BIS sold to Apple Music

[Dave2002]

Oh, and when it comes to the availability of 'Hi-Fi' CD deck, Richer Sounds have one or two for sale: https://www.richersounds.com/catalog...y/view/id/1745

And at a much higher price there are SACD units too - https://www.richersounds.com/marantz-sacd30-black.html

[Bryn]

And at a much higher price there are SACD units too - https://www.richersounds.com/marantz-sacd30-black.html

I am so relieved that I got an Oppo Blu-ray/DVD-A/SACD/CD deck shorty before they withdrew from the optical-disc-player market to concentrate on mobile phones (a good condition used example of which I recently upgraded to, though not their latest model with Hasselblad optics but an earlier flagship model from the same range).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If “hardly anyone” buys CDs nowadays, it surprising that they’re still being manufactured in significant numbers. I continue to buy them regularly. I want to be the one in control - not some third party who may or may not stream a given recording at a particular time. And when I’m hard up, I won’t have to cancel my subscription, but will still have access to my considerable stock of CDs.

[Bryn]

If “hardly anyone” buys CDs nowadays, it surprising that they’re still being manufactured in significant numbers. I continue to buy them regularly. I want to be the one in control - not some third party who may or may not stream a given recording at a particular time. And when I’m hard up, I won’t have to cancel my subscription, but will still have access to my considerable stock of CDs.

While this bell curve related to the USA, I doubt the situation in this country is that different:

[teamsaint]

While this bell curve related to the USA, I doubt the situation in this country is that different:

That is a very significant graph. But as mentioned elsewhere, it very likely underestimates current volume( non Neilsen-registered sales, ) and also the relatively high value of the residual sales to artists and record companies, who will almost certainly continue to decide formats, in the main, on a case by case basis.
And the graph also tells us that it is more than 20 years since the decline set in, yet here we are with huge numbers of recordings getting a physical release.

[RichardB]

If “hardly anyone” buys CDs nowadays, it surprising that they’re still being manufactured in significant numbers. I continue to buy them regularly. I want to be the one in control - not some third party who may or may not stream a given recording at a particular time. And when I’m hard up, I won’t have to cancel my subscription, but will still have access to my considerable stock of CDs.

And your downloads of course, if applicable, which are subject neither to the vagaries of streaming or to the declining availability of CDs and associated hardware.

[gurnemanz]

On that graph there's a slightly surprising small upward kink right on the end which might be an aberration, but if not a revival, could be at least be a stabilising of the decline. Possibly, some LP buyers are going back to CD.

It occurs to me that one factor in the decline of new CD sales must be the copious availability of second-hand discs, as many people give them up.

Also, quite a few of the oldies that still buy them are likely to stay alive for a while yet and have enough spare income to finance their enthusiasm.

[FRJames]

The BIS online store is now back, although under a new banner - eclassical:

https://bis.eclassical.com/

[pastoralguy]

The lack of CD players in new cars is a real pain. I used to get through a lot of listening with my previous car and its 6 CD player. Now I have loads of CDs, but I can't play them in our cars without a lot of faff converting them to other formats. As for DAB/FM - sorry BBC, coverage in fhe frozen wilds of the far north is erratic - still pretty useless on some routes for mobile reception, even though I noticed tha the car "radio" does switch between DAB and FM.

So much for coverage over "most" of the UK!

Yes, that’s an issue for me too. We bought a new Vauxhall Corsa in 2019 and I was disappointed to see it doesn’t have a cd player. I bought a Bluetooth cd player hoping I could run it through the Bluetooth function but despite having a couple of clued up techie friends attempt to connect it there was no joy. Our previous car was a Nissan with a 6 cd player and it was never off. We often visited the Lake District and no day out was complete without a bag of CDs from the various charity shops! Mrs. PG played disc jockey!

[richardfinegold]

The BIS online store is now back, although under a new banner - eclassical:

https://bis.eclassical.com/

Wasn’t eclassical always BIS download distributor?

[pastoralguy]

If “hardly anyone” buys CDs nowadays, it surprising that they’re still being manufactured in significant numbers. I continue to buy them regularly. I want to be the one in control - not some third party who may or may not stream a given recording at a particular time. And when I’m hard up, I won’t have to cancel my subscription, but will still have access to my considerable stock of CDs.

Exactly!

[Bryn]

If “hardly anyone” buys CDs nowadays, it surprising that they’re still being manufactured in significant numbers. I continue to buy them regularly. I want to be the one in control - not some third party who may or may not stream a given recording at a particular time. And when I’m hard up, I won’t have to cancel my subscription, but will still have access to my considerable stock of CDs.

The very significant fall in CD sales (admittedly in the USA) is clearly shown here:



Downloads can be burned to CD-R or saved to a range of magnetic, silicon and/or optical media. There is no need to go without the recordings, just because commercially stamped CDs are in the last stages of their product cycle.

[Bryn]

I have to agree here - I fear that BIS will become a download/ streaming label and will cease CD issues. I hope I'm wrong!

With the exception of the occasional SACD, the surround content of which is unavailable as a sensibly priced download, BIS recordings became, for me, a download preference via eClassical or QOBUZ a couple of years ago.

[pastoralguy]

I’m always a bit suspicious of these graphs since classical cds are usually manufactured in quantities that the pop sector would laugh at. I remember reading that a new Robbie Williams album sold more copies in two hours than the legendary Elgar recording from Janet Baker/Jacqueline du Pre had in 40 odd years!

A lot of my younger work colleagues consume their music through little ear buds where sound quality is not the main criteria whereas we classical buffs like to ear every single note.

[Bryn]

I’m always a bit suspicious of these graphs since classical cds are usually manufactured in quantities that the pop sector would laugh at. I remember reading that a new Robbie Williams album sold more copies in two hours than the legendary Elgar recording from Janet Baker/Jacqueline du Pre had in 40 odd years!

A lot of my younger work colleagues consume their music through little ear buds where sound quality is not the main criteria whereas we classical buffs like to ear every single note.

This, from 4 years ago, might lend some support to your viewpoint but 4 years is a fairly long time in the later stages of the product cycle of CDs as the dominant music carrier, even for the sort of music favoured by those posting here. Hi-Res downloads and streaming also leave CDs somewhat behind when it comes to superior audio quality.