Will CD’s Become A Thing Of The Past?
Cd’s look like they might end up being a thing of the past quicker than anybody thought! On Monday, September 22, 2008, SanDisk announced their new “SlotMusic” MicroSD compact memory card would be in stores before the Christmas rush and it would be backed by the following four major record labels; EMI Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group.
SlotMusicwill contain an entire album of songs in high quality MP3 format compact memory card. Best Buy and Walmart have already jumped on the bandwagon, and one record label executive is reported to have quoted the prices would range from $7-&10 US dollars.
CD sales have been slow for some time now, so the powerful record labels are targeting the millions of cell phone users as well as MP3 players with “MicroSD” slots. The SlotMusic cards will come with a USB sleeve so it can be plugged easily into any USB port in computers. It’s also interesting to note these cards will be sold without any digital rights restrictions.
The Wall Street Journalsaid, ”The releases are mostly by current pop artists including Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, New Kids on the Block, Weezer, Usher, Chris Brown, Akon and Leona Lewis. In a nod to older buyers, Elvis Presley is also represented.”
How will this affect songwriters and other musicians’ pockets? That remains to be seen, but these four record labels are trying to give record sales a shot in the arm, and it appears this can only benefit major labels’ bottom line if it takes off, and this in turn will lead to more profit for songwriters and other musicians.
Will CD’s become a thing of the past? Not likely because of this product (even though it’s possible), but eventually it will in the near future. I would imagine the marketing plan for SlotMusic is probably to wait and see what the public’s initial reaction is, then if it’s in the least bit favorable, to capitalize on it with as much aggressive marketing as possible. The bottom line is: We, the consumers, hold the key!
