Was just reading the streaming thread and debates and just wondered what people thought would happen to the physical CD album format in 2014? Is this the year we sales seriously plummet in the physical market? There seems to be a lot against physical sales at the moment from large retailers -

 

1. Amazon - Only music purchases over £10 qualify for free delivery, This means a £3.99 CD from Amazon is no longer so much of a bargain if you have to pay £1.26 delivery, Could put a lot of people off?

 

2. Sainsburys are removing all physical products from their website in February and concentrating on downloads only

 

3. Tesco have/are removing the Top 10 music charts in their 'Metro' stores and reducing space given to physicals in larger stores

 

4. HMV are in the process of closing 9 stores

 

5. Primark trialled CD/DVD sales and are keeping DVDs but not continuing with CDs

 

6. WHSmith started stocking physicals again but most are priced at £14.99 or an eye watering 'special offer' of '2 for £25'

Basically, the physical format is going to die a death, it's just a matter of when. The only time of year they are probably in demand is Christmas because they are good stocking fillers.

It's been a dead format for years. Even the X Factor physical sales are dying down. Think charity singles will be the only thing that keeps it alive.

Last year was the year the became irrelevant IMO except for vinyl which should increase bit by bit as music lovers start buying them along side downloads!

It's been a dead format for years. Even the X Factor physical sales are dying down. Think charity singles will be the only thing that keeps it alive.

 

I thought we were talking about albums? If singles then yes, that's been dead for years!

I thought we were talking about albums? If singles then yes, that's been dead for years!

 

Both are dead. The physical is only propped up by the Christmas market.

 

I personally think albums will become less of a thing over time, and all that will be released are 6/7 song EPs rather than full downloads.

Interesting question. I think it will die but it will be a very slow and painful death! The vinyl format however is at a 15 year peak so it's difficult to envisage a time when CD dies out completely an vinyl is fighting fit!

 

A bigger question perhaps, will the concept of an album die out completely??

The only time I really buy physical albums are as Christmas gift presents, and even then it's very rarely to anyone considerably older than me. I really can't see anywhere else they can turn.

 

However I don't think the entire format of the album is dead, like someone said in another thread I saw earlier, I think streaming being included in the album chart would be very beneficial to the market.

As for the single CD, charity purchases/one off releases will keep them afloat. If there is a Band Aid 30 this year, that will definitely have use for them.

Both are dead. The physical is only propped up by the Christmas market.

You know the physical/digital split in the album market?

You know the physical/digital split in the album market?

 

The digital format is increasing year on year whilst the physical format is decreasing. Sales are awful for albums. At an all time low. It's why I think the concept of a traditional album will die out save for the bigger artists. A lot of people just aren't willing to part with £8/9/10 to download an album.

The digital format is increasing year on year whilst the physical format is decreasing. Sales are awful for albums. At an all time low. It's why I think the concept of a traditional album will die out save for the bigger artists. A lot of people just aren't willing to part with £8/9/10 to download an album.

In the process of dying =/= dead. The physical/digital split seems to have got frighteningly close over the last few years but dead is single sales making up <5% of the singles market. Albums aren't there yet.

Albums aren't there yet last yr it was 38-40% average digital album sales so physicals still take up 60% BUT album sales have also fallen which shows people are not bothering with either of the types of purchase anymore probably because of streaming and illegal downloads!

Edited January 14, 201411 yr by steve201

Deleted - this post referred to single download sales more than physical albums so I've moved it into the Sales & Streaming thread.

Edited January 14, 201411 yr by BillyH

Streaming is interesting, I'd love to see some public market research on it. I do stream music through Spotify but I also like having the actual copies downloaded and readily available to listen to on my iPod/iPhone. But I know plenty of people that don't bother with buying music now, and they just use Spotify.

The digital format is increasing year on year whilst the physical format is decreasing. Sales are awful for albums. At an all time low. It's why I think the concept of a traditional album will die out save for the bigger artists. A lot of people just aren't willing to part with £8/9/10 to download an album.

Last week on Amazon I download £16 worth of individual tracks! Downloading an album is much cheaper, if they are only £10. But the problem is like many people I don't want to download or buy tracks that A: I don't want. And B: that I already have.

 

Single track downloaders are tempted to download by reducing the price, mostly down to 59p. But many sites charge 99p for tracks and that's a rip off. The whole concept is still based on the album. Even the MP3 single track is presented as an album. Record companies are not going to give up on the album. If the shops won't sell them, I can see the record companies doing so. It's always baffles me why Record Companies need places like iTunes to sell them? Why don't they just bypass the middleman and sell them direct. Taking iTunes profit. Your not telling me a big company like Universal can't afford the technology to get a website and sell them?

 

I would also dispute that the digital format increased last year.

 

As for the CD it will probably make a comeback. But not anytime soon.

 

Albums aren't there yet last yr it was 38-40% average digital album sales so physicals still take up 60% BUT album sales have also fallen which shows people are not bothering with either of the types of purchase anymore probably because of streaming and illegal downloads!

 

<cough>recession<cough>

<cough>recession<cough>

 

Exactly! ;)

 

Illegal downloaders haven't just started in the last year. They might have effected the odd album, such as the overpriced iTunes exclusive of Beyoncé's, but they haven't grown in numbers. Indeed with restrictions by internet providers they might be less of them around in the UK at least.

 

Streaming is probably killing the Radio audience, I'm not convinced it's effecting the download market in the UK. Can you even stream to an ipod?

 

 

 

I prefer the CD as compared with the download. The physical support is very good.

 

I think that the CD/ blu ray audio will hold a many time

Edited January 14, 201411 yr by Michael2013

I prefer the CD as compared with the download. The physical support is very good.

Why? Explain it? :)