Out with the old, in with the new?

Future of physical singles market hangs in the balance as retail giant blames labels for decline

Many of us bought our very first singles in Woolies, but future generations might be robbed of such an opportunity it seems.

For the singles market as a whole, Woolies' future strategy may prove decisive. In reality, if Woolies doesn't sell physical singles, it is hard to imagine who would.

Indie retailers who are, across the country, moving out of chart product in increasing numbers? Supermarkets, for whom singles' rapid stock rotation rails against every rule of logic? The growing waves of online mail order services such as Amazon and Play.com, for whom postage would exceed the value of a single unit?

Who do they make sense for? Specialists such HMV and Virgin, along with occasional indies, could ultimately become the only game in town.

Woolworths remains one of the most familiar - and potentially potent - brands on British high streets. And its entertainment proposition is as wrapped up in that image as Ladybird clothes and pick 'n' mix.

But if you sell product on a #3, #5, #7 album promise, as Woolworths has in recent months, you make it mighty difficult, maybe even impossible, to ...