Are CDs on the way out?

[baretta]

I love CDs. But it seems like less and less albums are available in this format these days. Are CDs real close to becoming obsolete? I don't think MP3s are as good. It seems like this will be first time in history that a superior sound medium will be replace with an inferior one.

 

[BadassBob]

As far as I can tell, iif there were to be a format to succeed the CD, its the CompactStick. CompactSticks come in a jewel case the size of a CD, but thats where the similarities end. The new medium is about half the size of a USB thumb drive, and generally contains 2 to 3 different formats. The ones that I have seen mostly have WAV and MP3, while some even go as far to include 5.1 mixes along side the others. Much of the Indie music I listen to comes this way.

 

[Jon_Logan]

I think the problem is that music stores are becoming fewer and far between. I don't consider Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart music stores. If you want something hard to get, try to get a good music store like Amoeba music in SF/Berkeley, or order online from Amazon or some such place.

CD's on their way out?? are they still for sale??

 

[Duffinator]

I love CDs. But it seems like less and less albums are available in this format these days. Are CDs real close to becoming obsolete? I don't think MP3s are as good. It seems like this will be first time in history that a superior sound medium will be replace with an inferior one.

I don't think they are becoming obsolete, but their relevance has diminished. And I don't think flash drives are the answer either. Most digital media is moving to streaming and physical media is slowly disappearing. I still prefer to buy CD's and rip to my hard drive vs. downloading. As long as the music is good and the media format provides high quality audio (and video) it doesn't make that much difference to me. I'm already setup for just about any digital format so bring it on.

 

[roggom]

I think the problem is that music stores are becoming fewer and far between. I don't consider Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart music stores. If you want something hard to get, try to get a good music store like Amoeba music in SF/Berkeley, or order online from Amazon or some such place.

CD's on their way out?? are they still for sale??

Completly agree, also CD's= inventory = less liquidity.

 

[eteller]

Hmm, that would be bad for local music stores. I think the same thing is happening with DVD's at an even faster rate. We now have no Blockbuster and soon to be Hollywood Video, the local ones closed up shop in the last few years. Only one local music shop left and that's in a flea market.

 

[eljr]

I think the problem is that music stores are becoming fewer and far between. I don't consider Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart music stores. If you want something hard to get, try to get a good music store like Amoeba music in SF/Berkeley, or order online from Amazon or some such place.

CD's on their way out?? are they still for sale??

Music can only be purchased on the net now. Cd, LP or downloads.

Only garbage is available at the above mentioned stores with very rare exception.

 

[Sam Cogley]

Music can only be purchased on the net now. Cd, LP or downloads.

That's an exceedingly broad and totally incorrect statement. My area has several stores dedicated mostly, or partially, to music that aren't the "big box" type of operation.

 

[eljr]

That's an exceedingly broad and totally incorrect statement. My area has several stores dedicated mostly, or partially, to music that aren't the "big box" type of operation.

so you are the very rare exception. Good for you. I wish I could say the same.

enjoy them while you can

 

[icenine]

One can find many gems at Walmart, Target and Best Buy when looking for CDs...and I live near Los Angeles so it is not like I do not have more choices. Remember those stores are keeping some of our musical friends who make everything possible still be able to be in the business during these hard times for the industry...

 

[Sir.Byrd]

I think I live in a music "scene" so there are plenty of stores to buy vinyl and CDs and they seem to be doing very well, they get $$$ from me every month, that's for sure.
If they are on the way out... so be it, more for me!

 

[donberry]

there is enough used recorded material to keep me busy the rest of my life. Sure I might not get the latest artists, but there is sooooooo much older music that I have not even got to yet. I could spend a long time just surfing ebay and buying the 99 cent stuff. just picked up some Indigo girls, Eric Von Schmidt and Springsteen "ghost of Tom Joad" - with shipping, cost me under $10.00. And the list goes on and on and on and.........
(btw - The Ghost of Tom Joad is a great album, one I had never heard before)

 

[JohnVF]

so you are the very rare exception. Good for you. I wish I could say the same.

enjoy them while you can

I go to maybe 10 independent record stores around here on a regular basis, most of those that are surviving seem to be existing on the appeal and popularity of vinyl among the 20/30 somethings. That's the only reason I go there, though I did pick up 10 CDs the other day for $2 a piece, because the store was downsizing its CD inventory in favor of vinyl.

CD is irrevlevant but still holding on because it is still higher quality than most downloads. When downloads are routinely of a higher resolution, what's the point of having a CD? The packaging is usually terrible anyway.

 

[slow_jazz]

I think it's on the decline but should still be around for many years...

 

[ScramMan2]

I'm happy as heck to troll the used CD shops.

I also download a alot off eMusic, but I wish they'd have FLAC files.

 

[Duffinator]

That's an exceedingly broad and totally incorrect statement. My area has several stores dedicated mostly, or partially, to music that aren't the "big box" type of operation.

+1. Shoot the local BB sells vinyl! The local Fry's has a huge selection of CD's although they have cut way back on their selection of SACD and DVD-A titles.

 

[riverrat373]

Thankfully, there are a couple of independent music stores close to me that carry a great selection of cd's and vinyl! I do my shopping for cd's at Borders or Amazon.com. I hope that the format stays alive because I am NOT going to start my collection all over again!

 

[guest102]

Here in south central Pennsylvania CDs are still available for sale but finding older stuff I don't already have is becoming harder. While the X-Mart stores still carry them their selection is trimmed down and geared more toward contemporary selections I have lost track of. When picking through the 'oldie' compilation offerings care is advised. There are too many offerings from Madacy that are remakes of past hits, sometimes by 'original artists' (or should I say 'at least one of the original artists...?), and sometimes by their in house cover group The Countdown Singers (and whatever else they try to call themselves). I've never bought any of their CDs but I have run across one or two turned-up-nose reviews. Usually I let the remakes on the shelf and come home to see if Amazon has anything original if something strikes my fancy. It'$ not the media the Big Record Companie$ need to change, it'$ the $tyle and quality of material they put on the media that need$ fixed.

 

[qdrone]

No,Cd's are safe for a while. Everytime I go to the music store there are plenty of people my age there buying them. When us dinosaurs pass then our collections will be sold off and so on and so on. I'm not worried about certain albums that don't make it to CD or certain movies that don't make it to DVD because when the demand is there it will happen.

 

[eljr]

Thankfully, there are a couple of independent music stores close to me that carry a great selection of cd's and vinyl! I do my shopping for cd's at Borders or Amazon.com. I hope that the format stays alive because I am NOT going to start my collection all over again!

Seems the only place I can find cd's I want are at CD universe on line.
Not sure why the walmarts, boarders and Best Buys are so radically different in the North and West suburbs of NYC than the rest of the country.