[2006] American system vs. Japanese system

[tl1029530921]

Which 'system' of music releases do you like better?

American system - an album release followed by singles cut from the album.

Japanese system - single releases culminating in an album release.

[Celaphorce]

Definitely Japanese System, I hate having to wait for an album and then the pv's for the singles picked out of the album, it's like torture.

[cybermoomba]

The Japanese system is much better. That way you don't get annoying re-releases of albums like Mariah's Emancipation of Mimi, etc.

[ImpactBreaker]

Originally Posted by tl1029530921

Which 'system' of music releases do you like better?

American system - an album release followed by singles cut from the album.

Japanese system - single releases culminating in an album release.

Japanese system sounds much more interesting and exciting in my opinion. Not to mention, it kinda makes you think that they will put much thoughts into the exclusive album tracks. In a lot of american releases, the tracks worth listening to are usually the ones considerd as singles while most of the other tracks are usually nothing but fillers.
However there are moments when I feel it's more exciting to listen to a whole brand new album without knowing much about the songs inside it (a rare situation because it's rare for me to blindly buy an album I don't know its contents, unless it is an artist I already liked the previous albums, but even so...)

[momobean]

Japanese system, definitely, it relives cravings and builds anticipation. Sometimes the American one seems so... pointless.

[hallelujah_united]

Japanese system for me too. It allows singers to come up with new material to listen to every few months, instead of having to wait a much longer time for the Americans.

However, albums do get a bit boring if too many singles are released before the album release (e.g: (m)u). Might hurt album sales.

[sexysaucestar]

Looks like nobody prefers the American system so far o_O I never even noticed before that American artists do that--release an album, then release singles w/tracks from most recent album o_o Hmm...to me that just sounds really backwards o_o

[*Petit*]

American system might not leave the listener waiting for so long, but I don't see how it can make the singles sell more. The japanese system is a lot more exciting, although one has to wait in excitement for the album. The japanese artists releases new albums faster the american does too, so it kind of makes up for it.

[bluegie]

I prefer Japanese system too. a few singles released before the albums is always a good idea. yeah... in american system they do release a single bofore the album.. but the rests are single cuts (or are those album cuts? i'm confused now). Also.. dunno if this counts or not. Japanese artists tends to be more creative on the photoshots on the singles. For american releases, the cover of the single is just probly a pic from the album. (e.g., madonna's hung up + sorry shots are simply album shots). That's why I like JPop..

[spookshow]

I prefer the Japanese system -- that way you can hear some of the songs on the album and know if the album is worth buying... although if the artist drags out the time between the singles and the album I'd get very impatient

[hallelujah_united]

Originally Posted by spookshow

I prefer the Japanese system -- that way you can hear some of the songs on the album and know if the album is worth buying... although if the artist drags out the time between the singles and the album I'd get very impatient

Which makes you want to buy the album all the more. The Japanese are really tricky people you know.

[[ Melinda ]]

Japanese system for me too. Some artists just release like one single, and then an album. If it's a new artist, I wouldn't buy the album before I've heard more songs. And I wouldn't even buy singles after the album has released. Only if there's something extra like new only-single songs. Then maybe. But I think the Japanese system is much better.

[Wertica]

Japanese is much better, it's more exciting. Who would buy singles after the CD is released unless there are some songs that you cannot find on the CD.

[yaten]

Originally Posted by Wertica

Japanese is much better, it's more exciting. Who would buy singles after the CD is released unless there are some songs that you cannot find on the CD.

Well that's the difference, America is an album-based industry and Japan is single-based. Singles just aren't released in the US anymore. The singles therefore are for radio play and video spins, which in turn drive the sales of the album. However, a 'single' is often released a month or so before an album comes out, and is sold on the iTunes music store, which has turned to be very profitable.

The Japanese system, while exciting for most listeners, is starting to backfire on the industry. Sales are down, down, down. But, things are okay. The American system obviously works better by sheer numbers, with the top selling album in Japan only being in the mid-7 mil units sold range, and America's current (soundscan era) topper selling nearly 50 mil units (yes, in the US alone). There really is no question as to which system works better financially.

I actually like the way tomiko van is handling her album release - she's had two PVs out already, and two other songs have either gone to radio or ad campaigns. Her album is getting exposure, but not to the point where anyone can buy tracks yet - i think this will translate into awesome sales numbers. we'll just have to see...

[ayu_fan929]

Originally Posted by yaten

The Japanese system, while exciting for most listeners, is starting to backfire on the industry. Sales are down, down, down. But, things are okay. The American system obviously works better by sheer numbers, with the top selling album in Japan only being in the mid-7 mil units sold range, and America's current (soundscan era) topper selling nearly 50 mil units (yes, in the US alone). There really is no question as to which system works better financially.

perhaps maybe the US music industry is a lot larger than japan's? btw, its not like ALL cd sales in japan are down. yeah, some artists like ayu maybe down, but overall cd-sales have gone up single and album-wise. i also tend to think japan's are more financially better as well cos of the nature of the ppl. a lot of japanese ppl buy both albums and singles. thats unlike the states where theres only album-buyers.

Originally Posted by lotusoka

A combination of the two would make perfect sense to me.

i dont no but i think Hong Kong sorta has a combination. artists there release 1-2 singles that is only avaliable thru radio play/MV (so an actual cd-single for the songs arnt produced/not for sale). after that, they release an album, then they release 1-2 more singles from the album (again, an actual cd-single isnt produced/not for sale)

[yaten]

Originally Posted by ayu_fan929

perhaps maybe the US music industry is a lot larger than japan's?

Sorry, I omitted that one thing unintentionally. Population-wise, the United States has a 50% leg up on Japan - so adjusting for proportions, Japan's top selling album would have moved ~15 milion copies. Still no competition for America's market, no competition for our top 10 selling albums, either.

But i got far off track, this was about preference, not so much financial points (although, this is important)

For the record, I prefer something inbetween. Perhaps something along the lines of an EP or two inbetween albums, with only one or two tracks making it to the final album.

[Raleigh]

Japanese system because you get a taste of what you're going to get in the following album

[darkswordz]

of course the japanese system

The Japanese system
I prefer this way so much more, I love the anticipation ^__^

[thinkingoutloud89]

Japanese System...Why should I buy Singles after the Realese of the Album? And CD+DVD are much better^^