A random question regarding album sales

[Marty]

Why is it that the Japanese always get all the bonus tracks at once and get super awesome artworks and holographic album covers and stuff? Is there a website that helps explain this?

[Maca (Mod)]

I'm not sure what is the exact reason, but for Japanese people importing CDs from Europe and/or the US is cheaper than or the same as buying them in their local stores. For this reason the Japanese branches of the labels include extra tracks and design different formats of the albums to promote the sales of these "domestic" album releases.

This is the same reason why there are different versions of the same albums and singles for different countries and why they include different bonus tracks, and why there are specific iTunes stores with different content for different countries. It's to improve or boost local sales that benefit the different branches of the labels.

[Marty]

Oh, okay. Never for the life of me have I thought of importing CDs from another country. That's probably why Australians don't get many bonus tracks.

[madbatt2000]

Originally Posted by Maca

I'm not sure what is the exact reason, but for Japanese people importing CDs from Europe and/or the US is cheaper than or the same as buying them in their local stores. For this reason the Japanese branches of the labels include extra tracks and design different formats of the albums to promote the sales of these "domestic" album releases.

This is the same reason why there are different versions of the same albums and singles for different countries and why they include different bonus tracks, and why there are specific iTunes stores with different content for different countries. It's to improve or boost local sales that benefit the different branches of the labels.

That explains it all about Loose's "little" flop in Japan; it only peaked at #45 while in other countries it was in the top 20! It was the same cover without bonus tracks that could attract Japanese. They're so lucky cause they got it all first.

But I guess Geffen wanted to hit the European market the most, that's why the 1st re-release was released solely in Europe.

[Paper Tiger]

My memory's a bit sketchy, but I remember someone telling me about Japan having a horrible economy and artists putting bonus tracks on japanese releases to boost incentive to buy the albums and thus, boost the economy.