The Death of the CD

I just took took my wife to see P.S. I Love You (probably the best date movie I've seen this year).  After the movie we stopped at Wal-Mart and grabbed the soundtrack to the movie. I did this because I don't have the cable for my iPod with me and wanted to enjoy the music from the movie on my way home (we're on vacation in Texas). 

Here's the problem though...the CD cost me $14.88.  After listening to the whole album I realized I only like 4 of the songs...that means I paid $3.72 per song...for songs that I could have purchased on iTunes for $0.99 each.  Or...I could have purchased the whole album for $9.99 on iTunes skipping the inevitable step of loading the CD into iTunes so I can have them on my iPod. I made the comment to the three other folks in the car with me, "I don't think I'll ever buy a CD again."  Is music packaged as albums and sold on CD's really dead...probably not yet, but I think it will be soon.

I have a lot of friends who are professional musicians...I think this change has significant implications for the way they should be creating and packaging their music.