I generally buy my music now in the form of used CDs, purchased by mail order via interwebs.

Sometimes I'll buy from a store, and I try to support independent 'record' stores, like School Kids Records in Raleigh, NC.

Spotify ... I haven't "bought" music since I discovered this service.

Zune music pass, or I guess they call it Xbox music now. Either way, a subscription service.

Amazon, Google Play, or from my favorite record store, Zia!

Bittorrent, and then buy the cd if I like it well enough.

kylefn wrote:Spotify ... I haven't "bought" music since I discovered this service.

I'm with you on this one.

However, there were two or three CDs that I really wanted the day they came out and Spotify didn't have them right away. So I purchased via iTunes.

I always buy physical copies (CD's) when available, which is most of the time. And buy it as close to the band as possible to maximize their benefit, mostly directly from them, their website or merch vendor.

I've got a handful of bands that I still buy physical copies for. I built a few frames a while back that I use to display the jewel cases in my office. Most music is iTunes purchases though.

Mostly through eMusic. Prices are better, and they have more artists I like (new and old releases) that aren't on iTunes or Amazon.

How about "all of the above!" I buy from where ever it's convenient and cheapest. I rip from library copies. I shop at Half Price Books. I shop at a honest to goodness record store. I have an Android phone and a iPod. I buy directly from the artists when I can. I'm very "whatever."

I buy mine through X Box Music (Formerly Zune). I'm still grandfathered into their old plan of $15 for unlimited downloading and 10 DRM free mp3s per month.

Half Price Books.

FM radio (and artist get paid)

emusic

Grandfathered in on Zune software. And the local Vintage Stock. On the rare occasion I listen to music, it's usually Christian music. Since I'm surrounded by the heathen, their Christian music is usually deeply discounted. I can pick up 10 CDs for $10, and chip away at my 30gigs of Zune HD (which is actually filled with audio books...).

I also enjoy the free streaming on Xbox Music that came with my MS Surface tablet.

I get the physical media wherever possible (and rip to FLAC when necessary for portability)

Buying the physical media is like buying fresh squeezed OJ.

Buying mp3 files (or any other non-FLAC format) is like buying OJ that is made from frozen concentrate.

Most people can taste the difference between the two types of OJ but can't hear the difference the compression makes.

Buy CDs directly from the band, paying in cash. Anachronistic, yes, but the Artist gets the money, rather than the thieving "music" companies.

Poor Rhapsody didn't make "the list" again. My favorite music source is legit and not a marketing behemoth... so of course it gets ignored.

I shop at local, independent record stores and buy vinyl whenever possible. If I shop online, I try to buy from the artist or label. If I do need to get something digital, I try to find 24 bit from HDtracks or similar. 16 bits just doesn't cut it anymore. I am down to buying 1-2 CDs a year.

I buy used CDs on Amazon and Half, but most downloads are on HDTracks.com. Yes, I am a sound snob

Google Play Music and the good ole CD, depending on where I am at and my mood. But paying the Artist is the way to go.

kylefn wrote:Spotify ... I haven't "bought" music since I discovered this service.

What you said.

OH.... by the way.....
iTUNES SUCKS!!!

I plead the 5th.

Spotify.

Cd's from a store, locally.

...Spotify-4-Life!

kubsix wrote:I always buy physical copies (CD's) when available, which is most of the time. And buy it as close to the band as possible to maximize their benefit, mostly directly from them, their website or merch vendor.

I'm with you.
It costs $200.000 - $250.000 to produce a CD. Small groups and vocalists scramble to get money for their albums, often relying on donations...

I pity little pilferers and freeloaders stealing from talents.

Lol I don't buy or listen to music. There should have been an option of "I don't listen to music".

I download the mp4 from youtube, and play them on my raspberry pi!

I use Amazon or Google Play Store.

http://www.mp3va.com/

@ $.15 per song.

Soundike.com

Legal and very cheap

FarNorth wrote:Poor Rhapsody didn't make "the list" again. My favorite music source is legit and not a marketing behemoth... so of course it gets ignored.

Because it's a DRM-laden service that rents music instead of selling it.

I'm told there are programs that let you download youtube videos then convert them to mp3s...or so I'm told...

I mostly stream, via Nokia Music on my Windows Phone, Pandora is coming...... right....
The service is pretty good, but I haven't found anything as good as Pandora. I like Slacker but it is a battery hog.
If I buy it is normally a physical CD. I will continue buying this way until DRM gets fixed. Everyone is shouting that physical media is dying, but if we let it die without fixing DRM we will all be sorry.

pukeboy wrote:I get the physical media wherever possible (and rip to FLAC when necessary for portability)

Buying the physical media is like buying fresh squeezed OJ.

Buying mp3 files (or any other non-FLAC format) is like buying OJ that is made from frozen concentrate.

Most people can taste the difference between the two types of OJ but can't hear the difference the compression makes.

I'd have to agree with you. I'm not really an audiophile but I can very much tell the difference between the CD and an mp3 of the same song, when I listen to them back-to-back. Since FM radio is good enough for daily listening, so are my mp3 mix CDs. Sadly, my car doesn't have a memory stick port...but my next car will.

Sadly, the Loudness War is ruining how we listen to music. Even classic rock "remastered" CDs fall victim to this practice.