Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

Streaming Didn’t Kill Albums, It Killed Discovery: Behind the Death of Musical Curiosity

This one’s for all the music lovers who listen to the whole album, not just the singles. 

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

With the majority of the world’s recorded music at our fingertips through digital streaming platforms, the question of discovery often floats around online. Did Spotify and Apple Music make it harder to find new music? Or is it easier than ever, but just not as fun? And what about the fate of the album? Have playlists and hit singles made albums obsolete?

The answers to these questions are as nuanced as music discovery itself. Generally, listeners seem to find that discovering new artists and bands is the easiest it’s ever been. Someone tells you about a new band, you look them up on Spotify or Apple Music or YouTube, and their entire discography appears for your perusal. But this ease has made the art of discovery less exciting for a lot of people.

For those who don’t have the attachment to hunting through records or CDs for their next musical obsession, this doesn’t seem to matter all that much. But for dedicated music lovers who crave the adrenaline rush from discovering a new artist, the streaming takeover is kind of a bummer.

This is where the joy of discovery is intimately linked with physical media. DSPs have become the norm, and while CDs and vinyl have had an ever-growing comeback, platforms like Spotify still rule the majority. Bandcamp is a decent middle ground,........

© Vice