Many music labels have their own online stores where you can purchase merchandise, including CDs, directly from them. This is usually the case with smaller independent labels, or subsidiary labels ...

The median age among country music’s 98 million U.S. fans is 46, compared to 39 for a pop listener, according to Sony Music research. ... Why Country Fans Still Buy the Most CDs.

There are still pockets of consumers that prefer their music on CD (country music fans account for 13% of album sales according to Neilsen year-end report) and they need places to easily buy them.

Country benefits from exceptionally loyal fans — and a concert biz that knows how to cultivate that bond. On his 2009 tour, which grossed $71 million, Chesney charged as little as $30 per ticket.

Best Buy has told music suppliers that it will pull all CDs from its stores this summer, according to a report from Billboard. This move should come as no big surprise: Between unlimited streaming ...