Physical Formats

[renegadefm]

Without going too far back in the dark ages, wax, 8 track, etc. 

I'd like to focus this topic on the relatively modern formats for music such as Vinyl Cassette , CD, Mini Disc. 

 

But here comes the question. Out of all the formats in our generation and in terms of physical formats, nothing has really superseded CD's.

So we have USB, or memory cards which can play music in the newer cars, and vehicles, or indeed USB boomboxes etc, even soundbars. 

But USB never took off commercially, by that I mean artists never as far as I know have ever sold their album's on a USB stick, when you think in terms of portability USB's would be perfect to buy new albums on, and could be fairly priced.

 

Ok streaming has killed any chance of the physical format to be king again, but something tells me streaming won't be the leader in music forever.

 

In some cases consumers have actually ditched their Spotify accounts for a more wholesome relationship between the artist and the music, and ditched Netflix for Bluray. 

 

We have to remember not all areas in the UK and other countries have great Internet speeds, certainly not good enough to stream a movie, so there is still a place for the physical format. 

 

Its hard to believe are CD'S really the last physical format of our time?

 

Some would argue vinyls actually last longer, as in time CD'S naturally deteriorate, I have a few already that has done that, and they are now unplayable. But I have vinyls that are over 50 years old and still play.  Which would argue vinyl is still the most robust if looked after correctly. 

 

When I first discovered USB's I actually thought this is going to be the next format we see artists releasing their album's on, but the internet had other ideas and streaming took over.

 

So is that it? Is streaming really the future, or will something attractive and portable actually reign again one day? 

[Buenchico]

Frank Zappa, anyone?
https://www.zappa.com/halloween-77-box-set-celebrates-historic-concert-runs-40th-anniversary-october-20/#/

[renegadefm]

Buenchico, 

Thats really interesting, never seen that one before either. 

So it seems there is a market for this sort of thing, just a shame its not commonly used. 

[renegadefm]

I just found this:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Beatles-Near-Mint-Apple-USB-Stereo-Box-2009-Digital-Remaster-Never-Used-/335006003591?var=0&;mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749367&toolid=20006&_ul=GB&customid=GB_1_335006003591.142236253425~2063243872312-g_Cj0KCQjwjY64BhCaARIsAIfc7Ya4cQME1jH38YpUvMwYHf5Z5mxij0SDBwCU4rehDUU7IfgZHkxHfx8aArlOEALw_wcB&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjY64BhCaARIsAIfc7Ya4cQME1jH38YpUvMwYHf5Z5mxij0SDBwCU4rehDUU7IfgZHkxHfx8aArlOEALw_wcB

[barry1010]

That's interesting, Zappa's was released in 2017, and the Beatles 2009.  It didn't catch on as a format.

[renegadefm]

barry1010, 

It is interesting and puzzling at the same time why usb sticks didn't catch on. Or were they aimed at a specific market like the box sets?

I did some googling last night and found that a few artists released their singles on a usb, Usher released one. Quite bizarre really as a usb is wasted on one song, unless they added a few unreleased tracks to make it a viable sale.

 

So it looks like record companies were trying to push for this but it didn't catch on. 

Whether it was down to not being priced fairly, or consumers thought well whats the point, I may aswell buy a blank one and download the music plus more besides to fill up the usb. I simply don't know. 

I suppose if we weigh things up, by the time you purchase lets say a 32gb usb which is probably £10 and then download an album which could be another £10, I think most tracks are 99 pence each, average album has 14 tracks these days.  Your looking at £20. But if you could buy the latest album of Taylor Swift on a usb, I know I certainly would if the price was around £14 because realistically you've saved £6.

Plus you don't have to worry about subcribing to a streaming service, and a usb is very portable. 

 

[barry1010]

You could get 400 albums on that USB

[tindrum]

In 2012 Big Country released every concert on their tour on usb's which were available at the end of every show 

[jaydj]

I have been a DJ for 34 years now..... I started off with Vinyls and still love and have some but dont use on the road because of the weight of carrying them around (Still love the sound of them even if they crackle n pop) 

I still love and use CDs on the road and love the quality

I do now use some USB MP3s on the road for easy of use but I still use CDs more (about 70% CD use) because I think Cds sound better because Mp3s compress the sound too much......

[renegadefm]

barry1010, 

Sorry yeah I get that, but I was trying to say even if they released albums on a usb and make it a fair price it would have superseded cds. 

Well I think so anyway, its more value than downloading.