Why buy singles?
 

Why do you buy singles? Wether it's Ayu...or some other band/artist. Any specific reason why or why not? And under what circumstances?

I buy singles when I love the artist so much that I know even a mediocre main song + bonus content is better than most I could find (Ayu), or when an artist I don't usually like releases a song I love in which case it's more sensible to just buy that single and not spend money on a probably boring album. If the artist is one I like but don't love I wait till I find out if the album the single is/will be on is good, and if it is I buy the album instead of the single.

I love ayumi so I try to collect all her albums + singles, but for other artists I wouldn't do the same.

Yes B-sides thtat don't show up on the album, andremixes, I don't buy singles with just the songs..then instrumentals on it...there's no material [for lack of a better word...] in that X_x, Or if the cover's ultra pretty O-o Like Namie Amuro's Shine More x3

If I don't wanna wait for the album to come out to be able to listen to a single (which must be really good for me to buy) on my CD player, I buy the single. I didn't bought Moments, CAROLS, INSPIRE, and GAME single for exemple, because I wasn't that much into the song. But I bought STEP you/is this LOVE? because I love both songs a lot.

Sometime, it's also for the remixes (like NEVER EVER, SURREAL which had great remixes). But nowdays, there isn't that much remixes...

Some people buy them for their collection.

I buy it mainly for b-sides and instrumentals... Which is why I think STEP you/is this LOVE? is not even worth $8

It's true that it's quite dissapointing when there's only the songs and the songs' instrumental. Mine cost 18$. (is it $__ in english? because i live in canada, quebec and we talk french here... over here it's __$ :headache anyway, back to the subject, lol)

But I'm glad "fairyland c/w alterna" includes remixes and bonus footage.

I'm getting both fairyland and step you singles for my next order...I was just curious why other people buy singles like I do^^

asongforXX: __$ ca marche aussi en anglais :P C'est seulement moins commun.

I buy singles mainly for the b-sides and for the instrumentals. Though I would buy the single only if the b-side is great and isn't included in an album or if the single version of the a-side is different from the album version (For example, Ayu's Endless Sorrow). I'm not a collector buying each single released by an artist.

[EDIT] Sorry for the French part :(

I only buy Maxi singles and that's really rare, some singles cost just as much as an album and unless youre trying to collect it would be stupid to waste money like that. ._.

I only buy singles that I know I really will enjoy. "INSPIRE", "H", "&" and I have a few others. Mainly to show support for some of my favorite songs :).

I dont buy singles at all, really, I prefer the full length albums.

Hehe I used to be like that..until yesasia came along><

mostly for the b-sides and the remixes or because i like the song but don't want to shell out the money for the whole album. and with some artists, i just buy them partly to collect them.

OH! Merci de le preciser! :) HAHA!

Singles are good because it's a legal way of getting just one (or more) song(s). A single here (America for me) for an American artist costs about $2, so it's a much cheaper alternative than subscribing to Napster or whatever.
It's pretty lame that J-Pop singles are like $20, but they're still cool. They complete collections :)

I don't buy singles...I only make an effort to buy only ayu's albums and if I'm lucky, ayu's concerts, due to money limitations XP but I always pull for the cd+dvd/japan version on those...so that's $40+ right there!...like I won't be getting the "fairyland" single since I'm holding out for the Arena Tour. That's how I work since ayu releases far too much to keep up with! So for me, the singles just aren't my highest priority.

single are to be bought when
1. They're rare (kanariya/fly high)
2. Nice remix tracks (Daybreak)
3. B-side songs not featured on albums (Depend on you/vogue/&)

B-sides and alternate versions of songs different to the one recorded in the album. (If they happen to be better than the album version)