CD Singles have been dealt a crushing blow, as Hit40UK (formerly the Hit Parade) announced that singles would be phased out of their charts, as over 90 percent of the recorded data for the chart comes from downloads. The charts, which are distributed to radio stations and retailers, are doing away with what they see as a meaningless five percent.
This, suddenly, has people UP IN ARMS about losing the CD SINGLE! What was once a major part of our music buying practise is on its way out for good...and I say good riddance. Sadly, the single is obsolete nowadays and no hit of nostalgia can change that fact.
Today I shared my single-minded thoughts with a facebook group called SAVE THE CD SINGLE:
The CD Single is dead in its current format. They could try and make it more interesting, but it would only delay the inevitable. Buying an album constitutes and hour, maybe more, of rich listening experience on a shiny disc. The CD is normally about three minutes, making the medium somewhat outmoded. I think it's time to let the single go...if album's start going all digital then there is reason for a group.
Oh, some of you still disagree? Exactly when did you buy a CD Single last, or is your sudden desire to care about it stemming from it's impending demise? Don't care about something because it's about to disappear...instead put that energy into caring about something WHILE it is still here.
And I work in a record shop...and if I don't care about CD Singles, you shouldn't either!
