At the end of December music retailer HMV called in the administrators for the second time in six years as its owners Hilco reportedly blamed a “tsunami” of retail changes, including the move to digital.

Following the announcement, the BBC published statistics last week showing that sales of CDs plummeted by 23 per cent last year and that sales of 32 million in 2018 were 100 million fewer than 2008 as more and more turn to streaming their music.

Vinyl sales, meanwhile, reportedly saw their growth pretty much plateau with 4.2 million records being sold, a rise of 1.6 per cent.

Robert McKain from Big Sparra Music Cafe on Dumbarton’s Glasgow Road, which sells CDs and vinyl records and specialises in progressive rock, blues and jazz, said he agreed CDs were in decline, but that it was important to move with the times.

He told the Reporter: “We have a coffee shop here and in line with demand changing we have less shop space for CDs and DVDs, so people can come in and have a snack as well.

“As someone who sells records and with demand for CDs dropping, if we don’t give customers something to get excited about, we could see it end all together.

“We find limited edition and boxsets are the CDs our customers enjoy most and I think we will see in future a lot more free gifts and special editions.

“Demand for vinyl and higher priced items is now a higher percentage than two to three years ago when it was 50-50 with CDs.

“People are definitely attracted to the sound quality [of vinyl]. The recording itself is higher quality and it’s pressed on higher quality vinyl than in the 90s. People also like the artwork and its a tactile thing to hold and enjoy.”

Robert, did, however, say that there has perhaps been one positive impact on physical sales by the presence of streaming.

He added: “We have a surprising age range coming into buy. We have a lot of under 16s requesting music out in the 70s. They can now stream anything want, so they have a much broader taste. Younger people in Dumbarton prefer niche music.”

Gordon Campbell who grew up in Balloch is the owner of The Music Kitchen record label.

The label put out two compilations ahead of Christmas, The Broons Gold Collection and 100 Scottish Greats, and he is saddened to hear about the situation regarding HMV, who are by far his biggest customer.

The former Vale of Leven Academy pupil told the Reporter: "It's been a bit of a worrying time and I hope they manage to sort things out.

"There will always be a future for CDs and the sort of company we are means that we are very involved gift trade. We do a lot of Scottish music and people come over on holiday and want come away with something which reminds them of it and that can mean coming away with CD.

"It also depends quite a lot on the (target) age demographic. Older people like something they can hold, feel and touch. Younger people are not really interested in physical CDs, whereas The Broons CD has music for people who grew up with the Broons and it is a bit like annuals, you can read it online, but you want the actual book.

"If things change you just have to adapt and we will have to do it."