In the last few months, download sales of singles have reached record levels. What are people's thoughts on whether the physical CD single may ever make a comeback? Or do you think the future is likely to see more and more artists releasing digital only releases.

Physicals are dead and will never come back

I don't believe they will now, no. There are no shops that stock them anyway, even HMV only seem to have a choice of 2 or 3 titles these days. I feel like I've been forced out of buying them almost as I used to buy 2 or 3 a week at least 10 years ago, but then I've become far more accustomed to downloading anyway so it feels like a natural transition anyway. It's just a mass consumer trend that's become more of a niche activity now, like so many other things in the past.

Physical single CDs are practically dead, we are in the digital age now, times change, downloading is the way forward.

Physical single CDs are practically dead, we are in the digital age now, times change, downloading is the way forward.

 

Then why does vinyl remain a niche market?

Then why does vinyl remain a niche market?

 

But its a tiny market. Less than 1%

Then why does vinyl remain a niche market?

 

 

There is always a demand for vinyl though

CD singles never. I fear for CD albums though. I'd hate it if downloading an album became the only option.

CD singles never. I fear for CD albums though. I'd hate it if downloading an album became the only option.

It won't be long before albums are limited to online and supermarkets, there's no room for HMV to sell music now unfortunately. It's become too cheap. :(

CD Singles still play an important role - it is the format of choice for sending music to radio stations (in promo form).

CD Singles still play an important role - it is the format of choice for sending music to radio stations (in promo form).

 

Over time that will prob change too

CD singles are dead. But I think artists should still produce some and sell them from their websites for novelty value.

 

I don't want CD albums to die for a long time yet (and I don't think they will.)

CD singles are pretty much dead, they'll never make a comeback - and for artists that used to sell in big numbers of these, its a shame - I still think they should be stocked though, for charity, special occasions etc.

 

CD albums still remain in demand and should for a long time, but I do wonder for how much longer

Edited September 9, 201113 yr by C.W

there will always be physical albums, but i think CD's for singles are finished.

 

 

 

I feel like I've been forced out of buying them almost as I used to buy 2 or 3 a week at least 10 years ago

 

That's exactly how I feel, I would still buy them if they were available!

I remember going to Woolworths every Monday after school and I too would buy 2/3 or as many as I liked from that week.

 

It's such a shame, I wish they would make a comeback but they won't :(

HMV just opened up a store in the Medway area as there wasn't anywhere to buy albums apart from supermarkets, I can't see HMV surviving in the long run, once that's gone, CD singles will follow suit, as supermarkets will only stock limited supplies or charity singles or buying them online, thru artist websites or by other means online. HMV online will probably continue to sell CD singles if HMV folded, it probably be the only place to buy CD singles.

Physicals are dead and will never come back

 

Yup. There's no chance. I mean, there's no reason whatsoever that CD's would make a comeback and become the dominant format. Downloads are the future (unforunately). I just hope albums don't become download only too.

In 3 years (maybe 5) I'm pretty sure downloads will take up more than 50% of the albums market, at least for the first 10 months of the year anyway, although even with the growing popularity of the iTunes gift card as a present, it's not like their isn't a replacement gift for a CD.

 

The phsyical album will continue to exist for a long while, I'm sure, but it won't be a highstreet product for much longer. I do believe it's only a matter of time for HMV, there's just no room for it any more apart from maybe a couple of flagships. It'll take something special for the company to survive beyond the short term. Music is far too cheap for it to survive anymore, and with the growing technological advances in what else they sell (the Kindle is amazing) they're going to struggle more and more to make any money.

It's so depressing. I like to go and buy albums. Browsing on iTunes just wouldn't be the same. Don't get me started on kindles.

My personal prediction is that within maybe 5 to 10 years or so a new generation of young music buyers will discover the idea of a physical format for tracks/singles (probly vinyl or something new rather than CDs) and more or less believe it to be ther own thing if you see what I mean. I don't think that physical singles, expecially vinyl, will ever truly die, the market is just extremely sick at the moment.

I too feel I was forced to stop buying physical singles, first my local HMV stopped doing vinyl singles, then the only CDs they stocked were all from Syco and displayed in a Syco sponsored cardboard shipper that also held related albums and books. When you can't find the singles you actually wanted to buy why bother going to HMV and buy what they thought you wanted.