Today, the Compact Disc (CD) celebrates its 43rd anniversary since its commercial debut in 1982. On August 17th, Polygram’s plant in Langenhagen, Germany, pressed the first copies of ABBA’s The Visitors, launching a technological revolution that would mark the end of vinyl and magnetic tape dominance.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the CD became the unquestioned king of the music industry and later a crucial component of personal computing, thanks to the rise of CD-ROM and its various formats. By the early 2000s, it was moving nearly 1 billion units annually, an unprecedented volume for a physical format.
Now, in the streaming era, the CD has lost its throne but retains a cult following and a loyal audience that keeps it alive.
Origins: a partnership between Sony and Philips
The project started in 1979 through collaboration between Philips and Sony. Both sought an optical support that would surpass vinyl in audio quality and durability. The 12-centimeter disk size was set, according to the most repeated story, to contain Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony—74 minutes of music favored by Sony’s president, Norio Ohga.
In 1980, the two companies published the Red Book, the standard defining technical specifications for the Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA): 44.1 kHz sampling rate, 16 bits per sample, stereo sound. This guaranteed much higher audio quality than analog tapes and complete absence of noise or distortion.
Expansion and global boom
The first players and discs hit Japan in October 1982. They expanded to Europe and the U.S. by March 1983. Billy Joel’s 52nd Street was the first album officially released on CD in the U.S. market.
In 1985, Dire Straits broke records with Brothers in Arms, the first album to surpass one million copies sold on CD. By the mid-1990s, the format had displaced vinyl and cassettes in nearly all markets.
Its peak came around 2000, with 943 million CDs sold solely in the U.S., accounting for over 90% of the music market.
Beyond music: textbooks and computing
The CD standards family is organized into what are known as the Rainbow Books, each with different specifications:
- Red Book (1980): Audio CD (CD-DA).
- Yellow Book (1983): CD-ROM for data storage.
- Green Book (1986): CD-i (Compact Disc-Interactive), with multimedia content.
- Orange Book (1990): CD-R and CD-RW, recordable and rewritable.
- White Book (1993): Video CD (VCD).
- Blue Book (1995): Enhanced CD, mixing data and music.
- Scarlet Book (1999): SACD (Super Audio CD).
These standards enabled the format to extend beyond music to include video games, software, digital encyclopedias like Encarta, VCD movies, and interactive albums.
How a CD works: the laser’s role
A CD is a 120 mm diameter and 1.2 mm thick disc composed of multiple layers:
- Polycarbonate substrate: where tiny indentations called pits are molded.
- Reflective metallic layer (usually aluminum): reflects the laser.
- Protective lacquer: guards the metallic layer.
- Printed label.
Data is stored in a continuous spiral of pits and lands (flat areas) just 0.5 micrometers wide, starting near the center and extending outward to the edge.
When the disc spins, an 780 nm infrared laser emits a beam onto the surface. The transition between pit and land causes changes in reflected light intensity, which are interpreted as binary data.
The CIRC (Cross-Interleaved Reed-Solomon Code) error correction system ensures minor scratches or dust particles don’t impact playback, allowing a CD to sound perfect despite surface defects that would ruin a vinyl record.
Recordable and rewritable CDs
The introduction of CD-R in 1990 enabled users to burn discs at home. These use a photosensitive organic dye: the recording laser burns tiny points to simulate pressed CD pits.
Decline with the rise of digital
The early 21st century marked the decline of the CD. The rise of MP3s, P2P file sharing platforms like Napster, and later streaming services, drastically reduced sales.
In 2018, in the U.S., only about 52 million units were sold—a far cry from the 943 million in 2000.
An unexpected revival
Since 2021, there’s been a resurgence. Artists like Taylor Swift, Adele, and BTS release multiple editions on CD for collectors. Countries like Japan and France maintain a significant market share: in 2023, France sold 10.5 million CDs compared to 5.4 million vinyl records.
The appeal lies in the tangibility and collection experience. In a fleeting digital world, owning a CD again feels like a form of cultural resistance.
Legacy and future
The CD not only transformed music but was pivotal in the transition to the digital age: introduced the public to binary format for music and data. Its optical technology remains the foundation for DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
Today, although niche, the CD continues to serve as a reliable physical medium—cost-effective with a lifespan of decades.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How exactly is data read on a CD?
An infrared 780 nm laser illuminates the disc surface. When the beam moves from a land (flat area) to a pit (indentation), the reflected light phase shifts, which the photodiode interprets as a “1” or “0.”What are the Rainbow Books and why are they important?
They are technical manuals defining various CD standards. They made universal compatibility between discs and players possible, and extended the format to data, video, and high-resolution audio uses.What is the maximum capacity of a CD?
The original standard was 650 MB (74 minutes of audio), later extended to 700 MB (80 minutes). There are versions up to 870 MB or 99 minutes, but these are less common and less compatible.How long does a CD last?
Pressed CDs can last between 30 and 100 years. CD-Rs typically last 20 to 50 years, while CD-RWs have a somewhat shorter lifespan due to the wear of their phase-change alloy.