Music News

Is this a landmark decision? Lorde won’t release her new album on CD.

Thanks the rise of streaming, CD sales have been dropping like an extinction-level asteroid for years. Most new cars don’t even come with CD players anymore. It’s just a matter of time before CDs will occupy the same niche market share as vinyl. In fact, given the way things are going, vinyl may soon surge back into the lead for the first time since the very early 90s.

Lorde just made a decision that will further erode market confidence in the compact disc with the announcement that her upcoming album, Solar Power, will not be available on CD when it appears on August 20.

Instead, Solar Power will come on vinyl (when was the last time there was a big-name release on vinyl but not on CD?) and as high-quality digital files. There will also be something called a “Music Box,” which is a physical thing containing handwritten notes, photos, extra visual content, and a download code. This download will come with two extra tracks and “some special surprises.”

The whole thing is being positioned as eco-friendly and a way to reduce the use of plastic.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 39154 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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