Why Physical Media Matters More Than Ever

Most people just watch whatever's on their streaming services, there's certainly plenty of content. But many have noticed disappearing series, edited content, and altogether unavailable classics.

The Death and Defiance of Physical Media: Why Owning CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays Matters More Than Ever

The era of physical media—CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, books, and video games—appears to be fading, with major retailers like Best Buy and Netflix abandoning discs and streaming dominating entertainment. Best Buy’s 2023 decision to phase out physical media sales, both in-store and online, followed Netflix’s shutdown of its DVD-by-mail service, marking a symbolic end to a once-thriving industry. Walmart and Target have slashed disc shelf space, and Ingram Entertainment, a major distributor, exited the business entirely. Yet, despite this decline, physical media remains a vital bulwark against the precarious nature of digital ownership in an online media environment. Far from obsolete, owning tangible copies of films, music, and games ensures control, quality, and cultural preservation in ways streaming and digital purchases cannot match. This article explores why physical media is perceived as dying, why it’s still critical, and how its niche resilience offers a counterpoint to the volatility of digital content.

The Decline of Physical Media: A Market in Retreat

The narrative of physical media’s demise is rooted in stark economic and cultural shifts. In 2006, DVDs alone generated billions in revenue, with retailers like Walmart using new releases as loss leaders to drive store traffic. By 2023, consumer spending on DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs had plummeted to less than 10% of that peak, with nearly 90% of home entertainment dollars flowing to streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video. Netflix’s DVD business, once a $1 billion enterprise, dwindled to $146 million by 2022 before closing, its final disc—a copy of True Grit—mailed in September 2023. Best Buy’s exit, justified by a spokesperson citing the dominance of streaming, reflects a broader retail trend: Walmart cut its physical media footprint by 20%, Target removed DVD endcaps, and many stores now prioritize electronics or collectibles over discs.

Streaming’s convenience and vast libraries have reshaped consumer habits. Services like Disney+, Max, and Netflix offer instant access to thousands of titles, often at a lower upfront cost than buying discs. Digital purchases on platforms like iTunes or Amazon Prime Video seem like ownership but come with fine print: you’re licensing content, not owning it. This shift has reduced physical media to a niche market, with e-commerce (44% of disc sales in 2022) and specialty retailers like Barnes & Noble stepping in as big-box stores retreat. The music industry’s vinyl resurgence—physical formats hit $880 million in 2023, per the RIAA—hints at a possible revival, but for now, physical media’s mainstream dominance is a distant memory.

Why Physical Media Still Matters

Despite its decline, physical media’s importance has grown in an era where digital content is fleeting and controlled by corporations. Here are the key reasons why owning CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, books, and games remains essential:

1. True Ownership in a World of Licenses

The most compelling argument for physical media is ownership. Digital purchases on platforms like Prime Video, iTunes, or Sony’s PlayStation Store are licenses, not possessions. Studios or platforms can remove content at will, leaving “owners” empty-handed. For example, Warner Bros. Discovery purged thousands of hours from Max, including Westworld, and Disney+ and Hulu have culled titles to cut costs. Sony’s PlayStation Store recently removed Discovery shows from users’ libraries, despite purchases. Even Netflix, once a comprehensive library, now rotates content based on licensing deals. A Reddit user lamented losing iTunes tracks and videos, underscoring the risk of relying on digital platforms.

Physical media eliminates this uncertainty. A Blu-ray of Point Break or a CD of Re-Animator is yours forever, immune to corporate whims. As forum user Fruitbat1919 noted, physical copies preserve original versions, unaffected by altered lyrics or edits that digital platforms might impose. This permanence is especially vital for collectors and fans of obscure titles, like David Cronenberg’s Crash, which often vanish from streaming or digital purchase options. Physical ownership ensures access, making it a defiant act against the ephemerality of digital media.

2. Superior Quality for Audiophiles and Cinephiles

Streaming sacrifices quality for accessibility. To deliver content over the internet, platforms compress data, resulting in lower resolution and audio fidelity. A 4K Blu-ray, with its uncompressed data, outshines streamed versions, offering sharper visuals and richer sound. For instance, the clouds in Jordan Peele’s Nope or the webbing in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man reveal details lost in Netflix or Prime Video’s compressed streams. Forum user richardyot emphasized that streaming 4K HDR isn’t yet viable, making Blu-rays essential for pristine quality.

Audio follows suit. Blu-rays typically support 7.1 surround sound, while streamers often cap at 5.1 with reduced fidelity. The Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, praised for its Dolby Vision support, exemplifies the hardware advantage for enthusiasts. Unlike consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X, which lack Dolby Vision for discs, dedicated players deliver the full cinematic experience. For music, CDs and vinyl offer uncompressed audio, a draw for audiophiles like gusgranite, who owns 5,000 CDs and recently bought a new player. Physical media’s quality edge is undeniable for those who prioritize the artist’s intended experience.

3. Supporting Artists and Preserving Culture

Physical media sales directly support creators through residuals, a critical issue highlighted by the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Streaming residuals are contentious, with platforms removing titles to cut costs, depriving artists of future earnings. DVD and Blu-ray sales, however, provide a reliable revenue stream. Studios once budgeted for post-theatrical disc sales, and while streaming disrupted this model, physical sales remain a lifeline for artists, especially for indie projects or cult classics like The Monster Squad, reissued on 4K Blu-ray.

Physical media also preserves cultural artifacts. Streaming platforms prioritize popular titles, leaving niche or older works—like art films noted by forum user Carnbot—in limbo. Specialty labels like Criterion Collection, Arrow Video, and Shout! Factory maintain access to these gems, often with extras like commentaries and behind-the-scenes content unavailable online. The Paramount Scares box set, with its stickers and pins, exemplifies the tactile allure of physical editions. By owning discs, fans ensure films like Cocoon or Wild at Heart remain accessible, safeguarding cinematic history against digital purges.

4. A Collector’s Market with Economic Viability

The collector’s market is thriving, fueled by limited editions and nostalgia. Barnes & Noble’s Bill Castle reported growth in 4K and Steelbook sales, with the chain expanding Criterion and Disney inventories. E-commerce, led by Amazon and specialty sites like ShoutFactory.com, accounted for 44% of disc sales in 2022, with Alliance Entertainment noting a 30% year-over-year increase. Indie filmmaker Kyle Prohaska highlighted the profitability of DVDs and Blu-rays, citing less competition and higher-paying audiences willing to invest in physical copies. A $20 DVD sale, with $12 profit after costs, far outpaces streaming rentals, where margins are razor-thin.

Social media amplifies this trend, with influencers like Jeff Rauseo of Films At Home championing physical media on YouTube. TikTok and Instagram collectors showcase “hauls,” emphasizing ownership’s permanence. Studio Distribution Services’ Eddie Cunningham noted softening sales declines (down to 5% year-over-year), suggesting a vinyl-like resurgence. For collectors, physical media is an investment, not just a purchase, with Steelbooks and anniversary editions driving demand.

5. Extras and Tangible Experiences

Physical media offers extras that streaming rarely matches. Criterion’s Parasite or Arrow’s Re-Animator include commentaries, documentaries, and booklets, enriching the fan experience. These features, once standard, are now treasures from labels catering to cinephiles. Books, too, provide a tactile joy—forum user Fruitbat1919 prefers “weighty tomes” over e-readers—while vinyl and CDs offer album art that digital files lack. The physical act of curating a collection, as gusgranite enjoys with his CDs, fosters a deeper connection to media, unlike the transient nature of playlists or watchlists.

The Resilience of Physical Media

Despite retail pullbacks, physical media persists through dedicated channels. Barnes & Noble, with 600+ stores, is doubling down, opening 40 new locations in 2023 and planning 50 more. GameStop and Fred Meyer signed deals with Studio Distribution Services to stock discs, and Walmart remains the top brick-and-mortar retailer, offering exclusive Steelbooks. E-commerce giants like Amazon and niche sites like DiabolikDVD cater to collectors, while record stores, buoyed by vinyl’s revival, support CDs and DVDs. Shout! Studios’ John Rotella emphasized that consumers don’t stop buying discs when retailers exit—they seek out alternatives like FYE or Barnes & Noble.

The music industry’s physical media rebound—vinyl and CD sales up in 2023—offers a blueprint. Like vinyl’s bonus tracks, DVDs and Blu-rays leverage extras and quality to attract buyers. Indie filmmakers, as Prohaska noted, can capitalize on this by bundling discs with merch, boosting profits through direct sales. The forum reflects this split: while users like michael_m embrace digital for decluttering, collectors like Spidericemidas cherish overflowing CD and vinyl collections, valuing their permanence and nostalgia.

Challenges and Considerations

Physical media isn’t without drawbacks. It’s bulky—jo92346 abandoned discs for mobility—and requires careful handling, as 4K Blu-rays are fragile, per Jeff Rauseo. For filmmakers, producing and shipping DVDs is labor-intensive, though fulfillment houses can ease the burden at a cost. Digital’s convenience and lower upfront price appeal to casual viewers, and streaming’s dominance (84% of music revenue, 90% of video) overshadows discs. Yet, these challenges underscore physical media’s niche appeal: it’s for those who value quality, ownership, and cultural preservation over fleeting access.

Conclusion: A Defiant Stand for Control

Physical media may be down, but it’s far from out. The exits of Best Buy, Netflix, and Ingram signal a market in retreat, yet the rise of e-commerce, specialty retailers, and collector fervor proves its enduring relevance. In an online media environment where streaming content vanishes and digital purchases are licenses at risk, owning CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, books, and games is a defiant act of control. It guarantees access to Top Gun: Maverick in 4K, Re-Animator on Blu-ray, or a first-edition novel, free from corporate purges. It delivers unmatched quality, supports artists, and preserves culture. As Barnes & Noble’s Bill Castle and collectors on forums attest, physical media’s tactile joy and permanence resonate deeply. For cinephiles, audiophiles, and gamers, it’s not just nostalgia—it’s a stand for owning what you love in a world where digital promises can disappear overnight.