Two points:
1) If the original recording was recorded well you can tell the difference if you want to. However, you probably won't notice if you're not trying. I've been listening to high-quality audio systems for almost my entire life (I'm 40 now) and there is a difference. I maintain a several-hundred gigabyte collection of.WAV files for my collection from which I generate.MP3 files for my wife's mobile player.
2) The subject of the quality of music has been in my mind for a long time now. I too believe 99% of "music" produced today is worthless noise. I've asked myself if it's just because I'm getting old. I have concluded that it is not.
The music industry has changed. It is now completely driven by greed. It used to be driven by the love of music as well as the desire to make a profit. Time and money was spent nurturing talented bands. The result was some truly great bands whose music we still enjoy as much as 40 (or even more) years later. Personally I like a lot of the bands that came out in the 70's although I suspect that is personal taste.
These days the industry has discovered they can make a killing by just touting some performer with little or no talent as long as they are marketed and there is a gimmick to attract attention. Often times that gimmick is a hot young woman but there are other gimmicks as well. It comes down to dollars and they can make them more easily this way.
It's backfiring on them now though as they can't figure out why sales are falling. Of course they blame piracy but the truth is they have a poor product that many people don't want.
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The answer is obvious. Vote with your wallets. Don't implement work-arounds. Just don't buy it. If enough people do that they will get the message.
Two points: 1) If the original recording was recorded well you can tell the difference if you want to. However, you probably won't notice if you're not trying. I've been listening to high-quality audio systems for almost my entire life (I'm 40 now) and there is a difference. I maintain a several-hundred gigabyte collection of .WAV files for my collection from which I generate .MP3 files for my wife's mobile player.
2) The subject of the quality of music has been in my mind for a long time now. I too believe 99% of "music" produced today is worthless noise. I've asked myself if it's just because I'm getting old. I have concluded that it is not.
The music industry has changed. It is now completely driven by greed. It used to be driven by the love of music as well as the desire to make a profit. Time and money was spent nurturing talented bands. The result was some truly great bands whose music we still enjoy as much as 40 (or even more) years later. Personally I like a lot of the bands that came out in the 70's although I suspect that is personal taste.
These days the industry has discovered they can make a killing by just touting some performer with little or no talent as long as they are marketed and there is a gimmick to attract attention. Often times that gimmick is a hot young woman but there are other gimmicks as well. It comes down to dollars and they can make them more easily this way.
It's backfiring on them now though as they can't figure out why sales are falling. Of course they blame piracy but the truth is they have a poor product that many people don't want.