Why, despite limitless playlists, I still listen to Def Leppard

Tim Gibson considers the impact of music streaming on his listening habits

By Tim Gibson

A few years ago, my wife and I hit upon a brilliant idea. We were a bit late to the music streaming party, but we finally decided to take the plunge and sign up to Spotify. For £15 a month, up to four users in our household would have access to apparently limitless amounts of music, cutting across genres and helping expand our musical tastes.

    I can access pretty much any artist I want, in just a few swipes of my iPhone.  

It seemed like a no-brainer. For most of my adult life, I’ve spent at least £50 a month buying and downloading music. So the thought of a much-reduced monthly cost to cover all my listening, with the added bonus that Mrs G could reignite her enthusiasm for Britpop, seemed eminently sensible.

And so it was. Now, with a few notable exceptions (only a problem if, like me, you have a strange obsession with US country star Garth Brooks, who eschews Spotify in favour of an exclusivity deal with Amazon Music), I can access pretty much any artist I want, in just a few swipes of my iPhone.

It’s amazing. The day a new album or single comes out, I add it to my library. If I discover an artist who has an extensive back catalogue (Jason Isbell, anyone?), I can get up to speed immediately. No waiting to drip-feed their oeuvre to my eager ears. I can have it all, now. No delay.

And herein lies the problem. Because it isn’t humanly possible to listen to all the music I add to my account every single day. So I end up listening in dribs and drabs: the odd half an LP here, the occasional single there. And because the best music grows on you, I rarely give myself the chance to get into something new.

In consequence, when faced with a long car journey and the opportunity to listen to hours of brilliant tunes, I end up reaching for my old favourites: the music that I listened to in my youth, when you had to queue at Our Price for a new LP along with everyone else.

Nowadays, my listening revolves around Def Leppard, David Bowie, Del Amitri and occasional smatterings of Bryan Adams (usually in the car with my son, who simply *adores* ‘Summer of ‘69’). You’ll note that this music was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, when I was growing up. These are the artists whose records I queued to buy. Whose music I listened to again and again, allowing their song craft to work its magic over time, to get under my skin.

    Turns out I have most of the albums currently listed on my Spotify ‘just-played’ menu on CD or vinyl...  

So even though I know there’s a load of fantastic music available at my fingertips, just waiting to be discovered, much of it remains un-listened to. It seems such a shame.

Turns out I have most of the albums currently listed on my Spotify ‘just-played’ menu on CD or vinyl (or cassette tape, remember that?) in the garage. But it’s easier to listen to the MP3s, even though I am, in effect, paying £15 a month for music I already own.

It’s okay, though, because I’ve hit upon a solution. To ensure I don’t discard new music after one or two listens, I’ve significantly reduced my library. I allow myself one album from each of my favourite artists (Def Leppard’s Hysteria, Bowie’s Hunky Dory, Adams’s Reckless, Del Amitri’s Twisted, in case you’re interested). The rest of my library consists of singers and bands I’m just getting into, or who have recently launched something new. And I force myself to give every album at least 10 hearings before deleting it. If it hasn’t grown on my by then, it never will.

Sounds extreme, doesn’t it? And it is. But it’s the only way I’m going to get my money’s worth out of Spotify. And just in case I find myself short of something to listen to on a long drive, far from home, I keep a boxed set of Garth Brooks CDs in the glove box. I bought them from Amazon last year for use in emergencies. Best £50 I ever spent…

Published: 10 May 2019

© 2019 Just Recruitment Group Ltd

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: Five reasons why the Good Fight is the smartest thing on TV right now

You may also enjoy: Just testing: Renault ZOE Dynamique Nav R110

Jobs currently available

New job
Accounts Administrator
Sector: Accountancy, Banking and Finance
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913707
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a well-regarded and long-standing family business based on the outskirts of Colchester, looking to add an Accounts Administrator to their team.

Please note that due to the location, you will need access to your own transport.

Working hours:

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. 1 hour lunch break. The company can be flexible and offer a 4 day week.

Free parking is available on-site.

You must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with Sage 50 accounts and Sage payroll, with the ability to work on your own initiative.

This role is focused within the remit of bookkeeping up to trial balance using Sage software.

Duties will include:

  • Ensure timely and accurate recording of financial transactions.
  • Daily financial operations, including posting of supplier invoices, reconciliation of supplier accounts, accounts payable management, creation of customer invoices, accounts receivable management, etc.
  • Perform bank/credit-card reconciliations, including a factoring banking account and Petty cash accounts.
  • Quarterly VAT returns and analysis. (including RTI submission to HMRC).
  • Prepare weekly aged creditors reports and process weekly supplier payments, run accordingly.
  • Prepare monthly aged debtors reports and provide credit control where required.
  • Maintain cashflow forecast for the Finance Director to review.
  • Process monthly payroll, payments, journal entries and year-end procedures (including RTI submission to HMRC).
  • Manage auto-enrolment pension contributions, submissions and legal returns to the pensions regulator.

Skills required include:

  • Significant experience in finance or accounting.
  • Proficiency with accounting software, Sage 50, and payroll.
  • Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet software such as Excel.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Experience in data entry.
  • Effective decision-making and problem-solving techniques within a finance environment.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Factory Operative (Nights)
Sector: Production and Stock Control
Salary: £15.27 per annum
Location: Hadleigh, Suffolk
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary
Job ref: JT-HAD-FO-0625
About the role

Just Temps seeks reliable and hardworking Factory Operatives for a hands-on role in a fast-paced environment, within a well-established food manufacturing company, based in Hadleigh, Suffolk.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 11pm to 7am.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Heavy lifting – regularly handling up to 50kg
  • Ripping and tipping of raw materials
  • Maintaining a clean and safe working environment
  • Working in a dusty environment with appropriate PPE
  • Supporting general production and manufacturing tasks

Role requirements include:

  • Comfortable with heavy lifting on a continuous basis
  • Previous experience in a factory setting is desirable
  • Good attention to detail and strong work ethic
  • Reliable and punctual

What’s on offer:

  • Competitive hourly rate
  • Consistent Monday to Friday hours
  • Long-term opportunity with a reputable local employer

If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and get stuck into a vital role in the food production industry, we want to hear from you.

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.~
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Quality & Compliance Manager
Sector: Business, Consulting and Management
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913704
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a company based on the outskirts of Colchester to recruit a Quality & Compliance Manager.

You will be responsible for managing and overseeing the company’s compliance and quality assurance activities, ensuring the effective implementation and maintenance of ISO standards and internal controls across the business.

Duties will include:

  • Expand the ISO 9001 system to cover all areas of the business, ensuring comprehensive documentation of workflows that accurately reflect business processes and activities.
  • Assist in the implementation and maintenance of ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 27001 (Information Security Management), ensuring ongoing compliance with the standards.
  • Collaborate with the Finance Director to implement robust controls and internal audits related to all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting.
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with FCA regulations, including record-keeping, reporting, and adherence to guidelines.
  • Monitor regulatory updates and ensure that all processes are updated in line with FCA requirements.
  • Assist in preparing reports for submission to regulatory bodies and ensure proper documentation of all compliance efforts.

Role requirements include:

  • Proven experience in a compliance or quality assurance role, preferably within a regulated industry.
  • Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex regulations and data effectively.
  • Exceptional attention to detail with strong organisational skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organisation, both verbally and in writing.
  • Proficient in using compliance management software and tools.
  • A relevant degree or professional qualification in a related field is advantageous.
  • Six Sigma certifications.
  • Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
  • PRINCE2 or PMI.

Additional pay:

  • Bonus scheme.
  • Performance bonus.

Benefits include:

  • Company events.
  • Company pension.
  • Free flu jabs.
  • Health and wellbeing programme.
  • On-site parking.
  • Profit sharing.

Hours:

Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.30pm.
Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Plastic Moulding Technician
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913703
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a long-standing manufacturing business based in Sudbury to recruit a 'Plastic Moulding Technician' to join their team.

The key purpose of this role is to set moulding machines under the direct supervision of the Supervisor/Manager and to ensure the smooth running of the production process and guarantee that all products are produced to the stated specifications.

Key duties include:

  • Setting the correct tool into the moulding machine as required, using clamps, bolts and hand tools as necessary.
  • Setting machine controls to regulate temperature, moulding pressure and cycle time according to the specification/procedures for each job card.
  • Ensuring the correct raw materials are added to the hopper and then commencing production.
  • Being responsible for ensuring that the machine operator is aware of the necessary work required of them for the correct quality of the finished product.
  • Carrying out all repairs and maintenance as required throughout the shift.
  • Liaising with the General Manager to ensure the smooth running of the shop floor and organisation of the work schedule.
  • Reporting any problems, breakdowns, staffing issues, etc., to the General Manager or Administrator in a timely fashion.
  • Ensuring that all machines are set and ready to run for the Operators to commence their shift.
  • Ensuring that each operator is completely aware of all aspects of the work that they are given to do and understands the importance of Quality Checking and hourly checking procedures.
  • Ensuring that all product is correctly labelled and identifiable, including anything in the regrind room.
  • Ensuring that good housekeeping is maintained at all times.

Key requirements for this role include:

  • Previous experience in a similar role.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to plan and organise within strict deadlines.
  • Excellent team worker, with the ability and self-discipline to work alone effectively.
  • Positive approach to production support and customer service.
  • Highly driven and self-motivated.
  • Maintains a professional attitude, keeps calm and controlled.
  • Confident working in a demanding and pressurised environment.
  • Adaptable and flexible in approach to change.
  • Proactive decision-making and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to use conceptual thinking and awareness to generate new ideas.

This is a Monday to Friday role, working on a split shift schedule.

Free parking is available on-site.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more