streaming has a history of being data intrusive. and buying from most online stores show itemized music receipts to the credit card company (and don’t typically allow giftcards). buying in person is nice, but harder to get new music.
any tips?
CDs, high quality, portable (after ripped), cheap
Privacy from whom?
I ask because the easiest way to do what you’re asking is to have your local record store sell you shit and pay in cash (that you’ve laundered so the serial numbers don’t match the atm). You can even be like “I’m trying to get away from computers man, can you order me this off eBay?” And guaranteed if you spent a hundred bucks or so on used releases they’ll say “absolutely!”
Of course, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb and have a lie to keep up with, so you’ll not have any real measure of anonymity.
if you are really asking for new music…
Bandcamp
Piracy…
I use 7Digital and HDTracks to purchase DRM free music. Neither require KYC or block VPNs. At least one uses PayPal but allows guest checkout. I use Privacy.com cards to purchase too
I use BandCamp or HDtracks when i can’t find it in the former.
If you’re in the US, Privacy.com has CCs. There are some sites that over gift cards via XMR too.
Generally though, if there’s a CC involved, there’s almost always KYC.Buy CDs. Fun and affordable if your music tastes can be found in thrift stores.
See if your local record store will order in new releases or otherwise for you on CD. Mine does and it’s not a very large store.
From there, rip to a computer where you either copy it to a mobile device for listening or self host your own streaming service such as Navidrome or Jellyfin.
The streaming service is easy to self host and I’d love to give more details. You can also “borrow your friend’s CDs to rip them” and stream content that you didn’t necessarily pay for.
+1
In case you don’t have an optical drive, new ones cost only slightly more than one CD these days.
Here’s some guidance on which models are especially good at audio ripping:
rip to a computer
99% of new PCs lack a CD drive.
You don’t have to buy an entire new pc for that.
If someone wants to put together a physical CD collection then <$50 is a small investment for a external CD drive. Thrift store CDs are cheap but it still has its costs. Streaming service subscriptions add up as well.
you can buy and install one yourself, or get a usb one for ~$20
Ideally one wouldn’t need to pay to experience a form of art
Rather, one should first experience the art, and then if they want they could make a donation
I think that buying a CD directly from the musician at their concert or event is the only truly direct way that doesn’t end up giving most of the money to monopolistic intermediary
Ideally one wouldn’t need to pay to experience a form of art
Sure… music instruments and the electricity to feed a stage are free.
Absolutely not, I did not implying that, the post is about digital reproduction/ownership of music (if I haven’t misunderstood it)
And that is, basically, free, a very “low” cost of copying bytes. What we pay on Spotify and Apple Music are not the artists, not their instruments or recording hardware or mastering software.
We pay the intermediaries.
Concerts, museums, theatres, etc, have high costs so I’m completely fine for them to cost money to the visitors.
(Oh and I believe Bandcamp is a close second)
