Posted July 9, 20213 yr Sainsbury's to stop selling CDs as consumers switch to streaming by Andre Paine July 9th 2021 at 10:40AM Sainsbury’s is to stop selling CDs and DVDs as consumers make the switch to streaming. The decision is a blow for physical music sales, which represented 18.3% of the market last week, according to Official Charts Company data. There will now be fears that other chains will follow Sainsbury’s decision to withdraw CDs. The chain said CDs and DVDs will be phased out, though vinyl will continue to be sold in some stores. The format has been growing for the last 13 years and sales of vinyl LPs were up 16.1% year-on-year in the first three months of 2021 to pass a million units (1,080,653) Space for physical entertainment has been under pressure in supermarkets in recent years, as CD releases have failed to deliver the blockbuster sales of the past. “Our customers increasingly go online for entertainment, so earlier this year we took the decision to gradually phase out the sale of DVDs and CDs, so that we can dedicate extra space to food and popular products like clothing and homewares,” a Sainsbury’s spokesperson told Music Week. Sainsbury’s decision will also be a blow to the declining compilations market, which relies on CD sales. Physical compilation sales are down 11.1% for the year to date, compared to an increase of 3.9% for physical artist albums. Source MW
July 9, 20213 yr makes good business sense but will ultimately mean the christmas market will be just as bad for albums as the rest of the year now.
July 9, 20213 yr Yes i was about to mention the christmas market. I guess supermarkets sell cds to casual buyers who spot say the newest Ed Sheeran album on sale without necessarily having realised it had been released. Also additional 'stocking filler' type pressies at christmas like you said.
July 9, 20213 yr TBH they’ve been winding it down for ages now - not all new releases being stocked and filling up their chart with greatest hits etc., It’s a shame as it’s another nail in the coffin for in person physical buying, let’s just hope that HMV can continue to weather the storm.
July 9, 20213 yr The big Sainsbury’s near me hasn’t sold cds or video games all year. There’s a Argos delivery service thing where all that used to be.
July 9, 20213 yr I'm pleasantly surprised at the range of vinyl albums in big Sainsbury's - it's always a pleasure when i pass the aisle to be reminded of relatively obscure albums like Kate Bush's 'The Dreaming' suddenly jumping out at you during your weekly mundane shop. CDs displays never jump out of you in that way.
July 9, 20213 yr Like that at Walmart here, most Cd's are greatest hits for about $7. They do have a huge vinyl selection though. Once upon a time Super Tuesdays were a thing, sadly no more, a thing of the past.
July 9, 20213 yr I bet they will still sell 1 or 2 huge cds, Ed and Adele on their own little displays.
July 9, 20213 yr It’s sad, but it was bound to happen eventually. Hopefully the Vinyl boom continues to grow, which allows record stores and HMV to thrive. I know sales will be lower at Christmas, but personally I am happy the charts won’t be clogged with Amanda Holden and Michael Ball type album’s for the over 50’s
July 9, 20213 yr The likes of supermarkets selling cds were always good for people doing their weekly shop to pick up something but at least we still have HMV who are still the best imho. Perhaps it means more trade for them now i imagine other supermarkets will probably follow and drop music and dvd too.
July 9, 20213 yr I'm not surprised really. I mean who actually buys CDs still? (Well on this forum probably a higher proportion of people than in the general population :P ) I rarely buy CDs, mainly just if I really want to help an album out in the charts. I think most people have moved on from really, especially with everything so accessible online.
July 9, 20213 yr This is sad to hear although I'm glad that vinyl is here to stay at least My exact thoughts.
July 9, 20213 yr I buy CDs but don't buy them from supermarkets as I like buying them to be more of an event than chucking them in your trolley with a block of cheese and a bag of spuds. It's supermarkets selling them that made proper record shops do badly... so I hope the trade goes back to them.
July 9, 20213 yr It’s sad, but it was bound to happen eventually. Hopefully the Vinyl boom continues to grow, which allows record stores and HMV to thrive. I know sales will be lower at Christmas, but personally I am happy the charts won’t be clogged with Amanda Holden and Michael Ball type album’s for the over 50’s The charts arent just for under 50s. Just because older people may have different music tastes doesnt make those tastes any less relevant or important.
July 9, 20213 yr If anyone has been in a Tesco recently I think they will be next. My Extra store has shunted CDs to a couple of bottom shelves near the DVDs and barely gets anything new in. It's a shame.
July 9, 20213 yr Are Sainsbury’s not sold any since October 2019 don’t get now Music album use use nectar point get now cd now Amazon
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