Next Big Sound (a/o June 18th):
Sure, maybe you trashed your CD collection years ago, but that's not the world! According to a study just shared by Norwegian on-demand specialist Aspiro Music, consumers are only just starting to ditch their CDs, in very low numbers. That is, even in the most streaming-happy locales in the world.
According to Aspiro and research group Norstat, just 1-2 percent of music fans across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark are actually trashing their discs or even giving them away.
That's a surprisingly-low figure given the surging strength of streaming services in the region. But a gray area immediately pops out, which is the substantial number of music fans deep-storing their CDs. That suggests some attachment and interest in occassionally accessing these collections, but also a solid first step towards the garbage.
But wait: what about all those CDs sitting on a shelf, right in the living room? Well, here's a surprise: people are actually listening to them. Because Aspiro also found that more than half of music listeners are actively listening (and purchasing) CDs, despite ever-growing streaming adoption rates and continued strength from downloads. And that figure is increasing.
At a top-level, CDs are getting the greatest usage from a graying population, though the generalizations end there. Perhaps the biggest shocker comes from radio, which still attracted 80 percent of listeners in Denmark last month, and more than 70 percent in Sweden and Norway. That is also paralleled in the US, where radio remains a surprisingly-entrenched and important source of daily listening and discovery.
And, it looks like there's still a tight battle between downloads and on-demand streams, with cloud-enabled downloads a wildcard in this race. Here's a question about where fans think things are going over the next few years...
The full study is here, though brush up on your Norwegian (or get ready to Google Translate) before heading in. The survey involved 1,000 participants from each country, with Norstat pegging its confidence ratio at 95 percent.
Tom Dennehy Monday, February 06, 2012
Audio CDs are install discs for music. When I started in the software business, our products were mostly delivered as "shrink-wrapped software"—a sealed box containing a CD and a manual. You used the CD to install the software, then put it in back in the box and stored the package in a closet never to be seen again (barring the need to re-install after disaster). In later years it became more common for customers to download an installer and purchase an authorization key to enable use. Today many software products have now been replaced with cloud-based software services, requiring no local installation. The parallel to music is obvious. The industry has evolved from physical media to digital downloads to cloud-based streaming. Now that dematerialized play is the norm in my house, my preferred delivery mechanism for music is a download in lossless format. If a lossless download is not available, I reluctantly purchase a CD. The CD is used exactly once, to "rip" its content to the Library, then stored away in a cabinet never to be seen again. And apparently 30% of Danes agree with me.
Visitor Monday, February 06, 2012
Well said. I treat them the same way. I keep them as my "license" to have the music, but the music is then played from the computer, through recording-studio digital-to-analog-converters, and then out to several sets of monitors as well as the hi-fi in the living room.
If I could install CD-quality (or better yet, higher quality) digital music without need of the CD, I would. However, the selection of music available in CD or higher quality formats is still quite limited (stores like HDTracks and Beatport, etc).
However, more and more, I am collecting vinyl and listening that way, at least to my favorite albums, and albums produced in the vinyl era (jazz, classic rock, early ambient).
At least physical media retain some value, as well.
- Versus
mdti Tuesday, February 07, 2012
when i bought cds regularily, the process was simple:
- take CD, rip cd as wave files, put Cd in dj folder with other cds for later use.
- artwork and booklets = goes to the dustbin imediately (recycling all this waste) .
@MonmouthStereo Monday, February 06, 2012
Time to listen to vinyl!!!
MisterSoftee Monday, February 06, 2012
Hey kids, here's one reason to keep your CD's and downloads. One day, Spotify might go bankrupt in all its debt as investors run for the hills!
Then you collection goes POOF!
David G Tuesday, February 07, 2012
If that day comes, some other company will buy the estate and keep rolling with all the development costs covered. So chances are, nothing will change much for us "kids " :)
Kirk Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Sorry, but your interpretation of this survey is as bad as the spelling in the tables (addic?).
You say:
"radio, which still accounted for more than 80 percent of listening in Denmark last month, and more than 70 percent in Sweden and Norway"
No, it didn't. 80% of people said they listened to music on the radio; they didn't say that 80% of their listening was on the radio.
paul Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Kirk,
That's right; in fact, it's what I didn't clarify the first time. The broader point for me - and the surprise - is how important radio remains in the lives of music listeners. Wasn't radio supposed to be a useless scrap of towers and lifeless receivers by 2005? Yet in 2012, I'd say a bulk of the people I bump into that are *not* in the music industry are still tuned in - at least some of the time.
Also, pardon the translations, they're taken straight from the point. Actually, the broader report is all in Norwegian, and I don't think anything was 'lost in translation' as they say.
/paul
David G Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Radio is still blaring i guess, but the problem with it is that it is so formatted to middle aged listeners that getting new material played is almost impossible. Even the Majors have trouble getting their new acts played. Thus radio is becoming less relevant for those of us working with music marketing.
Kirk Tuesday, February 07, 2012
I'd want to see the actual question that was asked about radio. If "listening to radio" includes hearing it in a store, cab, or train station, then it has little value. If, however, it means intentionally listening to the radio for a longer period of time, then it's interesting.
I listen to the radio in my car, for about 10-15 minutes at a time, a couple of times a week. (I work at home and don't have a commute.) I wouldn't call it listening to music, but rather filler.
Maxwellian Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Actually this is exactly how radio programmers expect you to listen --- seriously.
It explains repeated songs, lots of commercials and breaks.
::MW
@derique Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Grappig Noors onderzoek naar muziekconsumptie.
@KHUMradio Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Even in fancy countries, people are still listening to CDs. And radio. Like, a lot.
rf Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Does anyone find it interesting that "physical" has become the new buzzword in the industry? In this article it is tangible product (CDs, etc.) What is "physical" when a digital distribution entity discuss this ummm... phenomena?
@empire_of_dust Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Amazing research...
@ThomasBech Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Gode tal for radio, og CD'er i DK
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