Facing the Music: The Issue with Overconsumption
In the music industry, physical forms of music are making a comeback. Vinyl albums have been growing for the past 16 years, selling over 40 million albums in 2022, according to Statista. Many artists are taking advantage of this opportunity, including big names like Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa. These artists and labels are combining this interest in physical albums with the idea of exclusivity. They will release an item in a limited amount or only make it available for a short period of time. This makes consumers feel they need to order right away in order to obtain this collectable item. For example, with the release of her upcoming album, Taylor Swift has announced 4 different "variants" of the album. Each one has a different cover and an exclusive song only available on those physical copies. With each of these, she initially has them for sale for just a few days, enticing fans to get them before they are gone. Usually, they become available again closer to the album releas...