There are several reasons ... CD singles are generally much more interesting in Japan than in the West. The West often had thin jewel cases but even more than that just cardboard sleeves. You got the title track and then maybe an instrumental or a remix. SOMETIMES a B-side, but it wasn't guaranteed.

Japan has got special versions, bonus tracks, B-sides, versions with DVDs, special packaging etc. etc .... they know how to sell their products!

Also, what's funny is that Japan only holds 0.8 percent of the world's total PC downloads. But they hold 93.9 percent of the world's total mobile downloads.

Look at those numbers. I was blown away. I can retrieve the link if anyone wants to see the source XD

^yeah i see what u mean. they offer more than just one song and an instrumental. offer exclusive packaging, bonus tracks, special collectibles(ie. posters) etc. I've mentioned that many times to other people myself before. And WOW, those numbers are incredible.

The other thing now too, is cause Japan Editions of American artists' albums tend to have bonus tracks I've gotten more and more into just buying the Japan Releases of them as well.

We are also lucky because we have the internet and don't have to buy the Japanese Editions :yes

ps. Everyone please support Kumi Kuu and buy Suki de Suke de Suki de!

I think about the only American album lately that I bothered buying here was Christina Aguilera's Bionic since Japan Edition had no extra tracks... only thing besides that was a couple Shrek movie soundtracks.

Anyways, YES, I already preordered Kumi's new single. The CD+DVD edition. I wouldn't miss out on such a wonderful Kumi single. It's in the same order with Rina's final album that releases the week before.

I don't think you can really beat the quality that is on a CD to be honest...

^Well i do honestly prefer CDs. It is most likely why my CD collection is up around 700. Not quite but I'm pretty damn close. The other thing is like I use CDs at home or a friend's home and use my ipod when I'm outside walking down the street or sitting on the bus etc.

I just wanna hear this single... I check this thread so much to see if we have it yet lol.

Well slim cases are better, because they don't break as easily as the fat case and digipacks and are more eco-friendly.

When it comes to tracks on singles, you've got it the other way around. Most japanese singles are

1. Song A
2. Song B
3. Song A (instrumental)
4. Song B (instrumental)

It's been like this since they made the big switch from vinyl to 3" CDs (before that you didn't get any instrumentals just 2 tracks). Maybe sometimes you'll get an extra track or 2 that are remixes or w/e but not always guranteed.

Most western singles are split into 2 versions, like japanese singles, but version 1 would be

1.Song A
2. Song B

Version 2 would be

1. Song A
2. Song A (Remix 1)
3. Song A (Remix 2)
4. Song A (Remix 3)
5. Song A (Remix 4)

And sometimes they'll do a 3rd version which is a DVD single.

But nobody really buys physical singles for western artists anymore. They press them but they have like a run of like 500,000 copies and then they're usually deleted.


They do that so people will be more inclinded to buy the japanese press (which is more expensive) than the import (which is cheaper).

The only draw back for CDs is that even the tiniest scratch or speckle of dust can make it skip, and you can't scratch an mp3.

^That's why you rip it to your computer as a lossless right away and then store the CD. That's my favorite thing to do, anyway.

@hsienko: That may be true about press of japanese releases of western artists. However, sometimes its worth the money if there's enough extras. For example, the JPN press of Britney's Blackout includes 4 bonus tracks(all of which are great) and an extra for ur cellphone. So even if it is $6 more for JPN Press seems more worth it to me. If it's like only one extra song I usually won't bother with a JPN Press and buy it here in my HMV Canada.

And about CDs, I've had a couple get scratched. However, i used that special stuff to clean them and they work fine. Also, as long as you take care of them and dont do dumb stuff like let ur pet chew them u should be fine.

Anyways, i think this thread is getting horribly off-topic....

Yup, same here. I actually don't listen to the CD that much, but I love having them, collecting them or browsing through the booklet. I'm crazy like that XD

^ aw, I thought it's some really important news :( You misleaded me.
It's all Love! girls from 21st look very cute though!

^i want that kuu stuff now. also, i better like that ayu towel. i ordered it.. just YA doesnt have the Ayu tshirts.... :(:(:(

They all look so colorful <333

wow, Kuu's anation goods look really good. I'm surprised!

http://i33.tinypic.com/dfy835.jpg

He is so cute!

http://i34.tinypic.com/2pslywy.jpg

Cool!

that Lollipop cosplay gurl is hot

and maybe they will include digital sales into Oricon after Ayu gets #1 weekly for L and breaks Seiko Matsuday's streak. Yeah I bet avex is bribing Oricon in every way they can.. :P