Another sign SACD is dying


I went to Best Buy to purchase some SACDs and after searching for the special section containing sacds and xrcds without success, I asked the salesman where they were. He informed me that they were all removed since dual disc is now the rage. WOW!
jmslaw
Well Robm321, thanks for agreeing, though the argument about quality of recordings was really more Jadem's point than mine. I do agree that there are more quality jazz and classical recordings than rock/pop recordings, but I don't agree that the lack of quality rock recordings is the root cause of fewer rock SACD releases versus jazz and classical genres. I believe this has to do entirely with market demand.

The reality is, the 35+ age demographic is not the target for mass market entertainment providers, and therefore lovers of jazz/classical recorded music are an afterthought of the music industry Big Boys. SACD will continue to serve the small market segment of jazz/classical aficionados, because these are the primary listeners who care about high resolution recordings. The lack of attention paid to this small market segment by the music industry Big Boys is what makes the market for Chesky, et al.

Listening to music as a primary form of entertainment for the 12-35 age demographic has been supplanted by video games and computer gaming. Have you seen the complexity and high resolution of current video games? This is the focus of entertainment providers today, because this is where the largest pool of dollars is located. Music is a backdrop to the games, not the focus.

In the sixties and seventies, records were the equivalent of video games, and stereo systems were the Xbox 360 consoles. It’s progress. Heck, in ten years, today’s video game lovers will be crying about how the youth don’t care about Xbox games anymore because they’re all caught up in HoloSensurround re-enactments.

Watcha gonna do?

See, it seems to me Chesky et al should get together and form a company dedicated to on-demand delivery of high resolution recordings to the audience that cares about it. Buy bandwidth, put up a fancy webpage, and sell Hi Rez, digitally delivered music. It has to be less expensive than manufacturing and packaging silver discs. That’s the ticket! Embrace it!
Tvad...Good idea, but why not cut out the middle man, and have orchestras or individuals put up their own stuff, as is happening in the pop music field. For example: the Boston Symphony Orchestra could offer downloads of its live performances for those unable to attend in person.

I bet the fly in the ointment would be the musicians union.
Since orchestras like the SFSO, RCO and LSO issue and own their recordings, there's no reason they cannot offer downloads as the opportunity become financially attractive. In fact, I expect that is inevitable.

Kal