In the 2010s, video stores in Madison — and across the country — were closing en masse, following the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Record stores also began to fall out of favor with customers as Pandora and Spotify emerged as cheap, on-demand music sources.
Now, the tide seems to be reversing: Owners of local video and record stores have noticed a renewed interest in renting and buying instead of streaming. Library checkout numbers for film and music offerings have increased. As Madisonians grow weary of large streaming services, some are turning back to physical media.
Marian Herzog is one such Madisonian. A millennial, Herzog grew up in the golden age of DVDs and developed a fondness for physical media — she even owns a shirt that says “physical media forever.” Although she still uses streaming services occasionally, Herzog holds onto DVDs and VHS tapes in anticipation of the platforms becoming less accessible…