The Rise and Fall of the Sony MiniDisc: Why It Failed
The Format That Never Stood a Chance
When Sony launched the MiniDisc in 1992, it felt like a glimpse of the future. Smaller than a CD, tougher than a cassette, and capable of recording your favorite songs in digital format, it seemed designed to solve every music lover’s problem at the time. Sony didn’t hold back in promoting it either. There were flashy ads, in-store demos, and a lineup of sleek devices to go with it. Yet, for all that effort, the MiniDisc never became the household name Sony envisioned.