Tonträgern

Tonträgern, or sound carriers, denotes any medium that stores and reproduces audible material. The term is used in the music industry, cataloging, and copyright contexts to describe products that carry audio content. It encompasses physical formats as well as, in some usages, digital storage media when sold as a complete carrier of sound.

Historically, tonträger have provided a tangible form for music and sound recordings. Early examples include shellac and vinyl records, followed by magnetic tape formats such as cassettes and open-rereel tapes. The advent of compact discs in the 1980s added a new widely distributed physical carrier. Over time, the concept broadened to include newer digital storage media designed for audio distribution, even as the line between physical carriers and digital formats blurred.

In modern markets, physical tonträger like vinyl records, CDs, and tapes continue to exist, often thriving in niche or collector segments while overall music consumption increasingly relies on streaming. Digital downloads and streaming have transformed distribution, yet many releases still accompany physical tonträger as part of a product package or retailer strategy. The term remains relevant for industry statistics, retail classifications, and licensing discussions, where it helps distinguish the various forms in which audio content is stored, distributed, and monetized.

From a preservation and archiving perspective, tonträger also play a role in documenting cultural heritage, as the physical media can serve as durable carriers of audio content when properly stored and cared for.