Why do Japan always get bonus tracks? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

djflish · 09-08-2005, 01:54 PM

[rant]
Why do albums in Japan get extra 'bonus tracks' that aren't on UK or US releases? This has always annoyed me a little.
Who makes this decision? Do the artists (generally from the UK/US) not think we are good enough for their 'special' songs?
I just heared an awesome Oasis track from the Japanese release of Definitely Maybe. This song has been around for 11 years and I've never heard it before! It makes me wonder how many great tracks haven't seen the light of day anywhere other than Japan!
[/rant]

n0nsensical · 09-08-2005, 02:09 PM

Probably because CDs are ridiculously expensive over there, like possibly double what we might pay (or so I've heard). I'm not sure why they don't simply lower the prices such that they wouldn't need to add value. I guess that's just the status quo.

alansmithee · 09-08-2005, 08:25 PM

I think its due to higher costs of CD's there and also I think some releases come out later overseas, so they might add additional tracks that were recorded after the initial recording date as well. I know I have a Bjork CD that was an import that came with an extra track (don't think it was Japanese though). I also remember awhile ago seeing an import from Japan with 4 bonus tracks over the copy I had (was like $25 though).

Suave · 09-08-2005, 11:55 PM

If you ever get annoyed at things they get that you don't, think of all of the space you can enjoy. Or your lack of earthquakes and tsunamis.

irateplatypus · 09-09-2005, 03:35 AM

i think what alansmithee guessed is correct much of the time.

the cds are pressed and shipped soon after completion here in the US and UK... releases are often not simultaneous in japan. it gives the artist more time to add/produce tracks.

Additionally, it gives those japanese who imported the Western version a reason to pick up the Japanese one as well. think of "Special Edition DVD" run amok.

AVoiceOfReason · 09-12-2005, 08:30 PM

I keep hearing "CDs are higher in Japan" but I still don't know why. Anyway, here's a link that discusses the matter a bit.

http://www.melodicrock.com/industry/insidestory.html

Derwood · 09-13-2005, 07:22 AM

US released of UK discs often get bonus tracks too. Just look on any p2p client under your favorite band and you're likely to find any tracks you didn't know about

djflish · 09-15-2005, 02:59 AM

I bought Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stoneage a few months ago and I've only just noticed that it has 2 bonus tracks exclusive to the UK! Maybe it's not just Japan after all....

balderdash111 · 09-23-2005, 09:40 AM

The actual answer was hinted above, but here is the explanation courtesy of the folks at Def Leppard

Quote:

For economic reasons, it is common to add one or more bonus tracks to Japanese releases, in order to avoid Japanese retailers trying to sell the import releases. Retailers can get import releases for a lower price, so they can make more money if they actually sell these for the regular sales price. Fans are more interested in the Japanese releases, which have more tracks, so they will not be more interested in the imports. If the import releases would sell more than the Japanese releases, it could cause a catastrophe for the Japanese economy. Most bands use this strategy in Japan.
The European/UK release of "X" did get two extra tracks for different reason: to 'make up' for the fact that the band plays in North America way more than in Europe.

http://www.defleppard.com/faq/index.html

Bob Biter · 09-25-2005, 06:36 PM

Balderdash111 got it right on the money. Also, the Japanese who don't know about this little scam (and I've talked to many of them) think the artists add the tracks just for them, so they feel all good inside... almost like it's worth it to shell out around 2,200 yen (about US$20) for Green Day's latest bowel movement. You know what's even crazier? Local Japanese CDs are usually even more expensive and don't benefit from special event prices. WTF?

Oh, and I would've traded off all those pretty extra tracks for the chance to see non-Japanese movies when they were actually released in the rest of the freakin' world. Only Kill Bill 1 and 2 were simultaneously released in the US and Japan when I was over there (although the Chinese parts were subtitled in Japanese... damn!).

09-08-2005, 01:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	Why do Japan always get bonus tracks? [rant] Why do albums in Japan get extra 'bonus tracks' that aren't on UK or US releases? This has always annoyed me a little. Who makes this decision? Do the artists (generally from the UK/US) not think we are good enough for their 'special' songs? I just heared an awesome Oasis track from the Japanese release of Definitely Maybe. This song has been around for 11 years and I've never heard it before! It makes me wonder how many great tracks haven't seen the light of day anywhere other than Japan! [/rant] __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer. Last edited by djflish; 09-08-2005 at 01:57 PM..

09-08-2005, 02:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	Probably because CDs are ridiculously expensive over there, like possibly double what we might pay (or so I've heard). I'm not sure why they don't simply lower the prices such that they wouldn't need to add value. I guess that's just the status quo. __________________ "Prohibition will work great injury to the cause of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A Prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded." --Abraham Lincoln

09-08-2005, 11:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Suave Twitterpated Location: My own little world (also Canada)	If you ever get annoyed at things they get that you don't, think of all of the space you can enjoy. Or your lack of earthquakes and tsunamis. __________________ "Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

09-09-2005, 03:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
irateplatypus can't help but laugh Location: dar al-harb	i think what alansmithee guessed is correct much of the time. the cds are pressed and shipped soon after completion here in the US and UK... releases are often not simultaneous in japan. it gives the artist more time to add/produce tracks. Additionally, it gives those japanese who imported the Western version a reason to pick up the Japanese one as well. think of "Special Edition DVD" run amok. __________________ If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves. ~ Winston Churchill

09-12-2005, 08:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
AVoiceOfReason Psycho Location: Greenwood, Arkansas	I keep hearing "CDs are higher in Japan" but I still don't know why. Anyway, here's a link that discusses the matter a bit. http://www.melodicrock.com/industry/insidestory.html __________________ AVOR A Voice Of Reason, not necessarily the ONLY one.

09-08-2005, 08:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
alansmithee Junkie	I think its due to higher costs of CD's there and also I think some releases come out later overseas, so they might add additional tracks that were recorded after the initial recording date as well. I know I have a Bjork CD that was an import that came with an extra track (don't think it was Japanese though). I also remember awhile ago seeing an import from Japan with 4 bonus tracks over the copy I had (was like $25 though).

09-13-2005, 07:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	US released of UK discs often get bonus tracks too. Just look on any p2p client under your favorite band and you're likely to find any tracks you didn't know about __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel

09-15-2005, 02:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
djflish The Mighty Boosh Location: I mostly come out at night, mostly...	I bought Songs For The Deaf by Queens Of The Stoneage a few months ago and I've only just noticed that it has 2 bonus tracks exclusive to the UK! Maybe it's not just Japan after all.... __________________ Europes two great narcotics, Alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I prefer.

09-25-2005, 06:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bob Biter Non-smokers die everyday Location: Montreal	Balderdash111 got it right on the money. Also, the Japanese who don't know about this little scam (and I've talked to many of them) think the artists add the tracks just for them, so they feel all good inside... almost like it's worth it to shell out around 2,200 yen (about US$20) for Green Day's latest bowel movement. You know what's even crazier? Local Japanese CDs are usually even more expensive and don't benefit from special event prices. WTF? Oh, and I would've traded off all those pretty extra tracks for the chance to see non-Japanese movies when they were actually released in the rest of the freakin' world. Only Kill Bill 1 and 2 were simultaneously released in the US and Japan when I was over there (although the Chinese parts were subtitled in Japanese... damn!). __________________ A plan is just a list of things that don't happen.