COMMENT: It’s hard to be a music fan these days

I RECALL a time when record sleeves were emblazoned with the ominous skull and crossbones warning: ‘HOME TAPING IS KILLING MUSIC!’. 

Now, it seems, some of those controlling the live music industry are doing a pretty good job of it themselves.

Back in the good old days, the release of a major artist’s latest LP sent music fans into a state of near ecstasy? For me, it was the late David Bowie. Every new album by the Thin White Duke was a major life event, resulting in an almost spiritual pilgrimage into town. 

I’d start the search mission at Dolphin Discs on Talbot Street and if it wasn’t available there, I’d continue on up to Golden Discs on North Earl Street. In my late teens, I skipped the smaller record shops in favour of the cooler Virgin Megastore on the quays or HMV on Henry Street.

A new release cost a hefty £6.99 in old money – but it was worth every penny. Album in hand, you headed straight for the station. The journey seemed to take ages.

On the train, you would scan every inch of the record cover and pour over the lyrics on the inlay sheet. By the time you got home, you already knew the names of all the musicians who played on the record as well as who produced it.

Despite your excitement, you carefully coaxed the vinyl out of the sleeve before gently placing it on the turntable. As the stylus landed, you’d hear that familiar, reassuring crackle. Then you waited for the magic to begin.

Music nerds of a certain age will understand exactly what I’m talking about.

But then something terrible happened. The compact disc was born and people who had never even heard of Dire Straits suddenly owned a copy of ‘Brothers in Arms’. Us diehards bought it on vinyl. And yes, it did sound better.

In the decades that followed, I eventually set about buying all my favourite albums again on CD as my vinyl collection was banished to the attic.

My old records were eventually joined there by boxes of redundant CDs after Apple reinvented the music industry wheel with the iPod.

These days, I don’t even use iTunes and have fallen prey to the instant gratification that is the Spotify playlist. To my eternal shame, I rarely play an album in its entirety.

You can understand why major bands now need to embark on never-ending world tours to pay the bills. If it wasn’t for live ticket sales and flogging a few T-shirts at the merchandise stands, some of rock’s biggest names would probably be signing on.

But even the live experience has been tarnished. Buying a ticket to see your favourite band has become a lottery, whether you’re online at 9am on the dot or queuing in the rain overnight.

Those lucky enough to secure tickets for major events act as if they have been at the receiving end of a random act of kindness.

The rest of us are conditioned to expect disappointment when we hear that our favourite band is coming to town.

There is now talk of legislation on the way to deal with touting and exorbitant ticket prices. For genuine music fans, it can’t come quickly enough.