Poll: Is the CD format dead?

[Arkhangelsk]

Reading an interview with industrial metal artist Rob Zombie, he stated that he's probably going to stop releasing physical CD's due to the format being "dead" and that everybody would rather want their music via digital purchasing. Is this true, or is this statement unjustified?

The way I see it, there is still a market thanks to those who want physical CD's (such as myself). But the market is definitely less profitable for artists with less publicity, and Rob isn't exactly as popular as today's pop and rock stars. And while it'd be sad to see the physical format go, it might be going down that alley for some. I just hope there will be more options to buy it over the net, rather than iTunes dominating the sales for digital downloading.

What is your opinion? Is digital downloading becoming the norm? Will physical CD's (and possibly other media) die out in favor of the new era of digital ownership? And is this you look forward to or dread?

 

[Billska]

CD's are dead, as well as the fact that not many people buy their music anymore. They just download it.

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

I shall continue to purchase CDs until the day I (or they) die! If I'm going to spend the money, I want a hard copy that I can actually see and touch (and re-rip to my computer when I accidentally delete the files. The drawbacks to having over 500 gigs of music...).

Plus, I've got a bitchin' cd rack that is ever expanding, and I don't want it to stop.

 

[tomtom94]

I like having a physical copy, but I can't exactly be surprised that people are moving on to downloads. They're more convenient and cheaper for the companies.

 

[Summerstorm]

Well... the player in my car takes CD's... and CD's with MP3's on it only. So no: Not dead... and i would hate to have to buy a new player.

CD's are also pretty cheap to make, can take enough punishment etc. What else do you want to buy music on? (If not digital). Small USB drives? Memory Crystals?

IF they ever have everybody have a portable comlink, micro-computer etc. AND have somehow the piracy under control... yeah, you could just buy your music wirelessly unto your personal comlink, sure.

But that's ten years from now.

 

[zwober]

I doubt the CD-format will die soon or anytime. it might get replaced, but i doubt that aswell.
there is today no media that is as versatile as a CD or as (here´s the tricky part) - Breakable.

"oh dear - you broke your new cd, or it became scratched?" says the seller/BEC*, "oh well, just buy a new one then."

it might be a bit paranoid of me, but it seems that they wouldent want to dump a format that is both easy to use - and easily made expensive.. "hey look - this cd is now made of recyceld PET-plastics! - when you get bored of the CD, just chug it back and we can make a new one of it!" or "Ohhhh, this CD has an extra layer on its cover to make it 3D!"..

uh, there´s a wall-of-text in the making here and i dont have the time or the energy to make it, so ill just say that i dont enjoy CDs, but BEC*/Sellers do and they wont change the format..

Unless WE MAKE THEM. (by using flowers and happy-thoughts)


*Big "Evil" Company TM.

 

[Verlander]

I use cds for giving information, it's cheaper than hard drives, and I don't care if I get them back. I think they'll be overtaken by dvds, but I don't think the format will change drastically for quite a few years yet

 

[rabidmidget]

I like CDs, but it does seem like digital distribution is taking over music, it seems like barely anyone listens to music in albums anymore, only in singles on shuffle.

 

[A-Heart-Of-Gold]

I like the ability to download music of iTunes any time I want but I prefer having a CD in CD format so everything I download I put stright on to a CD

In my personal view I prefer LP's over any other format! and before you ask I am under 21!

 

[tigermilk]

No. I think there are still a large amount of people who enjoy owning physical copies of media. While I've bought about five cds in the last five years, in the five years before that I bought about 1200 albums and I love the alphabeted wall of cds I have, just as I love my walls of DVD's.

I think consumption has a lot to do with age and generation. Escapist users I imagine are mostly under twenty and are very comfortable with the internet and downloading, but many people aren't. There is also the issue of gifts. I think a lot of people would rather buy someone physical media than either a voucher or a USB key with an album on.

OFF TOPIC: While I think it is great people aren't forced to but shoddy albums for a few songs and huge amounts of music is available especially for people who live in secluded areas (even living in a largeish city I had to order the Kroptokins (Moe Tucker the drummer from the Velvet Undergrounds album) to be imported to the UK from Canada at the cost of £23) via download, it is a shame this cold be damaging to the album as "albums" are bought and consmed less as entire entities.

I also think downloading is great for film consumers, Netflix can rent a documentary on the children of Vietnamese woman and American soldiers concieved during the Vietnam war which no physical media store (e.g. Blockbusters) could ever have justified financially holding. I don't know how many times a DVD has to be rented but a CD to justify its floor space in a shop needs to sell a copy roughly every six months.

Went off on a bit of a tangent there but in essence I think certinaly in the short term future (next ten years at least) peoples desire to own physical media and discomfort with the internet amongst other factors will keep the CD industry financially viable.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Why does it need to be one or the other?

Can't physical copies and digital distribution just live side by side in peace and harmony?

 

[The Lunatic]

CD usually contain music of a higher bit rate than what you can download.

(MP3 usually caps out at about 320bits/sec, an uncompressed rip from a CD, such as FLAC or whatever can be 900bits/sec and upwards.)

However, most people can't really notice this, nor have hardware capable of producing a difference, thus don't hear any loss.

It's cheaper for whatever site is uploading the music to upload smaller files, and the downloader usually doesn't want to spend a while downloading a 50MB song.

I prefer CDs, and, I'm sure for a while, audiophiles will keep the format alive, however, it'll certainly drop out of the mainstream at some stage.

 

[smithy_2045]

Where's the "no and I don't care either way" option?

 

[SalamanderJoe]

Meh, I downloaded a few albums off Amazon, and they don't feel...'special' at all. I prefer holding a case with some incredible art cover and reading through the lyric book and watching the fingerprints build up on the disc from somewhere.

Sure digital is cheaper, but actually having the album gets seems better.

 

[MrNickster]

CD's as a format still exist and are currently used and sold new, so no, they are not dead. Game cartridges are dead and LaserDiscs are dead-CD's aren't.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

It's not completely dead, but I reckon it will be in five years time.
Still, there's something satisfying about physically owning a CD, rather than just downloading a virtual one.

 

[BlueberryMUNCH]

Spoiler: This is all I have to say on the issue.

watch?v=w8zE44mUBJU

When are Tempz and JME ever wrong?! *winkwink* ;D


EDIT and for some reason the video isn't appearing. Sadface.

WELL BASICALLY, Cd is dead. I havn't bought one in years, thought its nice to have the option.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I buy CDs so that I can burn them to everything at a time of choice. No dealing with possible download limits from the variety of online downloadable music retailers.

Also, it helps with the 360/PS3, too. Just burn it, and then I can listen whenever. No plugging in the MP3 player and watching it dangle. Or worrying about whether the song is the wrong format.

 

[nuba km]

no and I don't care either way but if I had to pick I would go with CD I just like unpacking something you get new rather then waiting for it to download.

 

[SMILEYkyle21]

If I buy music I really liek to have something physical to see for it. I think we may seem something like vinyl where the format dies but then slowly starts to come back among the diehards