Tomorrow on Cassette

This book digs into the surprising resurgence of cassette tapes, moving beyond mainstream media's simplistic "tape revival" narrative to explore the dedicated DIY music scenes that never abandoned the format. The author contrasts the popular belief that cassettes are just riding vinyl's coattails with the reality of grassroots communities in punk, noise, and hip-hop who have long valued the medium's unique materiality. It argues that for these niche scenes, cassettes were never a relic but a vital, ongoing tool for artistic expression and distribution.

What makes this analysis compelling is its focus on the practical, tangible benefits of the cassette tape that mainstream nostalgia often overlooks. The book is essential for music enthusiasts interested in the history of physical media, underground music economies, and the culture of DIY production. It provides a crucial corrective to the dominant narrative, offering a deeper understanding of why certain formats endure and how subcultures preserve artistic autonomy. This is a vital read for anyone trying to understand the real forces shaping music culture beyond fleeting trends.