HMV going into administration...

[mobious]

got me thinking - who actually buys CDs nowadays? If I buy a CD it could get lost, scratched or damaged - with the cloud I can download it as many times as I like.

Even Apple are making computers with no CD drive - in the big picture it could damage CD makers, printers and labels - also companies like Microsoft are making their games available over their consoles. When was the last time you bought a cd? - I know some people offer a free download with the CD but why not just download it?

 

[PDC]

I still buy more CDs than downloads.

I find it easier to locate a physical object and also to browse and choose what to play. I buy about a dozen albums a month but I don't recall the last time I was able to buy what I wanted from a HMV - I was trying to remember the last thing I bought there and I honestly can't it was too long ago.

 

[Christine Hough]

CDs and DVDs are better for giving as presents than downloads.

 

[mobious]

CDs and DVDs are better for giving as presents than downloads.

Personally, I prefer an iTunes gift card, can download music, games, dvds or anything really...books.

 

[Digbeth Court]

I'm still big on CDs too; if nothing else, they're the last remaining bastion of album artwork. Yes, "album covers" still exist digitally for promotional purposes, but the general visual theme of a great album - including rear inlay, images within the CD booklet or on the disc, etc - is massively diminished in the download age.

Would so much effort have gone into the art of an album like, say, The Stone Roses first record if it had only ever been released as an MP3? You could argue that the music's the only thing that's really important, but to me the album art is part of the character.

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

I buy a lot of CD's, currently have about 6000 in my library.
All of which are imported into iTunes for ease of creating playlists.

There is, however, no substitute for browsing a physical library of CD's or Albums when at home and wanting to relax and listen to a few tunes I haven't heard for a long time.

 

[mobious]

with no disrespect to anyone... could CD's not be an age thing? The younger generation are used to iPhones, Androids or Windows phone where most of the media come from downloads - there is a fairly big demand for cds but for me it's not future proof.

 

[Paul_Rosser]

Personally I haven't bought a CD in over 15 years.

Some people like CD's thought as it gives them a tangible product, cover art etc. however MP3's are much more convenient.

Now the law has finally been changed to allow you legally to make a digital copy of any CD you own Amazon have launced AutoRip which gives the best of both worlds.

When you purchase any CD (or any historic CD you bought from Amazon) you get a digital copy straight away and the physical CD delivered to you a few days later.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-t...tal-versions-of-physical-music-theyve-bought/

Also means you get a copy of any albums you buy as gifts for other people without having to open and rip them, but not sure where the law stands on that one.

 

[Digbeth Court]

with no disrespect to anyone... could CD's not be an age thing? The younger generation are used to iPhones, Androids or Windows phone where most of the media come from downloads - there is a fairly big demand for cds but for me it's not future proof.

Oh, I don't doubt for a minute that digital music is the future, and that CD collections will just be for all us embarrassing old granddads

You'll probably still get the niche market for selling them in years to come, as happened with vinyl, and there'll be a few of the more discerning youngsters/students who'll swear blind that Mezzanine or the Fat Of The Land sounds more authentic on the "original CD format". (Plus they'll enjoy having a place to skin up, because they'll struggle to do that on an MP3). But the overwhelming bulk will all be digital, until something newer and better goes and replaces that.

 

[smo]

I still buy them, in fact i bought my wife a CD at christmas.

Much better quality than an MP3 if yoy actually listen on proper hi-fi, also more convenient to put in the car too as you simply carry from house to car, put in slot and go. No faffing with i-tunes etc.

 

[spencergate]

We still like to buy physical media in this house if we buy a full album. Altho' we do load them onto a hard-drive and play them thru our media-centre PC thru the house (my husband is a software developer, couldn't resist writing his own media-player/iTunes type app as a hobby !!!)

Okay, it probably is to do with age (we have both hit the half-century), but we like to have the physical media in our possession. Yep, as mobious says

with the cloud I can download it as many times as I like

but that only works as long as your provider stays in business. If I buy it (from Amazon/iTunes whoever) I can download it again if my PC/tablet/phone/next big gizmo fails. But will I be able to do that in 10 - 20 years time ? - yes, I do still listen to music that I bought in my teens and twenties, and do want to know that I have the original media.

I know, it's inconceivable that Amazon/iTunes won't be there then, but we all thought that about organisations that have gone. As technology changes, markets change, who knows ???

So yes, we do still buy CDs, as does our teenage son, and would choose to continue to do so.

Not bought from HMV retail mind you for about 3 years I guess. For me online shopping has taken over in this market. I KNOW what it is doing to the high street, I worry about the likes of Waterstones - I love to go and browse books in there, and of course, always buy a book if I have chosen it in the shop. But if I know there is a particular book I need, I do tend to buy it online rather than waiting until I can make a trip into the city centre.

 

[Vectis]

I still buy them, in fact i bought my wife a CD at christmas.

Much better quality than an MP3 if yoy actually listen on proper hi-fi, also more convenient to put in the car too as you simply carry from house to car, put in slot and go. No faffing with i-tunes etc.

By the same token, you can carry your iPod to the car, plug it in and have your whole music collection to choose from on a long journey. Almost no limit to the number of tunes available rather than be restricted to the 6 CDs, or whatever, in a multichanger.

As to sound quality, I remember people saying the same thing when vinyl was being replaced by CDs!

 

[arcon5]

Personally i'd avoid buying any computer without a CD drive.

 

[Talay]

I have never bought a CD. Then again, I never bought an LP either.

Records were illogical to me as they could be scratched and broken. CDs were vastly superior but their form factor was limiting. Digital music is the format I was waiting for and all music I have is in this medium.

 

[a1anm]

I used to buy lots of CD's but download everything now. I can't remember the last time I bought a physical CD.

I love having everything stored nicely on my computer and not having to have a bunch of CD's taking up physical space.

 

[deniser]

I keep reading that vinyl sales are going up.

I have a huge collection of records (showing my age), still buy lots of CDs because I like playing them in different places and don't like the idea of spending thousands of pounds on something which I might lose if something goes wrong at itunes eg. a virus which wipes it all out and download individual songs too where I don't want the whole album.

I will be most disappointed if HMV Oxford Street closes. I spend a fortune in there. Fantastic shop.

 

[gibby]

I used to buy alot of cds from stores like HMV. I love taking the time going through everything but so rarely go shopping now.
Ive only just bought a downloaded album for the 1st time last week, as the album I wanted is not available as a cd.

I have bought a lot from amazon in the past but now trying to buy from small independent online retailers as I think they are getting to big and dont pay tax.

However I did read they are now giving you the cd and the download together on a growing range of music.

I will be sad to see HMV go but I detest going to busy shopping places now. Things are changing and they simply havnt kept up with the changing market place.

 

[Psl]

When I was sixteen my first job was working in a record shop, the only other record shop at the time was in Woolworths I think

It was a specialist shop shop selling mostly blues and soul imports from the US,
7inch & 12 inch singles and albums.

In those days DJ's would spend two or three hours in the shop, discussing music, drinking the excellent tea I made,A&R men dropping off new releases on a daily basis and this made the shop was a real magnet for the music peeps in Manchester.There was a huge social scene based around the shop, in terms of all-dayer's and all-nighters, that stretched from Scotland to the South coast.

I knew many of the customers by name and didn't mind spending time helping them buy their 'tunes' to add to their collections.

I loved working at that shop.

I still enjoy, but not for much longer , walking around HMV, just browsing and relaxing. I particularly liked the world cinema department in HMV and the knowledge of the staff and I have even bought films for my collection based on their recommendations.All this whilst my two boys where in the HMV GAMEzone in the basement of the shop enjoying playing new games before they, sorry I, bought them if they liked them.

It's a shame HMV is going but I don't think all the outlets will go and didn't Mr Moore be the CEO of Jessops?

I think there is a place for both high street music retailers and the online digital e-tailers, but the bricks and mortar outlets need to up their game to survive, let alone compete!

What affect has Tesco's et al and their cd,dvd sales etc had on the demise of the record store I wonder?

 

[Danny @ Source Servers Ltd]

I always enjoyed the process of buying cd's, getting to the local music and games store and actually coming across new finds...things that I would never have bought because I had never heard of them. On the other hand... I am now in my early thirties with a stack which is ceiling high and on the look out for a jukebox burner because I cannot be bothered to spend an entire day burning them into itunes. I think I am glad CD's are gone....lets look to the cloud.

 

[mobious]

Personally i'd avoid buying any computer without a CD drive.

It's actually pretty easy, tidier and less cluster on your desk having a computer without a CD drive.

 

[ecenica]

got me thinking - who actually buys CDs nowadays? If I buy a CD it could get lost, scratched or damaged - with the cloud I can download it as many times as I like.

Although these stats don't show any info about demographics, according to BPI over 69% of total sales are CD. Which is far higher than I would have imagined.

Despite the growth in digital formats, the CD remained popular with album buyers in 2012, accounting for more than two-thirds (69.1%) of total sales compared to a 30.4% share for digital albums and 0.4% for vinyl LPs.

Source: http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/...s-fall-11-2-as-singles-hit-record-high/053002

Agree with comments regarding the poor durability of CD.

Rich

 

[mobious]

Would be good to compare the data from 2012 to 2013, I am expecting a fairly big drop to be honest, I think it's on it's way out but no doubt it will be a very slow death of CD's.

 

[onlinevideo]

got me thinking - who actually buys CDs nowadays? If I buy a CD it could get lost, scratched or damaged - with the cloud I can download it as many times as I like.

Even Apple are making computers with no CD drive - in the big picture it could damage CD makers, printers and labels - also companies like Microsoft are making their games available over their consoles. When was the last time you bought a cd? - I know some people offer a free download with the CD but why not just download it?

Indeed! I think it's competing with the internet giants like Amazon that did it tho...

 

[GRDCredit]

It really is a shame to see such a big High Street name going to the wall (potentially)

I was looking them up last night and apparantly they have been around since records began




I apologise unreservedly for that!

 

[mobious]

And now Blockbusters is on the way out...oh dear oh dear: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21047652#TWEET529503