Music in the News - CDs Reborn?
Wednesday March 28, 2007
An interesting article on Slate today challenges the notion that is it only a matter of time before CDs go the way of the cassingle (that is, they become obsolete and impossibly uncool). We've all heard time and time again that CD sales are way down and that digital downloads are the wave of the music future. In fact, according to the major labels , the reason CD sales are down is because people are swapping music for free online and not shelling out money for music anymore. So, is it true? Have digital downloads killed the CD?
According to this article at least, reports of the death of CDs may have been exaggerated. After a round of causalities, labels and record stores have found a new way to cater to music fans, and some are actually thriving by selling CDs. Music lovers still love the experience of going into an actual record shop to get their music, and for some music fans, a digital download is nothing compared to actually having the physical CD and packaging in their hands. So, who do you think is right? Do you think that music will ever go entirely digital, or do you think CDs are here to stay? How do you listen to music - via downloads or on CD?
According to this article at least, reports of the death of CDs may have been exaggerated. After a round of causalities, labels and record stores have found a new way to cater to music fans, and some are actually thriving by selling CDs. Music lovers still love the experience of going into an actual record shop to get their music, and for some music fans, a digital download is nothing compared to actually having the physical CD and packaging in their hands. So, who do you think is right? Do you think that music will ever go entirely digital, or do you think CDs are here to stay? How do you listen to music - via downloads or on CD?
Comments
Thanks for the insight on that topic. As a senior in college and working on my senior research paper, interestingly enough, it is about what your article touched on.
My research paper is ‘The Utilization of Traditional, New Media, and Technology in the 21st Century.’ A good portion of my research consisted of interviwing notable professionals that work behind the scenes in the music/media industries about the issue with declining CD sales.
Great news blurb! I absolutenly love getting emails from about.com:music careers! Keep them coming!
Justin “Juz” Cooper
Student – Entertainment Media Consultant
Columbia, SC
Glad you’ve been enjoying the newsletters! I’d love to hear more your findings after you’ve finished your paper – keep us posted!
My name is Shirley Marie Bradby (MiraBai Devi Dasi) and I am the lead singer in an emerging World Beat band called JALEBI!
JALEBI Music…..when BOLLYWOOD meets MOTOWN!
Even though we hit the Internet scene only a few months ago my experience has been that our JALEBI Music FANtastics order our CDs to give us tangible evidence of their support for our music and our message which speaks of a transcendental spirituality that connects all living entities instead of dividing us along ideological, political or religious lines. The purchase of our “JALEBI Music” CD is actually an act of love. The graphics and photos on our CD cover have all been carefully conceived and produced to give the buyer not only the music that they love….. but also a durable object of art.
As a consequence I think that CDs will always be desired by those who want something tangible that is a testimony to their commitment and affection for the artists and musicians that have struck a particular chord in their minds and hearts……and therefore in their lives!
It is true that nowadays you can try and download thousands of songs and many people do but when they find an artist that they respect and can identify with it becomes a pleasure to contribute financially so that the artist can continue to produce the music that their fans love! The physical CD becomes a real connection to the artist……it is a question of a heartfelt attachment that is sought after, acquired and maintained.
Love ….is always the question and ….the answer!
Hare Krsna! Namaste, baby! : )
Shirley Marie Bradby (MiraBai Devi Dasi)
JALEBI
http://www.jalebimusic.com
http://www.betarecords.com/jalebi
http://www.myspace.com/jalebimusic
This to me, is propaganda that’s been going on for a long period of time. The major lables are mostly producing items that narrow musical choices to that of mostly the teen age crowd. I am in the baby boomer era and there is very little that comes out of interest to me. I used to buy over a 100 c.d.’s and before that records per year, but most things coming out now are only for the young age group. You certainly won’t get many of my age group out to buy much of that stuff. There are a few new things that come out that I certainly do buy, but it’s now very few and far between. If they want more of my money and all the others like me, they need to bring out more quality music that we would enjoy as well, instead of the 99% of it they’re pushing now. I know many music lovers like me in my age bracket that would also buy, but once we’ve bought up all the old stuff, what’s left. The baby boomer market is a very, very large market, but narrow minded individuals only want to produce and push the crap they are-lots that doesn’t interest anyone, and then blame it on the consumers. They really need to look at the quality and scope of the products, and I’m sure someone should be able to see the real answer. They’re only producing product for a small percentage of the population. I, in no way mean to down grade any of the music young people listen to. If it makes them happy, I’m certainly happy for them, and the musicians creating it.
One other thing that has hurt sales of items is the greed of the retailers. Their prices in my area are totally unrealistic. For myself, I can now order on line much cheaper than I can shop in person for c.d.’s. It seems the traditional way of selling c.d.’s is also no longer working right, as retailers want to sell only big ticket items, and have raised the price of c.d.’s to the point of people thinking, “For that price, you can keep it.” I find in the area where I live, c.d. prices have been raised by the local retailers to way to high.
I agree with Dug Red’s comments entirely. I truly miss the days of going to the “record store” and perusing the shelves for something of interest. My interests run a bit more esoteric, so that experience has been taken away from me, both due to the decline of record stores with a wide selection of fringe artists, and the lack of CD releases by artists that make the kinds of music I enjoy. The labels have as much to do with this as the retail business, A&R reps only look for potential mega sellers, and that means teenagers.
Every business in the chain, from the labels to the retailers, only seem to be interested in mega sellers. Unfortunately, the mass market isn’t driven by musicians, it’s driven by 14 year old girls that don’t know the difference between melody and harmony and are more concerned what the artist is wearing on the album’s cover picture than the actual music the artist produces.
CD forever!
“Do you think that music will ever go entirely digital, or do you think CDs are here to stay?”
Well, that question alone illuminates the lack of education out there…
CDs ARE digital.
Downloading will not work for the elderly, the small children or the developmentally disabled who do not have the cognitive ability to navigate the download process. Other conditions like dyslexia aren’t good matches for downloading either.
Downloading isn’t all that popular with those who have lost entire music collections with one computer crash.
Downloading isn’t popular with those who think it’s a rip-off to pay for a compressed music file in which part of the actual music has been deleted.
Downloading isn’t popular with people who think it’s a rip-off to have to pay for a computer, a high-speed Internet connection and a $300 iPod in order to enjoy your music.
So in summary—no. Downloading is NOT for everyone despite what the high tech hypesters would have you believe.
Yep, thanks, you’re right, CDs are indeed digital. But digital distribution versus physical distribution is the terminology used for this debate – and digital versus physical is used as short hand. Digital in this blog refers to distribution, nothing more.
But apart from that, you’re right. Downloading has increased by 34% over the past year while CD sales have decreased by 13%, but physical sales account for the vast majority of sales.
“we do all know that CDs are digital, I assure you”
You’d be surprised at how many actually don’t… But anyway I was pleased to FINALLY read an article today that acknowledged that CD sales circa 1999 where vastly inflated due to the fact that folks were re-buying their entire collections. I think it’s important to consider that CD sales may just be dropping down to more realistic levels. I still believe it’s possible for CDs, LPs and downloading to all live in harmony. I don’t know why one of them needs to *replace* anything…
Understood – and actually, you’re probably absolutely right. I should address that on the site to clear up any confusion.
I also agree with you. I think ultimately, these things will live side by side – and I agree that the whole downloading is overhyped. Downloads haven’t come close to touching CD sales, even when sales are falling, but most people think the opposite is true. Things haven’t changed as much as people think they have.
Downloading is good sometimes but i like haveing the CD. KEEP CDS ALIVE