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Vinyl's lovely, but it's hardly the major format available in your average high street record store. Despite the increase in downloading popularity, the compact disc continues to rule the format roost. But for how long?
A recently published survey, commissioned by mobile network 3, has revealed that sixty per cent of those polled aged 24 or under think that the CD will die off within the next five years. This rejection of physical formats will lead to store closures, too, and a change in customer demographics in surviving outlets, with thirty-something consumers only using traditional record shops while the youth fill their iPods.
The survey also revealed that eighty-five per cent of under 24s think downloading will cut pollution, as no packaging needs to be manufactured to house the records in question and transportation of stock isn't a problem. Plus, the immediate nature of downloads is a massive factor of appeal: why pop to the shop, on a bus or train, when you can sit at home in your pants and still buy the latest Keane record?
So, are we staring the decline of yet another format in the face, or are the opinions of a few under 24s unlikely to impact upon the buying habits of the age range en masse? Do you see downloads becoming the dominant format for albums and singles? Or are you too attached to your physical records to ever consider replacing your collection with digital tracks housed on a computer, or portable device?
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