Ongoing History of New Music

Ongoing History Daily: The MiniDisc is back?

Alan Cross 0 Comments 69 Views

In the late 90s, consumer electronics manufacturers were looking for a digital format to replace the cassette. One attempt was Sony’s MiniDisc, which debuted in 1992.

Instead of using tape, the MiniDisc had a rotating, recordable disc measuring roughly seven by six centimetres that could hold about 74 minutes of music, which was the same capacity as a CD. For a while, you could buy prerecorded albums on MiniDisc.

But outside of Japan, the format was largely a failure, especially after the introduction of the iPod. By 2011, Sony had abandoned it after spending about $40 million on the project.

Now, though, the MiniDisc is experiencing something of a comeback as Gen Z seeks to get away from an all-digital life. Just as we’re seeing with vinyl, CDs, and cassettes, many members of Gen Z want to get away from streaming and algorithms and back in control of what they put in their ears. If you have a MiniDisc in a drawer somewhere, it could be worth big bucks to the right person.

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 42453 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

You May Also Like

The Forgotten Format Wars of the Late 1990s

Alan Cross 1

The Ongoing History of New Music, episode 925: The History of Portable Music, Part 2

Alan Cross 0

Audio Gear History: Remember the MiniDisc?

Alan Cross 1