Editing DualDisc (section)

{{Short description|Double-sided optical disc}}
{{Infobox storage medium
| name = DualDisc
| logo = DualDisc logo.svg
| image = File:DualDisc.png
| caption = CD side of a DualDisc
| type = [[Optical disc]]
| encoding = 
| capacity = 
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| read = 
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| owner = 
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| released = 2004
| discontinued = 2009
}}
The '''DualDisc''' is a type of double-sided [[optical disc]] product developed by a group of record companies including [[Michael Jackson|MJJ Productions Inc.]], [[EMI|EMI Music]], [[Universal Music Group]], [[Sony BMG|Sony BMG Music Entertainment]], [[Warner Music Group]], and 5.1 Entertainment Group<ref>Alex Vegia, ''[http://surroundablog.blogs.com/surroundablog/2004/08/music_industry_.html Music industry banks on DualDisc]'', [[Associated Press]], August 26, 2004.</ref> and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America ([[RIAA]]). It featured an audio layer intended to be compatible with [[Compact disc|CD]] players (but too thin to meet [[Red Book (audio CD standard)|Red Book CD specifications]]) on one side and a standard [[DVD]] layer on the other. In this respect it was similar to, but distinct from, the [[DVDplus]] developed in Europe by [[Dieter Dierks]] and covered by European patents.

DualDiscs first appeared in the United States in March 2004 as part of a marketing test conducted by the same five [[music industry|record companies]] who developed the product.  The test involved 13 titles being released to a limited number of retailers in the [[Boston, Massachusetts]], and [[Seattle, Washington]], markets.  The [[test market]]ing was seen as a success after 82% of respondents to a survey (which was included with the test titles) said that DualDiscs met or exceeded their expectations. In addition, 90% of respondents said that they would recommend DualDisc to a friend.<ref>''[http://columbiaisa.freespaces.com/dualdisc_guide.htm DualDisc Guide] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060403113817/http://columbiaisa.freespaces.com/dualdisc_guide.htm |date=April 3, 2006 }}'', accessed August 13, 2005</ref> However, sales plummeted over the next three years, particularly in competition with rival formats like [[Super Audio CD|SACD]] and [[DVD-A]] discs.

DualDisc titles received a mass rollout to retailers throughout the United States in February 2005, though some titles were available as early as November 2004. The recording industry had nearly 200 DualDisc titles available by the end of 2005 and over 2,000,000 units had been sold by the middle of that year.<ref>''[http://www.onlinereporter.com/TORbackissues/TOR446.htm#DualDiscs%20Getting%20Popular DualDiscs Getting Popular]'', The Online Reporter  Issue 446, May 28, 2005</ref>