In regards to your last question, my guess is that if you look around at the crowd, you will see a mix that can be determined by age. Those my age might buy the hardcopies and the younger crowd might be more into streaming - or albums, since they're making a comeback (even the younger folks are jumping onboard). Oddly enough, I'm a spotify guy now but that's only because - when I got a new car about three or four years ago - it didn't come with a CD player. If it did, I'd still buy them. Of course, I'm pretty much stereotyping here and could be completely off.
Personally, I buy physical copies from artists I really like. But I buy less than I used to for sure. Thanks to streaming, I don't need to buy every single CD/LP that has a few good tracks.
There's all kinds of fans at shows. Some, as you pointed out, still like to buy CDs and/or LPs. But I'm sure there are people there who like to listen to the artist on streaming only, and they will still go see the artist every single time. And not just young people.
On top of that, how many of them listen to albums start to finish.
But I wanted to reply because your comment created an enjoyable sense of nostalgia that I'm glad I was able to partake in. I will admit, however, I did not enjoy camping out for concert tickets or trying to call in and buy them over the phone and getting a constant busy signal. However, because it was the musical hardcopies making the bands money, the tickets were cheaper. That I do miss!
The first show I saw was GN'R in 1991. I think my ticket was about $20.
/jarmo
I still buy CD's and vinyl, my 1980's Hifi is the envy of my kids
Love getting oriignal pressings of vinyl too, loads of artist have been run through my stylus and the analogue sound and richness of those recordings still rock. Caught the postman the other day sat on my doorstep "taking a breather
" whilst I played The Wall by Floyd. He did say he loves that album and is minded to get a copy himself.