Music downloads vs real music

After debating the point with various people, by various I mean one (you know who you are) I felt it necessary to debate the downloading of music versus going in a shop and actually buying it.

When I first starting my music loving career, not sure of the actual age but it was probably about 13/14 ish, I would go into the then plethora of record stalls and purchase enough vinyl to floor a kitchen. I remember with fondness in going to such places as 'Bob Records' (never did meet Bob) and that other one behind the library in the little shopping arcade thingy - I can't remember the name of the place - obviously not as catchy as the shop run by Robert. In the early days my main shopping tactic would be to buy as much AC/DC as is humanly possible and then buy the odd Iron Maiden record.

As my tastes began to develop I moved up the spectrum of record buying and started to shop in 'Wayahead', more and more CD's crept their way in as I was turning into a Britpop type person. When I was off to University I found another such indie dungeon in Stoke On Trent and would complete my collection even further, this time tinged with psychedelic 60's stuff. After turning into a southerner I would regularly travel into the capital and visit such gems as Fopp, Sister Ray and Rough Trade.

Then I decided to invest in an Ipod, I'd never understood Ipod's however a bloke at work told me about all the wonderful things they could do. In an instance I was transfixed by the little thing, and I couldn't import all my CD's quick enough. For me its a truly amazing invention, if you're a music lover, then the accessibility to your collection is incredible. Being able to purchase a new song is incredibly easy as well, may be i just enjoy the simple life?

Coupled with this argument, is the other side. The death of independent record stores. I remember I used to love the feeling of going into a record store with no idea what to buy and then hearing a fantastic album and tentatively going up to the bloke behind the counter to find out what was playing. I still remember finding out about Rilo Kiley like that, for reference Reveal Records - Derby.

However looking back, those shops are now closed permanently - Bobs Records, The shop I can't remember the name of, The other shop in uni days which I can't remember the name of, Reveal, even Fopp has closed in Camden.What a sad outlook it is, I do still try and keep my hand in tho, must plan a trip to Fopp in Cambridge! Who knows what I'll hear there!!