19 Comments

  1. If he means “out-survive me as CEO” then I’m sure he is correct! Seriously, how long is the average tenure of a major label CEO these days?

  4. Eh, if he means “people will still purchase CD’s” then I guess he’s right. If the question is “the majority of people,” I doubt it.
    Granted, there is something dope about a CD that digital formats haven’t been able to replicate to my satisfaction. Album art, as well as the fact that CD’s are instantly accessible, remain reasons why I continue to buy them (in addition to shopping at amazonmp3).
    It seems like most posts here focus on digital taking over everything…about music floating to the clouds for consumption. But the truth of the matter is this: there will always be people who want ownership of their library…an ownership not dependent on an internet connection (that could give out or have an interrupted service). I see CD’s continuing to play a role in my life and I say this as a relatively young dude (22).

  6. I am a bit cold blooded about his statement. I am reminded of the days I worked for Sam Goody in 2000 – 2002. People would come in see the price and say things like “No wonder people steal this stuff”

  8. He might be right.
    The CD experience (wave files plus graphics) can still be good. You are more than likely to listen to a CD through a clean power amp and big speakers instead of the mp3 ipod ear buds or computer speakers. I like listening to full CD albums in the car. Maybe that’s why CD’s are still 65% of all music sold.

  10. Vinyl actually has a certain value.
    CD meh… I don’t think we’ll be able to press CDs in 30 years time or so. Maybe a disc-shaped data carrier, but CDs… I dunno.

  12. “I believe that the CD will out-survive me as a format.”
    Doesn’t that statement imply Lucian Grainge is a format?
    As an aside – I love the physical product and HOPE he’s right.

  13. Riddle me this folks…

    When was the last time YOU purchased a CD?
    When was the last time you bought a CD at a big box retailer?
    How many total CDs did you purchase in 2009?

    ….

    Now throw yourself back into 1996.. Ask those same questions.

  14. Last CD I purchased was Ghostface’s Fishscale in 2006, it was at Best Buy. Total CD purchases in 2009…. ZERO.
    Flash back to 1996. Bought 2 used CDs every week. One new CD per month at either Disco-Rama, Tower or Best Buy.
    Here’s another Question for this group: When was the last time you bought a cassette?

  15. The last CD I bought was on Monday. It was purchased directly from the artist, like almost all of my CD purchases in the last few years. Total CDs bought in 2009 — I’m not sure, maybe 5 or 6? Hell, I listened to audio cassettes until 2002, when I got rid of the car with the tape player. That said, probably 90% of my music purchases since 2005 are downloads.
    I’m not saying the CD isn’t on it’s way out, but that it still has usefulness. If I go to a merch table, I’d *much much* rather buy a CD than a USB drive.
    But really, this quickly devolves into psychological projection — “I don’t buy CDs, my friends don’t buy CDs, therefore CDs are dead”. In 2010-2012, digital might overtake physical, but I’d guess CD sales will be at least 10% of total sales until at least 2016 (in the West) and probably several years later worldwide.

  17. I bought 6 CDs in 2009 which is more in one year than I’ve ever bought before. I’ve never had a large CD collection, back in the 90’s (when I was in my 20’s) I just couldn’t afford it.
    Instead I had a huge collection of albums on tape that I copied from friends. I still have most of those tapes though they are nearly all ruined from age.
    Why did I buy so many CD’s last year? Because I started reading sites like Hypebot and learned about the state of the industry.

  18. Last CDs bought: 3 from Amazon, two weeks ago. CD shopping for me is now 90% mail order for new stuff. Though there is something at Borders I want to pick up this weekend.
    2009 CDs bought: estimated 80
    1996 CDs bought: probably 150-200.
    But that period was insane.
    Big box retailers were never a significant source of the music I want.
    I recognize that I am a old, trailing-edge kind of guy here. But I stay with CDs for the sound quality.

  19. i’m starting to hear more and more of this type of hyperbole that we also heard just before the first .com bubble burst. no, the cd was not dead 5 years ago and yes, it will probably be around after Grainge is dead. this is not like when CDs first came out and vinyl died quickly. the CD has been having a very gradual decline, quite slow, actually. we are not in an era when one format comes in and dominates all others instantly. we’re in an era of more and more listening choices and there are going to be people for many years to come who prefer albums, and also the complete package of music, artwork, and notes that is a CD. the CD is declining as the one dominant recording format, but the reality is that they are still the #1 way of buying music in this country, and will continue to be sold, but now it’s along with other options like MP3s, which obviously, have been increasing in sales. will CDs ever disappear for good? perhaps, but for now, people are buying them. after napster I was killed off, i’ve become more cautious about assumptions regarding instant digital domination. i’ve heard such claims since about 1998 and it still hasn’t happened.

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