Downloads kill off CD singles

Woolworths has stopped selling CD singles in half of its 820 stores, blaming the popularity of music downloads for killing off the format.

It has said that it will now only stock CD singles for one-off event releases, such as for winners of talent shows such as X-Factor, as these would still sell in vast numbers.

Jim Batchelor, Woolworths commercial director, said: "Digital downloading is now the true customer choice for listening and purchasing single music tracks.

"CDs are alive and well for album sales, but unfortunately the physical singles market is in terminal decline," Batchelor continued.

However, Woolworths has revamped the Woolworths Download website which offers music, games, videos and content for mobile phones.

It has put itself directly in competition with Tesco, which recently launched an online music store where you can download music in MP3 format as well as games and movies.

The two high-street retailers also sell 'white label' software including word-processing and image-editing packages in their stores.

Web User has compiled a list of the most ingenious ways to use an unwanted compact disc.

www.woolworthsdownload.co.uk