CD's R.I.P. (2012)

[IndyMLVC]

From Perez Hilton...

Like 8-Tracks, cassettes and the vinyls that came before it, the compact disc will be meeting its end sooner than you think.

According to a new report, major labels are preparing to abandon the CD-format by the end of 2012 (if not earlier) as streaming/downloaded music has rapidly taken over the market. The idea is to make new releases available only in digital form, with CDs being released in only special, limited edition cases. We're hearing the distribution model for these remaining CD releases would probably be primarily Amazon which is already the biggest CD retailer worldwide anyhow.

But really, who didn't see this coming? Who doesn't have an iPod or the capability to hook one up to speakers, their car and otherwise. This is just getting with the times! And more so, this is a good thing for the environment. No one really buys CDs anymore, so think of all the money and resources we'd be saving.

It apparently all started from this story:
http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/63967833.html

You read it well. The major labels plan to abandon the CD-format by the end of 2012 (or even earlier) and replace it with download/stream only releases via iTunes and related music services. 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.

The next monument to fall? That will be printed magazines as people will want to consume their information online where they also read most of the news.

This absolutely SUCKS. I'm not going to be paying for music until an uncompressed alternative is announced. UGH.

[Chloenator]

I don't see this happening. However, if this does happen, it looks like I won't be buying music anymore then. I refuse to purchase digital tracks. I want an actual CD or I don't pay for music. Plain and simple.

[T2JP]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

From Perez Hilton...



This absolutely SUCKS. I'm not going to be paying for music until an uncompressed alternative is announced. UGH.

Guess you should have bought more CDs.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

From Perez Hilton...



This absolutely SUCKS. I'm not going to be paying for music until an uncompressed alternative is announced. UGH.

I'm fairly certain that even the hi-res market will blossom, and the news kind of fits with Neil Young saying he will do hi-res stuff as early as next year.

But like you I'm not gonna pay for anything less than lossless as a minimum.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

I'm fairly certain that even the hi-res market will blossom, and the news kind of fits with Neil Young saying he will do hi-res stuff as early as next year.

But like you I'm not gonna pay for anything less than lossless as a minimum.

well this sucks for me, I live in a area where hi-speed internet is not available, and so I have to buy the CDs, besides i wouldn't buy anything other then lossless also.

[remake]

Because Perez Hilton and a Livejournal community are great sources.

Last time I checked, album sales were up 3% from last year and CD's still sold more than downloads.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by victim

Because Perez Hilton and a Livejournal community are great sources.

This.

Unless they offer a lossless format option on all major music download sites and clients, cd's aren't going anywhere.

[tbizzle]

I don't think CD's are even close to being dead, wouldn't make sense for the companies to close that market and lose out on lots of cash moneys.

[richteer]

I'm with the "physical media only" guys (although in my case, that medium is vinyl).

Grammar police time: the plural of CD is CDs, not CD's. The apostrophe indicates either possession (Bob's ball) or missing characters (do not -> don't). It is never used when making a word plural.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

From Perez Hilton...

You lost me after that

I'll be shocked if the CDs are gone by 2012.

[G:Box]

As long as their small independant record stores, there will be CD's, but mega-retailers will eventually stop selling CDs for sure.

[naturephoto1]

I doubt very much that CDs will be discontinued in 2012. Established and not so established artists are still releasing work on CD. It is still the larges source for sales of physical media.

Many buyers of music will insist upon some sort of physical media and many will refuse or limit their purchase of downloadable music. For those that download music in large file formats they can or will be forced to put the files in some sort of music server or format that can be read via a playback system including CD/DVD/SACD/DVD-A players.

I suspect that like vinyl there will continue to be a market for CD.

Rich

[Hayabusa85]

I believe this report as much as the report that GTA V is going to be download only to improve sales 90% of my music purchases are on iTunes so it wouldn't be a big deal to me though if it did happen. Although I would rather be buying CD's TBH. But just doesn't make sense to pay more for a CD when most of the time iTunes have exclusive tracks and stuff.

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by Fragile Line

I don't see this happening. However, if this does happen, it looks like I won't be buying music anymore then. I refuse to purchase digital tracks. I want an actual CD or I don't pay for music. Plain and simple.

ditto...then the studios really wont be selling any music...why pay for digital music when i can just download it for free

[Troy73]

Sadly, the hard truth is this will eventually happen. However, by the end of 2012? Yeah, I put that right there with the guy who was predicting the end of the world this year. As I watch society turn into people who can't put down their cell phones, even at family events, because the need to text is so much more important, how can we not see this as the eventual outcome? I want to believe books will survive but with the internet and Kindle new printings days are surely numbered. The proof of that coming is how many newspapers are either slim with less content are shut down altogether. Physical media as a whole is on the verge of extinction. However, I think we have at least 10-20 years left before the impact of that.

[Chloenator]

Originally Posted by Troy73

As I watch society turn into people who can't put down their cell phones, even at family events, because the need to text is so much more important, how can we not see this as the eventual outcome?

Sadly, a 17 year-old girl just recently died in Pittsburgh because she was texting while driving.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11306...pid=latest.xml

[Spurrier Sucks]

Originally Posted by Hatter

This.

Unless they offer a lossless format option on all major music download sites and clients, cd's aren't going anywhere.

Nothing to do with cd but Larry Walker does not belong in the HOF.

[JonD7]

This is terrible... I only buy CD's.

I knew this was coming but it still sucks.

[Hammie]

My guess is that some of these online download companies will offer a CD-R of the songs for those who want the physical media. I think Amazon has a few DVD-R movies that are legal and approved by the studios.

[nefilim]

Originally Posted by Fragile Line

I don't see this happening. However, if this does happen, it looks like I won't be buying music anymore then. I refuse to purchase digital tracks. I want an actual CD or I don't pay for music. Plain and simple.