The price of CDs these days.

​I’ve been noticing over the past few years the steady increase in the price of CDs - and over just the past year, the skyrocketing price of CDs. One notable example is the explosion of prices for Naxos CDs. Well known as being a “budget” label, you now see Amazon listing Naxos titles anywhere from $14-$17 for older titles and a whopping $20 for new releases. While Presto Classical in England (where I get most of my CDs) lists their Naxos CDs for $14.25 across the board. It’s simply unthinkable to pay this kind of money for a Naxos disc now, and I’ve all but stopped buying them - unless it’s something absolutely indispensable that I absolutely must have and it’s on sale. Or I wait and find a used copy.
 
I’ve also noticed the price has jumped up even more on other labels as well - most up to around $21-$22 now in the U.S. (Amazon, ArkivMusic, etc.) and over $17 in Europe - plus shipping. And unbelievably, just this past week during the time I've been writing this commentary, prices have gone up even more! Presto just upped their list price for Chandos to $19 (with a "sale price" of $17.10), and BIS titles to $18 - while Amazon now lists them for a whopping $25! What the hell is going on? Even for "premium" labels that’s way too much - absurdly so when the CD market has shrunk so much it's practically obsolete. So to charge the few of us who still buy CDs (and even fewer buying SACDs) such exorbitant prices is unconscionable.

I’m even seeing similar price increases from small independent labels too. For instance, the defunct Delos label is under new ownership now and purportedly making a comeback. They're listing a new September release at $24 on Amazon. Oh wait - they just upped it again, just today, to an absurd $26. And a new Alpha Classics title I'm watching is coming out next week for $21. And I have to ask - do they really think people are going to buy their product at these prices? Legitimate question. 
 
And I'm not lured by reduced pricing on the download or streaming versions either. I don’t do that - for several reasons. I have optimized (and continually upgraded) my stereo system over the past 30 years to sound its best at CD reproduction. And streaming (or worse, MP3) just doesn’t live up. Plus I like holding the physical product in my hand and actually reading the booklet. And most important of all, I like the simplicity of a CD - load it in the player, press play and instantly hear music. No futzing around with internet connections and websites and subscriptions and download speeds and all that. I’m old-fashioned (or perhaps more accurately, simply getting old) and I admit I’m set in my ways. But I’ve assembled a collection of over 10,000 CDs over the past 40 years and I’m not about to change how I listen to music now - so long as they're still making CD players when mine ever fails (which is a real concern).
 
So I still buy all my music on CD, and almost all new CDs from Presto Classical in the U.K. They consistently offer considerably reduced prices compared to the U.S., along with fairly reasonable shipping rates (at least they used to be - more below), and quick delivery, considering it’s coming from Europe (usually getting here in about 10 days). Their website is very user-friendly and they have excellent customer service too - with real people who are knowledgeable and actually care, and actually respond to inquiries. (Try getting that from Amazon!) But lately I’ve been seeing their shipping rates creeping up quite dramatically for no explainable reason. And their sale prices are becoming less substantial and more selectively applied. So I know they're feeling the heat even there in Europe, where Classical music is still considered important (compared to the U.S. market). And I’m becoming even more concerned than ever.

For those relatively few titles I feel I absolutely must have, I’ll either watch for a good sale price or patiently wait for a used copy from a reliable Amazon Marketplace seller. (I actually buy a lot of used CDs.) And I will pass over others that I previously might have taken a serious look at, but which now seem less enticing or necessary at the current asking prices. Sadly, I’ll take fewer chances on something more adventurous - whether it be repertoire or unknown artists - and focus on the most desirable titles which offer the most reasonable expectation of being excellent, particularly with regard to recorded sound, musical content and the potential for rewarding performances. 
 
Ultimately that is a real shame. And terribly dispiriting. A gratifying and essential part of collecting Classical music recordings (it’s more than a mere hobby, it's a passion) is taking chances and discovering something (or someone) new. But it’s not as fun with such a cost involved, only to be disappointed when it isn’t everything you hoped it would be. But reality is reality. I’ve got to be prudent in my spending now more than ever - while keeping a certain amount in the budget for good wine too!