RIP? The Compact Disc 1970*-2005

MORI Findings Show Virtual Record Collections May Replace CDs Within 5 Years

A new survey by research experts MORI, has found that time is running out for the Compact Disc which was hailed not so long ago as the ultimate audio experience. Instead, the end appears to be in sight for the CD, particularly among young people, and it will soon be replaced by the infinite possibilities of 'virtual record collections' stored on portable devices. British youth are at the vanguard of the audio revolution and are leading the rest of society in planning to abandon CDs in favour of MP3, music downloads, digital audio players and portable collections.

The MORI survey was commissioned by Creative Labs as part of an in-depth look into home audio technology and the trends of tomorrow. Creative wanted to explore just how far the Brits had entered into the 'second stage' of digital music and what they thought of the technology which will change the way we listen to music forever.

Over a third of all people aged between 15 and 24 believe they will stop buying CDs within 5 years and thirty-three per cent of Internet users can envisage storing ALL their music on a pocket-size portable device within the same time frame.

The PC will potentially replace the hi-fi as the new sound machine; small portable devices will hold the music you want, which can be carried and played anywhere; never again will your music be lost, get scratched, clutter your car or gather dust in racks. Soon, finding and buying your favourite track will take a matter of seconds, and archiving, storage and retrieval will be almost instantaneous.

"The MORI findings confirms many of our views," said Duncan Jackson, director of retail Europe, Creative Labs. " Many Internet users are already downloading music as today's portable digital audio devices carry 1000's of music tracks. PC sound quality is truly challenging the traditional hi-fi as the main home music system."

"The genie is out of the bottle," said Jackson finally, "digital music is here to stay."

Research summary:

British youth will start trend in abandoning buying CDs

• 24% of all those aged between 15-64 years will stop buying CDs in 5 years
• 37% of 15-24 year olds will stop buying CDs within 5 years
• Around a third of all respondents will have virtual record collections in 5 years
• One in seven (14%) Internet users download music

* James T Russell patented the first digital-to-optical recording and playback system in 1970, the first compact disc.

For this survey, MORI interviewed 1,629 adults aged between 15 and 65 between 6 and 11 July 2000.

For further information, visit www.creativejukebox.com