Digital disruption in the music industry: The case of the compact disc

Abstract

The 1990s features the dominance of the compact disc (CD) and subsequent peak in revenue within the music industry. The 12 cm CD transformed the industry and the way in which consumers experienced music, representing a fundamental shift from analogue to digital technology. While the CD started to decline in prominence from the beginning of the 21st century, it inadvertently established a digital culture, this culture now entrenched in society through streaming and downloads. For many consumers, the 1990s and engagement with the compact disc was a time of excitement, while for others it represented a period of angst and resistance to move away from long-playing records (LP) and the cassette tape. While there has been somewhat of a return to the LP as a way of engaging with music, and the cassette tape is not completely obsolete, the 1990s represents a time in history where digital technology and the capacity of the internet to support file sharing revolutionised the music industry. This article considers the extent to which the compact disc contributed to a wave of technological revolutions which have made an indelible impact on contemporary society.