A new wave of cuts at EMI – but these are quite good
mainThe latest batch of EMI releases landed on the mat, a lot thinner than usual.
Probably as a cost-saving measure, EMI has abandoned the plastic jewel case and downsized to cardboard covers.
Actually, I much prefer the slimline version, easier to handle and store, never likely to break. Who says austerity is a bad thing?
And the batch includes my absolute fave cover of the year:
I believe Digipak’s (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digipak) – i.e. the packaging with cardboard covers you mention – cost *more* to manufacture than standard jewel cases.
Indeed, they are more expensive to manufacture, as a rule.
Retailers tend not to like them either – drop a box and they bend, so aren’t so saleable. Jewel cases are tougher.
I much prefer Digipaks. They feel nicer (more like an LP sleeve) and I find them more robust than jewel cases, which I’ve always disliked.