[Deftone]

Cd's-is it facing a slow down or a slow death?What about vinyl?Are they facing the same faith as the cd's?

[Diamond Dog]

Still lots of time on the clock for both formats, just not at the same level of popularity they once enjoyed. Vinyl, for example has survived the arrival of 8-track, cassette, CD and now digital downloads - all of which were in turn absolutely guaranteed by the tall foreheads of audio to completely eradicate the LP. Hell, there's a cult of cassette worshippers forming among young hipsters right now.

D.D.

[SlushPuppy]

I'm on track to buy more CD's this year than in any other year since I started collecting. Half new - half used. It's a buyers market with some great bargains. The places I go are always packed, so from my perspective CD's aren't going away any time soon.

[vegasdave]

Going by the numbers, CDs are still king. However, there is a definite growth of vinyl sales, and interest in vinyl has increased as well. It's interesting how young people go from digital files to vinyl records.

[Elizabeth]

Curiously, I just play LPs all  day yesterday. I love my Bryston BP-1.5 phono box.
That 78's had a thirty years lifespan, then Lps arrives and eclipsed 78's
Then another 30 years and Cd eclipsed LP really fast. Even the majors were stunned at how fast LP sales declined and CD took off.
The CD is now about 30 years old and naturally the talk of it's demise.
The real thing is the Cd has reached total saturation. NO one is  buying new old issues. And that is the bread and butter of the manufacturers.
They made Billions on reselling back catalog in CD from the original LP issues.
Any way, the Lp was declared dead way back in the 1990s.
Hah, fooled them.
I think CD is going to do the same thing. Eventually CDs sales will get to really low levels. And when folks have a brainfart over them, they will also have a renaissance and become popular again.
The current resurgence of LP is just a fad. It may be big, but remember it is a passing fashion with most of the new converts, and not a lifelong quest.
The old guard is dying off, and those LPs will still fill the used stores and internet for many years to come.
The time to have gotten into LPs would have been in 1985 to 2000. The deals were fantastic and a LOT of great dirt cheap stock was available. Not anymore! (at least not cheap!)
CDs are in the oversaturated condition of being dirt cheap now. So if you like them, buy buy buy (used, but only if they are dirt cheap)Because in ten years, that oversupply will be gone, and the used prices will go up. AND if they do regain a 'fad' like popularity like LPs have.. then the prices will be high again.
Remember, downloads may be fun and cool and easy, but they are not resalable. And that is the major delight of the music industry.
When folks realize all those downloads have zero value used...
(they certainly cannot be resold leagally, nor even traded leagally!) I think it will happen, then CDs will become a better value again.

8 track and cassttes are in a different boat, same one as VHS and LD discs. The format change really was a killer for them. Same as 78s.
The difference with Lps and CDs are they are still both reasonable formats, same as DVD.
So CD, LP and DVD will be around for awhile. Lp is kind of lucky it got the fad going for it. Once that fad is gone, LP will gradually fade away. 20 years from now, no one will be buying LPs. They will be buying CDs though.. IMO. (DVDs all depend if they make a real big jump which makes even BluRay obsolete)
I do not think any new audio format is going to come along. The current formats are good enough. even BluRay has zero growth in audio. Where it could be the future, but is it NOT going to be, for reasons downloading crazy companies know: It is the death of the used market downloading represents. They are NOT going to kill that golden egg with a hi rez format folks can resell!!!

[Diamond Dog]

Actually, the whole recorded music industry - in all its forms - is on the ropes. Where's your digital download messiah now?

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-charts-explain-the-real-death-of-the-music-industry-2011-2

D.D.

[vegasdave]

This is true...thanks for the link.

[Elizabeth]

Reading the link was interesting.
I still only buy albums.
 Almost exclusively USED albums too. The only new music i have purchased in many years was about six years ago or so I bought a pile of Jazz reissues on CD.
The only singles I have ever bought were maxi play extended length 'singles' at least 40 minutes in length (I am pretty fussy about them having to be as long as a regular CD.)
So I would say my music purchases, which are actually a considerable amount of money ($2,500. a year?) is entirely in the used market! So my purchases do not count on any statistic there
Usually I spent way more on used LPs than CDs. But with the explosion of the used dirt cheap CD market, I am buying a LOT of $2 CDs..
I have NEVER purchased, nor ever made a download of music.

I am just a cheapskate. IF I had a LOT of spare cash, i would probably buy some new music, but as is, i am only buying used (and cheap! used!!) music locally, (four great stores.. and Amazon. On Amazon, I only buy stuff i really want IF it is really cheap too.)

So I guess I am one of the folks who are the primary cause of the decline of new music sales!!!

[Laundrew]

Over the last few years I have noticed that prices for used CDs are steadily increasing. Interestingly enough, the used CDs stores are still more reasonable than big box music stores such as HMV,  Super Shop and so on - most of the time. 

What I find very interesting is that purchasing new CDs from on-line CD stores is beginning to rival the prices of the used CDs - even when shipping is taken into account. Another factor is the strength of the Canadian dollar compared to the US dollar. An important consideration for me is that the music genre which I enjoy is not very prevalent, if at all on downloads.

With the ease I can find the music that I enjoy on-line will keep me very happy with the the CD format for many years to come.

Be well...

[PRELUDE]

My music library is my life and Ilike to keep it forever.Yet,I have to admit that I do not know how to download music and I buy cd every month.
The vinyl had some increase in sale based on what I hear from others.
The cd could described as hospital.They both are clean but you do not like to stay there too long.And a nice moving coil set up is like a fine day that you do not want to be home or cleaning up the LP and look at it when it spining is just enjoyable as listening.

[spinner]

 Beautifully written Elizabeth...

[vegasdave]

I prefer vinyl, but I respect those who prefer cd. Whatever allows you to enjoy the sound of your system is the point of all of this.

[Stu Pitt]

CDs and Vinyl will never truly die IMO.  At least CDs won't for another 20 years or so.  Elizabeth makes a great point about vinyl.  However, I think vinyl will stick around for quite some time, as a lot of people buy it as collectable stuff.  Speaking to a few employees in Hot Topic of all places, they believe that about half the people who buy vinyl actually play it.  I think a lot buy it either just to have it (why not? It's pretty cool), and/or are buying it and never opening it with the hopes of it skyrocketing in price in a decade or two.  How much would a never opened and properly stored original pressing Hendrix or Led Zeppelin album fetch today?  With today's vinyl being pressed far less than in it's heyday, it's relatively scarce even when new.  I wonder how much Metallica's Black album unopened will fetch in 2030.  I'm guessing there's a decent number of people buying vinyl and gambling on it's investment.

With all that said, I think downloads will become the most common way of buying music.  I think established bands will let their contracts expire and start releasing their stuff digitally through their own websites.  A lot of bands are selling concert downloads in mp3 and FLAC formats. I bought a Metallica concert or two this way.  It's only a matter of time before they ask themselves why can't they release their own stuff IMO.  I think the concert downloads are handled by a company who does this for a lot of bands.

Pearl Jam does this as well, but also gives the option of having a CD sent to you.

Phish has (last I checked) the option of several high-res rates you can download.  Their prices were way too expensive though.

All the concert downloads I've seen were about $10 for mp3 and $12 for FLAC.  They all also had CD labels and jewel case art downloadable.

For well established bands who don't need someone heavily promoting them, I think this will be the way they end up going for studio albums.  Not sure about newcomers.  Maybe they'll have indie companies pushing their stuff to the services like Pandora and download albums from their website too?

It's an interesting era for sure IMO.  I'm pretty sure there's going to be a major paradigm shift.  A lot of artists are creating their own labels and signing newer artists.

[Deftone]

Still prefer the hard copy thingy rather than downloading.If ever both cd/vinyl really face the death penalty,i guess what ever that you're having will/may be a collectors items in the future.Who knows?

[JBLMVBC]

Nothing like a well recorded, well pressed 45rpm...

Yet these days the BDP-1 and higest rez digital is a pleasure...

[Elizabeth]

One issue not mentioned is it used to be one would buy a new album on 'faith' from word of mouth, or advertising. Almost never based on hearing it. Or hearing just one song on the radio... So that led to a lot of new bought albums which were disappointing and dumped.
Now, with the internet, one can actually listen to anything and decide if it is likable BEFORE buying it.
Big difference IMO. Way fewer errors in purchases.

[Laundrew]

author=Elizabeth link=topic=97266.msg974870#msg974870 date=1312748855]
One issue not mentioned is it used to be one would buy a new album on 'faith' from word of mouth, or advertising.

Great point Elizabeth 

Some of my CD purchases were entirely based on the cover artwork with no previous auditioning of the band. Interestingly, I did not purchase to many "duds" this way. But you are right with respect to the internet as most on-line music stores provide a sample of the bands music. YouTube is also great for auditioning new (to you) bands.

Be well... 

[ricko01]

Some of my CD purchases were entirely based on the cover artwork with no previous auditioning of the band.

While not on topic but in reference to the above... thats how I select DVD's to watch... purely on the cover artwork.

And there is a strong correlation to good artwork and a good film


Peter

[Elizabeth]

I buy the majority of my stuff by published review. Both music and DVD.

I actually carry around two All Music Guides with me when I go used shopping. The Rock, and the Jazz All Music Guides are indispensible for me. I try to buy only albums rated four or five stars. I will buy a lower rated one if it is well reviewed in the Guide, aside from the star rating system theere. Or if it is the first album of an interesting group. First Lps are often very unique and interesting IMO.

Once in awhile I will see some (cheap) item with an intriguing cover art, and purchase it.. The only other group i (always) buy is Flying Fish LPs. I just collect them. The music on the Flying Fish Label is a mix of folk/old timey stuff mostly. the one famous artist on that label is John Renbourne, who has a few Flying Fish titles. I just really like the label logo. They remind me of Rounder a bit, or Takoma Records.

I always only buy perfect items, or nearly perfect stuff. i used to buy stuff less than perfect, but have realized i can just pass on junk, and sooner or later I will find a great copy. And i am cheap. I usually only buy stuff which is cheap. As that also, sooner or later that expensive Lp or Cd I will find a lot cheaper one.. (only if it is something i have NEVER seen before and know I will never in my life see again..Then maybe i will buy it, even if it is expensive)

[Stu Pitt]

Had cover art been something I base buying an album on, I'd own everything ever released by Katy Parry and Mariah Carey.  Fortunately, I haven't made that mistake.