Sony closes CD factory in NJ; beginning of the end?

[Selta]

Ok, so I had to put the twist in the topic just to get creative juices flowing.
Apparently Sony has closed a CD factory in NJ, at the expense of 300 jobs.
http://consumerist.com/2011/01/sony-...lose-jobs.html

Neat that the facility up until now was running for over 50 years, making vinyl, CDs and DVDs at least.

The article cites downloading as part of the reason for the closure. I'm curious if this is going to be a trend where we'll soon (relatively speaking) see the end of CDs in general? Will they eventually become the next LP where they'll be "in" again at some point?

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Ok, so I had to put the twist in the topic just to get creative juices flowing.
Apparently Sony has closed a CD factory in NJ, at the expense of 300 jobs.
http://consumerist.com/2011/01/sony-...lose-jobs.html

Neat that the facility up until now was running for over 50 years, making vinyl, CDs and DVDs at least.

The article cites downloading as part of the reason for the closure. I'm curious if this is going to be a trend where we'll soon (relatively speaking) see the end of CDs in general? Will they eventually become the next LP where they'll be "in" again at some point?

i think so.....cd's have become the new vinyl....downloading seems the big thing with the kids and sound quality is not a consideration on an i pod.....besides i'm not sure anyone but old audiofarts actually listen to music as an activity unto itself anymore.....it has become wallpaper for other activities....even on here a good percentage seem to prefer spectacle over actual music....

if you check amazon regularly you may notice that a lot of titles are disappearing into the out of print void,

[Relic]

Jim's right. I totally agree with that. Plus an outside factor that may have contributed in this case at least - the cost of doing business in NJ has become absolutely insane so a business closing up shop in our glorious state may have just as much to do with the "state of the state" as it does with the state of CD's

[Selta]

Interesting. Do the common for-sell-by-download sites (amazon, itunes etc.) offer lossless formats? If not, you think that would be a leg up for CDs? I mostly deal in CDs still (used, to boot), so I really don't know.

[Yerf Dog]

I still prefer to have the physical media.

[hover]

Imma start recording my work straight to blank 8-track cassette. And make sure all the epic parts click over to the next track mid-way...just like the old days.

That'll learn 'em.

And I agree with the sentiment that the mass music buying (stealing) populace doesn't really like music for music's sake, or "producers" wouldn't be the up and now "artists / stars" (suck it, Timbaland and the like). They just care about the next thing to bump in their whip.

I still enjoy listenning to music as an activity... Must be a dying breed.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by hover

I still enjoy listenning to music as an activity... Must be a dying breed.

Me too, but I also spin vinyl a lot.

Edit: It's kinda funny you mention cassette too, as that is making an underground type comeback recently. My partner put out her last album on cassette as well as CD and digital download.

[Jonyak]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Me too, but I also spin vinyl a lot.

I haven't bought a cd in years.

I have spent alot on vinyl though.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by Jonyak

I haven't bought a cd in years.

I have spent alot on vinyl though.

Join us:
Vinyl spinners club

[hover]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Me too, but I also spin vinyl a lot.

I do as well, I think I have a number...

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Interesting. Do the common for-sell-by-download sites (amazon, itunes etc.) offer lossless formats? If not, you think that would be a leg up for CDs? I mostly deal in CDs still (used, to boot), so I really don't know.

No, but to the average consumer, it's not an issue. If you just want to listen to the latest American Idol winner on your car stereo or through cheap earbuds, a lossy-compressed file is good enough.

To the OP: Is this the beginning of the end? I think it's more like the middle of the end; CD sales have been in steady decline for a long time now. There are many contributing factors, including downloading (legal and otherwise) and the ability to burn your own CDs at home. The bottom line, to me, is that digitally recorded music is just information, and there isn't much reason to manufacture physical media any more.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

No, but to the average consumer, it's not an issue. If you just want to listen to the latest American Idol winner on your car stereo or through cheap earbuds, a lossy-compressed file is good enough.

Right, but here's my thinking.
Let's enter a hypothetical situation where CDs no longer are made. As far as I know, that takes out all physical means of acquiring music. At least easily.
So then we're forced to download music. I really don't want to pay for a junk rip of a song. Garbage in is garbage out, and my $3000 worth of stereo equipment well, will be useless. So what are my options then?

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Right, but here's my thinking.
Let's enter a hypothetical situation where CDs no longer are made. As far as I know, that takes out all physical means of acquiring music. At least easily.
So then we're forced to download music. I really don't want to pay for a junk rip of a song. Garbage in is garbage out, and my $3000 worth of stereo equipment well, will be useless. So what are my options then?

I agree, but I don't know if there are enough of "us" to support a market for high quality music downloads. Maybe there will be a niche site ...

/starts formulating business plan

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by Jim Nazium

I agree, but I don't know if there are enough of "us" to support a market for high quality music downloads. Maybe there will be a niche site ...

/starts formulating business plan

I also agree. Paying $0.99 per song of lesser quality than a CD irks me to no end.

But, Sony is certainly not discontinuing the production of CDs:

"Sony said it plans to shift CD-making operations to a facility in Indiana. The company moved DVD manufacturing from the plant about a year ago."

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20...#ixzz1B1vgY1Xp

[hover]

which goes back to my comment about the state of music production. It's a slippery slope. The decline in sales as a whole have led to the closing of some pretty incredible, legendary studios too...as well as the decline of labels, etc...and I'm sure alot of people will be like "well, good", and I can understand that angle, as the popular stuff on the radiowaves is crap at best, but the trickle down effect will most hurt the underground and starving artists who strive to create top-notch music. Where there's a will, there's a way I know, and more and more are getting pasable to fantastic results with DiY ethic/ self producing, BUT, part of me really loves loves LOVES top-dollar, immaculately produced headphone candy.

Those days are numbered 'cept for the purists who will pay premium dollar for premium produced music. That's the future. You want incredible sounding music? You're gonna pay.

[iamlowsound]

I highly doubt that physical media will ever completely go away, there will always be enough of a demand to warrant some manufacturing of it. Although the cost will go way up and it will be harder to find.

lowsound

[MJ5150]

The MP3's you get from WalMart are 256 bit rate instead of 192. That is really good quality, right?

-Mike

[MonetBass]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

The MP3's you get from WalMart are 256 bit rate instead of 192. That is really good quality, right?

-Mike

Compared to the CD bit rate of 1,411.2, not exceptionally.

[TJ55]

Originally Posted by MonetBass

Compared to the CD bit rate of 1,411.2, not exceptionally.

What about FLAC files DLd and run through a program to WAV? Serious question...

[Linas]

I honestly think that with the availability of cheaper disc storage that the mp3 will one day go the way of the dinosaur for a lossless audio format, as people will be able to afford to have large files on their media players. ehhh, who am i kidding.