Long before the cloud (whatever that is) and before playlists guessed what we'd like to discover, music was something you touched, held, and hunted for.

And now, thanks to a surprising twist, the more "hands-on" approach to music is sneaking back. With the new school year in full swing and more schools banning the use of smartphones in classrooms, students who can't stream music on their phones have surprisingly turned to retro tech (yes, retro) like iPod Shuffles and other no-frills MP3 players, sparking a surge in sales on eBay. This even sparked a mini-movement for Apple to bring back the Shuffle. loading...

It's a reminder that the magic of music isn't just about what you are listening to, but also the ritual.

Why the Act of Listening Mattered as Much as the Music

Beyond the phy

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