I think MP3s are here to stay no matter what people think

We live in a time when we have millions of songs at our fingertips and can access them from our phones, laptops, and tablets. This wasn’t always the case; we once had to download individual tracks or albums in MP3 format to enjoy our favorite music. There’s no denying that MP3s have lost their popularity to streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, but they continue to endure, and it’s still possible to purchase new albums in the ubiquitous audio format.

The question is whether MP3s are still relevant and if they have a future, considering the available alternatives. MP3s originated from an era of limited storage capacity, and their popularity stemmed from their compact size, which allowed them to fit on mobile players and smaller drives. However, they suffered from decreased sound quality due to their compression, and were never the best for audiophiles demanding lossless audio. Everyone has their own opinion, but I believe MP3s are here to stay for these reasons.

Why have MP3s lasted so long?

Unrivaled compatibility

I3enc, the first MP3 software encoder, released in 1994, followed by the first player called WinPlay3 in 1995, which let users play the format on their PCs. The format gained immense popularity because people could now store thousands of songs on a single portable device, like an iPod, instead of requiring individual CDs or cassettes. The format generated billions in revenue for companies like Sony and Apple in the early and mid-2000s, before its popularity began to wane in the latter part of the decade.

MP3s have been around for thirty years now and still have universal compatibility with most devices. One of the reasons for its longevity compared to previous audio formats is that it is software and not hardware-based. Previous audio standards, such as LPs, cassettes, and CDs, were all hardware-based and became obsolete as technology advanced. We’ve seen massive strides in technology over the last thirty years, but MP3s will still work on nearly all the latest hardware, including computers, phones, and car infotainment systems. They also take up minimal space and can be easily copied between devices.

MP3s vs streaming

Privacy or convenience

There’s no doubt that streaming is more convenient because we can access unlimited music from millions of artists for a few bucks a month. The unrivaled versatility means I can listen to old or new music in every genre and enjoy podcasts or audiobooks. These days, I rely on Spotify daily, especially when working or driving, and can’t imagine not having it.

So why bother with MP3s when streaming music is easier? Many reasons come to mind. For one, streaming requires an online connection, which may not be available in certain areas, and it also needs data, although the amount is negligible by today’s standards. Streaming also requires a monthly subscription to corporations that could be harvesting and selling your data, and ending your subscription means losing access to your music.

Sometimes, the cluttered interface and unlimited choices of streaming platforms can be overwhelming for users wanting a cleaner and more focused listening experience. When it comes to supporting artists, it’s no secret that they earn a pittance from streaming services, which pay between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. Buying the artist’s album or songs in MP3 format will earn them more revenue than streaming, and you’ll have the benefit of owning the music and being able to store and move it between devices at will. I stream music while driving every day, but I still store MP3s on my phone and enjoy certain playlists when I’m in the mood or out of town, where the signal is limited.

MP3s vs. other formats

Size and quality differences

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is an MP3 rival adopted as the standard format on Apple devices and streaming services, like Spotify. It’s a lossy, compressed format like MP3s, but delivers smaller file sizes with better sound quality and multichannel support. While widely supported across devices, it doesn’t have the same level of compatibility as MP3s do, and might not work with some systems.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a lossless format offering better sound quality than MP3s at the cost of larger file sizes. To put this in perspective, I downloaded a music album in MP3 and FLAC formats. The MP3 was 73.8 MB in size, while the FLAC version took up 276 MB, over three times bigger. The size difference is worth it for those wanting the best listening experience, but people with thousands of MP3s that have served them well over the years are unlikely to switch anytime soon.

The viability of these formats comes down to sound quality, which can be hard to quantify and depends on many factors. Audio equipment plays a massive part in this, and the difference in sound quality won’t be noticeable to most people unless they are using high-end gear. Everyone has a different ear for sound, and while some will appreciate the improved detail of lossless audio, the majority probably won’t.

I listened to MP3 and FLAC versions of the same songs on my headphones to see if I could tell the difference. The MP3s sounded good enough to me, although I noticed the quality improvement in the FLAC files, which I think was partly due to my active search for a comparison.

Why MP3s are here to stay

They aren’t going anywhere

MP3s aren’t the best at anything, but they take up little space and offer good enough sound quality for most listeners. Their widespread distribution and universal compatibility have ensured their viability for thirty years and will continue to do so in the future, despite their waning popularity. The format will stick around because it works on everything from ancient car stereos to the latest phones and tablets, and is easy to copy and paste without requiring special software or conversions. It’s still an excellent choice for people who want to own their music without paying for subscriptions, and there’s no shortage of MP3 content available to download.

I doubt MP3s will ever reach their previous heights in the streaming era, and will eventually be eclipsed by FLAC or other newer formats in the future. For now, millions of people still have MP3 libraries and won’t stop listening to them anytime soon. I’m caught in the middle and like the best of both worlds. I usually stream music to find new songs or artists, then download the ones I like in MP3 format so that I can add them to my collection.