Computer Audio Is Dead.

[Masterlu]

CD sales could bounce back; look at Enron... nevermind.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

CD sales could bounce back; look at Enron... nevermind.

Looking at those charts, the CDs have as much of a chance of bouncing back as the telegraph and wall hanging rotary dial telephones.

[PHC1]

We may as well throw the DVD and Blu-ray into the same mix.

In its annual Theatrical Home Entertainment Market Environment report, the Motion Picture Association of America described an immensely sharp drop-off of physical media sales over the past five years. According to the data, which was obtained from DEG and IHS Markit, global sales of video disc formats (which in this context means DVD, Blu-ray, and UltraHD Blu-ray) were $25.2 billion in 2014 but only $13.1 in 2018. That's a drop in the ballpark of 50 percent.

With drops that sharp, you'd expect apocalyptic financials for companies making and distributing movies. However, while there are certainly losers in this trend, the overall industry actually grew over the same period. Home entertainment spending grew 16 percent in 2018 thanks to surges in consumer spending on digital video services from players like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu.

The global number of subscriptions to online streaming services grew 27 percent to 613.3 million in 2018, surpassing cable subscriptions (at 556 million) for the first time ever. However, cable still drives more overall revenue than streaming—it was the highest revenue platform in 2018, with $118 billion globally.

Subscriptions are expected to grow significantly over the next couple of years, as major players like Disney, Apple, and WarnerMedia introduce new streaming services to compete with existing players like HBO and Netflix.

Don't expect 8K Blu-rays or other emerging quality-focused formats to turn the tide, either. Market data published by Forbes showed that the aging, low-definition DVD format still accounts for 57.9 percent of physical media sales, and 4K Blu-rays are only 5.3 percent.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by IM3CPO

Again, let me reiterate. The issue is subscription services vs. ownership.

However, I would actually argue the real motive behind subscription services is actually not demand side.

Simply look at the statistical charts I posted earlier.... The masses have spoken. The industry caters to whatever the masses are demanding. It doesn't work any other way in capitalism. Now, under communism, we'd all be watching B&W TVs of the state sponsored programming of whatever the party wants you to see like in North Korea for example.

[gadawg]

An interesting article by Forbes in Jan of this year pointed out that Spotify which is the largest paid subscription streaming provider has yet to make a profit. Pretty sure Tidal hasn’t either. The fact that none of these companies have been gobbled up by amazon or apple yet could be telling of overall concern for the model longer term. Something will have to give at some point ...

[FreddieFerric]

The apocalyptic demise of computer audio? I suppose I should just take my HP All-in-One Touch to the shooting range and put some holes in it.

[PHC1]

If I may interject and add just a few philosophical thoughts on this trend...

One of the things that I do agree on with the millennial's is their concern for our planet. Our generation (Baby Boomers and Gen X) didn't care too much for the well-being of our planet. Our excessive consumption and consumerism has caused tremendous impact on our planet. In our quest to earn and spend on accumulating and collecting "stuff" we have managed to pollute the crap out of our planet. As the household items changed from those that can be reused to those that are disposable, we have managed to cause excessive deforestation to complete trashing of the oceans.

There is a swath of plastic waste that is bigger than the state of Texas floating around in the Pacific Ocean. Deep in the Mariana Trench, the crustaceans have been discovered to have plastic in their bellies and that's as deep or deeper than the typical airline flight is as high above the earth at 30,000 ft.

Don't agree? How much stuff have we accumulated over the years? How much of that gets actual use anymore?

From bins of VHS tapes, to Laser Discs to hundreds or thousands of CDs that are collecting dust or the vast vinyl collections of which only a hundred or so are actually getting played on our systems.

The plastic industry made everything cheaper and disposable. Most of that stuff over the last 3 or 4 decades eventually gets thrown out to be dumped on land or winds up in the ocean. Some plastic takes over a thousand years to biodegrade.

So besides wasting money on "accumulating" stuff that is barely ever used and eventually is disposed of, what is our obsession with surrounding ourselves with "stuff". Is it a psychological blanket of comfort? Can't take it with you when you go anyways. Does it bring more happiness to have thousands of CDs on the shelves collecting dust? I don't think so and I was of the old school, accumulation habits as well.


Everything will change in time. Even car ownership will eventually cease to exist as we know it and replaced by autonomous car hailing/sharing/on demand. Don't think all those parking facilities and their owners in large cities are not thinking ahead. They already have plans to convert the millions of square feet to eventual shopping and movie theaters. Not that retail stores or movie theaters are doing their best with the likes of Amazon and other online retailers and movie going is being replaced by on demand at home movie experience...


Digital delivery is clean, it leaves a very small carbon footprint as it streams the digits back and forth and it is clutter free, as well as being more economical and liberating with the endless choices of music to listen to. So what's the downside to that I ask?

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by gadawg

An interesting article by Forbes in Jan of this year pointed out that Spotify which is the largest paid subscription streaming provider has yet to make a profit. Pretty sure Tidal hasn’t either. The fact that none of these companies have been gobbled up by amazon or apple yet could be telling of overall concern for the model longer term. Something will have to give at some point ...

The musicians on the average take about 10% of the total sales. Between the musician and the listener there are a few steps that happen. In those steps , the major step is the contract with labels. Those labels are all Billionaires with their own private islands, yachts and even airlines. Yep, Virgin comes to mind but there are the Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, etc.

With the digital age, I do not think that middleman is needed. Bring the talent to the people directly. Let the musicians get paid for their talent by the masses who enjoy their music and cut out the blood sucking labels.

[PHC1]

In the near or not so distant future ALL of this will be a moot point. Artificial Intelligence will write music.

Music is an emotional experience that by all logic can only be written and performed by a musician/singer. That as we all know is being very nearsighted. Artificial Intelligence algorithms will produce music that will touch us on levels only Artificial Intelligence can. Music is math and who is better at it than AI?

Here is just an example of the very early AI generated music. AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) is an AI composing soundtrack music. https://youtu.be/gA03iyI3yEA

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by PHC1

In the near future ALL of this will be a moot point. Artificial Intelligence will write music.

Music is an emotional experience that by all logic can only be written and performed by a musician/singer. That as we all know is being very nearsighted. Artificial Intelligence algorithms will produce music that will touch us on levels only Artificial Intelligence can. Music is math and who is better at it than AI?

Here is just an example of the very early AI generated music. AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist) is an AI composing soundtrack music. https://youtu.be/gA03iyI3yEA

Great, next we can fire all the actors in Hollywood.