Discover published sets by community

Years of Popularity: 1990s-early 2000s; Characteristics: Magneto-optical disc-based format, attempted to replace cassette tapes, did not gain widespread adoption outside Japan

Years of Popularity: Early 2000s-present; Characteristics: High-resolution audio format, superior sound quality to standard CD, niche format with limited adoption due to MP3 and streaming popularity

Years of Popularity: 1980s-2000s; Characteristics: Digital optical disc, high-quality sound, started to decline with the rise of MP3 players and streaming

Years of Popularity: Late 1800s-1920s; Characteristics: Used for player pianos, rolls of paper with perforations, represented an early form of music sequencing

Years of Popularity: Late 1800s-early 1900s; Characteristics: Early sound recording format, made of wax or plastic, preceded gramophone records

Years of Popularity: Early 1990s; Characteristics: Digital magnetic tape format, backward compatibility with analog cassettes, discontinued due to competition from MiniDisc and CD

Years of Popularity: 1940s-1980s; Characteristics: Analog format, grooved surface to encode sound, resurgence in 2000s for audiophiles and collectors

Years of Popularity: 2010s-present; Characteristics: Digital delivery of music via the internet, allows for access to vast libraries, has transformed music consumption habits

Years of Popularity: 1920s-present; Characteristics: Broadcasts audio by radio waves, ubiquitous and portable, major platform for music discovery and advertising

Years of Popularity: 1700s-present; Characteristics: Notation represents musical pitch, tempo, and rhythm, physical medium for music distribution before recordings, still used for learning and orchestral performances

Years of Popularity: 1970s-1990s; Characteristics: Magnetic tape medium, compact and portable, facilitated mixtapes and personal recordings

Years of Popularity: Late 1990s-2010s; Characteristics: Digital audio files, portable and with high storage capacity, popularized by devices like the iPod

Years of Popularity: 1980s-present; Characteristics: Combines song with a short film, popularized by television channels like MTV, an important promotional tool for artists

Years of Popularity: 1960s-1970s; Characteristics: Portable, cartridge-based, faded due to poor sound quality and convenience of cassettes