Music, in essence, has no physicalities. 

We consume music only through the stimulation of our senses. Every person has their own individual tastes — genres, artists, songs. So much distinction is woven just through soundwaves. 

There are generations of sound filling up the airwaves that now find a home in our devices. Streaming allows the selection of practically any song of your choice, all at the control of your fingertips. But beyond sound, how can we form a tangible connection through music? 

As music has evolved, the facets of music which we can experience in the flesh have begun to fade away. 

But that is not to say they are gone completely, the most common: how we listen to music. Even in the age of streaming, analog methods of music consumption still exist. Vinyl, CD and cassette are formats which still have their own dedicated communities. I, for one, prefer the vinyl format for a plethora of reasons.

For one, the process. Streaming has made listening to music easier than ever before. It only takes a small monthly fee to have access to practically any song of your choice. Lost in the advancement, though, is the excitement of peeling off the plastic wrap of a brand new record and opening the gatefold to see a wonderful design laid out in your hands.

The various colors of PVC are gently placed on the turntable, the speakers and the turntable are turned on, the slight static of the needle reads the grooves. Watching your favorite album go round and round right in front of you, it’s like your own personal stake in the band. As the vinyl is displayed on your shelf, the physical representation of paper and plastic is poignant. Digital music can’t replicate its presence.  

In fact, many audiophiles actually consider the vinyl format’s quality of sound to be better than any digital format. Due to the compression of files, as well the lack of audio depth the digital format provides, the material grooves of a record provide the listener with a listening experience on another level.

The dichotomy of digital versus physical reaches beyond the quality or format of the music. Merchandise plays an important role in the representation of music. As someone who listens to hours of music daily, what better way is there to represent my tastes than displaying my favorite bands across my chest?

Band tees go beyond the name pressed into the fabric; they are a depiction of the appreciation for music in itself. As well as acting as a timestamp of a memorable event, when shirts are sold on tour these pieces are of limited availability. It is a vivid experience, standing in line, hoping to get your hands on your piece of the moment. Not just so you can show off your favorite band, but to show you were there, you were a part of that moment in time.

That’s why I hold such an appreciation for artists’ physical merchandise: tickets, guitar picks, setlists, posters. All are unique individual mementos for not just pieces of music, but experiences. 

When so much of our life has become digital, it is imperative we keep physical aspects of music in the spotlight. Their lifespan, truthfully, is short. Cassettes are most definitely on their way out, and it’s only a matter of time before the trend of vinyl fades as well.

So enjoy the physical sides while you can. Collect and hoard to your heart’s content. It is just plastic, after all. 

Follow Josh Campbell (@JoshDC004) and @CHSCampusNews on Twitter.