Uk’s Largest Music Retailer Woolworths Stops Selling Music CDs

May 28th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

I read yesterday an annoucenment by Woolworths who are the UK’s biggest music retailer, that they will stop selling CD singles. Eight million CD singles were sold in Britain last year, compared to 72.6 million music downloads.

Woolworths currently sells one in three of all audio CDs in the UK, but said it believes competition from downloads means the CD single format is in “terminal decline”. From August 2008 Woolworths will only sell single tracks via its download website.

I find this story amazing as I’d always assumed that it was kids and teens that purchased the majority of CD singles with their pocket money, so I thought that retailers like Woolworths who cater strongly to these markets would be relatively immune to the decline in CD single sales.

I wonder how long it will be until they withdraw CDs althogether? I haven’t purchased a CD in the UK for a number of years now, and I only buy CDs when I’m on holiday if I spot a bargain.

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About the Author

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Everton is based in London and has worked in the internet and mobile space for over ten years now, and before that worked in corporate strategy and consulting. He has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University, and currently runs the Portal and online operations for one of the largest ISPs in the UK. He also writes for Windows 7 News.

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There Are 10 Responses So Far. »

  1. #1

    Comment by Nicole Price on 28 May 2008:

    This is sad news.  I have always enjoyed shopping for CDs in Woolworths. Well, time marches on!

    Read Nicole Price’s latest blog post….Tips to Save on Gas>>>

  2. #2

    Comment by Keiron on 28 May 2008:

    Whilst I agree this is sad news from a nostalgic point of view it was always only going to be a matter of time, kids are savvy enough these days to logon to iTunes purchase three tracks from different artists that they want and burn them to CD, all whilst Mum is laying the table!!!

    It will only be a few years I think before we see the decline in albums, and in years to come people will look back at us and wonder why on earth we paid £10 for a CD with two songs we knew on it and 9 others you’ve never heard. Music will become more and more about choice, and that choice for most people is online!

    Read Keiron’s latest blog post….Alton Towers ban!?>>>

  3. #3

    Comment by Top Rated on 28 May 2008:

    I’m always amazed, when I walk through the mall, and still see CD stores.  Mind you many of them sell DVD’s as well, it’s just a matter of time, before bandwidth capacity grows to make those more downloadable.   It’s a dying business model, that is succumbing to a better way of doing things.  What I really miss, is the great album covers from my youthful days of buying records.  Kinda aging myself with that one though.

    Read Top Rated’s latest blog post….My Six Word Memoir>>>

  4. #4

    Comment by Everton on 28 May 2008:

    @Top Rated

    Couldn’t agree with you more about missing the joy of buying a new CD.  I’m a bit of a wannabe musician so I used to enjoy seeing who was playing on which track, reading lyrics etc.

    Oh yeah, kids are missing out today on the joys of buying their first Ice-T tape….;-)

    Couldn’t find pictures of the inserts as people only focus on album covers these days.  The inserts were even better!

  5. #5

    Comment by Jessica on 28 May 2008:

    well its all part of evolution. Music Cd’s are the thing of the past and it was gonna happen sooner or later, am not sure weather all these is just hoax or authentic “no offense everton” but part of the “Change/Evolution”

    However, stores and there business is not goign to change if it is not going to be Music CD’s they will have different products,

    Jessica | http://acne-treatment-key.blogspot.com/

    Read Jessica’s latest blog post….Acne Treatment Product Review: Astara Blue Flame Purification Mask>>>

  6. #6

    Comment by Zath on 2 June 2008:

    I not that surprised that this has happened - I haven’t bought a CD for at least 5 years and have often wondered given all the floor space dedicated to those CDs, quite how many were actually sold.

    Read Zath’s latest blog post….Viigo - Mobile News Reader>>>

  7. #7

    Comment by MarK on 2 June 2008:

    Well said Zath this is exactly true. CD’s are outdated technology, remained good for a while but as all good things should come to an end.

    Mark

  8. #8

    Comment by Goran Website on 3 June 2008:

    10 years ago if anyone would say that music stores wont be selling music we would have all say never. Technology and the growth of the Internet is continuously changing, we will definitely be in for some interesting changes in the years to come. On-line sales cost less and there is no need to keep stock, its a better business model.

  9. #9

    Comment by April on 3 June 2008:

    I have never downloaded a song from the internet in my life but I have seen the prices that Woolworths charge for CDs and they’re a bit more expensive than the likes of Asda.  There is so much competition from these big supermarkets and I don’t think Woolworths are keeping up.  The stores all seem a bit old fashioned to me too.

    Read April’s latest blog post….Herbert Plant Wins Lottery>>>

  10. #10

    Pingback by Blog Banter: Game Distribution - Digital vs Physical on 21 June 2008:

    [...] product. Surely, it’s becoming somewhat dated? - Even high street stores are beginning to stop stocking physical music CDs in favour of providing music [...]

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