[Mrluvaluva]

From The Sun

STORE chain Asda is to stop selling CD singles.

The decision follows a slump in sales of the format, now overtaken by internet music downloads.

Asda is one of the five top CD sellers in the UK along with Woolworths, HMV, Virgin and Tesco — some of whom are also believed to be considering ditching singles.

Supermarket group Asda, which accounts for 15 per cent of the market, will fill the shelf space with CD albums costing around £7.90 in what promises to be a new price war.

It will also work more closely with record companies to promote new local talent and offer the chance for UK bands and customers to approach Asda with potential hit new acts.

Legal downloads have counted towards official chart sales since March last year. Online sales have leaped from 23 per cent of the market to 77 per cent in two years and CD singles now account for only 22 per cent.

Tracks bought from online services, such as iTunes, cost around 79p while CD singles, below, are £3 in shops.

CDs were introduced in 1982, with single versions following a few years later to replace vinyl 45rpm records which had been used since 1955.

Asda music buyer Andy Powell said: “The single will always be a historic icon in the music world, but customers just aren’t buying them any more.”

[Matt]

Sigh. What a convenience it was. *Reverts to downloads pemanently*