Life without music is a difficult prospect for many of us to face, but luckily enough, in the modern age, it’s not a common situation. Every situation comes with exceptions, however, and we’ve experienced this recently when trying to travel internationally while maintaining access to the music we love. Whether listening to the newest death metal albums or checking out long-time favorites, being denied music through geo-blocking always sucks. To help you avoid this unfortunate situation, here are a couple of suggestions to keep your travels as fulfilling as they should be.
Finding Ways Around a Block
There are several ways to find your way around the challenges of geo-blocking, the most direct of which is with a piece of software. Using PIA’s California VPN is one method if you come from the Golden State. This essentially tricks an internet connection into thinking it’s running from California no matter where you are in the world, so you have access to everything you do at home. This isn’t the only option available either, if you still want to rely on streaming services.
The next best idea can be to find streaming services outside your regular choice if your preferred option doesn’t offer your full library in your new location. This can happen because of how licensing works on different systems in different areas. Just because VIDRIO ECHO finds a home on Spotify, for example, doesn’t mean that they’ll be equally accessible in all countries’ Spotify lineups.
Rather than being stuck at a loss after you land, it can be best to first research the different apps and options like Apple Music, YouTube, and Tidal ahead of time. See what their regional options offer, and use that to build your playlists before you go. You might not be able to access everything, but you should at least be able to craft a selection that works for you.
Making Hard Copies
The other option can be to rely on hard copies instead of streamed ones. This can be a trickier solution, but it can also help bypass any connectivity issues and limited libraries that streaming may impart. Before we start on this, you’ll need to read ahead on the legality of creating backups of your music to a storage drive before you go, both in your home country and where you’re headed. This is often completely acceptable as long as it is not for commercial purposes, but some countries can have stricter laws.
If you are okay, then you may be able to rip directly from a CD using tools like Windows Media Player. This is an easy process, even if you’re not a tech head. This helps keep the process legally and morally okay. After you’re done, simply copy the music onto your phone, install a music player app, and you’re ready to go.
The perfect soundtrack can make a fantastic trip even better. Whether you’re exploring dark alleys, hiking a trail at night, or god forbid, doing something fun during the day, you don’t need to miss out on the music you love. As long as you plan and put in the work, you won’t be left wanting, and you’ll get more from your experience.
