The end of the physical entity!

Does anyone remember 1998? I struggle, but I'm thinking specifically of an event. Its when, in my eyes, the release of the recorded sound, as a physical format, began to die. The powers that be, that regulate the pop charts, decided that CD single releases, more specifically its length or track amount, had to be changed. No longer could a band release 4 tracks per format, or E.Ps if you will, that could still be allowed to register a chart placing. At the time, and in my purest guise, i chose to believe this was pandering to the chart acts that either couldn't or didn't write there own songs (and i included those that either covered or destroyed original material, by singing very badly, in harmony over a computerized backing track, or those who just took a song, ripped the heart and soul out of it, and replaced it with a sanitized, club thumping beat and electronic bleeps and beeps). I believed they couldn't fill four tracks on a CD with original material and as they, unfortunately, constituted the majority of the charts, this had to be changed. After all, there are only so many remixes you can do before they all start sounding the same. One.
Now, i don't intend to use this to demonstrate my music snobbery, but i do believe that you have to write your own songs and be able to play an instrument to be classed as an artist. And before you throw a number of the greatest frontmen alive at me, Mick Jagger, Liam Gallagher, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey et al could all play something.

I just can't help but reminisce about those days. I used to be an avid singles collector, maybe compensating for the lack of vinyl that i started hoarding in the late 80's, and it meant something. There were some great B-side bands when they were allowed to release B-sides, Oasis and Mansun, the best in my opinion. There are only a few bands that release B-sides albums and be held in the same esteem as their LP releases. Those two being the ultimate at their craft.

As the age of the physical release draws close, its hard not to feel that music is becoming disposable, "throw away". You hear a song, you like it, you identify it using your mobile phone, you log on to i-tunes, you download it, you stick it on your i-pod. Done. That's it, you listen to it occasionally, and you forget about it. There's no anticipation. You don't have to wait to buy and listen to an album or a song, its there almost instantaneously. Its not treasured. There's no real collection there, its all digital. Lifeless.

I will admit that in certain instances, it is useful to find that song you lost, or you literally cannot find, and i have no doubt people discover bands and may well buy the album, but it is how they buy that is the problem. People cannot say it isn't the end of the CD. Its not even just the indie shops that are suffering. The credit crunch is effecting all types of business', but Zavvi are in major trouble and HMV are losing out hand over fist.

Soon, maybe be not next week or next month or even next year, but sooner than you think, you won't be able to buy a CD.