will CDs eventually become obsolete due to no CD transports surviving?

[AnalogSteph]

I went even further and sold my LP and CD libraries.

You do know that the usage rights are technically tied to the physical media, right? Even if I doubt that the music industry is going to pull a Microsoft and do an audit...

I still don't know if the few-hundred 90minute TDK recorded music cassettes (from the 70s and the early 80s) are environmentally safe to be just thrown into our trash bin.

You may be surprised to learn what decent-quality tapes are going for these days, particularly chrome or even metal. Assuming they are in good condition (unaffected by heat or mold), chances are somebody would be willing to take them off your hands.

 

[Yuhasz01]

Billions of CDs have been sold, but sales are now declining, as is the case for all forms of artistic media.

For every new cd sold , 10 to 20 times as many used ones sold, or more. Ebay offers new and used cds and so does Amazon as well. CD music listening activity/media is a real market segment.

 

[Mart68]

You do know that the usage rights are technically tied to the physical media, right? Even if I doubt that the music industry is going to pull a Microsoft and do an audit...

In the UK, copying for any purpose is illegal, whether you keep the original or not. So you might as well get hung for a sheep as a lamb.

 

[Esprit]

In Italy, the backup copy of a product you own is legal (be it software, a CD, a DVD or other...).

 

[khensu]

I'd love to have FLAC backups of my CDs. But the thought of dealing with ripping them all (nearly 1000) and fiddling with getting the metadata right is just too daunting.

Maybe I could hire a high school intern to do it all.

Maybe you’re referring to your collection of GD shows? I had the same problem as my collection was probably over 2000 discs. It was a truly daunting task, but I slogged through all of them. It took a few months doing a few shows per day, but I’m glad I did it. TBH, if I hadn’t done it yet, I don’t think I’d have the motivation to deal with it now.

 

[Joe Smith]

Maybe you’re referring to your collection of GD shows? I had the same problem as my collection was probably over 2000 discs. It was a truly daunting task, but I slogged through all of them. It took a few months doing a few shows per day, but I’m glad I did it. TBH, if I hadn’t done it yet, I don’t think I’d have the motivation to deal with it now.

My AAC/iTunes ripping effectively cured me of worrying about backups of everything...or the need to categorize everything. Occasionally I buy a used LP that I already own, that's the worst that can happen. But to each one's own. I guess for some folks, space is more of an issue. I am getting very selective about what physical media I add these days. Only buying things I think I will want to play many times. If not, streaming is my friend. Yes prices will always go up, but for now at least, a 2-person Spotify monthly charge of $16 is a lot of entertainment for not much money.

 

[khensu]

My AAC/iTunes ripping effectively cured me of worrying about backups of everything...or the need to categorize everything. Occasionally I buy a used LP that I already own, that's the worst that can happen. But to each one's own. I guess for some folks, space is more of an issue. I am getting very selective about what physical media I add these days. Only buying things I think I will want to play many times. If not, streaming is my friend. Yes prices will always go up, but for now at least, a 2-person Spotify monthly charge of $16 is a lot of entertainment for not much money.

Absolutely. We have a family Spotify plan, but I don’t use it much. The vast majority of my listening (and collecting) is of live music, so there is typically no option for a physical purchase. What drove me to save all my CDs in flac was really the ease of access (with roon) and the fact that storing all of those CDs had become untenable (they’re all in boxes in my garage now).

 

[EJ3]

You can save music from the streaming service on your cell phone or tablet.

Did you not read the first part of what I wrote? Streaming cannot happen where I live. (In a forest, in a home under 50+ feet of tree cover).
And I also explained why streaming is not possible there.
The iPhone 4 has ONE PURPOSE ONLY: to communicate with my wife. I have a brand new iPad tablet of some type that I needed for work 2 years ago for about three weeks. That's exactly how long that I used it & it has been sitting on a shelf on display in my curio cabinet since. I don't even remember the password to it. Nore do I want to be bothered with it.
My laptop can play any CD DVD or Blu Ray and the ship has more than I could ever play in a lifetime. So I just bring my 2012 Dell XPS-L502S that can play any silver disk from any region and use the ships library. And also exchange thumb drives with others on board to obtain now music (from many different countries) that I put on my SSD.
Why would I even be bothered to stream (if I could)? I have what I want & get new music (that I would never hear otherwise) with ZERO effort and expense>
I do not (and likely never will) understand this obsession with streaming and streams.
I do not own a TV (since 2007) because it is an annoying distraction.
So, if I want to listen to or watch something, it is very purposeful and has a special meaning to me.
Otherwise, it's annoying background (audio and visual) noise.

 

[antcollinet]

I think my oldest CD is Brothers in Arms. 39 years old. Probably 20% of my collection is older than 35years.

I was wrong - it is telegraph road at 42 years old.

 

[Esprit]

I do not (and likely never will) understand this obsession with streaming and streams.

Probably because where I live there is no problem with internet coverage (and no problem with cell phones too)?
Probably because I pay less than buying a CD and I just got it out?
Probably because, at least for me, outside of the house a cell phone with music and videos on it is enough?
Good evening or good afternoon (depends on the time zone).

 

[Joe Smith]

Did you not read the first part of what I wrote? Streaming cannot happen where I live. (In a forest, in a home under 50+ feet of tree cover).
And I also explained why streaming is not possible there.
The iPhone 4 has ONE PURPOSE ONLY: to communicate with my wife. I have a brand new I tablet of some type that I needed for work 2 years ago for about three weeks. That's exactly how long that I used it & it has been sitting on a shelf on display in my curio cabinet since. I don't even remember the password to it. Nore do I want to be bothered with it.
My laptop can play any CD DVD or Bluray and the ship has more than I could ever play in a lifetime. So I just bring my 2012 Dell XPS-L502S that can play any silver disk from any region and use the ships library. And also exchange thumb drives with others on board to obtain now music (from many different countries) that I put on my SSD.
Why would I even be bothered to stream (if I could)? I have what I want & get new music (that I would never hear otherwise) with ZERO effort and expense>
I do not (and likely never will) understand this obsession with streaming and streams.
I do not own a TV (since 2007) because it is an annoying distraction.
So, if I want to listen to or watch something, it is very purposeful and has a special meaning to me.
Otherwise, it's annoying background(audio and visual) noise.

You have to realize that your circumstances and locales are fairly specialized, right? Most of us do watch some TV and subscribe to various content streams for great programs, and with regard to music, also find a place for physical media as well as streaming. And enjoy the benefits of a smartphone. Everyone is different... For me, streaming is easy and inexpensive and gives me constant access to both old and new music.

 

[AnalogSteph]

In the UK, copying for any purpose is illegal, whether you keep the original or not. So you might as well get hung for a sheep as a lamb.

I'm kind of not surprised. Smells like some antiquarian legislation that has long since been overtaken by reality, whether the music industry likes it or not. This could probably do with an overhaul, but I think the UK has rather more pressing problems right now...

 

[GD Fan]

Maybe you’re referring to your collection of GD shows? I had the same problem as my collection was probably over 2000 discs. It was a truly daunting task, but I slogged through all of them. It took a few months doing a few shows per day, but I’m glad I did it. TBH, if I hadn’t done it yet, I don’t think I’d have the motivation to deal with it now.

It's a reasonable point. Of all the CDs only a small subset probably really need to be ripped. Lots of GD shows and bootlegs that will never be available otherwise, as well as small label releases that were probably lucky to see the light of day on a CD and will never be on a streaming service. For me the latter category is mostly New Orleans music sourced from Louisiana Music Factory.

Van Halen II is likely to always be available somewhere. Formats may become obsolete, but never Eddie!

 

[rank]

For every new cd sold , 10 to 20 times as many used ones sold, or more. Ebay offers new and used cds and so does Amazon as well. CD music listening activity/media is a real market segment.

I don't know any young people who own a single record, and I know a lot of them. When the immediate post-war generation disappears, this whole entertainment industry will follow it.

 

[coonmanx]

CDs are not going anywhere. You can still buy brand new ones and I often do. I have a total of 4 CD players and there are plenty of CD players available all of the time, both new and used. The entire premise of this thread is a bit ridiculous.

 

[Mart68]

I don't know any young people who own a single record, and I know a lot of them. When the immediate post-war generation disappears, this whole entertainment industry will follow it.

On Record Store Day earlier this year, at 55 I was easily the eldest in the queue.

 

[Joe Smith]

I don't know any young people who own a single record, and I know a lot of them. When the immediate post-war generation disappears, this whole entertainment industry will follow it.

I doubt this very much. People like collecting things. Most people. Many people with a passion for music will own content in one form or another along with streaming, I predict.

Whether the current vinyl/LP resurgence lasts at its present strength...that I think is questionable. The prices for new vinyl give me a little jolt every time I peruse. Only buy new vinyl very occasionally...but I'm a very cheap guy at heart. (And, I already own a big library that gives me pleasure.)

 

[rank]

Yes, we should quantify all these impressions, I lack reliable data. I have seen very limited series of new releases concerning artists selling by the millions. At the beginning of the CD, I still saw a lot of concerts filling stadiums and record stores filled. There even on a Saturday, no one at the record (or DVD/BR) checkouts.

 

[gsp1971]

I don't think any CD can last 40 years let alone 100 years.

What you think is wrong.

I have to agree with @Mean & Green here:

Sorry, I couldn't resist, I just had to find it. Here it is! My oldest CD. From 1983. 41 years old.

John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Paco De Lucía – Passion, Grace and Fire

G S P

 

[EJ3]

Probably because where I live there is no problem with internet coverage (and no problem with cell phones too)?
Probably because I pay less than buying a CD and I just got it out?
Probably because, at least for me, outside of the house a cell phone with music and videos on it is enough?
Good evening or good afternoon (depends on the time zone).

Thank you. I still find it all too time consuming for me to enjoy myself (when I for instance, visit Trieste).
I want to interact with my family during the few times I see them, without electronics & computers distracting us. (I have been home to Salzburg, Austria 9 times in my 67 years).
In 2001, I told my mother that I would be gone a couple (meaning 2) years, that I was going to the Indian Ocean.
I then lived on Islands and Atolls in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific & Oceana for 17 years before coming back. (when she was 84).
She is now 90.
My current time zone is Eastern Daylight Time (I do not like the 1 hour time jump twice a year, I did not have that during my 17 years near the equator).
I was supposed to be in Austria for the month of October but instead I've been getting many skin cancers (4 squamous cell carcinomas and a basil cell carcinoma)
removed.
Good evening or afternoon to yourself.