SuffolkOnline.net

Two thirds of music lovers prefer CD's over digital downloads according to research by media and technology research agency, The Leading Question. A survey of over 1000 music fans showed that 73% were still content to buy CDs rather than download music. 66% of 14-18 year olds also prefered CDs, and 59% of music fans still listen to CDs every day.

The research showed that music fans with a digital music subscription spent more on CDs each month than most music fans. Also, music streamers also spent more on CDs and downloads than most music fans.

"Digital is still the future but rumours of the death of the CD are premature. The continued popularity of the CD should be looked upon as an opportunity. We believe that labels and online stores could and should be doing more to build on music fans’ familiarity with CDs to provide them with additional digital content and to use the CD as a bridge into the digital world. Music fans have spoken and digital is evidently not the clear cut replacement to the physical CD."

Tim Walker, (CEO) The Leading Question

Perhaps one reason for the continued sale of CDs to music fans is that those with high-end audio equipment don't have a computer or media player connected to their set up, whilst others can't get the quality form downloaded music. Napster's music download service will deliver songs in 192Kbps WMA format whilst the iTunes Plus format is better at 256Kbps, but neither offer a lossless format craved by audiophiles which CD's do deliver. Whether the statistics above pass on to the average music listener isn't clear.