[2006] American system vs. Japanese system

[~Matt~]

Japanese system I think is so much better than the american

[Brittany]

I like the American way.

However, it takes FOREVER for a new album to come out, so I'm stuck between the Japan and American way.

[bernardation]

i don't see anything better in the american system.

[norain]

Well...the American system is blamed for by the Metal-Times...bands released full-albums which sold a lot better than singles...so eventually...they started this "American" way...which is singles are released after the album's release, and because sales of singles are so low (seriously, they are) and that the debut single is release 1-2 weeks prior to the album, it's just all suck. There has been dispute over the system, and that the RIAA <--- they suck...are mad because nobody buys albums. In America, there are wayyy too many filler-songs. And when a single is released it's only of the 3 songs. So companies are really mad of iTUNES Services because they only buy one song out of the overpriced 11.99 filler album to a 17.99 still filler album. There was an article that suggested that Americans revert back to the system 40 years ago, which is now the "Japanese System" but companies were too scared to release singles first and then albums. This was due to iTUNES, so all in all, American's won't change it, and singles won't be bought in America but iTUNES will sell the songs for what they're worth on the album .99 cents.

Did you know, they had to revise the Billboard counts of Singles because there weren't enough...so now it includes all Album-Cuts, Singles, and Air-Play? maybe not airplay, but album cuts also. No Doubt's album cut - Don't Speak, was never able to be on the Billboard Charts for Singles because you couldn't buy it in a store and now times have changed and when billboard is originally suppose to be like oricon, it's changed to be like "cheesy easy" way to get in.

Sexed up video = major sales = win win situation = america
Meaningful Video = major sale = lose win situation dependent = japan

[appears]

urgh america is NOT the centre of the universe you know... cant the title of this thread b changed 2 western v japanese system... ???
cos the european release system is the same as the american one...

anyway, i voted4japanese system... once, uve bought an album, who wants singles that are already included on it?? (at least the whole recut thing offers something fresh/new)

btw im not sure if this is true, but i heard that none of the beatles singles were actually included on albums, so basically every release was unique... im really not sure how accurate that is thou, correct me if im wrong

[Aisha_Angel]

I really like the Japanese version better...the American system is WAY 2 SLOW for me. You can turn on the radio right now and hear a song...five months later; just randomly turn on your radio and that same song is still number one...it makes me feel like..."isn't their anybody else who can do better than this out here? where's the rivalry in album sales & stuff"...there isn't any though b/c everyone sounds the same, looks the same & acts the same.

To me, the Japanese system allows growth for a singer. You can decide between single-to-single what you feel is good for the season to you. If it's summer time and everybodys doing summertime ballads; you can bust out with a summer dance hit. But with the American system; you're kind of left with regrets because while everyone else is doing the same thing; you're stuck watching because your album is already out with a "outdated" kind of theme.

It's hard for me to explain but that's just how I feel.

[lotusoka]

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

However, I choose Japanese. If I buy an album, I don't want to hear the songs on the radio for months... like with Kelly Clarkson. I love her, but I got the album when it came out and am now just hearing "walk away" on the radio...

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by appears

urgh america is NOT the centre of the universe you know... cant the title of this thread b changed 2 western v japanese system... ???
cos the european release system is the same as the american one...

anyway, i voted4japanese system... once, uve bought an album, who wants singles that are already included on it?? (at least the whole recut thing offers something fresh/new)

btw im not sure if this is true, but i heard that none of the beatles singles were actually included on albums, so basically every release was unique... im really not sure how accurate that is thou, correct me if im wrong

Well, I don't know about the rest of euroep, but here, what's called the "american way" isen't used by lot of artists. Japanese system is more common.

[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...

[Calico]

I prefer the Japanese way. Like Ayu, she releases singles throughout the year, and the it culminates into an album at the end. I like knowing what to probably expect from an album, and know that if some of the songs are good already. Actually, I get kinda irked with having a whole new album...can't really explain why though.

[starr5245]

Japanese system is better, because it gives you a preview of what songs to expect in the upcoming album

[darkswordz]

the japanese system is alot better in my opinion
the singles released are kinda like 'surprise' for the fans. They will be happier in a sense they won't have to wait so long in between releases since waiting = suffering plus, there are profits to be generated from the sale of singles and is much profitable to the recording companies in a sense

[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.

[minkAYuko]

Japanese system... after I discovered it I just loved is better.

[Kodayumi]

Japanese, definitely. Its more exciting to release Singles first, then a compilation of everything to form an album

old thread.

[..:Hot:Like:Wow:..]

although it has some cons, the Japanese system is better IMO.

[extepan]

American system

[fanmail]

Japanese
-CD+DVD releases on most singles/albums
-All singles have new photoshoots - not left-overs from the album shoot
-Instrumentals with most of the songs
-the singles are ALL released before the album, so it really hypes up the album and lets people know what the album's gonna be like

^_^

[bondingo]

Originally Posted by ~fanmail~

Japanese
-CD+DVD releases on most singles/albums
-All singles have new photoshoots - not left-overs from the album shoot
-Instrumentals with most of the songs
-the singles are ALL released before the album, so it really hypes up the album and lets people know what the album's gonna be like

^_^

I agree, for all of the reasons above. I especially like the Instrumentals reason. American single releases nowadays are not even usually a physical CD. Rather, they just release a PV and give it radio-play. I hate that. I miss the fact that we used to have singles here. You really have to scout for them nowadays.