That is the reason behind the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency: Just before 1980 Sony had an add-on box for the Betamax video recorder (as well for the U-matic video recorder) for digital sound recording and play back. For a rather simple bit orientation on TV-lines with the limited bandwidth of the Betamax, the choice for the sampling frequency was rather limited.
So Sony had everything ready for 44.1 kHz and insisted that this would be the sampling frequency for CD, in stead of the 48 kHz, as in use already in the professional world.
They had the lead in 44.1 kHz digital sound and wanted to keep this in the war (called cooperation) with Philips. The advantage was: 10% more playing duration under the same conditions. And they could show us that it could be done. So it went 44.1 kHz and 2 x 16 bits. We, ,had dark grey thoughts about both choises in the beginning.