CDs: A thing of the past?

VINMAN · 10-05-2009, 09:23 AM

Are CD's going the way of the 8 track?

I stopped in Best Buys yesterday to pick something up, I stopped at the cd aisle. Note I said "aisle", not "aisles". There used to be four aisles of music. Now it is down to 3/4's of a full aisle. I noticed this phenomenon in most stores that sell music.

I realize with the advent of MP3's and Ipods allot of people download stuff. But will we see a time very soon, when there will be no more "hard copy" music available?

masraum · 10-05-2009, 09:39 AM

If I was going to buy some music, I'd want a CD. I'd then rip that CD to my computer and play it from there.

Heel n Toe · 10-05-2009, 09:41 AM

My local Best Buy still has 7-8 aisles of CDs. I don't think they're going anywhere any time soon.

VINMAN · 10-05-2009, 10:12 AM

Most of the cd racks have been replaced with those MP3 credit card thingys. The salesguy in Target said CD sales are way down, hardly anyone buys them anymore.

I still like my music on hard copy. Hell I still play all my LPs and some of my cassettes. ( some of my albums I only have on cassette)

MattKellett · MattKellett's Garage

I don't think they are going away like 8 tracks, but maybe more like vinyl.

With more and more sales via mp3 and downloads, eventually all sales will be downloads.

I still like to buy the cd, even though I have an ipod and itunes. I just like to have a physical copy of the album. I've also noticed recently that more and more cd are packaged like vinyl records, with a folding card outer and a card sleeve for the cd.

pwd72s · 10-05-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VINMAN

Most of the cd racks have been replaced with those MP3 credit card thingys. The salesguy in Target said CD sales are way down, hardly anyone buys them anymore.

I still like my music on hard copy. Hell I still play all my LPs and some of my cassettes. ( some of my albums I only have on cassette)

Hell, I still have a batch of the original CD's....we called 'em 45's back in the day.

dd74 · 10-05-2009, 10:49 AM

Aren't there current and popular musicians/bands who still prefer to record on vinyl? If that's true, I'd think someone somewhere is selling vinyl.

VINMAN · 10-05-2009, 10:53 AM

I still have the very first record I ever bought back when I was a kid.

A 45. Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting".

MattKellett · MattKellett's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

Aren't there current and popular musicians/bands who still prefer to record on vinyl? If that's true, I'd think someone somewhere is selling vinyl.

It's surprising how much is still released on vinyl, also the quality is really good with a much heavier vinyl. We only have one good record store left now in San Jose - Rasputin Music, other than that its Best Buy or Target!!

Gogar · 11:21 AM

Here's an example for you:

Not even ten years ago, on March 21, 2000:

'N Sync's sophomore album "No Strings Attached" sold over 2.4 million copies in it's debut sales week, with an amazing 1.1 million in just its first day.

The top-selling album in the USA last week was Pearl Jam's "Backspacer", which sold just over

184,000 copies.

Quite a difference in less than 10 years!

Gogar · 10-05-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

Aren't there current and popular musicians/bands who still prefer to record on vinyl? If that's true, I'd think someone somewhere is selling vinyl.

Vinyl is having a comeback, but certainly not in any subtantial amount.

Of the people who are going to go through the novelty of still buying a physical product, might as well go all the way and buy vinyl, since it usually will have a cooler packaging.

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

I buy CDs as I really don't like renting my music. Plus, the lossy formats that you are able to download leave something to be desired. With a CD, I can rip to FLAC.

I usually wind up purchasing used CDs.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I'm ripping all my CDs to digital - I hope to chuck the hard copies (physical CDs) at some point - more junk taking up space. Same with old VHS tapes (I have several boxes)

Super_Dave_D · Super_Dave_D's Garage

My car holds 7 CD's But will rip them onto it own 20 gig hard drive. So I find myself burning CD's only to rip them in my car. I. Usually give the CD away when I get to work.

Hugh R · 10-05-2009, 12:37 PM

One of my CDs was so scratched up I replaced it with one from fleabay. It cost me $6 delivered. I'd rather have the CD and copy to my ipod than buy from ITunes for the same or slightly higher price.

Looking_for_911 · 10-05-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattKellett

It's surprising how much is still released on vinyl, also the quality is really good with a much heavier vinyl. We only have one good record store left now in San Jose - Rasputin Music, other than that its Best Buy or Target!!

One of the advantages of being born early... knowing what Real record store were like!

We had one in the little town where we would go on Saturday's to do our shopping. It was great.

I still remember all those old posters on the walls, the smell of the place, and that constant music playing on that old turntable that'd must have made a hundred zillion revolutions. There was an elevated "booth" kind of like a DJ booth where the owner would sit and play those records... and where he could watch his entire floor for would-be sneak thieves.

I remember my first 45-rpm purchase, too. It was Johnny Cash: "Rock Island Line."

I like my CD's, but will never get the same thrill out of going to buy one that I got out of going to the record store. Best Buy and Target doesn't come close. That's why I try to find the little independent sellers, the used stores, but unfortunately they're all about gone now.

If it does come down to getting all music from downloads and such I'll probably stop buying any at all. And I've never downloaded any for free, either.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

Quote:

I realize with the advent of MP3's and Ipods allot of people download stuff. But will we see a time very soon, when there will be no more "hard copy" music available?

What if you burn to a CD the songs you have downloaded? Isn't that a "hard copy"?

My ex boss hates downloading songs preferring instead to purchase the album because he wants the associated sleeve of art, lyrics, notes, and credits.

After far too many "disappointing" purchases I no longer buy albums. I feel the rush to put out product has forced bands/labels to market a CD with several good bits padded by marginal work. It's been a long long time since I was able to just hit play on a single album and walk away to enjoy the 60+ minute experience. YMMV.