This article first reports scary stories about game discs then switches gears to report , without any statistics, concerns of the Library of Congress about music discs. Which would seem to be the most scary thing But in the summary list near the end, the LoC archivist Youket is quoted thus:
- Proper storage and handling helps. Ultimately, Youket notes that, according to LoC’s own aging tests (which determined the life expectancy of discs based on changes in their bit-level error rate), discs are much more likely to survive over long periods if they’re handled correctly and stored in good conditions. “These studies have shown that a well-made pressed compact disc can last many decades if stored and handled properly,” she noted, adding that “discs that are stored in harsh environmental conditions with elevated temperature and/or humidity will have shorter expected lifetimes than discs stored in more controlled conditions.”
THe archivist also notes
- Discs with significant errors are often still at least partially readable, according to Youket. “In the case that a disc has an uncorrectable error, depending on where this error occurs much of the data is still recoverable,” she explained in an interview. “Many discs with high errors are still playable, and depending on the content—audio, video, or data—even an uncorrectable error may not be serious.”
A scratch at the top of a CD is more problematic
DVDs generally have better integrity
Recordable discs don’t last as long
Proper storage and handling helps.
None of which suggests that spontaneous degeneration of music CDs is really a 'massive' issue if they are cared for properly. This article's title is little more than the usual scary clickbait
