USB albums the latest craze?

Is the demise of the CD nigh? It’s a question the record industry may be asking this month after local outfit Sneaky Sound System released their latest album on USB stick.

Is the demise of the CD nigh? It’s a question the record industry may be asking this month after local outfit Sneaky Sound System released their latest album on USB stick.

Each album ships on a rubber stylised DDA USB stick, identified with a swing tag.
As well as music, the DDA album allows bands like Sneaky to provide access to online content such as photos, news, music videos, updates from the band and social networking.

It also lets fans access their content from the MyDDA service using any internet-connected computer or mobile phone and provides a space for users to add their own content.

Each USB stick contains a DDA music player and track list builder, which must be activated with a code the first time it is used. The software displays album art and song lyrics as each song is played.

Tracks on the device will be provided in MP3 or WAV formats to avoid compatibility issues and the DDA software can transfer albums to iTunes or burn them to a CD without licensing problems.

Already stores such as HMV and Sanity have agreed to stock the USB sticks.