Audiophiles unite, as your most treasured music collectible is getting the spotlight today. CDs have been a part of all our lives for years, while only being released in 1982, and can still be found today.
But do CDs hold any value today? And if so, are they a worthwhile investment? Read more to learn all about CDs as an investment and what the future holds for the discs.
Along with the monetary value, we’ll also dive into the history of how they came to be. Find out everything there is to know about these audio devices now.
Related: Do DVDs Hold Value Today?
The History of CDs
CDs are compact discs that store data, primarily digital audio. Later on, the CD was adapted for non-audio computer data storage purposes as CD-ROM. It was first released in Japan in 1982 by both Philips and Sony together but wasn’t the first optical disc technology — that title goes to the larger LaserDisc or LD.
The standard size of CDs held up to around 74 minutes of uncompressed stereo digital audio, or about 650 MiB of data, and was slowly extended to 80 minutes to 99 minutes. There was even Mini CDs that have been used for CD singles or delivery device drivers.
While investing in the early 80s, CDs didn’t gain popularity until the 90s, with the product quickly outselling all other audio formats in the United States by 1991, ending the market for other audio devices like cassette tapes.
The CD was considered the last format of the album era once the release of electronic audio storage devices took a rise, such as iTunes, MP3s, and other downloadable music formats, which soon took dominance around the 2000s. But even so, CDs are still used today and are even collected by music lovers everywhere.
Outliving Newer Technology
As mentioned, newer technology pushed CDs and other audio storage products out of the game, however, even with modern technology, CDs are still holding strong.
In 2020, research found that physical formats of audio storage like CDs were still dominating the music market, even against modern options like music streaming. In Japan, digital music rose by 10%, and CD sales have slowly increased as well in the United States in 2022.
While Vinyls have become more and more popular thanks to vintage aesthetics, that still drives a boost in sales for CDs and other digital audio products.
The Collectibility of CDs
When you think of CDs, you might think of the old collection that your parents have, or maybe the few you store in your car for the long road trips. You probably didn’t know that collecting CDs is huge.
But do CDs hold any value? Of course, this depends. First, let’s figure out what it means to collect CDs. Similar to vinyl, collecting CDs is a great hobby alone.
Not only are you gathering an extensive collection of music from various genres that you can show off to friends, family, and potentially your kids, but imagine finding a rare one that could be worth thousands one day.
Advantages of CDs
Now that you know that collecting CDs isn’t a foreign concept, is there any reason why you should take it up? There are several.
For the audiophiles who just really enjoy music, it’s good to know that CDs tend to sound better than vinyl. Of course, vinyls are a whole other aesthetic that many people enjoy having in their home, but if you want a crisp sound with crackling, then you’ll want CDs.
But that’s not all. CDs tend to sound better than steaming platforms as well. Platforms like Spotify or Apple Music tend to store their music in a compressed music file, which helps to allow more data on your phone since it uses less space, but that just means the quality isn’t as vibrant.
With a CD, the allotted music uses ample space, letting you enjoy the music in all its beauty. Plus, you don’t have to spend money to remove those pesky ads.
Along with ads, CDs are inherently cheaper than other options. Vinyls, since they’ve become increasingly popular due to the trends, are incredibly expensive. For example, Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department is $39.99 on vinyl but only $13.99 on a CD.
And as for streaming services, the monthly fees add up. With CDs, you can forgo those fees, and constantly listen to your music whenever you please at no cost.
Overall, there are several advantages to collecting and investing in CDs, especially since artists still release CDs along with their album releases.
Also Read: Rare Musical Instruments and What They Do
Nostalgia and Sentimental Value
Besides the monetary value of CDs, there’s an obvious sentimental value when starting a collection as well. Lovers of music might have a few CDs already in their possession, either from random purchases when you had leftover cash or favorite CDs you haven’t let yourself give away.
Like most popular collectibles, it starts as a passion and quickly grows into a hobby. But even if you grow an impressive collection with a few hundred CDs, a lot of times it’s more about the memories that you have with the artist and songs that you’re buying.
The Future of CDs – Do CDs Hold Any Value?
Do CDs hold any value today? And if so, are they worth collecting? Interestingly enough, collecting CDs is cheaper than many other collectibles.
Whether you want the newest release or an older copy, you can find CDs for cheaper if you know where to look. Thrift stores like Half Priced Books or the online shop CD Exchange. You can easily find popular CDs for only $5 or even $2.
This makes collecting so much easier. Of course, with rare and hard-to-find CDs, you might have to invest some money, but if they’re limited edition CDs, you’re likely going to see an uptick in the resale value. Collecting as a passion is more worthwhile than the money, as it really in the joy of the hunt rather than the sale.
What Impacts CD Value
The value of a CD depends on how rare an item is, its significance and demand, the condition it’s in, the artist or genre, and its innovation.
When it comes to rarity, that means if the CD you have is one of a kind, like if you have a limited edition one or a CD that doesn’t exist anymore. If a popular artist is selling a limited edition item, it might be worth collecting and holding onto for future demand.
The condition is another important factor. If you have a special item you think is going to rise in value, it might be worth getting it graded. If you have a CD with no scratches, or scuffs, and are still packaged, it should be in Mint condition, which has a higher value.
As for its significance or demand, that revolves around the popularity of the CD, which coincides with the artist and its innovation. Most popular artists that have made a significant impact in history or culture have a higher demand. And if the CD has a lot of collectible items and a unique design, then it’ll also have a higher value.
Conclusion
As for the question of “Do CDs hold any value”, the answer is yet. CDs have stood the test of time as modern technology has pushed CDs and other audio storage products out of the way, still slowly climbing back to the top of the music ranks.
If you’ve been debating starting a collection that involves passion with the bonus of investments, then CDs are the answer. They not only allow you to explore more music genres, but they’re a better option compared to streaming platforms and vinyl. And if you’re worried about their position in the future, don’t fret, because it seems as though CDs are here to stay.
Read More: Vintage Guitars Every Musician Should Want To Own
