In a move to free up space in their stores, Best Buy and likely Target will stop selling CDs. Likely, the retailers want to have more space in the stores for products that actually sell. This move has been met with mixed reactions, as music fans will no longer be able to rely on these huge retailers to purchase CDs. While major retailers like Target, Best Buy, or Walmart may be among the last places to purchase CDs, there was a time when they received a lot of criticism for putting smaller record stores out of business. Now, there seems to be no space left for CDs.
Truth be told, I believe this is a long time coming. CD sales continue to decline and digital formats are taking priority. I view CDs as a music format two generations removed: it was followed by digital downloads and then our current error of streaming. Due to these alternate and easier methods of music consumption, we’re years past the peak of CD sales. Still, there are some people who prefer the format. Whether it’s because their car only has a CD player, they like the artwork, or they just want to support the artist, some people are still buying CDs.
CDs will always be a part of my childhood, but there are a few reasons I’m glad to see them go.
No more exclusive content: This is my biggest frustration with album sales. Record companies love to release exclusive content bundled with album purchases from specific stores. Walk through a Target and take a look at the few albums you see on their shelves. I guarantee you’ll see a few with stickers promoting exclusive content on the album. They’ll market these discs as “collectable” but the ultimate loser is the customer. No one wants to drive to multiple stores and purchase multiple discs so they can have all of the exclusive tracks, so the customer misses out on the opportunity to listen to all of the songs on the market.
In the streaming world, there is less room for this type of scenario. Some artists may release their content exclusively on one streaming service, but I’ve seen far fewer artists do this. Why is this the case? Because in the streaming world, album “sales” are measured by number of streams. By releasing all tracks on all streaming services, artists get more streams.
CDs aren’t the best form of art: While overall album sales are down, we have seen an increase in vinyl sales. Likely, this is due to one of two scenarios. Either the consumer is concerned with sound quality and appreciates the unique quality only a record player can provide, or the consumer wants the physical album art accompanying the purchase. While this is just my opinion, the artwork on a CD is inferior to what you receive from a vinyl album. I see people hang albums on their walls to appreciate the artwork, and I don’t really see that with CDs.
Today, technology can replicate the sound quality on a CD fairly easily. If you’re looking for sound quality, there’s no need for a CD.
The market is better for lesser-known artists: When major retailers are stocking CDs, they have a lot of influence over whose albums get stocked. Primarily, their goal is to sell. Less popular band aren’t going to be stocked as much as someone like Justin Timberlake or Lady Gaga.
On digital platforms, this is not the case. If an up-and-coming artist wants to put their music on iTunes or Spotify, they can. Perhaps they can’t afford promotional space on the front page, but people looking for this artist will find results. This removes the middleman from the picture and artists know people looking for the music won’t have to struggle to find it.
In the end: People will still be able to find music in the format they seek. Online retailers like Amazon will still stock CDs but digital formats (especially streaming) will continue to experience growth. A part of me will remember CDs fondly, but the convenience of streaming will trump any excitement I received from opening a physical disc. Should I ever feel inclined to purchase music in a physical format, I know the option remains available. However, may past seven years of experience tells me I’m not going to get that inclination.
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