Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Here’s a news flash: CDs are no longer a commodity. And that’s a big shift from where we were some 20 years ago. Back then, if you were an artist, you had to make CDs. And if you were a fan, you had to buy them to hear the music. CDs were often cheapened with eight filler songs to accompany the two hits on the album. It was functional, transactional, and pretty much unavoidable.
Table of Contents:
• How CDs have shifted
• What a CD means today
• CD economics
• How Disc Makers approaches CD manufacturing
• The fan experience
• Conclusion
How CDs have shifted
But today, streaming has taken over that role. Music is everywhere, instantly accessible, and basically free. So now, when an artist decides to make CDs or vinyl, it’s no longer a necessity — it’s a choice. And when a fan buys physical media, that’s a choice, too. They’re not buying it because they have to. They’re buying it because they want to — to support you, to own something real, and to take home a piece of the experience. This means something important in the psychology of delivering music that many artists miss.
What a CD means today
Your CD is no longer just a delivery format. It’s a statement. Your CD says, “I’m serious about my music. I’ve arrived. This matters.” And because of that, CDs today have become premium merch.
CD economics
Think about it. A fan will spend $15 or $20 on your CD, even though they could go home and stream your music for free. So when they make that choice, what are you giving them? Because that disc, that package, that artwork — that becomes a physical representation of you as an artist. And that’s not where you want to cut corners.
How Disc Makers approaches CD manufacturing
Here at Disc Makers, we’ve built everything around this reality. Heavier board stock, brighter, more accurate colors thanks to our G7 color certified printing. And to my knowledge, we’re the only physical media manufacturer in the US that is G7-certified.
Our CDs come with a high-gloss UV coating or a silky matte finish that we include when nobody else does it. This makes your package look amazing and protects it from the scuffing that comes with repeated handling.
The fan experience
If a fan is going to spend money on your music, they should feel great about what they just got. And every time they look at it, it should remind them this artist is the real deal. That’s why fans buy CDs even if they don’t have a CD player. It’s because they want to support you.
Conclusion
In 2026, CDs aren’t a commodity anymore. They’re a reflection of who you are, and that’s worth getting right, even if it costs a few pennies more. When you’re ready to order physical media, get a free quote from Disc Makers!
You can watch the original version of this blog as part of our Indie Music Minute series on the Disc Makers YouTube Channel.
Tony van Veen
Tony van Veen is the CEO of DIY Media Group, the parent company of Disc Makers and BookBaby. As a college student, he played in indie bands, created his own LPs, cassettes, and t-shirts, and sold them at shows. Today, he collects CDs, vinyl LPs, and concert t-shirts to support the artists he loves.
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