on the day they were released for YEARS and YEARS and YEARS. The times where it wasn’t day of, it was usually a few days after. Hey, I had to do my part to get those SoundScan numbers up for my fave artist, ya know? (Plus, who doesn’t love a sale since a lot of new releases were sold at a slight discount those first few days.)

I’ve had years of joy over the fact that I could walk into a Best Buy store and pick up that new CD and listen to it on my way home from work. Not to mention the countless times it was a version that had Exclusive Bonus Tracks. Yes, I am a sucker for Bonus Tracks (unless they are being sold through Wal-Mart only, but that is another story.)

As silly as it may sound, I feel I’ve been robbed! Before you suggest I buy music at Wal-Mart, a local record store, or somewhere else, it was also about convenience. Best Buy was always the most convenient. Plus I got points, which in turn, eventually gave me $$$ off to buy more music. It was a win, win situation.

I’ll admit, I don’t like change. After the STP March release, I thought I could start relying on my local FYE since that is where I found the new Shinedown album. Well, the next time I checked for a new release, Tremonti’s A Dying Machine in June, they didn’t have it. Although, they did end up getting Mike Shinoda’s Post Traumatic, which was released a week later. I have no idea on the rhyme or reason to the music they choose to carry (trust me, FYE still has a LARGE selection of CDs and vinyl), but it is frustrating not having a consistent source.

While I continue to buy physical releases, I have also bought a fair amount of digital only releases over the years, which are mostly singles. I have a few EPs that were initially digital only and a few full albums to get the bonus tracks. (I am always a sucker for bonus tracks!!) Hell, in 2010 I created an iTunes account because an artist, at that time, was releasing music via iTunes only. Over the past couple of years, due to compatibility issues, I switched to Amazon for digital downloads.

Bottom line, I will continue to buy music from artists, whether online, in store or at a concert. After all, at a concert is the quickest way to get the money into the artist’s hands. And in some cases, not only does the artist get my digital money, they get my physical money as well. Because, I HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY WHEN AVAILABLE!

Support touring artists people.