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- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: The 'end' of the Compact Disc format...?
Came across this story on a few different websites, and not sure how credible it is. Still, an interesting read though...
- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: The 'end' of the Compact Disc format...?
Although it's been coming for years, it is truly sad if this is true.
I'm a collector, and to me the art is very much part of the whole package of an album.
A digital file is cold and lifeless, and the quality of mp3 files still sucks compared to physical CDs.
I own a Mac and use iTunes to copy my CDs to my portable devices, the same as I did with tapes with a Walkman, and then CDs with my Discman.
Otherwise, I hate mp3 sound quality and would never download an album as my preferred method.
The thing is, record companies shot themselves in the foot when the CD market opened up to begin with.
Brand new CDs were $30 each (which is fucking crazy!) and most people, myself included, bought them simply to update/replace our tape or record collections. Over the years, after that initial burst of sales, people were less inclined to spend $30 on a new CD, especially with the quality of music getting worse in some cases.
Which left the CD stores stuck with no other choice but to lower their prices to get back in the market, and causing many small businesses to close because of this.
If CDs started at around $10 to begin with, over time, the increase in price to around $15-$20 would be much more reasonable, and could probably have kept the music business alive, at least CD sales anyway.
Just my two cents.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: The 'end' of the Compact Disc format...?
I buy CDs but only so I can make lossless audio of them...then they sit in the closet.
I'm ok with digital only model - but for the love of god they need to make availiable versions at the same quality level as CDs or higher. I'd hate a future where EVERY release is a low quality bitrate mp3 or itunes release.
Happy to pay more for it if necessary...but I want quality audio for my speakers thanks.
Not a big fan of the cloud/streaming models yet as Internet in Australia sucks and the bandwith prices to mobile devices are also a joke.
Re: The 'end' of the Compact Disc format...?
I've said it for a few years now. Vinyl for the collector's market with a free download code to a high quality mp3 version of the album. (One of the few promotional aspects I believe ChiDem got right.) There's a misconception that collectors are still buying CDs, and we're simply not. There's just not enough value for me to spend in the ballpark of $15-20 for something that cost 35 cents and also comes in the available option of free download. See, raising the price of an inferior quality product and taking kids to court didn't save the record industry. Truth is, CDs have long been dead. The only CDs I still buy are for exactly the same reasons as monkeychow. In fact, having these downloads available in the kinds of high quality that most of us audiophiles would prefer is the next battle left to wage.
Re: The 'end' of the Compact Disc format...?
Actually LABELS are who will die out.
Eventually you'll see a future where all artists go independent, including the big ones and just use the internet/website for promotion. Most artists will offer basic MP3 downloads or iTunes downloads of the album for $10 bucks, FLAC will be $15 bucks, CD's will be $20 bucks, LP's will be $30 bucks, and then deluxe editions and limited editions will all be offered with different bonus tracks, live tracks, DVD's w/ CD deluxe eiditons, etc. for different price ranges.
I for one welcome it. The artist makes pure profit off of it after overhead. Not to mention, independent workers & graphic designers alot of the time do FAR better work.
As far as CD's go, eventually they'll not be available in big box stores. I think if you buy any kind of music in big box stores it'll be advertised little plastic boxes (think what MP3 players come in), with album-cover designed USB sticks with the album on it. It'll also take away from room and allow FAR MORE stock, and most newer cars will have USB ports in the dash, so you'll just able to plug the USB stick into your car stereo.
