Mommy- what's a "CD"?
May 03 2009

When was the last time you went into a CD store? When is the last time
you saw a CD store? When was the last time you bought a CD?

Your answer to all 3 questions will depend on your age. Over 40:
"Yeah... not so long ago." Under 40: "Huh?"

The Pianobbabler has 6 recordings to his name. He has released all of
them in CD format. (You do have those CDs, don't you? Check out the
music link on this site..) They are also all available as downloads
on iTunes and the like.

Now the Pianobabbler is ready for number 7. But the tectonic plates have
shifted. The ground has opened up and seems about to swallow up CDs.
People under 25 don't buy them any more. People over 40 do, but find
fewer and fewer retail outlets. The big ones have closed. HMV is a video
game store. And the electronic stores and Starbucks only sell limited,
big release titles.

If you want the lesser known, up-and-coming, unhyped but gifted, small
budget musician, you either have to go online, or find one of those
passionate boutique stores like Atelier Grigorian in Toronto,
Music in Sebringville, or Madrigal in Halifax.

What's a pianist to do? Do I go ahead and spend the thou$and$ to press
CDs? Or do I just make my new recording available online?

I know there are plenty of examples of musicians who have thrived by
going online exclusively. And I know there are many models for
monetizing an online only strategy.

I know as well that CDs do have two useful functions: (1) as a calling
card, to give people one meets instant and tangible access
to the music; (2) as merchandise to sell at shows, where people rush to
buy a keepsake of the music's magic (that's not always the
reality, but hey, I can dream, can't I? Artistic licence..)

The issue for me is this: do I abandon CDs now, and so join the leading
guard of music's future? Or do I stay with CDs to avoid being a
transient trend sniffer, sacrificing a valuable medium in the name of
naively perceived coolness?

For the moment, the Pianobabbler is leaning towards making number 7 a
CD. But who knows? Maybe the tectonic shift will tomorrow bring down the
whole CD edifice, leaving only the Internet. The decision will be made for me.

The end of CDs won't be the end of the seismic activity in the arts. Just wait until our little inquisitor asks: "Daddy, what's a DVD? Were you alive when
Blockbuster stores died?"

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