Ideas worth spreading

How record collectors find lost music and preserve our cultural heritage

1,026,865 views | Alexis Charpentier • TEDxMontreal

For generations, record collectors have played a vital role in the preservation of musical and cultural heritage by "digging" for obscure music created by overlooked artists. Alexis Charpentier shares his love of records -- and stories of how collectors have given forgotten music a second chance at being heard. Learn more about the culture of record digging (and, maybe, pick up a new hobby) with this fun, refreshing talk.

For generations, record collectors have played a vital role in the preservation of musical and cultural heritage by "digging" for obscure music created by overlooked artists. Alexis Charpentier shares his love of records -- and stories of how collectors have given forgotten music a second chance at being heard. Learn more about the culture of record digging (and, maybe, pick up a new hobby) with this fun, refreshing talk.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxMontreal, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Discover. Visit the Music Is My Sanctuary website for hand-picked music recommendations from a dedicated team of music lovers.

About the speaker

Alexis Charpentier

Alexis Charpentier

Record digger, DJ, music entrepreneur

See speaker profile

Alexis Charpentier (aka Lexis from Music Is My Sanctuary) believes record collectors, music curators and DJs serve a crucial role as cultural preservationists and alternative voices to mainstream music platforms.

Amanda Petrusich | Scribner, 2015 | Book

Do Not Sell At Any Price

Amanda Petrusich infiltrates the maniacal, quirky and elusive world of early blues collectors on 78rpm records. The book was a big inspiration for my talk. Being a record collector myself, it helped me look at the community from an outside perspective.

Alan Zweig | 2000 | Watch

VINYL

This is one of the most genuine looks into the world of record collecting you will find. The low-budget, DIY documentary dives into the maniacal aspect of the never-ending quest for the next best record. If you're not a record collector, it will help you understand a lot about the craziness and obsession of record collecting.

Bill Brewster | Grove Press, 1999 | Book

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

A great book by Bill Brewster that chronicles the history of the role of the DJ — from radio jockeys and Jamaican sound systems to the biggest stages in the world. It confirms yet again something I'm mentioning in my talk — DJs have been instrumental in contemporary club culture but also hugely important in protecting vinyl culture during the '90s and 2000s.

| Explore

Discogs

The deepest music database in the world right now. It is entirely user-generated and has grown into the Wikipedia of music releases. It's also the most popular marketplace for music in the world connecting sellers to buyers of all formats.

Pip Piper | 2012 | Book

Last Shop Standing

There are few good documentaries that explore the world of independent record shops but if you would ask me with which one to start, I would definitely say this one. Entering the world of these small stores is essential for understanding the community and culture of record diggers. After you watched it and you're interested to know more, check out these: I Need That Record (2008) and All Things Must Pass (2015).

Will Straw | Canadian Journal of Communication, 2000 | Article

"Exhausted Commodities: The Material Culture of Music"

This article by McGill University professor Will Straw examines the accumulation of forgotten records becoming cultural waste in a digital world.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxMontreal, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Discover. Visit the Music Is My Sanctuary website for hand-picked music recommendations from a dedicated team of music lovers.