Now, I know there's two thoughts out there right now when I say 600. The small minority of people out there are saying, "Psh...600? I have 1000, easily." And that's fine. I don't claim to have the biggest collection around. But keep in mind that 600 does not include what has to be at least 100 CDs I've burned mixes on from time to time, it does not include any digital music purchases. Also keep in mind that I don't work in the industry. I'm not on the radio, I don't work for any label...basically, I don't get a lot of freebies that the industry folks do. Every CD in my collection was purchased by me or for me (Or it was a free compilation CD that came with the purchase of any one of 10 CDs...those deals that you see every once in a while). Taking into account the free CDs and those that have been purchased for me, I figure I have spent about $6000 on music in my six or seven years of purchasing music. So I'm pretty proud of that fact, that I can support these artists that way.
Of course, the much more predominant thought looks at that number...600...and it's a jaw-dropping thought. "You have how much music?" That's one of many common responses I get when people ask me about my collection. One of my small group members did not know how big my collection was, and we had been discussing a bit. She looked over at the 400+ CD rack in my basement which, at the time, only had like 10 CDs on it. She said, "That certainly doesn't look like much." I had to explain that that's the overflow rack and brought upstairs to show her the main rack, which currently houses around 570 discs. All she could say was, "Wow." And that's a response I've gotten used to hearing.
A lot of people think I spend too much money on music...and maybe they're right. But music is my passion. Some people collect stamps; some people collect sports cards. I collect music. And, I have to say, I think it's the greatest collection to have. Sure, my CDs aren't going to be worth 50 or 60 bucks a pop somewhere down the road like an autographed jersey hockey card might (Except for maybe that copy of the never-officially-released version of Mars Ill's Pro Pain...), but my collection transcends the years. Hockey cards...they're nice to look at, but you can't spend all day doing that. Same with stamps. Music...you can spend all day listening to music. Believe me, I know you can, because I do.
So why do you care that I purchased my 600th CD? Well, maybe you don't. In fact, most likely, you don't. But the thing is, it's not about the number. It's about being able to lead people to good music, no matter what their tastes are. When you can take a half hour drive on a bus to a rec center where you're going to hold an area all-nighter with your church's youth group and nine or ten others, and you can sit there and talk to the people around you about music and know every artist they're asking you things about and give them little tid bits of information they may not know (i.e. "You know Underoath is coming out with a new CD this summer?")...that's a great feeling. When your worship pastor can't wait for the next mix of songs you give him as possibilities for solos and specials for Sunday morning worship...that's a great feeling. When you can really put your passion to work to help the people around you out, it's a great feeling. So the number 600 may not be important. But what that number represents; a diverse collection of music that can fit the tastes of pretty much anyone out there...I think that's pretty important if you're allowing other people the opportunity to taste it too.