As we head into the holidays, and the last minute holiday gift buying rush, we are fortunate to be living at a time when there are an ever expanding number of easy ways to enjoy music, and movie options that make awesome gifts for loved ones. With a multitude of new services entering the market almost every day, gift givers now have some amazing options that enable them to download, rent, buy, or stream the content they love – to the device they want, when, where and how they want it.
We’ve all seen how a powerful song, a gripping story, or a great movie can help lift our spirits, warm our hearts, or open our eyes to new ways of seeing things. Growing up I had great parents who helped me enjoy some of the best that our creative community had to offer. I was fortunate to be able to get lost in stories that inspired, see how to be brave in the face of danger, and to discover music that helped me find my own voice. And by listening to and watching my parents — and listening to and watching great content – I had the opportunity to better understand what good ethical behavior meant.
While times have changed and content options have exploded, this holiday season parents not only have an opportunity to expose their families to incredible content, but do so in a way that can also help their kids find the right path, their own voice, and help set an example for how to obtain music and movies in the most legal and ethical ways.
There are now more than 70 authorized online digital music services in the United States, including streaming radio, music downloads, and on-demand subscription streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify that can help us enjoy more of what we love.When it comes to movies and TV, services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Xbox Video, and iTunes, as well as on-demand services from cable providers, give parents an ever expanding set of options across the many platforms that kids now use. And, if parent’s don’t know where to start, there are a growing number of online tools like wheretowatch.com and whymusicmatters.com that enable them to simply, safely and legally choose from a growing array of online content sources.
As parents think about their family’s digital life, the holiday gift giving season is a perfect time to start the conversation and set an example about the value of creative content, the multitude of ways to legally access it, and enjoy the best movies and music the holidays have to offer.