The compact disc was developed in the late 1970s by Philips in the Netherlands, in partnership with Sony in Japan. This was a revolutionary step in the music world, as, until then, no one had managed to create a digital carrier with such capacity and clarity. The first commercial CD, ‘52nd Street’ by Billy Joel, was released in Japan in 1982 and shortly thereafter worldwide. Philips’ CD player was a crucial innovation that contributed to the popularity of the CD as a medium. What made the CD special was not just the sound quality but also its robustness: CDs deteriorated much less quickly than their analog counterparts, such as cassette tapes and vinyl records.

The arrival of the CD heralded a new era for the music and entertainment industry. The importance of this innovation can hardly be underestimated, as it laid the foundation for later technologies like DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

Philips was a pioneer in the field of electronics and technology. It is noteworthy that this relatively small country in Europe had a global impact with its technology, emphasizing once again how technology can drastically change the way we consume music. It is therefore not surprising that the CD is one of the most iconic inventions in recent Dutch history.