Remember when the audio CD first emerged on the scene?

It was back in the early 1980s when they first started appearing on shelves. Audiophiles note that the format finally hit it big in 1985 with the release of Dire Straits’ “Brothers in Arms” album, recorded on the latest equipment at the time – which spawned a promotional tour sponsored by Philips.

Soon after, vinyl fans switched to the shiny disc in droves, and by 1988 CD sales outpaced vinyl records – overtaking the now infamous cassette in 1991.

But all things come to an end, and with the advent of streaming audio, the days of the mighty CD were numbered. Best Buy started phasing out CD sales in July 2018, and today they’re more than likely found in the bargain bin, not proudly displayed in racks upon racks like they once were in their heyday.

However, you never want to count a format out forever…

Because the media CD’s replaced – vinyl records – have staged an impressive comeback in recent years. Driven by the hipster esthetic for all things retro, vinyl records have returned to become a force to be reckoned with in the marketplace.

According to MSN, something happened in music sales that hasn’t taken place since 1986 – the sales of vinyl records grew to a cool $232 million, with records easily beating out CD sales for the first time in 34 years.

In fact, vinyl records contributed a full 62% of total physical music revenues. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising. Audio aficionados claim vinyl simply sounds better than digital as quality inevitably gets lost in conversion.

Whatever’s driving the surge in record sales, I don’t think you can count CDs out forever. In almost every industry, what’s old is new and what goes around comes around. The CD may well rise again.

CDs aren’t just for listening, Certificates of Deposit can play a part in your financial plans as well, along with other important portfolio options. Schedule your free 15-minute call to discuss at 513-563-PLAN (7526) or book online.

Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP®