Collectable CDs setting a new record (2024)

FAQs

Are CD collections worth anything? ›

If you're wondering “are CDs worth anything”, you should know there's a lot of value in those old CDs, especially if you're an audiophile. These days, some streaming services are losing their luster – with some famous artists like Neil Young taking down entire catalogs.

While collectors generally pay well over the odds to get their hands on a rare records or even VHS tapes, the same is also true of CDs. Among other things, anything with a limited release, or which was pulled from distribution shortly after release, can generally expect to fetch a hefty sum.

It can be difficult to find recycling options, but you shouldn't throw your CDs in the trash. It's estimated that it will take more than 1 million years for a CD to completely decompose in a landfill.

Compared to vinyl, CDs are able to produce a wider dynamic range and more bass. Plus they're not going to skip (unless scratched).

Donate old CDs

Your local library might take CD or DVD donations, but if not, most thrift stores and secondhand shops will likely accept them.

Absolutely! Although streaming and digital music are the most popular ways to listen these days, lots of people prefer the collectable nature and superior sound quality of CDs. This demand means that the vast majority of CDs are still worth something - and the amount you can make soon adds up!

Like all fixed income securities, CD prices are particularly susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the market price of outstanding CDs will generally decline, creating a potential loss should you decide to sell them in the secondary market.

One way is to check for SID codes (Source Identification Codes) on the CD's hub. They were introduced in September 1994, so anything with a SID Code can't be older than that.

How much should I sell my CDs for? ›

Recent releases in good condition might average $2.00 to $10.00 STORE CREDIT, with some being worth more. CDs: CDs do not sell as well as they used to. For titles that do still sell strongly and are in very good condition, we typically offer between $2 and $4 STORE CREDIT (or 50% of the credit value in cash).

Coming back indeed. Physical music sales – primarily vinyl records, but CDs, too, and even cassettes – increased 4% in 2022, the RIAA said.

I've found that the best platform/method for selling CDs is EBay, with “Buy it now” listings. If you sell less than 50 items per month on EBay, there are no insertion fees and total basic fees are 10% of the value of the sale. EBay even offers discounted USPS postage, which lowers the total cost of sale.

CDs and DVDs can be reliable for many decades with proper handling. As with all other types of media, degradation is inevitable over time, but steps can be taken to help prevent it from occurring prematurely.

Why CDs? The theories behind the increase are many: some say it was driven by vinyl shortages, while others tout the format's premium sound quality. Another major factor is cost. At Discmakers a limited run of 100 CDs in full-color jackets can cost around $2 each.

One major drawback of a CD is that account holders can't easily access their money if an unanticipated need arises. They typically have to pay a penalty for early withdrawals, which can eat up interest and can even result in the loss of principal. “During times of uncertainty, liquidity is often paramount.

There's no limit on the number of CDs you can have and it's possible to have multiple CDs at the same bank or different financial institutions.

How do you make money from old CDs? ›

Among the manufacturers that have done testing, there is consensus that, under recommended storage conditions, CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R discs should have a life expectancy of 100 to 200 years or more; CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM discs should have a life expectancy of 25 years or more.

Audio CD. The logical format of an audio CD (officially Compact Disc Digital Audio or CD-DA) is described in a document produced in 1980 by the format's joint creators, Sony and Philips. The document is known colloquially as the Red Book CD-DA after the color of its cover.

Best Buy is abandoning the humble CD and will no longer sell them in its stores starting on July 1st, 2018, reports Billboard. The move comes as CD sales continue to decline; revenue from digital music downloads eclipsed it back in 2014.

Compared to stocks or other securities, CDs are a relatively safe investment since your money is held at a bank. The biggest risk to CD accounts is usually an interest-rate risk, as federal rate cuts could lead banks to pay out less to savers. Bank failure is also a risk, though this is a rarity.

CDs are generally considered to be a safe investment, even during times of market turmoil. This is because CDs are issued by banks and are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. In addition, if your bank fails, the FDIC will step in and ensure your deposits of up to $250,000.

A one-year CD with a $10,000 opening deposit that earns a yield of 5 percent would be worth around $10,500 when it matures in 12 months' time. This high-yielding one-year CD would earn you around $332 more in total interest than a CD earning the national average rate.

The publisher may actually state the words 'first edition' or 'first printing' on the copyright page. Another common method of identification is the number line – that's a line of numbers on the copyright page. Usually, if a one is present in the line then it's a first edition.

The first album to be released on CD was Billy Joel's 52nd Street, that reached the market alongside Sony's CD player CDP-101 on October 1, 1982 in Japan.

Story highlights. On October 1, 1982, the first commercial compact disc, Billy Joel's “52nd Street,” was released in Japan. In the 30 years since, hundreds of billions of CDs have been sold, Joel has stopped recording pop music and the music industry has moved on to the next hot medium.

Are CDs still profitable? ›

While the profit from selling a CD may seem very small at first glance, it is significantly higher than the earnings for downloads or streams. Therefore, CDs are still an important source of income for musicians.

Recording industry figures show sales of new CDs saw an upward bump in 2021 — the first in 20 years. Sales settled slightly through the middle of last year but are still higher than 2020. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, CDs accounted for almost $200 million in sales through mid-2022.

Future of physical CDs

Streaming continues to take an ever larger share of the recorded music market increasing 19.9% in 2020 to make up 62.1% of global music industry revenues. In the US streaming accounted for 84% of the recorded music market in 2022 with digital downloads continuing to decline.

High-interest CD rates are back — shop around for the best 5%+ deals. To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve has continued to raise interest rates throughout 2022 and into this year. As interest rates continue to rise due to these Fed hikes, so do rates on savings accounts and CDs.

If the disc has a heavy accumulation of dirt, try rinsing it with water first. Use commercially available water-based detergent formulated for cleaning the surface of optical discs. Use isopropyl alcohol or methanol, as an alternate to water-based detergents, to clean the disc surface.

Absolutely! Although streaming and digital music are the most popular ways to listen these days, lots of people prefer the collectable nature and superior sound quality of CDs. This demand means that the vast majority of CDs are still worth something - and the amount you can make soon adds up!

Recording industry figures show sales of new CDs saw an upward bump in 2021 — the first in 20 years. Sales settled slightly through the middle of last year but are still higher than 2020. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, CDs accounted for almost $200 million in sales through mid-2022.

A certificate of deposit that is insured and is held until its maturity date cannot lose money. For this reason, CDs are considered one of the very safest and lowest-risk savings vehicles available. But, that said, you may not earn as much interest as you could elsewhere.

How much does it cost to cash out a CD? ›

How much is a CD penalty? CD early withdrawal penalties vary from one financial institution to another. However, you can generally expect the CD penalty expressed as a period's worth of interest, such as 90 days' interest or 18 months' interest.

Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever.

LP sales jumped by more than 50 percent in 2021, surpassing both digital and CD album sales. According to MRC Data, 41.7 million LPs were sold in the U.S. last year, up more than 45-fold compared to 2006 when the vinyl comeback began.