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3-inch CD single

Mini 3" CD single
8cm CD single jacket.jpg
Mini "8cm" CD single
Media type Compact disc
Capacity 80 mm disc can hold up to 24 minutes of music, or 210 MB (210 × 220 bytes) of data.
Dimensions 8 Centimeters (3.1Inch)
Usage Audio storage

The mini CD single (also 3-inch CD or CD3 in the US, in relation to the CD5, or the 5-inch CD single; commonly known as "snap-pack"; also known as "CD Single") is a music single released on a mini Compact Disc that measures 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter, rather than the standard 12 cm (4.7 in). They are manufactured using the same methods as standard full-size CDs, and can be played in most standard audio CD players and CD-ROM disc drives.

The format was first released in the United Kingdom, Japan, United States, France, West Germany, and Hong Kong in 1988. Although the format was not widely available in the United Kingdom, several artists, such as Paula Abdul, Garbage, Catatonia, The Sisters of Mercy, Stereolab, Robert Palmer, Jentina and R.E.M. have released singles in the format. They also remain a popular, low cost way for independent musicians and groups to release music.

These were released in both a 5" size slim jewel case and snap-packs or (Japanese: tanzaku) as they are known in Japan. The compact disc is 3 inches or 8 Japanese (8 cm). The singles were called 3" CD snap-packs, as they could be 'snapped' and folded into a small square rather than being the original 6×3-inch (15×8 cm) length type of packaging when sold. Most cost about ¥1000 (about UK£5.7 or US$9.2) at the time of release during the late 1980s to early 2000s. The last single released was "I Was Born to Love You" by Queen in 2004. Many of the artists who released 3" CDs are from that era, including Madonna, Cher, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Queen, U2, Prince, Bros, Dead or Alive, Huey Lewis and the News, Bon Jovi, Kylie Minogue, Falco and George Michael. The singles packaged in 5" single jewel cases did not contain an adapter.


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