CD format gets a “reboot” from Universal Music
The world’s biggest record company is not ready to give the compact disc up for dead just yet, and is giving the venerable music format a revamp. Universal Music Group is rolling out three new tiers of CD packaging in Europe, ranging from lush deluxe editions down to bare-bones cardboard sleeves that are designed to compete with albums sold online. Makes perfect sense to do something like this if you ask me!
Although it does not set retail prices, Universal Music expects the deluxe CDs to sell for an average of 19.99 euros ($25.61), the standard for 14.99 euros and the basic for 9.99 euros. The group is part of France’s Vivendi. The basic package will be used to stimulate sales for catalog albums that have been on sale for a while, “similar to a paperback book,” Hole said. Universal Music expects digital sales to double to about 10 percent of its sales this year, with digital making up 25 percent of revenues by 2010.
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