The MiniDisc was introduced by Sony in late 1992 as a replacement for the older analog compact cassette format. It was an attempt to compete with Philip's DCC and fill a gap in the commerical market left by the failure of commercial DAT.

Like the other new digital formats introduced in the early 1990s, it was not a success in the music industry, and eventually joined the DAT and DCC formats on the commercial scrap pile.

Virgin were extremely quick to try the potential of the new format. Oddly they didn't issue the just-released Glittering Prize 81/92 on MiniDisc but opted for Street Fighting Years instead.