CD prices in 2021

[upsidedown]

Figured this was the best place for this.

Love to get a discussion going on the state of CD/media prices in 2021.

I was blown away while in Barnes & Noble yesterday at the price of new CDs - Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR was $17.99. For a CD. As was Maroon 5's latest - $17.99.

Linkin Park's One More Light? $18.99.

It has always confounded me how these retailers, maybe aside from Walmart, have always been so out of touch with the pricing of media like this? Barnes and Noble has always been an offender of this, I remember back in the heyday of CDs that they were still trying to get you for nearly $20.

The odd thing? They have a considerable stock of $4.99 CDs that weren't a terrible selection, like Kelly Clarkson's Stronger, NYSYNC's Greatest Hits, etc. Britney's The Singles Collection was $7.00. So they *know* how to discount some stuff.

Is it just pure laziness? No strategy? It's almost like it's just a 50/50 chance of getting a good price or not, purely just guessing. One "gold" CD could be a great price, another, a terrible one.

But it feels like that was one of the downfalls of the CD in general - among other things, sure, but the pricing has never seemed to be strategic from the beginning to the last 20 years.

You had some retailers like Walmart realize this, and start pricing CDs at a more feasible rate ($8-11-ish), while others, like B&N, or Sam Goody, or FYE, still charging $15-20 for a brand new one. I realize that some retailers can't afford to sell as low as a Walmart or Target, but still. You might make a small profit on some cheaper CDs, versus selling absolutely nothing when its $18 a CD.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I wonder if it might be because people who are still buying new music on CDs these days will do so regardless of the price. It’s like vinyl - a new album on vinyl might be as much as double that price but people will still buy it. Physical media might be more of a niche item where buyers will do it regardless - even reluctantly. There was a time when prices had dropped, I suspect as a last ditch effort to get people to buy but now we’ve culturally mostly moved on from that. I’m guessing sales have plateaued to a large degree so there isn’t really a need to get people to start buying CDs by using attractive pricing as much. Those who buy, will. Those who won’t, won’t. So there isn’t much of a need for competitive pricing.

The discount CDs are probably more so for people who normally wouldn’t buy a CD but seeing one at a lower cost than they used to see when they did buy CDs, they might buy it for cheap nostalgia now, assuming they still have a CD player.

I’m sure there’s someone with business/marketing knowledge who might have terms for all of this. Assuming I’m somewhat close to being right.

[areyoureadytojump]

Where have you been hiding? LOL. Cd prices have been like this for years.

Barnes & Noble has always had high prices. They have more middle to upper class customers who don't care about paying those prices.

Most major retailers have ~$5 catalog cds.

Did you check out the vinyl prices? Most are $20+.

I did some day drinking last year. I bought two $7 cds at Walmart for my car while buzzed. ABBA Gold and Whitney's single GH cd.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

Do Sam Goody and FYE even exist anymore? I thought they went out of business.

[Deleted]

Jul 26, 2021 11:34:59 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

Do Sam Goody and FYE even exist anymore? I thought they went out of business.

There are 2 Sam Goody locations left, owned by the same company as FYE. There are a lot of FYE locations still open.

Personally, I haven't purchased a CD in over 10 years and prefer digital because it doesn't take up physical space. I used to have a huge collection of CDs, and it took up so much space.

[Jay D83]

I still buy CDs for albums that I love. I hate messing with Apple Music in my car and making playlists of songs that I may or may not want to hear by the time I drive. CDs are just easier for me. I only buy them from Amazon though, and most of the time, used.

[bat1990]

I'm working on a long-term project of beefing up my vinyl collection, but when I have a house or condo someday, I want to turn them into a wall of music art.

[Amnesiac]

Barnes & Noble has always had extremely high prices on physical media. I remember paying $18 for a Decemberists CD there over a decade ago (and not even their most recent-at-the-time album) and learned my lesson about buying CDs from them. It still being that much for SOUR there, even now in 2021 when CDs are kind of irrelevant, totally tracks. The only time I ever shop there for physical media is when they have a Criterion Collection sale.

[SHOOTER]

Yeah, B&N being expensive is nothing new. Target's prices off-sale are about $13.99 on average for CD; the vinyls vary depending on who/what it is and whether or not it's a "Target exclusive" (The Go-Gos vinyl might be $20 while Marvin Gaye's is $30). Amazon has similar pricing for their CDs. I just try to get whatever I really want during release week as that's usually when it's at the best price outside of holiday pricing.

I do miss FYE because I used to be able to get 30% off at the one local store we had left but the pandemic finally took it out. RIP.

[Au$tin]

Jul 26, 2021 11:34:59 GMT -5 YourFaveIsAFlop said:

Do Sam Goody and FYE even exist anymore? I thought they went out of business.

There's two FYEs about 35 minutes either direction from me. They always seem to be doing fairly well, but definitely not because of CD sales haha. I think the abundance of random merch/imported candy helps them stay afloat.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

I know the FYE near me closed a few years back, the only time I saw anybody there was when fifth harmony had a CD signing signing in front of it in when their first album came out

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Jul 26, 2021 13:43:23 GMT -5 Jay D83 said:

I still buy CDs for albums that I love. I hate messing with Apple Music in my car and making playlists of songs that I may or may not want to hear by the time I drive. CDs are just easier for me. I only buy them from Amazon though, and most of the time, used.

Same. I mostly buy them from Amazon too.

[Ginger Spice]

We still have an FYE here, they've definitely become much more a collectables store; it's mostly Funko Pops, t-shirts, and random nostalgia merch. I think there's an aisle and a half of CDs, maybe two aisles for DVDs and the rest is random stuff.

There was a period around 2009-2011 at FYE where all new CDs (the exception being releases with multiple discs) were $9.99, which was a big deal because they had always been expensive, similar to Barnes & Noble prices. I went there all the time when they were running that promotion, and it lasted at least a year and a half. I don't mind paying around $20 for a new CD if it's something I really want, but that means I won't drop the money unless I already love the album or it's a release I've been anticipating. Still beats vinyl prices which most of the time seem fairly ridiculous, but I know there's been issues with supply and demand there, as well as pressing plants being backed up.

[Caviar]

No way in hell I’m paying more than $14 for a CD these days. Like Jazzy I no longer purchase CDs because they take up unnecessary space. I have a whole box of CDs sitting in my closet collecting dust. I’m slowly building up my vinyl collection but to purchase CDs at $17.99 like it’s 1999 are over!

[toomuchboy]

I don't pay more than $12-13 for a new CD unless it's a multi-disc. (And I actually think $13 is on the higher side, usually new albums should be closer to $9.99, imo.)

I wouldn't even buy books from B&N unless they have a coupon or it's something that is only available at their store. *Everything* there is overpriced and always has been.

[ChicaCherry콜라]

Those prices seem absolutely fair. Back in the day CD's were a good $13 (and by that I mean early 2000's when I bought CDs like crazy). Prices rise as they do with literally everything in life. The cost of living goes up so does merchandise. I pay $20-30 for Kpop albums but they come in a goddamn treasure chest with 5lbs of booklets and cards and stickers and shit I swear to god. Still, I don't bat an eye at the price anymore. We paid over a dollar for 1 song all these years through itunes before streaming became what it is today so I find it more justifiable to charge that much for a physical album.

I'm still a CD person. If a physical album is available from my faves I'm pre-ordering it without hesitation.

[thezatch]

I still buy CDs of my faves but I agree, prices are ridiculous anywhere else but Target or Walmart. FYE is still moderately priced but they don't carry many CDs anymore. Their selection is limited to whatever BTS has released in the last 6 months and a lot of country releases, and I have no interest in either of those. They were the only brick and mortar retailer who had Tinashe's "Joyride" in stock release week so I had to scoop that up for $9.99. I wish Target would include music in their Buy 2, Get 1 Free sales again so I can grab a few CDs that are sitting in my cart waiting for a sale (like the Future Nostalgia Moonlight Edition and Taylor's Fearless re-recordings).

I've had awful luck having CDs shipped from artist's online store recently. The copy of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Dedicated Side B" I ordered last year looked like it was tossed off a bridge when it arrived. Fortunately the paper inserts were unscathed so it was an easy swap with an empty case I had laying around but I shouldn't have to pay $18-22 for a CD from an artist's site only to have it shipped in a plastic bag with next-to-no protection.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I still buy CDs and vinyl, most of which come from either my local independent record shop, or Sunrise Records (the Canadian chain that took over former HMV locations). I don’t buy CDs nearly as much as I did and when I do, they’re generally newer albums I’ve already listened to via streaming. They might still be *inpulse* buys in a sense that, I liked the album and would have gotten the CD anyway if I see it. Honestly, my biggest barrier to buying CDs is the availability rather than the price. Both stores don’t always carry albums I’d be willing to buy (or ones on my list that I’d buy if I saw them) and I don’t want to buy from Amazon if I can help it. I don’t mind paying $17-21 for a CD from my local shop but they have to have it first. Amazon selling CDs for that price: I’m not going to do it.
Vinyl is different and for that I try to buy only the essentials - either an older title that I likely already have on CD, or a new release of an album I already love and expect it to be something I’ll come back to in years to come.

[#LisaRinna]

CDs are way too overpriced in 2021. They should be $8/€8 maximum.

[Ty]

I've completely switched to purchasing digital albums these days (yes, iTunes store - even that is pretty outdated I guess). I love CDs but they are a nightmare for someone constantly moving.

[Push The Button]

I buy CDs and vinyls of my favorite acts even though I never play them. I love seeing the artwork and flipping through my collection from time to time.

I don’t mind paying whatever because, CDs especially, have become more of a boutique item that is only purchased by die hards anyway.

That said…paying $13 for those flimsy ass digipaks is annoying as hell. The last two Halsey CDs have basically been packaged in envelopes. Terrible.

[Anticonformity]

I have a ton of CDs, I feel like anything above $5 is insane, UNLESS it's rarities (promos, advanced copies, radio cds, etc...)
Rarities are like a drug... especially when they have versions not even known to fans!

[ificanthaveyou]

It’s also weird that labels didn’t adapt with the times and try to keep cds relevant for longer than they did. I get that we’re in a digital era now, but cds still have a nostalgia factor for many fans and there are ways to work that angle so they spend $15 bucks on an album instead of streaming it for virtually free. I mean, chance items like signed photo cards, points to purchase exclusive/priority concert tickets, chance NFTs…

Taylor (and more recently) Olivia have done a great job at marketing their physical albums, but I’m surprised it hasn’t been done by more artists and on a bigger scale.

[upsidedown]

I'm very interested - for those still buying CDs, is it just to have the physical or are you able to still play them?

I used to love buying CDs, but as soon as I got my new car with no CD player, I was like uh... I don't have *anywhere* to play these anymore? lol So I just stopped buying them.

[Deleted]

I only buy CDs now if it's an album that I really like or if it's a certain artist. I still play CDs from time to time and rip them into my computer but the CD player in my car doesn't work anymore.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I still buy CDs but definitely not as much as I used to. Generally they’re albums by my favs or albums I’ve already heard from streaming and loved.

I consider myself a collector and still think there’s something fun and nice about having the physical product - either CD or vinyl formats. I do still listen to them from time to time, when I’m at home. There’s something about playing an album from a CD (or vinyl) that makes it feel more direct and focused, and deliberate. Plus, as someone who grew up listening to music this way, it kind of takes me back to that again. Most of the music I listen to is through streaming but when I listen through physical media, it feels like part of the experience, even if it’s only in my own mind.

I think the value of music changes through the medium it’s on. There was something exciting about finding an imported version of a favourite album in a used CD store, or coming across a single with rare b-sides. There’s convenience in streaming, which I love and at this point wouldn’t trade in, but there was a thrill in the physical versions too that I try to tap into whenever possible.

[upsidedown]

Oct 20, 2021 8:39:14 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

I still buy CDs but definitely not as much as I used to. Generally they’re albums by my favs or albums I’ve already heard from streaming and loved.

I consider myself a collector and still think there’s something fun and nice about having the physical product - either CD or vinyl formats. I do still listen to them from time to time, when I’m at home. There’s something about playing an album from a CD (or vinyl) that makes it feel more direct and focused, and deliberate. Plus, as someone who grew up listening to music this way, it kind of takes me back to that again. Most of the music I listen to is through streaming but when I listen through physical media, it feels like part of the experience, even if it’s only in my own mind.

I think the value of music changes through the medium it’s on. There was something exciting about finding an imported version of a favourite album in a used CD store, or coming across a single with rare b-sides. There’s convenience in streaming, which I love and at this point wouldn’t trade in, but there was a thrill in the physical versions too that I try to tap into whenever possible.

Oh yeah I definitely agree about physical. I've moved into vinyl and love it - but I think also not just b/c of the physical, but because I can also still play it with a record player. For the CD, I feel like I need at least one avenue to be able to play it and I don't, so yeah unless it's an artist that I really really love and do it to support, I've just moved away from it.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Oct 20, 2021 9:29:17 GMT -5 upsidedown said:

Oct 20, 2021 8:39:14 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

I still buy CDs but definitely not as much as I used to. Generally they’re albums by my favs or albums I’ve already heard from streaming and loved.

I consider myself a collector and still think there’s something fun and nice about having the physical product - either CD or vinyl formats. I do still listen to them from time to time, when I’m at home. There’s something about playing an album from a CD (or vinyl) that makes it feel more direct and focused, and deliberate. Plus, as someone who grew up listening to music this way, it kind of takes me back to that again. Most of the music I listen to is through streaming but when I listen through physical media, it feels like part of the experience, even if it’s only in my own mind.

I think the value of music changes through the medium it’s on. There was something exciting about finding an imported version of a favourite album in a used CD store, or coming across a single with rare b-sides. There’s convenience in streaming, which I love and at this point wouldn’t trade in, but there was a thrill in the physical versions too that I try to tap into whenever possible.

Oh yeah I definitely agree about physical. I've moved into vinyl and love it - but I think also not just b/c of the physical, but because I can also still play it with a record player. For the CD, I feel like I need at least one avenue to be able to play it and I don't, so yeah unless it's an artist that I really really love and do it to support, I've just moved away from it.

I bought a little CD player a few months back with a tape player too. A little boom box. Though the speakers sounded terrible after I played a CD on it. It was like I blasted it too high (except I didn’t) so I got it exchanged. They apparently don’t make them like they used to. But I wanted something also with a tape player because… well, apparently I’m a sucker for new releases on cassette too 😩

[SHOOTER]

I've been collecting for decades at this point so why stop now? lol the good thing about streaming is I'm able to sample things ahead of time so now, outside of my faves, I only buy CDs for albums I enjoy overall (if I don't want to splurge on the vinyl). And, yes, I do have a functional CD player that gets quite a bit of use. Also, often the physical and digital pricing is within the same range so if I'm going to spend $10+ on something, I'd prefer to have the whole package. I still don't understand why digital booklets never became industry standard.

[lasvegaskid]

Jul 26, 2021 9:13:37 GMT -5 upsidedown said:

Figured this was the best place for this.

Love to get a discussion going on the state of CD/media prices in 2021.

I was blown away while in Barnes & Noble yesterday at the price of new CDs - Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR was $17.99. For a CD. As was Maroon 5's latest - $17.99.

Linkin Park's One More Light? $18.99.

It has always confounded me how these retailers, maybe aside from Walmart, have always been so out of touch with the pricing of media like this? Barnes and Noble has always been an offender of this, I remember back in the heyday of CDs that they were still trying to get you for nearly $20.

The odd thing? They have a considerable stock of $4.99 CDs that weren't a terrible selection, like Kelly Clarkson's Stronger, NYSYNC's Greatest Hits, etc. Britney's The Singles Collection was $7.00. So they *know* how to discount some stuff.

Is it just pure laziness? No strategy? It's almost like it's just a 50/50 chance of getting a good price or not, purely just guessing. One "gold" CD could be a great price, another, a terrible one.

But it feels like that was one of the downfalls of the CD in general - among other things, sure, but the pricing has never seemed to be strategic from the beginning to the last 20 years.

You had some retailers like Walmart realize this, and start pricing CDs at a more feasible rate ($8-11-ish), while others, like B&N, or Sam Goody, or FYE, still charging $15-20 for a brand new one. I realize that some retailers can't afford to sell as low as a Walmart or Target, but still. You might make a small profit on some cheaper CDs, versus selling absolutely nothing when its $18 a CD.

CDs have always been $18-20, from when I first started buying them in the 90s. If you were lucky maybe a big box retailer discounted them to $12.99 for new releases they were being incentivized to push.