Lorde’s latest album release has sparked uproar over physical copies being unplayable on traditional CD players.
At a Glance
- Fans of the singer Lorde are reporting that the CD version of her new album is unplayable in many devices.
- The disc is made of clear plastic and is missing the reflective data layer required by many standard CD players.
- The design choice has sparked a backlash on social media from fans who want to listen to the physical media they purchased.
- Lorde’s record label is offering refunds but has not yet announced a plan to release a functional version of the CD.
An Unplayable CD Sparks Fan Outrage
Fans of the New Zealand pop star Lorde were excited to get their hands on a physical copy of her new album, but many were left frustrated and disappointed to discover a critical flaw: the CD won’t play in many common devices. An uproar has erupted on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, with fans complaining that the disc’s aesthetic design has rendered it useless as a piece of playable media.
The problem lies in the CD’s unique design. It is pressed on a clear, transparent piece of plastic that is missing the standard reflective data layer. This layer is essential for the lasers in many conventional CD players, particularly older models found in cars and portable “Walkmans,” to read the information on the disc.
Aesthetic vs. Function
The design choice appears to be a case of prioritizing an artistic aesthetic over basic functionality. One fan, who goes by Elyxir online, posted a viral TikTok video blasting the decision. “Whoever decided to design this is an idiot, because it’s a clear CD,” she said. “The worst part is that this is the only version of the CD. CDs are for older tech… You need to create CDs that are fit for purpose,” she argued, in a story reported by the BBC.
Fans Claim Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ CDs Don’t Work in Most CD Players
More: https://t.co/Js8qYnHDdH pic.twitter.com/epMmyrrCZ8
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) July 1, 2025
Another fan, Max, who also posted about the issue, told reporters, “I’m all for it being an aesthetic thing, but I don’t buy CDs to look at them; I buy them to play.”
This is not the first time Lorde has opted for an unconventional physical release. For her 2021 album Solar Power, she eschewed a traditional CD in favor of an “eco-friendly, discless music box” to reduce plastic waste, a move that also drew a mixed reaction from fans who prefer physical media.
The Record Label’s Response
In response to the growing backlash, Lorde’s record label, Universal Music Group, has begun offering refunds to customers who return the unplayable disc. However, the label has not yet announced any plans to repress the album on a standard, functional CD. This has left fans who simply want a physical copy of the album that they can actually listen to with no good options, a frustrating conclusion to what should have been an exciting album release.
