There are several types of CD-Rs available, and the differences have to do with the type of organic "dye" used on the side which has the data written to it. Indeed, there are many cheap CD-Rs that will only last a couple of years before the dye, which has been burned into a series of "bump" and "no bump" areas, begins to lose it's integrity. The disc becomes difficult for the player mechanism to follow and eventually becomes untrackable. Some say that the degradation can be delayed by storing discs in a horizontal position, that probably helps but does not address the real issue.
However, all CD-Rs are not as subject to that problem. Most people purchase the "low bid" CD-R, which is why there are so many of them around, but there are significant differences in the products from various vendors. To really keep your music / pictures / data etc. intact it would be wise to purchase CD-R product from either Mitsui or Taio Yuden. These companies were the pioneers in organic dye used to make CD-Rs and they have done accelerated life testing on their discs. The blank discs are not cheap, and most consumer stores do not carry them, but they can be found online and from several pro-audio supply houses.
However, all CD-Rs are not as subject to that problem. Most people purchase the "low bid" CD-R, which is why there are so many of them around, but there are significant differences in the products from various vendors. To really keep your music / pictures / data etc. intact it would be wise to purchase CD-R product from either Mitsui or Taio Yuden. These companies were the pioneers in organic dye used to make CD-Rs and they have done accelerated life testing on their discs. The blank discs are not cheap, and most consumer stores do not carry them, but they can be found online and from several pro-audio supply houses.