After reading this blog about the importance of music in our society, I'm proud to say on Earth Day that one of the reasons I work in the grooviest music store in Montana is simple: we have all the airwaves we'll ever need to sustain the soul of our ears; it's time to recycle them through the use and abuse of turntables.
Because we have vinyl, and an endless supply at that. Nearly two loads, each containing three boxes are escorted into the record shop for sale each week. If you can imagine the groovy stuff in your mother or father's trunk, trap or cardboard, you know what I'm referring to. Yep, that's a ton of records. Exactly how many records are in existence, who knows. But here's the thing-- while Americans consume yet another resource (CompactDiscs), yet again there's another alternative (previously produced Records).
It's key that we have organizations like The Compact Disc Recycling Center of America because it gives an issue voice. Their campaign "the importance of recycling compact discs, (providing) a location to send them, and (increasing) community awareness of related environmental issues caused by unwanted discs being placed in the trash."
The center's founder, Bruce Bennett, hits one issue right on the nose. “It is important for those individuals or companies that use, sell, manufacture or promote compact discs to also responsibly promote how and where to recycle them.”
And although there is currently a campaign that I advocate in addition to this new call of action, this campaign does not limit the production of compact discs.
This band aid merely opaque-ifies the real issue, which is: we consume more resources than is necessary for survival. I submit that our net consumption of compact discs surpasses even luxury. Each year over 30 billion CDs and DVDs are still being manufactured. How many ProU writers have seen molded, thrashed, scratched and clean discs thrown discarded in the trash or in the street.
I'm still waiting for the next two guys in a garage that invent a process by which classic Frank Zappa vinyl records will be reused; rewritten with new music. Oh what a day that'll be when the pair enter the United States Patent Office with smiles extending to earlobes. The ears on these people would have to be likewise; big hairy things so large and full of musical passion and knowledge that would inspire such an invention.
But until that day comes, we can all be proud of people who consume that music that's already produced on vinyl. Consider purchasing yer next album on vinyl for yet another source of deserved pride.
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