The way we listen to music has changed greatly over the last two decades. While the physical medium has gradually given way to the dematerialized and immediately available, thanks to the emergence of increasingly fast home internet connections and the profusion of choices on different legal or illegal platforms, building a rich and diverse culture in this domain has never been so easy and accessible. However, behind this abundance of choice, more than affordable for the common man, the dedicated affectation to the object represents a constant among music lovers.
A trend that is confirmed by the sharp increase in sales figures for formats that were once thought to be mere relics of the past. According to the latest industry reports, vinyl represents more than 20% of physical sales and is almost on a par with CD. Also noteworthy is the great comeback of the cassette, which, although now reserved for a niche market, is delighting independent labels as much as informed collectors.
This new craze comes essentially from the public's attachment to a tangible aspect of this art. What's more, many of these pieces have a particular interest to be preserved, since the artistic approach is not limited to the sound part but also to the aesthetics of the whole. In addition to offering a better quality musical experience, depending on the work provided, the physical aspect has undeniable assets that are entirely dedicated to the buyers of these precious objects. Not to mention the cover and the appearance of the proposed media, especially with the coloured discs, one can sometimes find small additional bonuses (inserts, anecdotes etc...) which make this purchase so attractive. But above all, the collector's editions with limited numbers of copies and the fact that some small labels have never reissued certain albums also give meaning to this race for collectors.
A veritable musical encyclopedia !
Apart from the continuous reissues made by the big majors, it is sometimes very difficult to find what one is looking for when it comes to unearthing works by lesser-known artists or to quench one's constant thirst for listening to a particular musical genre. Although I prefer local shops, mainly my favourite record store, Discogs remains a must when it comes to doing in-depth research.
Launched in November 2000 by Kevin Lewandowki, DJ and accessory programmer, Discogs is a website that could be described as Alexandria's record library. Listing no less than 8 Million references and with a database cataloging 4 Million artists and more than 880.000 labels, Discogs remains a reference in musical knowledge. In fact, this multitude of information thus archived operates on a community basis, whose members share their knowledge on various works and display the various existing commercialized copies.
With the help of this spontaneous and participative participation, it is therefore possible to draw up a detailed history about a specific work or to consult all the productions of an artist, group or music label. Thus, we can obtain information about the date of release of a record, its different versions on all media, consult its content and its particularities. Thus, it will be much easier to identify an album of your choice and to find out about its rarity or popularity. In addition, it is also possible to submit a version of a disc you have at your disposal, if it has not yet been listed. It is also a good promotional tool for managers of small independent labels or artists wishing to propose their self-productions.
In addition to this abundance of details of all kinds, Discogs also offers an international marketplace, where you can get your hands on the version of a disc of your choice, always with details about its aesthetic state. You will also be able to support your own collection with the public and at the same time organize your sales from it. But that's not all ! Since it is possible to make a wantlist that will serve as a reminder for future purchases to come. Namely that you will be immediately notified when a seller will make one of your searches available on the market.
More than a simple referencing site, Discogs is a social network centered around music, managed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. With several discussion forums, it is thus possible to perfect one's culture and make enriching discoveries after a few purchases. The term library of Alexandria of Music is not usurped as it is possible to increase one's knowledge in the field and to immerse oneself in the knowledge of certain scholars who populate the different sections of this platform. In short, Discogs remains the place to go to perfect your music collection in all its forms.