Comments on: The CD Is Dead (But Will Live For Decades) http://radioexile.com/2008/12/30/the-cd-is-dead-but-will-live-for-decades/ Indie Music Reviews and Interviews Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: tom williams http://radioexile.com/2008/12/30/the-cd-is-dead-but-will-live-for-decades/comment-page-1/#comment-3842 tom williams Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:33:44 +0000 http://radioexile.com/?p=77184#comment-3842 Thank you for your comments, both of you. In case anyone is interested, I expanded on this post a bit, discussing how I think different types of bands should handle the death of the CD. The post can be found here: http://hitsingularity.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/implications-of-the-death-and-life-of-the-cd/ Thank you for your comments, both of you.

In case anyone is interested, I expanded on this post a bit, discussing how I think different types of bands should handle the death of the CD. The post can be found here: http://hitsingularity.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/implications-of-the-death-and-life-of-the-cd/

]]> By: Eric http://radioexile.com/2008/12/30/the-cd-is-dead-but-will-live-for-decades/comment-page-1/#comment-3840 Eric Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:50:18 +0000 http://radioexile.com/?p=77184#comment-3840 I've been saying this exact thing for months but haven't been able to articulate it into something written. I just gave a "mix" CD to my brother for Xmas and it was basically a CD with data files of about 100 MP3's, it might as well have been a USB thumb drive. I don't have a CD player in my car, just a 1/8" stereo input for my MP3 player. I also within the last two days got 6 vinyl records (3 that came with an included digital download) and the sheer beauty of translucent blue vinyl glowing in the sunlight or a yellow and black splatter is unmatched. I'm not sure how the "majors" will move forward here though. The option of a digital LP is interesting, but those that will buy and listen to vinyl (at least now) seems to be a niche market, even if a growing one. I could say more, but I'll just work on a post. I’ve been saying this exact thing for months but haven’t been able to articulate it into something written. I just gave a “mix” CD to my brother for Xmas and it was basically a CD with data files of about 100 MP3’s, it might as well have been a USB thumb drive. I don’t have a CD player in my car, just a 1/8″ stereo input for my MP3 player. I also within the last two days got 6 vinyl records (3 that came with an included digital download) and the sheer beauty of translucent blue vinyl glowing in the sunlight or a yellow and black splatter is unmatched. I’m not sure how the “majors” will move forward here though. The option of a digital LP is interesting, but those that will buy and listen to vinyl (at least now) seems to be a niche market, even if a growing one. I could say more, but I’ll just work on a post.

]]> By: Greg http://radioexile.com/2008/12/30/the-cd-is-dead-but-will-live-for-decades/comment-page-1/#comment-3837 Greg Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:11:10 +0000 http://radioexile.com/?p=77184#comment-3837 Tom, good points. The CD does have share-ability and the "mixtape" component going for it. Those features kept cassettes going for a long time (you can still buy pre-recorded cassettes on the fringes). The beginning of the end will be when manufacturers stop making CD players, and the DVD format will keep that capability around for a long time (not sure about blu-ray, though). People buy for the stuff they have to play music. If they have multiple devices, they will replicate on as many as conveniently possible -- and it's really easy to make a CD for the car so you don't have to use one of those annoying FM transmitters or fidelity murdering cassette converters. So in that sense, the CD is at about its half life. By my math, that gives it about the same life span as you said. Honestly, I think vinyl's success might be its own undoing. The better it does, the more value there is in replacing it with another format -- probably digital, and probably physical. I see a digitaLP format that's got ultrasonic resolution, a "warm" play option and digital goodies like wall sized graphic files. Separate the audiophiles from the sentimentalists and skim off the revenue generating buyers from the ones who don't mind picking up a nicked copy of the White Album at a yard sale. Tom, good points. The CD does have share-ability and the “mixtape” component going for it. Those features kept cassettes going for a long time (you can still buy pre-recorded cassettes on the fringes). The beginning of the end will be when manufacturers stop making CD players, and the DVD format will keep that capability around for a long time (not sure about blu-ray, though). People buy for the stuff they have to play music. If they have multiple devices, they will replicate on as many as conveniently possible — and it’s really easy to make a CD for the car so you don’t have to use one of those annoying FM transmitters or fidelity murdering cassette converters. So in that sense, the CD is at about its half life. By my math, that gives it about the same life span as you said. Honestly, I think vinyl’s success might be its own undoing. The better it does, the more value there is in replacing it with another format — probably digital, and probably physical. I see a digitaLP format that’s got ultrasonic resolution, a “warm” play option and digital goodies like wall sized graphic files. Separate the audiophiles from the sentimentalists and skim off the revenue generating buyers from the ones who don’t mind picking up a nicked copy of the White Album at a yard sale.

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