Multiple Versions of Singles

[microphone]

Blu-ray storage is very very big... There is no need for it at the moment.

[Ranma Matsuri]

All of the above, lol.

I think it's gotten out of hand honestly. Yeah, the choice of album covers is usually pretty good but that's about it. There's barely any real extras like actual B-sides and tons of interesting remixes like there used to be. Now it's Double A-side, the instrumentals and maybe some random track. It's infuriating how you used to get more for buying one single but now you're getting less for buying multiple singles. I mean, vogue had like 8 remixes, 1 b-side, and the instrumental and it was just a regular CD!

But hey, I don't blame them for doing it. The fans are the ones letting them get away with it afterall by buying all the versions. It's their money and their choice though.

As for me, I'm not one to usually buy singles (as they're usually a waste of money since they'll be on the album) but since RnRC turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, I've decided to purchase moon/blossom to welcome in a (hopefully) more satisfying era of Ayu music. And since it's the 3 single project until the big 50th single, I plan on buying all the other singles released this year as well since it's my assumption they'll do something special with all of them (bringing back the composer from ASFXX was pretty special imho) and just in case, I don't wanna miss out. It'll only be one copy and one version of each though.

The only other singles I will buy are Mirrorcle World (for obvious reasons), vogue (because I love everfree), and Days/GREEN (since it was a 10th anniversary single as well and a darn pretty one ^_^).

[kendelle]

It's money lol but that's already been said enough times.

I'd prefer if there were 3 versions, two CD only ones with a few tracks exclusive to each and then the DVD version has all the tracks plus the videos...that way I'd always buy the DVD versions....

I did promise myself that after Ayu's 10th anniversary I'd buy every CD I could (cuz before her 10th I'd never bought her stuff before, except for 1-2 random singles) but if it continues to be 3-4+ versions of each single, forget it. I'll buy the +DVD version with the best cover and download the missing songs, perhaps later getting the other version 2nd hand or something.

I really wonder if multiple versions are that successful, there'd be lots of people like me who would turn away from buying because it's too expensive....are there really that many completists out there to make up for us? lol

[Blasterion]

money~!

2 versions I can understand,
but I don't really see any other real reason to release 4 or more versions.

[baby_blue]

It's all bout the money ~~~~

But really I still don't understand why only Japanese artist release their singles in so many versions. It's so damn expensive especially if they have cute or great first press edition. And I will choose to buy the CD+DVD new and get the rest version in 2nd hand. It's too expensive if bought 1 single in 4 version new. LOL.

[SKYia]

I always buy the CD+DVD version. Before becoming interested in Japanese music I was wondering why selling CD only if you can get "full" version of the album. I know some people may not be interested in PVs but still I thought if you are already buying you should buy a "whole" album.

I know too well different versions are made to make people buy more and bust the sales so I never give in, even for Ayu.

I think the charts counting all the versions are not reliable comparing to other artist's sales who only has one version simply because of those fans who buy all versions.

Please do not say that you can always find somebody who would buy many copies of the one version and it wouldn't be reliable too, that's different situation.

[Keiichi_JPU]

Multile versions could be quite nice, if there was a larger difference than there is now. I mean.. I don't even remember the difference between You were.../BALLAD and BALLAD/You were... (apart from the title)

To me, the only release in which it made sense was Mirrorcle World.
The CD+DVD versions both had really nice, special first press packaging, actually making it worth to collect them both. Also the bonus songs were very special, 10th anniversary versions, worthy of collecting.

But now it's just.. some remixes that SHOULD be all on 1 CD since they're all part of the same single and they're not that special. I know nobody is forcing me to buy them, but as a CD collector it's quite frustrating I don't have money to buy all 4 versions.

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by RyRyMini

Why do you guys think this is? Is it to entice buyers into buying all versions based on their menial differences? Is it for profit, or for the ranking on Oricon? Is it a scam?

mmm like what you said , profit plays a part to a certain extent since it's no open secret that physical CD sales are dropping as each year goes by

profit wise I doubt it as there're many other ways for a record label / an artiste to earn their keep , from digital sales of singles/albums , tour revenue , tour merchandise sold & etc

If you're someone who has bought all versions of a single, why did you do it? Was it for collection purposes or because you were truly interested in the extras each version contained?

actually the reason is neither xD

I know it sounds strange but I'm not a collector by right . I do that for all singles I have of BREAKERZ because for their case

- it's not easy to get decent good quality DVD rips of their PVs

- ditto for what I said about PVs & that goes for CD rips of their material

- not many people know about them except me so I'm unofficially in a way or 2 , their 'guardian' xD

anyway if people complain in the way MOON / blossom is marketed/sold in 4 editions , you haven't seen anything like what ZAIN RECORDS did to BREAKERZ's case .

Their 1st 3 singles that they released , were all double A-sides

4 editions , 2 CD's & 2 CD + DVD's limited editions

the catch ? NO B-SIDES included & NOT even instrumentals X_X except for GRAND FINALE but I have all of them so x)

For ayumi's case , the only singles I have of her are Mirrorcle World and Days / GREEN since they were released to celebrate her 10th anniversary & the long deluxe slipcase packaging are nice

other than that & I don't have any plans to complete her HUGE singles discography

her albums that I have are good enough for me to handle xD

Also the making off clips & her PVs will eventually be made available in her albums unlike BREAKERZ where the PV plot for the single & album versions of their songs differ X_X

[njanjayrp]

I've never bought multiple versions of any of the singles. I do buy Ayu's singles, however I only pick the one that I like the best or get the CD only ver. as the DVD contents always gets added to the album DVD anyways, so there is no point in wasting money, especially considering I don't even use the cds, so I buy them for the sake of collecting.

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

usually I undesrtand multiple versions when they are featured with different covers but when they have just a different order of tracklist...oh well, i really don't understand.
It's just a way to make collectionists buy more.

[kotora]

Originally Posted by HarukaKamiya

Not everyone has a Blu-ray player, nor does everyone care to get one at this point.

I see. My point is.. if they really want to increase the sale in the market, they need to consider to give up the DVD market in the future. Cover is useless.

This is the fact for one artist

If an artist releases a multi-version single at the first time, everyone feel excited (for example [A] single).
If he or she does it again, everyone also feel excited (for example [H] single)
If he or she does it again and again (or for many times), everyone will become not that excited because they know multi=version single is not special anymore.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by HarukaKamiya

Not everyone has a Blu-ray player, nor does everyone care to get one at this point.

....

There's nothing wrong if they offered both a DVD version and blu-ray disc (which companies do these days).

It would be fantastic to see Ayu's PVs and making of's in HD quality. I don't think any Ayu fan would be against that.

[Cyberbird]

^ But not everyone owns a BR player
I thought last tour might be released in this format but they didn't either, maybe in the future avex release a new compilations of PV and concerts —really hope so

Multiple versions are such a waste, is soo bad to have only one? with fist press limited editions are ok, but now is becoming an stardar and just a song or cover don't make a big difference, nothing special anylonger.

[kotora]

Originally Posted by Tony G

....

There's nothing wrong if they offered both a DVD version and blu-ray disc (which companies do these days).

It would be fantastic to see Ayu's PVs and making of's in HD quality. I don't think any Ayu fan would be against that.

And that would be amazing if they have a blue-ray quality for PVs; unless avex does not want people to see how much make-up ayu uses and throws people's interest in ayu 1,000,000 miles away.

Blue-ray quality = women rival

[CHE.R.RY]

I'm pretty sure it's all about trying to get people to spend more money. After all, each single has a different little 'goody' that the other ones don't.

[AyUta]

Of course it's to make people spend more money. I think it's stupid and I never buy more then one version.

[emi♡]

It's a mutual thing.

The companies get to use it as a gimmick to get more sales...and the fans get more stuff.

I personally love having all kinds of different covers and goodies.

[HarukaKamiya]

I buy the CD-onlys. The only exception will be Mirrorcle World, since she has not placed the PV for that on any albums. Well, it'll kind of work out anyway since I'm a completist (in terms of having every song of hers - avex-wise, anyway) and was going to get both editions anyway.

[extepan]

if course it is for selling more, for profit and for ranking.

[lovelism]

I think it is just Avex gimmick to get people to buy more of the single! This is think is a good idea as it would help Ayu just a long number 1 streak! ;D