Intrada... and the Fall of the CD

Azella · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:13 am

I wanted to get some heavy thoughts on a subject that seems to be everywhere these days, and while I understand only speculation can be shared at the moment, I'm curious to know how Intrada really (and currently) feels about this ill-fated trend that no doubt threatens their existence. I must admit that the truth is abroad, it is real, and something I can no longer ignore even though I try so desperately to turn my face at every new article or statistic I stumble upon. It is causing an earthquake in our little community and I really despise the consequences we are having to observe; Lukas is already closing his door, Varese seems to be supplying places like iTunes with their back catalog to no doubt recoup from financial loss or just a desire to continue their revelance, and prices of the secondary market are shrinking, and physical collectors are changing their minds rapidly - their moral cores hollowed and replaced with a currency forged by convenience.

I, myself, cherish the CDs on my shelf - they work for me, and damnit, they are superior to what the masses are currently prescribing. I just cannot imagine a place like Intrada seizing to ever exist, leaving music like Explorers, Alien, Great Escape, or Red Dawn as a mere 256-Kbps file, not a single picture or word of Goldsmith ever attached to his livelihood again. But it would be foolish to push the subject aside and not confront what could very well be a reality - much sooner than even expected.

I've been reading on how CDs could be completely off shelves by 2016, and of course if that happens, there's always room for a niche of sorts, but that niche cannot survive without the lungs it needs to breathe (the pressing plants); I know they are already hurting. And I'm no expert, but it's definitely looking bad in terms of keeping this great enterprise going for the long haul. I'm certain these are the type of discussions shared a lot at an Intrada round-table these days, but then again, perhaps not. I just don't want certain things to change, but it's not looking good for little ol' me and my nostalgic grunts. Anyway, I look forward to hearing any and all thoughts from everyone here at Intrada's forums.

Azella · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:19 am

Nevermind, I see this has recently been discussed on a seperate thread - sorry. Just consider this my reply to that one.

Anakin McFly · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2011 2:28 am

Don't panic. We said CD is gonna replace LP and LP is still alive today.
TV is gonna replace cinemas.
Blu-Ray is gonna replace DVD.
Cars are gonna replace trains.
Machines are gonna replace men.

No they all can live together. We are given more choices, that's all. :wink:

tharpdevenport · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:40 am

Yeah, somebody is still pressing LP's.

I imagine plants will fold and be bought out, etc., and many niche pressings will be done at only a handful of plants. We may end up having to pay more per CD as I'm sure the plants will up the prices, though.

I think the real problem, however, will be the studios, NOT the plants. It will be studios who see easier profit from no physical medium to package and ship, and there being no alternative, people either download and go wiothout, and they will try to discontinue CD's and giving rights for CD's.

T. Newman Fan · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2011 7:56 am

tharpdevenport · **Posted:** Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:25 am

1. Downloads have no resale value. You can point to whatever site you want where folks are trying to resale their downloads -- not gonna happen.

2. No resale value = no quick cash when you are in dire straits.

3. You can't have an MP3 signed. And if you're happy enough with a printed paper cover made by somebody, then you don't need signed booklets -- you can just make something yourself.

4. Exactly what residules to the composers do downloads give? I'm not aware.

5. If your drive fails, you loose large chunks of music.

6. Downloads are only cheap right now; when the CD market has been cornered out as the main system for aquiring music, you don't think they'll jack up prices?

7. As pointed out on FSM (I forget whom), the AFM will want more money for lossless downloads, which will bring up prices.

8. A number of ISP providers have bandwidth caps (others are looking into it); right now they are set high to where few people ever reach them, but if you consider watching and downloading movies each month, and all the CD's you buy in one month all instead downloaded in lossless quality online -- suddenly, you're gonna reach that, and your internet gets cut and you have to pay for more bandwidth for the rest of the month -- probably cost you far more than a physical CD.

9. Some poor hampster is going to lose their job packaging and shipping CD's, and getting Roger coffee (or girly tea; unless it's tea, Early Grey, hot -- then it's manly).

10. Downloads aren't avaiable in every country, so not every consumer can get the download they want. There are multiplle studios, the AMF, different country laws -- too much to ever cut through for some universal way for everybody to get it (plus, some sites are blocked in other less free countries overseas). You'd have a better chance of playing Pick-Up Sticks with your buttcheeks.

11. Nothing beats holding an actual quality printed out booklet and reading it. Same goes, by the way, for books -- count me out on Kindle's.

12. If a service gets hacked and infected with malware before they realize it, countless millions could be infected with potential machine-ending viruses.

13. CD's are shiny and pretty.

14. An EMP can erase your drive's. Which will suck if you survive.

15. If a studio only has to put the music online, is there really any reason to bring a studio in and master stuff, particularly new scores on better tape (or even digital recording medium) and make notes, name cues, finding missing music, disocver new stuff, etc.? No, just slap it online as "Track 1" and sell it as a download. No need to go through all that paper work and lawyers to get a deal to liscense out, and letting people into your vaults.

16. And the horse MP3's rode in on!

Douglass Fake · **Joined:** Sat Nov 19, 2005 3:48 pm **Posts:** 2773

Azella · **Posted:** Fri Dec 02, 2011 5:38 pm

STEVENJ · **Posted:** Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:58 pm

I'm delighted to see Doug''s reply.

digitalscreams · **Joined:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:42 am **Posts:** 51

You'll be buying new CD's in 50 years time.

Cloud gaming, digital music downloads etc will become a reality within the next 5-10 years....however....millions of people will always want something tangible/physical to show for their hard earned cash. Im 32...and have got no intentions of going down the 100% digital download/streaming route. I can't think of anything worse or ephemeral.

Like Doug says....CD players are found everywhere. EVERYWHERE. You don't need to worry about this issue in your lifetime.

Jago

T. Newman Fan · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:00 pm

Who knows, 50 years from now 3D printers could become ubiquitous and you might be able to purchase the downloadable data necessary to print your own physical disc and packaging designed by whatever music labels will exist.

tharpdevenport · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:17 pm

This reminded me: I recall not too long ago a news article on an auto maker that was phasing out CD players in their upcoming models, since youth were using iPods and such, that don't require a physical CD.

I'm betting that in an effort to cut out CD's, which cost mroe to make, and they aren't selling like theyr used to, manufacturers will be under pressure to phase out CD players, and even one day (hopefully far in the future) CD-R/CD-ROM drives for computers.

digitalscreams · **Joined:** Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:42 am **Posts:** 51

Some good points being raised here...

I think one thing is for sure....CD's and CD players will one day be considered retro. Im not sure when that will happen...but it will happen.

The irony is that as technology 'advances' I seem to be regressing. Turntables, vinyl, valve amps, analog gear used for music production etc. I used to be all digital...

T.Newman Fan....I've been meaning to ask. Does your name refer to the chap involved on The Lost Boys soundtrack?

Cheers, Jago

T. Newman Fan · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:08 pm

GloryConan · **Joined:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 3:41 pm **Posts:** 163

CD players are everywhere. That is true. But it is also true that sales are dropping fast. Nowadays a stereo needs an ipod port. My Car has a slot for 6 CDs, I do not use it anymore. I have my iPod installed, with 11 days of nonstop music. My new regular music I buy via iTunes. But I do not collect regular music. With soundtracks it is different. I only buy CDs (sometimes even a vinyl).

But collecting soundtracks is in itself a small world. The mega topseller from FSM is Star Trek II with less than 10'000 units sold? Other Scores sell maybe a 1000 to 3000 units. Many more even less. WORLDWIDE! That is where the Specialty labels come in and I hope they can survive. INTRADA is THE best in the business. They were better than Varese when they started (RED DAWN on Vinyl was my first) but I still treasure all my Varese CDs/Vinyl. INTRADA has a great logo, they almost always use great artworks. The sound quality, the liner notes etc. First rate, great taste and style. LLLR is also doing a good job. Contentwise so "was" FSM (some of their lables and artworks look cheap though). A matter of taste I know, but still...

INTRADA keep up the good work! I sometimes even buy a Score (I am maybe not familiar with) just because of the great look of the artwork (mostly the content does not disappoint as well ;-)

Cheers
Phil

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Intrada... and the Fall of the CD

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