Who doesn't like music? Although I'm no expert, I have always been a fan and decided that a few new tunes certainly wouldn't hurt. I had every intention of stopping at FYE at the Exton Mall before checking out West Chester's Mad Platter. FYE, however, is no longer at the mall, and I hadn't even noticed its absence. Since I purchased my iPod over two years ago, I haven't set foot in a music store of any kind.
I admit it-- I love shopping for music on iTunes. I've probably spent more money on music than any other non-essential item for a number of reasons:
Rather than having to deal with the mall or trying to find a parking spot in West Chester, I can simply settle down onto my couch with my laptop. In fact, since iTunes has my credit card number on file, I don't even have to open my purse.
No stacks of CDs stand in the corners of my apartment. I don't have to worry about breaking or scratching anything or putting the wrong CD in the wrong case.
Better than any salesperson, iTunes Genius simply looks at previous purchases I've made and makes recommendations. Because I downloaded songs from the Hush Sound, Genius has recommended bands like the Submarines and the Dresden Dolls, whom I probably would not have discovered on my own. Would an associate in a record store do the same? I'm not sure.
I also like the fact that I can buy one song and not an entire album-- especially when it comes to guilty pleasures. I'd never buy an entire album of Brittany Spears, but I downloaded "Toxic" with only a small degree of shame. If I download a song and I like it, I can always buy the album later.
In the two minutes I spent on iTunes, I downloaded three songs and would have kept going if I didn't take time to remember my mission. Despite the growing popularity of downloading music online, record stores do exist. It's time for me to see why loyal shoppers continue to flock to the Mad Platter on Gay Street in West Chester-- even if it does mean getting off my couch.
No comments:
Post a Comment