The Decline Of Physical Media

We used to pride ourselves on our collection of media.  Whether it was books on the shelf, our music collection, whether tape cassette, album or cd, even our video collection of VHS movies or DVDs.  Friends that would enter our homes could marvel at the books we read, music we listened to, or movies we watched.  And these collections became our hobbies and our passions.  

We still pride ourselves on these collections but now use social media to share our latest media connections.  We simply no longer need the physical clutter; all of this content is accessible through cloud streaming or digital storage.  And so the devices we use, especially for music and movies have changed.  For example, "Streaming media players, for the first time ever, outnumber Blu-ray players in U.S. households, and have become the new tip of the spear connecting consumers to the Internet and online video."  Devices like Apple TV, Roku, and Google Chromecast, as well XBox and Playstation, become the more preferred devices for our digital collections.  

We have seen for a while this decline in physical media occurring.  Fewer sales of cds and dvds, fewer books too as our tablets and e-readers become a more acceptable substitute for carrying around heavy books.  But because our collections are no longer easier to be seen, we can't peek at the cover of the book being read on the subway and we can't look through the latest album covers of newly purchased music.  We must proactively share our playlists and reading lists and comment on our latest interests.  The landscape continues to change and we are changing with it. 

Streaming media players, for the first time ever, outnumber Blu-ray players in U.S. households, and have become the new tip of the spear connecting consumers to the Internet and online video. - See more at: http://videomind.ooyala.com/blog/researcher-streaming-stbs-leading-drive-connect-consumers-content#sthash.SZNRYJva.dpuf