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Target and Best Buy to stop selling CDs in store
The end of an era is upon us. According to an article from Billboard Best Buy and Target are making plans to stop selling CDs in their stores. With the popularity of music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal exploding over the past few years, the aisles dedicated to CDs in stores have been a steady decline in the US.
Rumor has it that Best Buy will stop carrying CDs in store on July 1st, 2018, so make sure to go pick up a copy of your favorite album before then. That said the company isn’t giving up on physical media entirely, as you’ll still be able to purchase vinyl records for two years. And no, the decision isn’t to please hipsters, but to fulfill requirements to vendors. Although in a slightly different situation, Target appears to be arriving at the same conclusion.
And no, the decision isn't to please hipsters
Because of how their deal with suppliers is set up Target currently has to pay for CDs and DVDs up front. Whatever isn’t sold has to be shipped back to the supplier for credit, with Target incurring the shipping fees. Rather than continue this way Target supposedly demanded a new way of doing things and gave music manufacturer’s an ultimatum which is basically “do it our way or we’re not longer selling physical copies.” If the ultimatum is ignored, it could mean that two of the biggest retail chains in the US will not longer sell CDs by the end of this year.
The year 2014 claimed Saturday morning cartoons, and 2018 appears to be claiming CDs. Hold on to your childhoods.