The CD comeback hits a roadblock as car manufacturers shift gears to streaming.
After 40 long years, the last new car model with a built-in CD player has left the production line. Ironically, this industry-wide change happens just as CD sales are going up for the first time since 2004.
The End of In-Car CD Players
Subaru, the last car maker to keep CD players, recently said goodbye to them in its Forester SUV.
The Forester lost its CD player during a model update in early 2024. Meaning, it’s now in line with Subaru’s lineup, effectively ending the era of factory-installed CD players in new cars for all mainstream UK brands.
This follows the wider trend of car manufacturers focusing on digital connectivity through systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
And who can blame them? Streaming has become the dominant form of music consumption.
While physical format sales are going up, paid subscriptions to music streaming services still win by billions. They’ve grown by 4% to $5.7 billion, now accounting for nearly two-thirds of total mid-year revenue in the music industry.
It’s hard to believe that just a year ago, several models from Subaru, Porsche, and Lexus, still had single-disc CD players as standard. But it’s a clear sign that we’re stepping into a new era in how we consume music on the road.
Consumer Pushback and Growing Demand
The car industry’s decision to get rid of CD players hasn’t gone unnoticed, and it’s causing quite a stir.
For instance, Kim Bayley, CEO of the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association (ERA), openly criticized the decision.
The 15% may seem like a small number. But it’s actually roughly seven million people or 20% of those with active driving licenses.
Surprisingly, the extinction of in-car CD players comes at a time when CD sales are experiencing a resurgence.
ERA data shows a 3.2% year-on-year increase in CD sales during the first half of 2024, marking the format’s first growth since 2004.
And, according to the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) mid-year report, CD revenue has nearly tripled digital album sales in the first half of 2024.
To put this into perspective, Bayley pointed out that Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” sold 172,000 CDs in the UK alone.
That’s more than the combined sales of the three best-selling cars in the UK last year!
Consumer frustration is also evident in recent surveys.
In the latest Which? Car Reliability Survey, many respondents said they were unhappy about the lack of CD players in their new cars. Owners of different car models clearly stated they didn’t like this missing feature.
Alternatives for CD Fans
For those unwilling to part with their CD collections on the road, options are limited but not entirely exhausted.
If you’re in the market for a new car with a CD player, you might need to explore older models that still feature the technology.
Besides, buying a new car doesn’t necessarily mean getting the latest model year. So, you can still find recent vehicles that include CD players.
Another option is to purchase a portable CD player and connect it to your car’s entertainment system via USB or auxiliary input.
But, for those ready to embrace digital options, many new cars work well with smartphones through Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This lets you easily use your streaming services so you can access your music without physical CDs.