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I have this question because I've seen a lot of artists come out with their music on cassettes instead of just CD/vinyl, and I've seen people collect them, but I feel like I've never really seen anyone USE them?? Anyway I ordered my first cassette today it's Melanie Martinez's K-12 :)!!
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Does anyone still USE cassettes?
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6 Replies
Reply by Eryn (Kitsch Mama Obscura)
posted
I know Hipsters in Portland and Los Angeles still use Cassette Tapes to record their crappy music on. So yeah, people still use Cassettes in some form or another
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Reply by Eryn (Kitsch Mama Obscura)
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Also, fun fact: The Cassette never really went away. After its popularity dwindled in North America (which would have been around the early 2000s when the last commercially released Cassette albums came out), The format continued to thrive in many 3rd world countries.
You see, when something is long past its prime in North America, that thing will relocate to other parts of the globe to see where it sticks. Examples (which involve stuff from when your parents were kids):
In the early 80s when Disco died in America, it gained a 2nd chance at prominence in Italy.
The Betamax (the 5th Video Cassette Format and the 1st significant one. It came out in 1975 and lost its momentum to VHS (Released in September of 1976) some time in the mid 80s) despite being dead in America in the 80s, 90s and 00s continued selling in some of the former Soviet Republics.
Cigarette sales are through the roof in 3rd World Countries. Like we're talking The Marlboro Man and Joe Camel (2 cigarette mascots from back in my day) have seen major resurgences in those parts of the globe (whether or not that's true, let that indicate how popular cigarettes still are in other countries).
In the late 80s, following the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, Teddy Ruxpin became all the hype (while it was dying as a fad in America).
In the late 2000s, many Middle Eastern Nations got 80s Vanilla Rock like Journey, Rick Springfield, Foreigner, Survivor, that sorta thing...
And in 2003, the most popular American Recording Artist in Russia was MC Hammer. In 2010, The Spice Girls gained prominence there and even reunited for a tour of Russia. Next year, Russia should be getting Justin Bieber (if they haven't got him already)
The point is, these things never go away. Once they've gone to fad status, we end up giving the rest of the world our hand me downs, and Cassettes are no exception to that rule
Reply by jude !!
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Yeah !!! I love cassettes but I know it's probably the most unpopular way to listen to music in recent years. I've gotten Tyler, the Creator and The Moldy Peaches cassettes and for some reason they have this big sentimental value to me - if you ask me cassettes are just a fun way to listen to music, I love using them !!
Reply by Lyra
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i get a few cassettes off bandcamp sometimes when an artist im buying from can't afford cds and vinyls to be pressed. they dont have the best audio quality, but buying physical media from artists means a lot and is a great way to support your faves!!
Reply by Profoundemonium
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I still use cassettes! Mostly MySpace-era black metal and dark ambient but also forgotten goth and indie demos from the 90s plus a ton of new releases from Bandcamp.
Reply by Ivory Rose
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Yes, local bands will distribute their music through cassette. The tape recorder was a very important medium to recording music since you were able to do it by yourself, without the influence of the tape recorder, we wouldnt have musicians self releasing their music and going independent as much because they would need to book studio time. If you dont believe me, look up Daniel Johnston
Dude changed music forever seriously.