On the internet, displaying our musical taste has become so easy that it’s virtually automatic. Social networking sites, with searchable lists of our preferences, seem expressly designed for the purpose. If we so choose, we can let people eavesdrop on what we are listening to on our computer at any time, or broadcast it as if we were our own personal radio station.
In the real world, our options are more limited. We can drive around with our car stereos blaring, wear conspicuous T-shirts, and spend a lot of time in clubs. Or we can hang around in the right record stores.