CD-format to be abandoned by major labels by the end of 2012

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.

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I prefer cds and vinyl to downloaded bullshit. Don't get me wrong, I also love 320 kbps MP3s but as an audiophile, these aren't always perfect. I don't mind downloading FLAC format but these take up more space. Downloads will be pirated to hell, be it p2ps, torrents, filehosts. I remember being a teen in the latter 90s and being perfectly happy with both vinyl and cds...sigh....

Had something to write. Looked at your avatar. Forgot about it.

Don't buy it. That "article" is poorly reported.

CDs?

I still have cassette tapes and 8-track and vinyl including 12" 33 1/3 rpm Singles!!

If that were to actually happen, what a shame. I still buy CDs primarily because the one thing MP3s don't have is liner notes. I love the information that's included in those little booklets whether its just lyrics, backround information on what inspired the songs, the process or altogether. It's something the Criterion only take advantage of in the DVD format. Plus I just flat out prefer hard copies of my music. If something happens to my computer either from a virus or the files get corrupted, I always have the hard copy CD's to rely on. Heck I still have a CD walkman I carry with me on occasion, it's what got me through growing up in my teens, I used to listen to so much music in that format include burning my own personal mix CDs. I have the Walkman that actually plays MP3 CDs (700mb max though) and FM/AM radio, not even iPods have radio unless you use that third party shit.

I'm not confident about the article, but I wouldn't be surprised when the day comes that hard copy music will be a thing of the past. Same with movies, streaming and downloading will be the norm in maybe 20 years.

Something nice about owning a physical CD. I listen to a lot of music online but if I like an album a lot, I'll usually buy the CD.

Makeshift Python wrote:

I'm not confident about the article, but I wouldn't be surprised when the day comes that hard copy music will be a thing of the past. Same with movies, streaming and downloading will be the norm in maybe 20 years.

Much sooner.

If this is true, it sucks ... sure I have iTunes and an iPod, but what's on there was mostly 'imported' across from my CD collection. I like buying CDs for many of the same reasons cited above ... liner notes and lyrics in the booklets (and occasionally other cool little touches, like the little piece of the album's master tape included in every copy of the Foo Fighters' Wasting Light). Things like that can make downloads seem ... well, a little soulless in comparison. Also, when I've handed over money for a product ... well, I actually like to have a physical 'thing' to show for it, call me old-fashioned.

Iam afraid there is some truth in it.

In The Netherlands it is confirmd a couple of months a go that some cd/dvd store (FAME in the fames Kalverstraat/De Dam) from a mother company who also own De Bijenkort going close there doors at 29 January 2012 and the boss of all this confird there also going to close there moost fames one CD/DVD store Free Records Shop very soon too. Possible he mean at the end of 2012

A third store already closed there doors earlier and be changed in very small Free Record Stores. But as said those go a way too. The store that closed on 29 January there cd/dvd part already moved to a to small section of De Bijenkorf, this wil the only thing what be left in after January 2012 and the rest wil moved to those Free Record stores til those closed too. The only option in 2013 that be left be buying your cd/dvd's online or in stores who only cell a to small count of dvd's (Blokker, Bart Smit) and those second hand stores. Media Markt is not realy compitation with only 2 stores in Amsterdam. Vroom and Dreesman Kalverstraat drop the there media sectio year a go nd moved everthing to there store in Amstelveen who is very small.

Again a step back in cd's and more monopoly online. For dvd's and BD's count it going to be more exlclusive with more high prices, some cd's/dvd's mabey never seen the light as result and more dificult to find. Dvd's and BD's are quiker gone then it already be now. The present local prices also not be realy to be proud on This year i notice already i buy more things on Queensday or second hand stores, new or second hand. But those stores should be extra option not a replacement.

Online stores be like 3D over hyped, the prices of cd's and dvd's are very high. Local prices too, but it going smaller down then online. As said the local problem be that movies be gone before you it. In other words: When Sky Fall is released it possible be gone before you know it and Soundtrack of the movie you can only buy online. With the release of Casino Royale and QOS there be big problems already.

FourDot wrote:

Makeshift Python wrote:

I'm not confident about the article, but I wouldn't be surprised when the day comes that hard copy music will be a thing of the past. Same with movies, streaming and downloading will be the norm in maybe 20 years.

Much sooner.

Yep.

Harmsway wrote:

FourDot wrote:

Makeshift Python wrote:

I'm not confident about the article, but I wouldn't be surprised when the day comes that hard copy music will be a thing of the past. Same with movies, streaming and downloading will be the norm in maybe 20 years.

Much sooner.

Yep.

Yes. For those under 35 it seems already to be the norm, there's no denying it. But I suspect as long as there's a quid to be made out of the old geezers such as me they will continue to offer CDs. At a price of course.

I'm willing to bet that most of those with massive digital music collections didn't pay for most of it.

If I'm going to pay for something, I'd rather have a hard copy.

6of1 wrote:

Yes. For those under 35 it seems already to be the norm, there's no denying it. But I suspect as long as there's a quid to be made out of the old geezers such as me they will continue to offer CDs. At a price of course.

I definitely think it's an age thing. There are a generation or two now that only know about downloading music, and I don't see that trend reversing. As an "older" consumer, I honestly cannot remember the last time I bought a CD (maybe 2004), and I'm old enough to have bought records on vinyl, cassette tapes, cd's, and now digital. It's simply the natural progression of technology. And I think with the music and film industries seeing their sales fall over the past few years, probably one of the best ways to cut costs is to ditch pressing CD's. People can always burn their music onto a cd if they want.

Same thing happened when people made the transition from vinyl/cassettes to CD's, and from VHS to dvd. This is totally expected.

And, at some point, this will probably happen with books as well. I haven't gotten there yet myself (I still love going to used bookstores), but the time is fast approaching where all new novels will be 99% digital downloads, and you'll probably take your Ipad to Borders and ask Jeffrey Deaver to sign it rather than a hard copy of a book.

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

And, at some point, this will probably happen with books as well. I haven't gotten there yet myself (I still love going to used bookstores), but the time is fast approaching where all new novels will be 99% digital downloads, and you'll probably take your Ipad to Borders and ask Jeffrey Deaver to sign it rather than a hard copy of a book.

Perhaps, but it's true that the Kindle hasn't caught on with the populace in the same way that the iPod did (Amazon is trying hard to change that, of course). And even folks I know who own e-readers tend to still buy and read physical books. That change, when it comes, is going to be a little ways off.

If there's an album I really love, I buy the CD. Everything else, I buy it off iTunes.

That said, if CDs are made extinct at the end of 2012, I'll eat my own arms. They cost like 10 cents to make and I'm sure plenty of people still buy enough of them to make it a profitable means of distribution.

I'm fine with music being downloaded, even though I like to have a hard copy for security reasons. I guess it's cheaper anyway to just burn it to a disc.

Movies, though. I like owning hard copies. I don't mind streaming lots of stuff, but for some of my very favorite titles I like to have hard copies in attractive packaging to sit on my shelf.

Books. I can only read actual books. I can't read a book off of a screen and really retain it. I like to see printed words on a page.

Harmsway wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

And, at some point, this will probably happen with books as well. I haven't gotten there yet myself (I still love going to used bookstores), but the time is fast approaching where all new novels will be 99% digital downloads, and you'll probably take your Ipad to Borders and ask Jeffrey Deaver to sign it rather than a hard copy of a book.

Perhaps, but it's true that the Kindle hasn't caught on with the populace in the same way that the iPod did (Amazon is trying hard to change that, of course).

Or the iPad, for that matter. I imagine the iPad is probably the future for books, newspapers, etc.

Perhaps, but my friends who have iPads inform me that it's not comfortable for reading longer-length material, something that will have to change if it's going to become the default book platform.

Harmsway wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

And, at some point, this will probably happen with books as well. I haven't gotten there yet myself (I still love going to used bookstores), but the time is fast approaching where all new novels will be 99% digital downloads, and you'll probably take your Ipad to Borders and ask Jeffrey Deaver to sign it rather than a hard copy of a book.

Perhaps, but it's true that the Kindle hasn't caught on with the populace in the same way that the iPod did (Amazon is trying hard to change that, of course). And even folks I know who own e-readers tend to still buy and read physical books. That change, when it comes, is going to be a little ways off.

The killer application would be if the hard copies came WITH the e-reader file for just a slightly higher price. If I can get both versions for a decent price I may well shell out a little more to have the e-reader option ready. I travel a lot, often at short notice and with only light baggage. I've been know to cross borders with twice the weight of my other stuff in books in my suitcase. A kindle-like gadget could make my life a whole lot easier, especially if the backup hard copies are safely stashed away back home.

Then again, I'd probably end up with two or three regular paperbacks, just in case. Electricity can be a harsh mistress, especially in countries that consider themselves 'developed' or even 'superpower' class.

No, on reflection I'd probably have an e-reader and a bagful of books to keep me company.

Harmsway wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

And, at some point, this will probably happen with books as well. I haven't gotten there yet myself (I still love going to used bookstores), but the time is fast approaching where all new novels will be 99% digital downloads, and you'll probably take your Ipad to Borders and ask Jeffrey Deaver to sign it rather than a hard copy of a book.

Perhaps, but it's true that the Kindle hasn't caught on with the populace in the same way that the iPod did (Amazon is trying hard to change that, of course). And even folks I know who own e-readers tend to still buy and read physical books. That change, when it comes, is going to be a little ways off.

Harms, do you own a Kindle? If so, would you recommend it? If you don't own one are you tempted to buy one? (Me, I'm very tempted to get one, but the big thing that's putting me off is the price of downloads. My feeling is that a download ought to be significantly less expensive than a physical book, given the production cost of a download versus the production cost of a book. If Kindle downloads were a quid a pop I'd buy a Kindle in a flash and be inseparable from it.)

As for CDs, I'd hate to see the format disappear. I think the world of music needs at least one physical format that doesn't rely on downloading. And I can't help but wonder whether the CD format offers better sound quality than any download can match.

6of1 wrote:

Harmsway wrote:

Gravity's Silhouette wrote:

And, at some point, this will probably happen with books as well. I haven't gotten there yet myself (I still love going to used bookstores), but the time is fast approaching where all new novels will be 99% digital downloads, and you'll probably take your Ipad to Borders and ask Jeffrey Deaver to sign it rather than a hard copy of a book.

Perhaps, but it's true that the Kindle hasn't caught on with the populace in the same way that the iPod did (Amazon is trying hard to change that, of course). And even folks I know who own e-readers tend to still buy and read physical books. That change, when it comes, is going to be a little ways off.

The killer application would be if the hard copies came WITH the e-reader file for just a slightly higher price. If I can get both versions for a decent price I may well shell out a little more to have the e-reader option ready.

Quite. It's already worked well with the DVD + extra Blu-ray offers, when the sales of the later hit a low. That way you don't even yet have a Kindle, and you could still rack up a decent sized collection of e-reader files. One you buy finally buy a Kindle, you're off to a head start.

Loomis wrote:

Harms, do you own a Kindle? If so, would you recommend it? If you don't own one are you tempted to buy one?

I've used one. I didn't care for the experience and prefer good, ol' fashioned books. What turned me off most was how the experience of reading on a Kindle rendered more of the text forgettable; the physical nature of the book makes it a better memory aid than just an endless sea of text.

Plus you can't wipe your arse on it. Well, you can, but it's not very absorbent.

Harmsway wrote:

Loomis wrote:

Harms, do you own a Kindle? If so, would you recommend it? If you don't own one are you tempted to buy one?

I've used one. I didn't care for the experience and prefer good, ol' fashioned books. What turned me off most was how the experience of reading on a Kindle rendered more of the text forgettable; the physical nature of the book makes it a better memory aid than just an endless sea of text.

Why would you want to remember them? Bloody plagiarist.

Sharky wrote:

Harmsway wrote:

Loomis wrote:

Harms, do you own a Kindle? If so, would you recommend it? If you don't own one are you tempted to buy one?

I've used one. I didn't care for the experience and prefer good, ol' fashioned books. What turned me off most was how the experience of reading on a Kindle rendered more of the text forgettable; the physical nature of the book makes it a better memory aid than just an endless sea of text.

Why would you want to remember them? Bloody plagiarist.

I am Q.R. Markham.