[dsk2012]

Never. First, CD audio quality is good enough. Second, the market is in transition (already transitioned?) to a pure digital format, distributed either via flat files (e.g. mp3s), or via SaaS streaming services.

Similarly, Blu-ray is probably the last physical format for movies.

[macchina]

Well there is still an option for so called high definition digital downloads. Although MP3 audio quality is good enough, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of companies marketing "high frequency" "lossless" recordings at a premium price.

[runjake]

NPR mentioned this morning that digital music download sales far exceed physical media music sales already. This might explain there being virtually no record stores around anymore.

[squarecat]

Heard that story this morning: http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/10/01/162062347/the-...

Made me consider stockpiling a supply of CD players to gouge future hipsters with...

[razzmataz]

It's not 'far exceed' - last year was the first that digital sales exceeded CD sales, by something less than a percentage point. Still, it's nothing to sneeze at.