Date: Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The CD is 25!

It may seem like a recent phenomenon, the memories of tapes and vinyl still strong in your mind, but the first CD was actually produced 25 years ago today, and now people are asking what will be its future in the new digital age?

The first CD left the production line at a Philips German factory, who were collaborating with Sony to produce the first compact disc music medium. This development changed the music industry and the way we listen to music forever. The first track to hit the CD format was The Visitors by Abba, but the most common genre which was sold at the time was classical music as it was believed those who enjoyed this type of music were more affluent and therefore more likely to buy the dearer CDs and CD player. Nowadays any type of genre is sold in CD format, with more than 200 million CDs having been sold since their launch in November 1982. However this may be beginning to change as digital downloads have increased by 50% in the first six months of this year, whereas CD sales on the other hand have decreased by 10%. Is this the beginning of the end for CDs? Many seem to disagree as even with the advent of digital format, the CD is still the predominant medium in which music is played.

The CD first began in 1979 as a disc able to record an hour of audio, however this was soon extended to 74 minutes be able to record Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Since then CD development has gone from strength to strength and can now hold hours of data. Although experts are doubtful as to how long CDs will continue to dominate the market. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), digital sales will account for a quarter of all worldwide music sales by 2010, leaving CD format in its wake. However for the time being CDs continue to reign supreme, and are well deserving of their happy 25th birthday wishes.

Source: BBC News