In celebration of the single
Whatever happened to the CD single? For that matter, whatever became of B-sides?
The single, be it on crispy, black shellac or in ether-based digital form, remains the heart and the soul of music. The single was the record industry from the early Sun Record days of Elvis until Sgt. Pepper proved to record company stooges that, for an extra buck or two, 12 singles on the same shiny black disc could be mega-profitable.
Its death was as lamentable as its recent resurgence via iTunes is celebratory.
Admittedly, modern digital singles lack the luster of a UK 7-inch backed with, in the derisive wit of Morrissey, an “extra track and a tacky badge.” The modern single is a stripped down promotional tool with no collector cache.
However, digital singles allow for greater exposure for artists from Sade to Spoon. For less than a cup of coffee, I myself would, and have, download just about anyone short of Juice Newton! The truth is I am more likely to buy music from a broader pool of artists because of the digital single.
For the industry to survive, embracing the single format is crucial to long-term stability.
Hopefully the suits will learn from their past transgressions and keep the lifeblood pumping to the heart of the beast.
CCSS Nexus promo