[Malte Müller]

Yes. At least the teenagers I know don’t know artists or albums. They just now playlists. And they chose them by subject, title or recommendation.

Me too. But “collectors” were always in the minority. Many were just content with the radio and the random playlist is just the equivalent (even better probably as no annoying moderator ;-))

And I get it. Why make a B side if noone buys singles?

Probably becasue there were no “sides” even with CD singles anymore 😉 I also remember those maxi singles with extended or different versions. Now they just release the track on streaming and as a video on youtube.