So, you want to start collecting CDs?
I won’t write out a witty introduction. Instead, I’ll cut to the chase: I’ve been collecting CDs for the past six months, and I want to share what I’ve learned.
1. The case for physical media.
Physical media in all forms is being phased out. The idea of buying a CD or DVD is laughable now. Everyone’s streaming. Why is this an issue? Well, in the era where everyone with two brain cells to rub together is invested in critiquing companies, corporations, and capitalism, the music streaming services seem to be exempt. The yearly buzz around posting your Spotify Wrapped comes every December like clockwork. But the problem with any type of streaming service is that you don’t own the content. You’re not even renting it. It’s more fucked up than renting a house, in a way. We fucking hate landlords, so why doesn’t the same ire apply to streaming services? I can’t say for sure, I’m not a Spotify historian by any means. But the thing is that Spotify can remove your favorite artist’s work in the blink of an eye. If you’re only into the big names then you probably don’t give a rat’s ass about this, but one day if you grow up and develop your own music taste that will inevitably involve some obscure foreign shit, you will genuinely begin to worry about this. You should worry about it now. With physical media, you own the thing. Nobody can take it away from you. You cough up some money one time and it’s yours forever.
The vinyl renaissance, all things considered, is a mere blip on the radar. Despite this, most brick and mortar record stores and stores that sell physical music in general (Target, Walmart, etc.) are starting to carry vinyl records, often in capacities that surpass CDs. Personally, to be very blunt, I think the vinyl renaissance is fucking goofy as hell considering the many flaws of the format. Additionally, the best selling vinyl titles are new releases which were all recorded digitally in the first place. Anyway, CDs are much older than you might assume. Most of us, myself included, associate them with Y2K, but they’ve been around in North America since the early 80s. Point being, if you find vinyl records nostalgic despite not growing up with them, then there is no reason for you to not find CDs nostalgic as well. The goofy vinyl renaissance is actually a blessing for CD collectors, because vinyl’s prices and popularity keep going up, causing it to become the preferred format, which in turn causes the CD’s popularity and price to keep going down. This is good, because CDs are, more often than not, dirt cheap. Which brings me to my next point:
2. CDs are cheap, but CD collecting isn’t.
Prices for CDs vary based on a number of factors. How many copies were made, what country the artist is from, how popular the artist is, how old the CD is, the condition of the CD, etc. Predictably, more obscure artist’s CDs cost more due to how few copies were made, used CDs cost less, and CDs that are shipping from another country will cost more due to shipping. A brand new sealed copy of an obscure europop album from the 90s is going to cost a whole lot more than a Mitski CD. To save yourself money, please only buy a CD if you like or can at least tolerate every song on it. This simple rule has saved me probably a hundred dollars. Money adds up, especially when you factor in shipping, and CDs generally cost more depending on where you buy them from.
3. Where should you buy CDs?
If you like the modern big name artists, then Walmart and Target are probably all you’ll need. But if you have music taste beyond that, then you’ll inevitably be looking at a number of websites to purchase CDs from. I’m going to list the three websites that I’ve purchased from, and talk about the pros and cons of each.
A.) Amazon.
My favorite option from the three. They usually have new copies available for a reasonable price, and shipping is usually fast. However, CDs that were never released in America, or only received a limited release, will likely ship from their country of origin, meaning longer shipping times and higher shipping prices. Also, sometimes I’ve found that when a CD ships from certain European countries, Amazon will not provide tracking information, only an estimated delivery time frame. I generally don’t purchase used CDs, so I can’t comment on what buying used CDs from Amazon is like. New CDs are generally affordable enough that I can afford a new copy.
B.) eBay.
My second favorite option. Only buy from listings that include actual pictures of the CD, not just the album art. Otherwise, you’re liable to get scammed. New CDs are generally affordable. Shipping from foreign countries is typically less expensive than Amazon, but shipping times are about the same.
C.) Discogs.
My least favorite option, and last resort. If you’re into music, you’ve probably heard of this website. I have no idea why it’s so popular and I don’t recommend it at all. Use it only as a last resort for CDs; I can’t speak for vinyl or other formats. The payment process is convoluted and takes some getting used to. Committing to buy and actually paying are different things on Discogs. Also, although Discogs is comprehensive in its listing of every version of a given release, there are no pictures of the CDs themselves in a listing. This is very disconcerting, considering that fact that the vast majority of CD listings are used. Sellers also don’t typically describe the condition of the CD, the booklet, the insert, the case, etc. They typically only go by the grading system of Mint, Near Mint, Very Good Plus, Very Good, and so on. If you’re looking for super obscure stuff, then sadly, Discogs is your best bet. The site is also just difficult to navigate.
4. CDs vs. CD-Rs
CDs and CD-Rs are not the same thing. CDs are actually pressed just like vinyl records. There’s a thin layer of metal (aluminum, silver, or gold) that is pressed just like a vinyl record. On many CDs you can actually see diving lines between the different songs if you look closely enough. CD-Rs are burned at home, though sometimes they are released officially. CD-Rs typically have a purple or hot pink tint to the read side of the disc. This is because instead of a layer of metal, CD-Rs have a layer of dye that the data is burned into. Because of this, CD-Rs are known to degrade very fast (read: a few years), especially when stored improperly. The great thing about CDs as a format is if music you love hasn’t been released on CD or has been released but is too damn expensive, then CD-Rs are a great option. I have CD-Rs that were burned two years ago and still play perfectly. With proper storage and care, you can prolong the lifespan of a CD-R.
5. How to care for CDs
CDs, like all physical media, can degrade over time and with use. When CDs are played, the read side is never physically touched by the CD player. The data is read with a laser. So when CDs degrade, it’s not from being played too much. CDs becoming unreadable is typically, though not always, the owner’s fault.
Scratching can render a CD unreadable. Most scratches occur on the read side of the disc, but those do not usually interfere with the laser reading the data. Scratches on the label side of the disc are much more dangerous, because the data layer sits very close to the label side. Thankfully, most CDs come with a thick label that protects the data layer further.
Never touch the read side of the disc. Although one fingerprint won’t do much harm, over time they can and will build up. Always handle a CD with your index finger in the center hole and your thumb on the outer edge. Dust on the read side can be easily blown off or brushed off with a soft paintbrush. Never use water or any liquid to clean a CD. CDs are unsealed on the edges, so liquid can seep in and destroy the data layer.
CDs must be stored at room temperature. Extreme heat and cold are known to degrade CDs and render them unplayable. To be clear, I’m talking about long-term storage. Leaving a CD in your car while you’re in Walmart for 40 minutes is fine. But they must be kept in a climate controlled environment by default. They must also be stored away from direct contact with UV light, since UV light is known to degrade CDs. In addition to rendering them unreadable, UV light can also suck the color from the booklet and insert, as well as yellow the jewel case. Cigarette smoke can also yellow the plastic on a jewel case, discolor paper inserts, and build up on the read side of the disc, eventually rendering it unreadable without extensive, tedious cleaning. Some people have reported that even ambient light can degrade a CD-R faster. The plastic inside CD booklets/binders/etc. can also degrade CDs. Storing CDs in treated wood can degrade them as well. Yet another culprit of CD degradation are paper sleeves. In conclusion, store your CDs in a spot where they will receive air-conditioning and heating when needed, way from smoke, not in treated wood, and away from direct sunlight.
6. CD Rot.
You might’ve heard about CD rot. CD rot is a broad term used to describe a certain type of degradation that renders the disc unreadable. CD rot happens from the inside out, meaning that it’s not the owner’s fault. However, improper storage can hasten the process. It’s very real thing, but concern about it is very much blown out of proportion, especially by the vinyl-only crowd. People with collections in the thousands have reported no CD rot whereas people with only a few dozen CDs have reported that half their collection has rotted away. Personally, I think it just comes down to bad luck and bad storage. A few manufacturers are known to have made discs throughout the 80s and early 90s that are prone to rot, such as PDO UK. Never buy a PDO UK disc. It’s simply not worth it.
7. CD Packaging.
Jewel cases are the default CD packaging. They were the first package for CDs and the vast majority of CDs come in them. They protect the disc and the paper inserts, and are preferred by most collectors for that reason and because of how easily they stack. Jewel cases have two main variants: clear trays and black trays. Do yourself a favor and buy some of both, because you’ll need some spares if you collect for long enough. One con of jewel cases is that they are easily scuffed and cracked, but they are just as easily disassembled and parts can be replaced easily.
Digipaks and cardboard sleeves are less common but still available. CDs that were released or re-issued in the mid 2000s are especially vulnerable to these styles of packaging. Personally, I think both are garbage. Cardboard sleeves are the least durable of the three main packaging styles, and they can also scratch up the CD. Digipaks have the same plastic tray as a jewel case, but a cardboard cover and back. As you may expect, neither of these options are particularly durable, neither of them protect the CD, and neither of them can be replaced. If you get a CD in this packaging, do yourself a favor and throw away the original packaging or put it in storage, then put it in a jewel case as soon as possible. You can print out the cover artwork and create your own inlay on a paint program. The proper dimensions for printing are 4.78″ x 4.78″ and 4.69″ x 5.78″ respectively.
