Spotify in the 80s: what is a Walkman and how would the device work?

For Spotify users who are used to its facilities, the Walkman may seem like a prehistoric solution. However, it is worth noting that this stereo device has revolutionized the experience of consuming music and has directly impacted the way we behave today.

To learn more about this electronic device and its importance, check out this article: Technology World prepared, next;

What is a Walkman?

The Walkman was released in 1979 by the Japanese company Sony. first portable music device. The model’s sole purpose was to play music and consisted of a K7 cassette player and a pair of stereo headphones powered by two common batteries without the need for cables.

Originally released in Japan, the model was considered a luxury item and came to the United States for $150 (R$738 at the current exchange rate). Some say their idea came from one of the company’s founders, Masaru Ibuka. Others claim that the device was created by Sony’s audio industry coordinator Nobutoshi Kihara for another partner in the company, Akio Morita.

How does the Walkman work?

Users recorded the tracks they wanted to listen to on their Walkman, on a cassette made up of a standard magnetic tape released in 1965, used for sound recording.

The music player came with a cassette that could store audio for up to an hour. But the first model didn’t have forward or rewind options, so it took the entire tape before returning to the beginning.

Sound recording was made by playing vinyl records or directly from radios. Worth mentioning Cassettes were the first device to allow mixing of music.namely the ability to collect pieces from different backgrounds in one place.

How did the Walkman revolutionize music consumption?

For anyone who grew up in the ’80s, the Walkman was a revolutionary device and offered a new way to engage with music. Sony’s audio device launched the concept of individual music enjoyment, not just portable music consumption.

Until then, the devices available were turntables, recorders, radios, and boomboxes—large speakers accompanied by a radio and cassette player. So music was appreciated in a common way, albeit unintentionally.

With the advent of the Walkman, music experience becomes personal and privateallows people to shut themselves off in their small world and enjoy their music selections with headphones. As such, the audio device quickly became a rage, especially among young people.

In addition, K7 allowed consumers to create their own compilations, which helped spread new music styles such as punk and hip-hop. At the time, record companies did not welcome the practice, as young people copied borrowed LPs to cassette tapes.

Unforgettable scenes with Walkman

The iconic device acted in unforgettable scenes in theaters, demonstrating the experience of listening to music alone and everywhere. Check out the four Walkman looks immortalized on the big screen below;

1. Beautiful Woman (1990)

Inside Beautiful Woman (1990), Vivian (Julia Roberts) appears using a more modern version of the Walkman from the brand’s sports line. The scene shows the young woman immersing herself in the song “Kiss” while in the tub, not noticing Edward (Richard Gere) approaching.

2. American Psycho (2000)

Inside American Psycho (2000)Patrick (Christian Bale) arrives at the office listening to “Walking On Sunshine” on his Walkman, revealing the character’s irony. Also, the stage has become the target of memes where other hits have replaced the original song.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

in the opening scene guardians of the galaxy (2014), Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) turns his surroundings into a music video with the song “Come And Get Your Love”. The Walkman plays an important role in the story as the character’s only link to his past on Earth.

4. Stranger Things

The music set experienced the second in the fourth season. stranger things (2016 – current), released in 2022. In an emotional scene, Max (Sadie Sink) enlists the help of his friends to get rid of Vecna ​​while singing “Running Up That Hill”.

Walkman’s Successors

CD – Discman

In the late 1980s, cassette tapes were in decline due to the advent of the CD. Sony released the Discman in 1984. offers the same comfort as a Walkman for new customers. However, the model was not ideal for racing or car use, as any sudden movement prevented the CD from being read. In 1922, the company introduced MiniDisc as a new audio format.

Digital Media – MP3/iPod

Music in digital media format consisted of audio files in MP3 (MPEG 1 Layer-3) format. These can be purchased virtually via CDs (which stream media to computers) or through download sites, with a type of service similar to iTunes.

In 1998, the first digital media device was released, giving rise to MP3 players, and it didn’t take long for Apple to announce its version, with the first iPod released in 2001. MP4 was the evolution of MP3 devices, the main difference being the reproduction of small videos. — considered a multimedia device.

streaming

Currently, apps like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Deezer use the streaming format or streaming where it is not necessary to store media files on a device. With a single app on your smartphone, you have free access to productions of hundreds of different artists and styles of music.

Many are turning to the Walkman and other music-dedicated devices, whether to escape excessive screen time or nostalgia. What do you think about this technology? Can you test it? Comment on social media Technology World. Until later!