US Album Release time VS. Japan Release Time
 

American release time is very different.

Single - with about more than half the the entire soundtrack is released about a week in advanced, and usually a music video to promote the album.
Album - The full album is released right after the single
Single - Music Videos are produced after the songs, as they pick it
Single - blah

THEN
New album so close together

Japan release time is, I think the best.

Single - 1 to 3 songs from the full album, mostly self produced except boa
Single - 1 to 3 blah
Single? - A single after 2 is usual with Ayumi, blah
2 months later, the ALBUM is released...
Then...

New Single

---------

Personally I hate the US release times, because COMPANIES ALWAYS want more profit, how to make more profit? You anticipate them to get them and music videos etc with singles before a whole album. I always thought this was the way to go, but it was only Japan.

Japan's overall situation is a lot better, instead of calling it a music video there called PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS = PV, and in America instead of Promotional Video, other than the first one that is promoted with the album, everything afterward is a music video because it's made after the album release, it's promotion but it's more music...

What do ya think?


:thud I know...I don't make good long posts

I like Japan's better...in the US..no one really buys singles [or really appreciates remixes and what not]...because the albums already out before the singles are released :X...if they really wanted to make more money they should do what japan does :X

From American release time to New new single I didn't understand anything, But I think I know what you mean. Though music artists have a bigger influence in Japan than american.

I defiantely prefer Japanese releases over US/European releases. I like that they have music spread over a year and then an album after the singles. It just makes me look forward to the album more. ^__^ and usually makes me buy the singles.

hmm..i prefer japan more..

..US releases are sorta like Korean releases.

but yeah..i think Japanese releases are much more strategic..

This is a cultural difference. America places more importance on an album than a single. What if one single was really good but the rest of the album sucks? Then obviously, the album would do poorly. I think it all started with a rock group (Rolling Stones?? I forget) disliking the distribution of singles.

Definately Japan's! That way we always get new and fresh music!

This is along the lines of what stardusties was saying about people not buying singles in the US. The US (and European) retail singles market is not what it once was. An example of this would be the Billboard Hot 100. Up until about six years ago, the chart was based on retail performance. In 1998, the chart was changed to factor in other things, such as radio play. The decreasing retail market for singles was one reason why this was done.

In Japan, retail singles are still a major factor in the grand scheme of things. While the market may eventually take the same path as the one in the US, for now, it is holding up. One part of the promotional process in the Japanese industry I really enjoy is the music shows, such as Music Station and Pop Jam. While similar shows exist here in the US, like TRL, and music artists often appear on talk shows to promote their latest works, there isn't a main program I can turn into to see all the major stars on a weekly basis. This relates back to the difference in the way singles are handled in each country.

And of course the artists don't always perform the song when on the talk show so its nice to have those Japanese music shows out there where they actually perform.

:yes

don't really understands all those "blahs" in your comparision *shrugs

But personally i don't care much for singles neither.

yes japanese way of releasing singles and albums are more staegic, where as America's i would just buy the album