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Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

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Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#11

Post by andygcook »

systemvoltage wrote: post #4

I can't remember the last time I sat down and spent dedicated time just listening to music. It is the same restlessness that I have when I try to medidate. Songs are just boring and I need to have an excuse to listen to music - like driving so I can optimize the time. "I am driving, might as well take advantage of some music". The internet has ruined peace, fun, and everything that I remember growing up. :-(

If you can, I’d recommend getting a good pair of Hi Fi speakers and a subscription to a FLAC streaming service (like Deezer) or a record player. It’s an investment of course, but it really does change just having music on in the background to making it more of an experience, like going to a concert. I got a pair of Snell J II’s recently and sitting down to listen to the depth of my favorite songs is one of my new favorite Covid hobbies.

[Edit - grammar]

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#12

Post by randycupertino »

I think less people commuting during the pandemic and sheltering in place probably corresponded to less hours streaming music. My biggest use of spotify was when I commuted and now that I wfh I rarely even open the app. I've been finding audiobooks more relaxing lately than music, not entirely sure why.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#13

Post by shadowofneptune »

koolba wrote: post #9
Animats wrote: post #8

There's an inherent upper limit for streaming music. You can only listen to one stream at a time.

You’ve never watched tv with music playing in the background?

This is the main reason I'm skeptical that other forms of media are distracting from streaming. Someone could easily turn of Dota 2's music and listen to Spotify in the background.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#14

Post by ehnto »

systemvoltage wrote: post #4

I can't remember the last time I sat down and spent dedicated time just listening to music. It is the same restlessness that I have when I try to medidate. Songs are just boring and I need to have an excuse to listen to music - like driving so I can optimize the time. "I am driving, might as well take advantage of some music". The internet has ruined peace, fun, and everything that I remember growing up. :-(

It is something you can get better at. You can treat attention like a skill that needs training. Sit there and listen even if you are feeling restless and eventually you will gain back some control over your focus. You will eventually start truly noticing the music again, which is yourself getting better at the ability to be more mindful and engaged.

I did this with books but it wildly helped my ability to enjoy music too.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#15

Post by dvlsg »

wolco2 wrote: post #10
systemvoltage wrote: post #4

I can't remember the last time I sat down and spent dedicated time just listening to music. It is the same restlessness that I have when I try to medidate. Songs are just boring and I need to have an excuse to listen to music - like driving so I can optimize the time. "I am driving, might as well take advantage of some music". The internet has ruined peace, fun, and everything that I remember growing up. :-(

Try listening to older music. It's less boring and tries to bring out an emotion. A lot of the newer music has proshopped out any real emotion.

I can't say I agree with that. There is a lot of really good new music, just like there is a lot of bad old music. The difference is the bad old music has already been forgotten, but the bad new music is recent enough to still be somewhat memorable. For now.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#16

Post by oceanswave »

I wonder if there is a link between DCMA crackdowns and the decline of the music industry. Posit: with consumers watching more community produced content and that content prohibited from including traditionsl music sources that consumers may then seek out, then a result might be a decline in the traditional music sources. This might also apply to commercially produced content that doesn’t include music for fear of false flagging.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#17

Post by ashtonkem »

wolco2 wrote: post #10
systemvoltage wrote: post #4

I can't remember the last time I sat down and spent dedicated time just listening to music. It is the same restlessness that I have when I try to medidate. Songs are just boring and I need to have an excuse to listen to music - like driving so I can optimize the time. "I am driving, might as well take advantage of some music". The internet has ruined peace, fun, and everything that I remember growing up. :-(

Try listening to older music. It's less boring and tries to bring out an emotion. A lot of the newer music has proshopped out any real emotion.

I'd be a bit careful in ascribing too much meaning to the differences in music over the years. Remember that your parents probably said the same thing about your music, and their parents before them. We tend to lock in our favorite music in our late teens and early 20s, and while it's okay to have a preference it's kind of silly to ascribe immutable qualities of the music when it's probably just what you like.

Or, to paraphrase something pithy a former boss of mine said: they made the best music back when I was most emotionally vulnerable, and now it seems to have gone downhill since then.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#18

Post by bigphishy »

systemvoltage wrote: post #4

I can't remember the last time I sat down and spent dedicated time just listening to music. It is the same restlessness that I have when I try to medidate. Songs are just boring and I need to have an excuse to listen to music - like driving so I can optimize the time. "I am driving, might as well take advantage of some music". The internet has ruined peace, fun, and everything that I remember growing up. :-(

It sounds like you need a vacation out in the woods, and technology-sabbath for a few days or weeks

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#19

Post by errantspark »

denimnerd42 wrote: post #2

> Defense of the Ancients is up 38%. interesting error calling Dota 2 "Defense of the Ancients"

IIRC, the only reason it's not called that is some inane IP bullshit. "Dota 2" officially but Defense of the Ancients 7.25 in the hearts and minds of anyone who's been around for the past decade and a half.

Re: Streaming Is Stalling: Can Music Keep Up in the Attention Economy?

#20

Post by bitexploder »

bigphishy wrote: post #18
systemvoltage wrote: post #4

I can't remember the last time I sat down and spent dedicated time just listening to music. It is the same restlessness that I have when I try to medidate. Songs are just boring and I need to have an excuse to listen to music - like driving so I can optimize the time. "I am driving, might as well take advantage of some music". The internet has ruined peace, fun, and everything that I remember growing up. :-(

It sounds like you need a vacation out in the woods, and technology-sabbath for a few days or weeks

I read a study that it only takes like 6-9 days in nature and disconnected to really reset a bit. Wish I could find it, but there really sound advice.
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