The world's biggest record company is to sell CDs in basic cardboard sleeves in a bid to compete with online sales.

 

Universal Music Group is introducing three tiers of packaging in Europe, also including deluxe and sturdier versions of the standard case.

 

It expects the basic CDs to sell for about £7, the standard for about £10, and the deluxe - offering bonus CDs or DVDs - for around £14.

 

The company said the CD had not "had much of a revamp in the last 20 years".

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5150572.stm

£7 is a bit steep for a CD in a card sleeve-should be a fiver at most...

I think they tried to do this a couple of years ago, maybe three ! I can clearly remember some albums released in Germany... not just local act, even international...

 

LifeLight

Universal unveils new packaging and pricing

Source: Music Week

 

 

Universal is to introduce a new three-tier system of packaging and pricing CDs, which the company says will offer European consumers improved choice and value.

 

From autumn, all new album releases will use new Super Jewel Box packaging, a stronger and more durable replacement for traditional jewel box CD cases.

 

The first three titles to be releases in the new packaging will be the Scissor Sisters' Ta-Dah!, the Killers' as yet untitled second album and the first solo album by Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, all released on September 18.

 

The upgrade means that Universal will ship more than 100m albums in Super Jewel Box packaging in the first 12 months of the switchover, with all extra manufacturing costs absorbed by the company.

 

The new packaging comes as part of a wider change, which will see CDs sold in three configurations: deluxe, standard and basic.

 

Deluxe will be for major artist album releases and will come with a bonus, limited edition CD or DVD. Standard will be for all new album releases, with Super Jewel Box packaging replacing the standard jewel box at no extra price. Basic will be for older albums, offering a new, streamlined, slide pack CD case with minimum packaging, comparable to paperback books.

 

Universal is recommending that the three formats retail at €19.99 (deluxe), €14.99 (standard) and €9.99 (basic).

 

The roll out of the three formats, which have been successfully tested in selected European markets over the past nine months, will begin across Europe in September.

 

Universal Music Group International Chairman and CEO Lucian Grange says, "As our digital business continues to accelerate, as we anticipated, this is also an exciting time to improve our physical CD offer - and at no extra cost to the fans. We've listened to their views about value and choice, and we're giving them more music-buying options than ever

 

I sure hope these new Super Jewel Boxes don't break like the traditional ones do, I keep knocking my CDs over :(

This isn't new - I worked at Sony BMG Spain in 2004-5 and we released a number of Spanish artist albums in three different formats very similar to the Universal ones - but it's interesting to see it being implemented across the board, not just on the odd release or two.