Death knell sounds for blank cassettes as stocks taper off

THE days of taping new music albums for friends could be at an end after a major retailer announced it will no longer stock blank cassettes.

Curry’s, which has stores in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, is blaming the rise of MP3 players like Apple’s iPod for its decision to pull the plug on sales of tapes.

The British-owned retailer yesterday announced that stocks will not be replenished at its 500 stores in Britain. A decision has yet to be made about supplies at the chain’s nine Irish stores, although a spokesman in Britain said the product could be withdrawn in Ireland soon.