Mixtape

A mix tape (commonly the two words are stuck together as mixtape), or mixed tape, is a homemade compilation of songs (typically copyrighted pop music taken from other sources) recorded in a specific order onto a compact audio cassette, generally intended for private use, as a soundtrack to social events or as a gift. With the advent of affordable digital audio, creating and distributing mixes in the form of a compact disc or MP3 playlist has become the method of choice for homemade mixes, but the term mix tape is still the most common one and will be used throughout this article.

Related Topics:
Compact audio cassette - Soundtrack - Gift - Digital audio - Compact disc - MP3 - Playlist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mix tapes, which usually reflect the musical tastes of a single compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a theme or mood, to a highly personal statement tailored to the tape's intended recipient. Essayist Geoffrey O'Brien has called the personal mix tape "the most widely practiced American art form," and many mix tape enthusiasts believe that by carefully selecting and ordering the tracks in a mix, an artistic statement can be created that is greater than the sum of its individual songs, much as an album of pop music in the post-Beatles era can be considered as something more than a collection of singles.

Related Topics:
Conceptual - Theme - Geoffrey O'Brien - American - Art - Album - Pop music - Beatles

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~