2. What is a digipak?
A digipak is a packaging used for CDs which is usually made from cardboard with a hard
plastic holder inside to hold one or more discs.
Some digipaks have multiple panels that can unfold to hold several disks, although
because most CDs only contain one or two disks, this is not used often.
The cardboard part of the packaging usually has some form of illustration to identify the
product as being related to a specific artist. This can also be glossed so it is shiny and
feels smooth.
The most basic digipaks have a size of
14cm x 14cm, with a variable width
that can change depending on how
many CDs need to fit, or for artistic
choice.
3. Why make a digipak?
Originally, digipaks were widely used for their aesthetic appeal, so bands and artists
used them for their premium feel and design options. Digipaks are still often used for
single releases and special editions of albums.
Digipaks have a shorter lifespan than their pure plastic counterparts. This is because
while the original plastic packaging shows scratching and jewel cases could smash,
digipaks have a tendency to rip and peel away over time.
4. Demographic of digipaks
The target audience for digipaks are people of any gender from the ages of 23-70. This
is because digipaks are more expensive than regular CD covers, so teenagers that do
not have money to spare would not want to spend it on a fancy cover.
Also, most younger people now purely download music from sites like ITunes, or apps
like Shazzam. This makes it completely unnecessary for them to purchase a physical
copy of the CD.
Most genres of music use digipaks, but the artist only uses them if they’re very
successful and have a strong fan base. This is because if the fans of the artist are not
interested in the music then they would not want to purchase the more expensive cover.
Diggipaks do not cater to a general audience, this is because of the large investment a
buyer must put into the music to own it in that form. It is much more likely for the general
public to be interested in the cheaper plastic pack.
