Sunday, February 06, 2005

The evolution of portable audio

The evolution of portable audio

On this day of one of the few moments of true mass unity in our popular culture, it's interesting to look at how the music that united people back in an earlier techological-cultural era is now a place of isolation.

Barry Gordy used to mix those classic Motown hits on a car stereo speaker, because he knew Young America, black and white, would be listening on a tinny transistor radio, blaring across the school parking lot for all to share, influencing the kids eating lunch on the next car. That doesn't happen with an iPod.

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