How to Categorize a CD Collection

Music continues to be one of the world’s most popular forms of entertainment. Although many people have turned to MP3 players, IPODS, and other mechanisms to hold their favorite songs, some still hold on to the old-fashioned concept of hard copies like CDs. With the cost of CDs now within the range of almost everyone, a lot of individuals are developing serious collections. As these collections grow in size, however, they become more difficult to maintain. One way of assuring the ability to find music when desired is to categorize the overall collection. Then the collection can be catalogued for reference purposes.

Things You'll Need

• CD collection (50 or more)
• Paper and pencil
• Computer system with a data base of some sort

Instructions

1. Establish the CD categories to be used. Typical categories include, but are by no means limited to the blues, classic, country, easy listening, gospel, heavy metal, hip-hop, international, jazz, movie soundtrack, oldies, pop, rap, and rock and roll.

2. Identify sub-categories that might fit within major categories. For example, classic music could be sub-divided into instrumental, individual singer, or group just to name a few. Easy listening music could be divided into vocal or instrumental as well as other sounds like those of the rain forest, beach, rain or something else. Gospel music could be divided into traditional and contemporary. International music could be divided by individual country and/or by style. Year, decade, or era could divide golden oldies. In short, sub-categories can be defined any way desired by the CD collector.

3. Divide the CD collection into the major categories chosen in Step 1 above. Then, divide the collection again into the established sub-categories of Step 2, if desired. Write each title out on paper and/or then input each title into a computer data base system.

4. Assign a cross-reference code to each CD by individual singer and/or group. For example, put all the Beatles music together under a single code; all of the group Chicago’s music together under another code; and all of The Jonas Brothers’ music together under a third code. Then, whenever someone is in a mood to listen to a certain singer or group, the music can be found easily.

5. Assign a cross-reference code by type of instrument. For example, put all acoustical guitar music together, all piano music together, and all string music together.

6. Assign a cross-reference code to music according to subject matter like love, death, heartbreak, life or other.

7. Assign a cross-reference code by the CD's age or the time period in which it was recorded like the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, or 90’s.

8. Assign a cross-reference code by the number of CD copies sold which is typically identified by award categories like gold or platinum.

9. Assign a cross-reference code for music according to its rankings like top ten hits, songs that made the number one ranking, or one-hit wonders.

10. Assign any other cross-referencing codes of choice.

11. Attach cross-referencing codes to each CD and/or enter them into a computer data base system by each individual cross-reference code.

12. Make category changes and updates as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Print one or more hard copies of the data base CD list once complete.

• Make changes and updates on one CD list hardcopy so that all changes can be entered into the system as one time.

• Recategorize CDs that prove to be difficult to locate when desired.