Gramophone

[Mahlerei]

EA

Quite possibly, but that doesn't alter the fact that fewer people are buying CDs; and in order to survive record companies have to consider new business models. There is a parallel change in the world of DVDs, with LoveFilm and Netflix offering movie streaming to both your PC/Mac and your TV. The sound and picture quality are as good as it gets but you are dependent on a decent broadband connection. And that is the commonality; these changes are all computer based, and if you don't have a PC/Mac it's all rather hypothetical.

Look, I'm not unsympathetic; all I'm saying is that change is on the way. In any event I doubt CDs will disappear overnight; in which case the whole download business will have plenty of time for refinement/improvement.

[MickyD]

Except that I imagine far more Gramophone readers would prefer a CD to the faff of downloading.

Well, that's my opinion, too EA. I fully accept that there are/will be new ways of buying and listening to music, but much of the argument is probably down to our ages. I'm just over 50 and, by my own admission, really no longer have the patience to cope with such things as squeezeboxes, ripping, burning or whatever it is one has to do and I suspect I am not the only technophobe. To be fair to Gramophone, I suppose it must be a difficult dilemma to satisfy young and old readers, but I do think they could have dealt with this issue better.

[Mahlerei]

MickyD

Point taken. I'm older than you (just a bit) but as I've always enjoyed new technology I find downloading/ripping/burning less of a chore. I'm sure it will all become much easier soon. In the meantime I will still be buying CDs.

[VodkaDilc]

I have invested a great deal of money on equipment to play music from CDs and from other sources.

I really have no desire to sit at my desk top computer and listen to a highly compressed down load on my two inch computer loudspeakers. They're fine for what I'd term computer use, and listening again to talk programmes on the i-player, but they're hopeless for serious listening. Lap top computers are of course even smaller and less suitable for music.

I suggest that this too could be a reason why downloads are so unpopular.

The similarity of my views and mangerton's is uncanny. I have no need to repeat them when Mangerton expresses them so succinctly.

I would just add that my complaint about Gramophone is about the declining editorial quality. I always opted for the subscription without CD, so I have no opinions on the discontinuation of the free disc. My view has always been that I have plenty of CDs which I have deliberately bought and have no need to add to the collection with free ones. (Even the Songlines free CDs usually go straight in the bin!)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't particular mind Gramophone with no CD, just as long as there are not constant references in the magazine to the tracks that are no longer supplied on it - tracks that you now have to waste time downloading.

[MickyD]

Three months after cancelling my subscription and leaving the editor in no doubt why, I have just received what must be the fourth reminder from the magazine saying this is my last chance to renew. They don't take no for an answer at Haymarket, though presumably the subscriptions department are never made aware of letters to the editor.

[DickyM]

At least they've given you another chance to moan.

[MickyD]

My God, Haymarket have even tracked me down here, too!!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I collected the March Gramophone from the newsagent at the weekend. I took one look at the cover and its pathetic, drivelly headlines, and that was it. I cancelled my regular order and asked them to replace it with International Record Review. It was a sad day. I've bought every issue of Gramophone since April, 1967.

[MickyD]

I felt just the same, EA, but I am sure you will soon come to appreciate the admirable no-nonsense IRR.

[Barbirollians]

This month's issue reaches a new nadir . Inverne's comments on Beecham are just about the end for me - 25 years of subscribing and I am not going to renew.

[gamba]

How right you are, I bought a copy of the 'Radio Times' & to my horror found it to be almost completely full of TV programmes !!

[gamba]

My previous comment was actually intended as a reply to an earlier statement about magazines retaining obsolete titles.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This month's issue reaches a new nadir . Inverne's comments on Beecham are just about the end for me - 25 years of subscribing and I am not going to renew.

Indeed. I don't think the editorial tean can live in the same dimension as its (presumably) intelligent readers.

How right you are, I bought a copy of the 'Radio Times' & to my horror found it to be almost completely full of TV programmes !!

Really? I thought it was a forum for Alison Graham to pour negative, nausiating vitriol on to just about everything and everyone.
Radio has become an irrelevance in that publication.

[MickyD]

I love your new avatar, EA - presumably chosen because your comments to this thread have become a serial.