Shrinking CD length

[richardfinegold]

Of course, that's what we all thought about LPs before 'vinyl' came along. Maybe we should start calling CDs 'polycarb' or claiming a recording sounds better 'on silver'. CD revenue went up a bit recently, triggering a bunch of stories about a supposed 'CD revival'. If they do die, I can't see that being a good thing for classical recordings. Streaming may be the behemoth of music listening these days, but artists get a pitiful cut of the revenue. A BBC story a couple of years ago noted that an indie artist who writes, sings and plays multiple instruments on her records failed to break even with 750,000 streams on Spotify, numbers that some specialist classical album artists can only dream of. If you're not Yuja Wang or Simon Rattle, when does it simply become not worth bothering? Physical sales may be a small proportion of record label revenue, but they can account for a significant proportion of what ends up in the pockets of artists. Are we heading for a world of endlessly recycled back catalogue streaming, with only Lang Lang and Jonas Kaufmann able to put out new stuff?

I refer you to the editorial in the audiophile magazine Sterephile in August, written by Tom Fine. His parents created and ran the Mercury Living Presence label. He notes that sales of big box Classical Music reissues have “fallen off a cliff” in the past year; new releases of CDs have dropped to a trickle; and he quotes industry insiders that give CDs about 5 more years.
I personally would like to see a comeback of the CD media similar to LPs. I believe that it will occur but on a more limited basis than the LP revival. I believe that inevitably some younger music lovers will prefer a physical medium and not have to put up with the issues that dog analog playback. However CDs and streaming bear a fundamental similarity. They are both digital and have quiet backgrounds and longer playing times than vinyl, and no changing sides, no fighting dust bunnies , no cartridge alignment issues, etc. However while many perceive these impediments as annoyances, LP lovers embrace them. I don’t see people embracing the relative inconvenience of CD relative to streaming (primarily fiddling with and storing jewel boxes) in the same fashion

[oliver sudden]

no changing sides, no fighting dust bunnies , no cartridge alignment issues, etc. However while many perceive these impediments as annoyances, LP lovers embrace them.

For me it's not so much a matter of embracing these issues as of putting up with them in the service of what for my ears is the at least potentially more involving and immediate sound offered by analogue.

The CD vs streaming matter is a little different in that either way you're playing a digital file, and with streaming or downloads you're sometimes playing a higher-resolution file than if you're playing a CD. Still, the inconveniences of physical media can mean that you're fencing your listening experience off from all the other time you spend at your computer and from all the distractions it offers, which is already something.

[Petrushka]

I refer you to the editorial in the audiophile magazine Sterephile in August, written by Tom Fine. His parents created and ran the Mercury Living Presence label. He notes that sales of big box Classical Music reissues have “fallen off a cliff” in the past year; new releases of CDs have dropped to a trickle; and he quotes industry insiders that give CDs about 5 more years.
I personally would like to see a comeback of the CD media similar to LPs. I believe that it will occur but on a more limited basis than the LP revival. I believe that inevitably some younger music lovers will prefer a physical medium and not have to put up with the issues that dog analog playback. However CDs and streaming bear a fundamental similarity. They are both digital and have quiet backgrounds and longer playing times than vinyl, and no changing sides, no fighting dust bunnies , no cartridge alignment issues, etc. However while many perceive these impediments as annoyances, LP lovers embrace them. I don’t see people embracing the relative inconvenience of CD relative to streaming (primarily fiddling with and storing jewel boxes) in the same fashion

And yet the 'big box' classical issues show no sign of abating! Boxes from Dohnanyi, Sawallisch, Tilson Thomas (one from Sony, one from DG), Colin Davis, William Christie, Puccini, Jorge Bolet, Vox Luminis, Paavo Jarvi, Boccherini and David Oistrakh are on the Presto site as very recent issues or forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

There are 364 CD issues on Presto over the next 90 days. Somebody must be buying these issues or they wouldn't make them!

The truth is that the death of the CD has been announced every second Wednesday for some years now yet it shows no sign of obliging. Those who wish its demise probably have an agenda in forcing the market to opt for other media.

My own view is that CDs, downloads and streaming will happily co-exist for years to come. There are so many CDs in existence already that there will need to be machines on which to play them for decades to come.

[Old Grumpy]

The truth is that the death of the CD has been announced every second Wednesday for some years now yet it shows no sign of obliging. Those who wish its demise probably have an agenda in forcing the market to opt for other media.

My own view is that CDs, downloads and streaming will happily co-exist for years to come. There are so many CDs in existence already that there will need to be machines on which to play them for decades to come.

Let's hope so!

[Retune]

I refer you to the editorial in the audiophile magazine Sterephile in August, written by Tom Fine. His parents created and ran the Mercury Living Presence label. He notes that sales of big box Classical Music reissues have “fallen off a cliff” in the past year; new releases of CDs have dropped to a trickle; and he quotes industry insiders that give CDs about 5 more years.
I personally would like to see a comeback of the CD media similar to LPs. I believe that it will occur but on a more limited basis than the LP revival. I believe that inevitably some younger music lovers will prefer a physical medium and not have to put up with the issues that dog analog playback. However CDs and streaming bear a fundamental similarity. They are both digital and have quiet backgrounds and longer playing times than vinyl, and no changing sides, no fighting dust bunnies , no cartridge alignment issues, etc. However while many perceive these impediments as annoyances, LP lovers embrace them. I don’t see people embracing the relative inconvenience of CD relative to streaming (primarily fiddling with and storing jewel boxes) in the same fashion

I've not yet seen new releases drastically falling on sites like Presto. The figure I had in my head from when I've looked previously was 50+ per week. In the last 30 days there have been 309, though I imagine there is some seasonal variation:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/new-and-future-releases?date_range=Last%2030%20Days&format=cd&siz%20e=40&view=large&sort=date

Predictions are hard, especially about the future. CD is in most respects an 'obsolete' format that would never be launched today, and there are very few high street shops still selling classical music on shiny silver discs. In central London there is really just one place for new releases, Foyles, while the last remaining chain, HMV, has only a tiny selection. Most physical sales are of course online, just like streaming. How can the format possibly survive? But somehow it is still viable to release an album of viole suites by Sainte-Colombe Le Fils (80 minutes), a set of oboe Sonatas by Domenico Maria Dreyer, or a selection of piano works by Juozas Gruodis (68 minutes) on CD next month. I don't recall ever hearing the names of these composers, and I can't imagine these releases are going to come anywhere near to breaking even on streaming services unless some errant algorithm decides to push them, but presumably the labels expect enough sales from CDs and downloads at least to get their money back. If CD sales stop, will this sort of release just die out? There seems to be less appetite for vinyl in the classical market, and none of these recordings are available on LP. In the popular music world, it has been claimed that cash-strapped Gen Z music fans are more enthusiastic about CD than the previous generation of vinyl-loving millenials - there is still the attraction of a physical product that links you to the artist, but cheaper than an LP is today, taking up less space, and easier to play.

[MickyD]

I'm truly astonished by the number of new releases each month from Brilliant Classics, most of them being of rare répertoire and all new recordings. The baroque and early classical era is particularly well covered, to the extent that I find it well nigh impossible keeping up with them all. Somebody must be buying them!

[Serial_Apologist]

For me it's not so much a matter of embracing these issues as of putting up with them in the service of what for my ears is the at least potentially more involving and immediate sound offered by analogue.

The CD vs streaming matter is a little different in that either way you're playing a digital file, and with streaming or downloads you're sometimes playing a higher-resolution file than if you're playing a CD. Still, the inconveniences of physical media can mean that you're fencing your listening experience off from all the other time you spend at your computer and from all the distractions it offers, which is already something.

I for one would hate to revert to the stage at which I was just a solitary young individual somehow in the process of discovering quality music for myself, in isolation, before finding there were music communities devoted to e.g. classical modernism or jazz providing social togetherness. Visiting friends won't want to come in this little box room and have to sit beside me half-looking at my desktop screen while I play them my latest musical discovery, when I have a museum full of vinyl, cassettes and CDs up to the point at which failing capitalism dictated it became old hat to listen in comfort..

[mikealdren]

And yet the 'big box' classical issues show no sign of abating! Boxes from Dohnanyi, Sawallisch, Tilson Thomas (one from Sony, one from DG), Colin Davis, William Christie, Puccini, Jorge Bolet, Vox Luminis, Paavo Jarvi, Boccherini and David Oistrakh are on the Presto site as very recent issues or forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

As an Oistrakh lover, the Warner remastered Edition looks attractive as it will hopefully contain tracks that EMI didn't put in their last Oistrakh box. However it's following the 'Original Covers' trend so I expect the 61 CDs will have short playing times.
Some previous EMI CD sound wasn't good so it will be good to see what they have done. Decca did a great job on Campoli's 78s but left the majority of the CDs in the Eloquence mastering which wasn't the best.

[Petrushka]

However it's following the 'Original Covers' trend so I expect the 61 CDs will have short playing times.

I don't usually mind this and am not too bothered about the short CD length in some of these boxes. However, I was incredibly disappointed that the Warner Klemperer box split the Bruckner 7 over two CDs in order to accommodate the Wagner Siegfried Idyll on the second disc as per the original LP coupling. The Wagner could easily have been included on one of the other Wagner discs leaving the Bruckner on one disc.

I cannot understand what Warner were thinking here.

On the opposite side to short length on CDs, it's been wonderful to have Wagner's Ring available complete on 1 Blu-ray disc without any need for side changes. So far, I've got Karajan, Solti and Bohm in this format and only wish that the 1955 Keiberth could be issued this way.

[LMcD]

My own view is that CDs, downloads and streaming will happily co-exist for years to come. There are so many CDs in existence already that there will need to be machines on which to play them for decades to come.

I share that view!
I also dip from time to time into my extensive collection of taped 'pop', jazz and classical music. A number of local charity shops stock audio cassettes and vinyl as well as CDs and DVDs.

[richardfinegold]

Well, if a big box reissue happens and I am moderately interested, I feel some urgency, knowing it won’t be around long.
There is a lot of talk about people using their computers here for streaming services. I strongly recommend a dedicated streamer. Much better sound, features such as AirPlay and Chromecast, and no annoying computer related distractions. They also look like proper audio components and have become very inexpensive.

[cloughie]

And yet the 'big box' classical issues show no sign of abating! Boxes from Dohnanyi, Sawallisch, Tilson Thomas (one from Sony, one from DG), Colin Davis, William Christie, Puccini, Jorge Bolet, Vox Luminis, Paavo Jarvi, Boccherini and David Oistrakh are on the Presto site as very recent issues or forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

There are 364 CD issues on Presto over the next 90 days. Somebody must be buying these issues or they wouldn't make them!

The truth is that the death of the CD has been announced every second Wednesday for some years now yet it shows no sign of obliging. Those who wish its demise probably have an agenda in forcing the market to opt for other media.

My own view is that CDs, downloads and streaming will happily co-exist for years to come. There are so many CDs in existence already that there will need to be machines on which to play them for decades to come.

I doubt I’ll buy any more big boxes on two grounds - one being that I doubt I’d have the time to listen to them, the other is I doubt that any would be purchased without adding to the pile of duplicates. The cost per cd of big boxes has increased significantly in recent years whilst my storage space has decreased.My music listening stock is probably adequate leaving space for only very selective additions ( and tempting charity shop buys!)

[Petrushka]

I doubt I’ll buy any more big boxes on two grounds - one being that I doubt I’d have the time to listen to them, the other is I doubt that any would be purchased without adding to the pile of duplicates. The cost per cd of big boxes has increased significantly in recent years whilst my storage space has decreased.My music listening stock is probably adequate leaving space for only very selective additions ( and tempting charity shop buys!)

I'm tempted by the Dohnanyi/Cleveland box and the Sawallisch opera box. It just so happens that I have very little duplication of these (none of the latter). The Colin Davis/Concertgebouw box from Eloquence also strongly tempts me but there is some duplication in that one. On the other hand, it includes his Haydn 86 which has strangely never been issued on CD.

[LMcD]

I doubt I’ll buy any more big boxes on two grounds - one being that I doubt I’d have the time to listen to them, the other is I doubt that any would be purchased without adding to the pile of duplicates. The cost per cd of big boxes has increased significantly in recent years whilst my storage space has decreased.My music listening stock is probably adequate leaving space for only very selective additions ( and tempting charity shop buys!)

Same here!

.

[CallMePaul]

Buyers of popular music (pop, rock, folk, country etc) have generally bought CDs with a playing time of 40-45 minutes long before the so-called "vinyl revival", and this has been the norm in these genres, with the exception of compilation CDs. Only in classical music does the 80+ minutes available in the CD format appear to be used on a regular basis.