<P> There is a debate among collectors about the last commercial eight - track released by a major label, but the fan / enthusiast internet website "8 Track Heaven" cannot find a major label release past Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits in November 1988 . Radio Shack (Tandy Corporation) continued to sell blank eight - track cartridges for home recording use under its Realistic brand until 1990 . </P> <P> The professional broadcast cart format survived for more than another decade at most local radio stations . It was used to play and switch short brief jingles, advertisements, station identifications, and music content until it was replaced by various computer - based methods in the 1990s . This format survived longer because it was used for relatively short sound loops, where starting from the beginning was more important than other criteria . The endless loop tape concept continues to be used in modern movie projectors, although in that application the spool is actively rotated and not drawn by tension on the film . That too, however, is now being supplanted by digital cinema technologies . </P> <P> Some independent artists still release eight - track tapes, such as the U.S. band RTB2, who released We Are a Strange Man in 2011 . Also, bands sometimes release eight - tracks as special releases; for example, The Melvins released a limited - time, live eight - track album, Cheap Trick issued a limited edition version of their album The Latest on the format on June 23, 2009, and power electronics solo artist Waves Crashing Piano Chords has released multiple eight - track tapes since 2012, as well as starting an eight - track tape label, H8 - Track Stereo . In the book Journals, Kurt Cobain wrote about wanting to release Nirvana's album In Utero as an 8 - track tape, but this never happened . Apart from a select group of highly collectible artists, the record club issues, and the quadraphonic releases, many eight - track tapes seem to have limited value to most collectors, especially if the tapes have been misused or appear to be worn . They are however still to be found at some thrift second - hand stores, flea markets and internet auctions . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section possibly contains original research . Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations . Statements consisting only of original research should be removed . (February 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How many reels of tape in an 8 track