No one could have predicted that the vinyl record would become nonexistent because of the compact disc. However, in the future it wouldn’t be strange to think that the compact disc may be turned into nothing more than a collector’s item, thanks to the new format Moving Picture Experts Group-Audio Layer 3, commonly known as MP3. The impact of the digital age has become so common that it has changed the way we access music forever.
Before the digital age music was offered through limited sources to reach audiences. From a marketing point of view, music was first made available to audiences through the radio as a way of listening to music before purchasing vinyl, cassettes or compact discs. This was followed up with music videos and the releasing of dedicated music television channels such as MTV.
The digital media has changed significantly through the technical convergence of sound, pictures and text. Music can now be accessed through many different ways and devices such as personal computers, MP3 players, mobile phones, digital audio broadcasts, etc. Developments in digital media and the introduction of sites such as Napster and iTunes, amongst many others, have made music far more accessible. Within a matter of a few minutes, or a few green bars running left to right, music can be accessed with minimal effort.
The introduction of the digital media has been welcomed all over the world by consumers; however it has had a major impact on the sales of compact discs. Surprisingly, since the year 2000 began CD revenue in the United States, which may have the biggest market in the world has fallen by over 50%. In real terms this represents a loss of $8.3 billion in sales from 1999 to 2009.
Napster was one of the first sites to be launched, offering free downloads of millions of tracks. By the time legal action was taken against Napster and concluded by the Recording Industry