[CoriKaru]

Think of it this way. The "Singles" are songs that they put out there on the radio to catch people's attention. The idea is that they'll get interested enough in the song and want to go out and buy the Album being as artists rarely release physical separate Singles from the Album anyway so the only way is to get the Album. Of course there's iTunes too where you can just download separately but you get the idea. The point is to sell the Album, not the Single whereas in Japan the point is to sell the Single. They're just as important as Albums really. I don't know which System I like better. Japan's way costs the consumer more money while you're more at risk in America of buying an Album full of songs you don't like just because you have no idea what kind of stuff is on it until after it comes out. Hmmm.