Some Things To Understand About CDs

Will CDs go extinct? I suppose not. Not any time soon that is.

While the music industry is slowly realigning and reinventing itself for the internet being a new income stream anchored on virtually unlimited possibilities, bands still prefer CDs. Many still ask about CD replication - cost, contact information, copyright concerns - as opposed to a more direct profit source from digital distribution.

It may still be a fact that CDs are magnets to music collectors.

Even with the dramatic decline of CD sales over the years, owning a piece of a band's latest masterpiece may still be a treat to a significant few.

This media format could probably stay in the market for the next 10 years or so. The advantages and disadvantages are now diversified depending on which side of the fence you are standing.

If you are running an indie label, you would probably opt for digital distribution as a preliminary strategy. After which CDs can be replicated at a limited number of copies for your artist's tour. Recent surveys revealed that CD sales are faster in gigs.

On the other hand, if you are an unsigned band, online distribution is a lot cheaper. Think about it. For an investment of P 1,390 ($ 29) a year, your album can be in 4 major digital music storefronts - iTunes and Rhapsody being 2 of these front liners.

At the end of the day, it's not really the sales that matter. At the beginning of a band's career exposure is more important. The more popular a band gets, the better chance for CD sales - yet there is still no guarantee.

Because whether the CDs stay or not, be it in any format, music will always be there.

In my opinion, the best option for now is to release advanced copies of an album in digital format. From here, there is already copyright ownership and one does not have to worry about too much paperwork.

CDs are now just a second option and are decided on a case-to-case basis.