He did? How so?

I listen to cd's when I drive my vehicle.

Ha! Prince is not that influential.

bluegangsta said:

joelmarable said:

bluegangsta said:

Ha! Prince is not that influential.

Guys not just prince but other artist cds r hard to come across.unless u do internet. Very few record stores around,download this,stream that,the old fashion way of obtaining music is dying,so r cds,

I think this is a bit overstated. I buy cds almost weekly or bi-weekly. It does depend on where you live. There are at least 4 record stores I go to in Atlanta. And when a new cd comes out, typically it is availabe at Best Buy, Target (more often with bonus tracks) or Barnes and Noble etc. And we can still go to Amazon and buy cds.

I think people buy into the chicken little syndrome. The sky is not falling. I love buying buying physical product and always will.

I rememeber this same talk about how vinyl was gonna be gone forever too, but even when I was in high school and college in the 90s I was was still buying wax because DJs were still using records. I have so many rare remixes from the 90s- I still play them. I used to make mixed tapes for my friends.

So, I wouldn't put too much stock in every new report about no more physical product. People are funny- look at how everybody wants a record player again.

[Edited 12/22/15 20:44pm]

SoulAlive said:

joelmarable said:

I could do tidal, download music, but not everyone can afford this privilege, i think it sucks that buying cd's is history pretty much.i wait for physical copy or no i wont make purchase, i want phase 2 but will wait it out. Shame on u prince and the music industry,

Prince and the music industry have nothing to do with the end of the CD era. We, the audience, are responsible. A great majority of people, me included, have decided that digital formats are more convenient, so sales dropped, and CD is meeting the fate cassettes, LP's and earlier formats have met (and same with video cassettes). In some time most young people will never even have owned a CD in their lifetime and won't care. There's no point in being nostalgic like that: technology and formats evolve, music remains the same.

databank said:

Prince and the music industry have nothing to do with the end of the CD era. We, the audience, are responsible. A great majority of people, me included, have decided that digital formats are more convenient, so sales dropped, and CD is meeting the fate cassettes, LP's and earlier formats have met (and same with video cassettes). In some time most young people will never even have owned a CD in their lifetime and won't care. There's no point in being nostalgic like that: technology and formats evolve, music remains the same.

It is true. Unfortunately.

databank said:

joelmarable said:

I could do tidal, download music, but not everyone can afford this privilege, i think it sucks that buying cd's is history pretty much.i wait for physical copy or no i wont make purchase, i want phase 2 but will wait it out. Shame on u prince and the music industry,

Prince and the music industry have nothing to do with the end of the CD era. We, the audience, are responsible. A great majority of people, me included, have decided that digital formats are more convenient, so sales dropped, and CD is meeting the fate cassettes, LP's and earlier formats have met (and same with video cassettes). In some time most young people will never even have owned a CD in their lifetime and won't care. There's no point in being nostalgic like that: technology and formats evolve, music remains the same.

I love CDs and vinyl. Love them. Love the credits, liner notes, artwork, record company logos, the whole 9. But I recognize that the cost of distribution for a physical release is not something that makes sense for a lot of artists with low sales not in the mainstream. I would much rather have music I like by artists I'm interested in than a format. If I was just in love with the format I could buy Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus CDs and be happy, but it's the music that's important, regardless of the format. That's why I would never refuse to buy the excellent Liv Warfield or Judith Hill albums because they weren't released in a physical format like I heard some people say. I just view physical releases as a nice collectable if they happen down the line (Liv's album was eventually sold on CD from her site, for example). Besides, the upside of Tidal is that you can wake up one morning and get surprised by a new Prince album out of the blue instead of waiting months for a label to release it. With the new Tidal download store you don't even need to be a monthly subscriber, you can just buy the music when it's released and go. There are things I miss about the way things used to be, but there are also advantages to the new ways. I would rather have the music in a digital format than have it stuck in the vault because Prince couldn't get a distribution deal to his liking.

its almost 2016 ppl... technology evolves as with life... there will always be new outlets to distribute music, but the way we listen 2 it forever stays the same... we use our ears.

I always buy a physical release where possible. It feels more real. The only time I purchase online is for Japanese albums that I wouldn't be able to get in my country. I could import those CD's too, but it's too expensive.

I think it's also kind of a way of proclaiming a love for a band or artist?? To have their CD's stacked up on your shelf.

HNR came out physically and Phase 2 is as well is it not?

joelmarable said:

I could do tidal, download music, but not everyone can afford this privilege, i think it sucks that buying cd's is history pretty much.i wait for physical copy or no i wont make purchase, i want phase 2 but will wait it out. Shame on u prince and the music industry,

I agree with your sentiment about CDs. This Tidal concept is a rip off. Who the hell wants to rent music? You should be able to buy music to keep forever - just as it has always been. I think all the technological alternatives to combat illegal downloads and bootlegging are actually forcing those of us who refuse bullshit like Tidal to actually engage in that very behavior. I am never going to give Tidal my money but I am going to get the music one way or another - and I would rather buy it outright and give Prince the money that he deserves for all his great work.

musicman said:

joelmarable said:

bluegangsta said: Guys not just prince but other artist cds r hard to come across.unless u do internet. Very few record stores around,download this,stream that,the old fashion way of obtaining music is dying,so r cds,

I think this is a bit overstated. I buy cds almost weekly or bi-weekly. It does depend on where you live. There are at least 4 record stores I go to in Atlanta. And when a new cd comes out, typically it is availabe at Best Buy, Target (more often with bonus tracks) or Barnes and Noble etc. And we can still go to Amazon and buy cds.

I think people buy into the chicken little syndrome. The sky is not falling. I love buying buying physical product and always will.

I rememeber this same talk about how vinyl was gonna be gone forever too, but even when I was in high school and college in the 90s I was was still buying wax because DJs were still using records. I have so many rare remixes from the 90s- I still play them. I used to make mixed tapes for my friends.

So, I wouldn't put too much stock in every new report about no more physical product. People are funny- look at how everybody wants a record player again.

[Edited 12/22/15 20:44pm]

Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and some FYE stores - trying to seriously shop for CDs anywhere else in a brick and mortar store. In fact, I have been in Target stores that barely have any space devoted to CDs anymore. It depends on where you are in the country. A few days ago, I actually found a Batman CD in the Prince section of my local Best Buy.

redflag said:

databank said:

Prince and the music industry have nothing to do with the end of the CD era. We, the audience, are responsible. A great majority of people, me included, have decided that digital formats are more convenient, so sales dropped, and CD is meeting the fate cassettes, LP's and earlier formats have met (and same with video cassettes). In some time most young people will never even have owned a CD in their lifetime and won't care. There's no point in being nostalgic like that: technology and formats evolve, music remains the same.

I love CDs and vinyl. Love them. Love the credits, liner notes, artwork, record company logos, the whole 9. But I recognize that the cost of distribution for a physical release is not something that makes sense for a lot of artists with low sales not in the mainstream. I would much rather have music I like by artists I'm interested in than a format. If I was just in love with the format I could buy Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus CDs and be happy, but it's the music that's important, regardless of the format. That's why I would never refuse to buy the excellent Liv Warfield or Judith Hill albums because they weren't released in a physical format like I heard some people say. I just view physical releases as a nice collectable if they happen down the line (Liv's album was eventually sold on CD from her site, for example). Besides, the upside of Tidal is that you can wake up one morning and get surprised by a new Prince album out of the blue instead of waiting months for a label to release it. With the new Tidal download store you don't even need to be a monthly subscriber, you can just buy the music when it's released and go. There are things I miss about the way things used to be, but there are also advantages to the new ways. I would rather have the music in a digital format than have it stuck in the vault because Prince couldn't get a distribution deal to his liking.

best thing i've read in a while on the subject of physical vs. digital/streaming.

I totally agree, let's just enjoy the music (however it is released)...

musicman said:

Angelsoncrack said:

I always buy a physical release where possible. It feels more real. The only time I purchase online is for Japanese albums that I wouldn't be able to get in my country. I could import those CD's too, but it's too expensive.

I think it's also kind of a way of proclaiming a love for a band or artist?? To have their CD's stacked up on your shelf.

laurarichardson said:

SoulAlive said:

laurarichardson said:

--- Cd plants are going out of business, new cars do not have players, and computers do not have disc drives (new) time for a reality check by the end of this decade cd will be gone.

Bull! In the late 80s,they said that vinyl records would be gone soon and now they are everywhere again.CDs will be around for a long time,too.

They're not "everywhere again". They're a niche market for a niche audience. Being "everywhere" would be vinyls in 1985: I don't think u can claim there ara as many vinyl releases, sales and shelves in the stores now than in 1985. Don't speak nonsense. Reality is what it is, regardless of how u feel about it. Sorry.

databank said:

KingSausage said:

I don't think CDs will come back in the same way as vinyl. And I say that as a guy who still fucking buys CDs. Why not? Because they offer very little advantage compared to a digital download or stream.

Well, no.

A CD will guarantee you to have music you like for many many years (more than your own life).

A digital backup or a stream not. And I talk by experience, in the first case.

To me this is a great difference. A fundamental difference.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Angelsoncrack said:

I always buy a physical release where possible. It feels more real. The only time I purchase online is for Japanese albums that I wouldn't be able to get in my country. I could import those CD's too, but it's too expensive.

I think it's also kind of a way of proclaiming a love for a band or artist?? To have their CD's stacked up on your shelf.

I keep clicking but the buttons NoT WERKING!

BoraBora said:

BoraBora said:

KingSausage said:

I don't think CDs will come back in the same way as vinyl. And I say that as a guy who still fucking buys CDs. Why not? Because they offer very little advantage compared to a digital download or stream.

Well, no.

A CD will guarantee you to have music you like for many many years (more than your own life).

A digital backup or a stream not. And I talk by experience, in the first case.

To me this is a great difference. A fundamental difference.

This is the worst, most bad faith argument ever and it's been overused.

People who lose their digital files in 2015 are dummies who haven't thought of a back-up. This was acceptable in 2003, but now it's like throwing your CD's on the floor, dance on them with friends all night, then say "CD's are not reliable they're too fragile".

I have 3 back-ups of my files, one on a drive at some friends and 2 at home. If I had extra money to spare I could also have a cloud but having 3 TB's of cloud space is beyond my means at the moment. Drives on the other hand are pretty cheap.

Angelsoncrack said:

I always buy a physical release where possible. It feels more real. The only time I purchase online is for Japanese albums that I wouldn't be able to get in my country. I could import those CD's too, but it's too expensive.

I think it's also kind of a way of proclaiming a love for a band or artist?? To have their CD's stacked up on your shelf.

[Edited 12/23/15 10:37am]

databank said:

SoulAlive said:

laurarichardson said: Bull! In the late 80s,they said that vinyl records would be gone soon and now they are everywhere again.CDs will be around for a long time,too.

They're not "everywhere again". They're a niche market for a niche audience. Being "everywhere" would be vinyls in 1985: I don't think u can claim there ara as many vinyl releases, sales and shelves in the stores now than in 1985. Don't speak nonsense. Reality is what it is, regardless of how u feel about it. Sorry.

The point is....vinyl is still around.It never really went away.It'll be the same situation with CDs.There are alot of people (like myself) who still prefer to have a physical copy of an album.Record companies aren't going to abandon that audience.

...

[Edited 12/23/15 11:14am]

SoulAlive said: