Radio Punk Editorial 3 : October 2020

Radio Punk Editorial 3 : You could have downloaded Spotify, instead you are listening to a vinyl

For this editorial we decided to have a discussion about a very hot topic: the use of online platforms to listen to music and the impact those might have on more “historic” formats such as vinyls and tapes.

On one hand there’s the chance to freely access all the music one might want to hear, experimenting new artists and genres with just a few clicks, on the other hand there’s the solid and physical result of hours spent rehearsing, bands’ labour, artwork, booklets and whatnot, long story short the satisfaction to possess an object that’s not only about music, but carries its own history too.

Since the Radio Punk Project has a “material” side to it, that being managing our label and distro, during these years we’ve learnt to know all the different aspects behind a record or book release. Sure, we still have a whole lot of things to learn, but putting ourselves on the line made it possible for us to understand what labour and passion are, but also why in a money driven world, sadly, music cannot be free. Given our libertarian vision about of life we write these line reluctantly, but we have to face the truth. We firmly believe music should be accessible to everyone and not just the privilege of those who can afford it, and that’s the beauty of internet.

Having free access to the contents and messagges that punk vehiculates is awesome. Not to mention the fact that it’s the only way to listen to music when outside of the house. Platforms such as Bandcamp, Spotify, Youtube and others cannot be our only resource, but can ease new discoveries and nurture curiosity.

Some among us remember the analogic era when music was only available on vinyl and tape, and that then witnessed the dawn of cd. Back then one might discover new music basically two ways: a friend’s mixtape or the random purchase in a record shop only due to the artwork. Goes without saying that most of these tunes, and purchases, had to be mainstream, with just a few, lucky, exceptions popping out of nowhere. Do we buy less records? Maybe, but we proudly want to say no. Given the scarcity of economic resources (nowadays just as yesterday), our purchases just tend to be more focused. We buy what really clicks with us, maybe after listening to it online.

Here individual choices factor in heavily. Supporting through the purchase of a physical copy means lending a friendly hand to artists, bands, distros, labels, and their contents. Matter of fact it’s what we’re trying to do with our playlists: entertaining you, but, even more than that helping you discover new bands pushing you towards materially supporting them and having you live the full-on record experience; touching the sleeve, reading the lyrics, admiring the artworks and reliving the passion of those who recorded it. Here’s the importance of the involvement of those living this counterculture, that means using the internet in a proactive and functional way relating to real life, maybe even passing the torch to younger generations, already commonly using the digital platforms.

About those, in the midst of all the reasonings we developed, we particularly thought about Spotify, often criticized, even by us… But does a radical choice such as not using it at all make sense if one ends up using other platforms such as Youtube or Bandcamp? By not using it don’t we miss the chance to support, even in the tiniest way, a band that decided to upload its tracks on the platform? These are still unanswered questions, even to us.

So what?

As sorry as we might be, here you won’t find an answer to “spotify in punk, yes or no”. We’re sailing in uncharted waters taking guesses, this and everything we said before are the reasons why we think that a conscious compromise is the right choice for us.

To make it short… listen to as much music as possible, be curious and buy a vinyl if you can!
If you have any thought or experience to share with us you can find our contacts here!