Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ CDs Struggle to Play on Many Devices, Fans Report

Lorde’s unique ‘Virgin’ CDs are facing playback issues, according to her fans.

To celebrate the release of her new album ‘Virgin’, Lorde created a limited run of clear plastic CDs, aligning with her commitment to “transparency” and sustainability. However, fans who purchased these CDs are now reporting on social media that they do not work with most CD players. Numerous TikTok videos show disappointed fans trying to play the CDs, only for their players to display “no disc.”

One fan shared their frustration on TikTok, stating, “It seems like they didn’t consider compatibility. My new Lorde CD doesn’t work in this stereo! It looks like older models with outdated sensors won’t read it. It’s disappointing; I appreciate the aesthetic, but it would be great to have a regular CD option too.”

Another user echoed these sentiments, pointing out that the design makes the CD unreadable in cars and older devices. “I’ll have to return it and lose my chance to support her music because the team couldn’t provide a functional CD for aesthetics,” they lamented.

People on Reddit are also expressing their frustrations, with one user noting that their car CD player wouldn’t even recognize the disc. “I tried inserting it, but it didn’t register at all while my other CDs worked fine,” they wrote.

On the bright side, some fans have found a workaround. One noted that Universal Music mentioned the CD performs better with newer, high-end players. However, they expressed disappointment over having to find solutions like placing a sticker on the CD themselves, saying, “If I pay for something, I expect it to work right out of the box.”

As of now, neither Lorde nor her team has commented on the situation, and fans are still awaiting news on how to secure refunds.

Despite the CD concerns, the album itself has been well-received. It scored a four-star review in NME, praising it as a vibrant blend of Lorde’s best qualities.

On the day of the album’s release, Lorde treated fans to a surprise performance at Glastonbury, playing ‘Virgin’ in full. Critics praised her bold choice, noting that many attendees hadn’t yet heard the album.

Since the release, Lorde has hinted at the possibility of B-sides from ‘Virgin’, suggesting that more new music may be on the way.