CDs Are Officially Over

ices · #11 ● 11-07-2011, 07:48 AM

*Walks into HMV*

*looks around*

"Dont think so".

**kellyhound** · #12 ● 11-07-2011, 07:55 AM

 
Unsurprisingly, SideLine tried to reach EMI, Universal and Sony for comment, but all three labels declined to respond.

The only CD-formats that will be left over will be the limited edition ones, which will of course not be available for every artist.

The distribution model for these remaining CD releases would be primarily Amazon which is already the biggest CD retailer worldwide anyhow.

3 weeks ago we heard it for the first time and since then we have tried getting some feedback from EMI, Universal and Sony. All declined to comment.

The news doesn't come as a surprise to those who have been working in the business.

In a piece that was published in a q&a with the Alfa Matrix people back in June 2011 in the 1st issue of "Matrix Revelations", our chief editor Bernard Van Isacker said the following when asked if a CD would still exist in 5 years: "Yes, but in a different format. Normal CDs will no longer be available because they don't offer enough value, limited editions on the other hand will remain available and in demand for quite a few more years.

I for one buy only limited editions because of the added value they offer: a nice design, extra bonus gadgets, etc.

The album as we know it now however will be dead within 5 years, if it isn't even sooner.

I predict that downloads will have replaced the CD album within the next 2 years.

I don't see that as something negative, it just has run its course, let's leave the space to limited editions (including vinyl runs for bigger acts) and downloads instead."

It's a move that makes completely sense. CD's cost money, even when they don't sell because there is stock storage to be paid; a label also pays money to distributors when CDs get returned to the labels when not sold and so on.

In short, abandoning the CD-format will make it possible to just focus on the release and the marketing of it and no longer focus on the distribution (since aggregators will do the work as far as dispatching the releases to services worldwide) and - expensive - stock maintenance.

In the long run it will most surely mean the end for many music shops worldwide that only stock and sell CD releases.

In the UK for instance HMV has problems paying the labels already and more will follow. It makes the distribution of CDs no longer worth it.

Also Amazon will benefit from this as it will surely become the one and only player when it comes to distribution of the remaining CD productions from labels.

Packaged next to regular album downloads via its own Amazon MP3 service it will offer a complimentary service.

Update: We were approached by several people working with major labels, who indeed re-confirm that plans do exist to give up the CD.

We keep on trying to get an official confirmation, but it seems that the matter is very controversial, especially after Side-Line brought out the story.

sassieroses · #13 ● 11-07-2011, 10:24 PM

Well, I hate to admit it, but it wouldn't surprise me. I mean, i am a voracious reader and I am moving to alot of ebooks now to save space. I have gotten rid of a TON of books in the past two years and I honestly do not buy as many CD's as I do download songs anymore.

Mr.Goodbar · #14 ● 11-08-2011, 04:03 AM

It's not officially over if it can't be officially confirmed. DERP!

SideLine tried to reach EMI, Universal and Sony for comment, but all three labels declined to respond.

^^^So if they won't respond or make an official comment how can it be 'official'?

Just Sideline.com trying to generate web traffic

derp

LadyPox · #15 ● 11-08-2011, 11:56 AM

Agree... the article is bunk.

candymosh · #16 ● 11-08-2011, 12:21 PM

nHalexHale · #17 ● 11-08-2011, 12:23 PM

thread fails

Mizz_Russia · #18 ● 11-08-2011, 01:35 PM

With all music being able to be downloaded off the net for free. I thought CD's would be long gone by now. New stuff comes out the old doesn't get used no more. Like Music records were pretty popular.. and then they made tapes.... records slowly died down... then cd's came... tapes died down.. All of them are still being used, but you won't be able to go to a ton of music stores and find records and tapes etc.. as the time goes on Cd's will be old school lol. I don't even listen to cd's in my cars everything is run by SD cards and Ipods. Better than CD's more space more music than you can put on a CD.

Blewvane · #19 ● 11-09-2011, 01:10 AM

Anyone with forethought is going to want a hard copy of media loaded on the HD. When i buy a cd it gets used once to copy it to my HD, then gets put away. The day when music download sites change their policies that stop ownership of music in favour of a timed subscription is comming. Musicians have already pointed out this new idea suits them better than selling their album outright.

Mr.Goodbar · #20 ● 11-09-2011, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by candymosh2 ↗

What the hell is that clip. I'm too scared to click on a clip that is 10 hours long

CDs Are Officially Over

Documenting Reality