Bonus tracks

Rune · #1 09-23-2002, 05:36 PM

Why does all the Japanease get bonus tracks? Is it because the CD's in Japan is more expensive, or????

Becky · #2 09-23-2002, 06:12 PM

A long time ago I heard or read that it's to distinguish those CDs from others. Because those CDs are more expensive, there's a "black market" type effect of importing CDs from other countries in order to sell them at a lower price, so it takes away from the profits for the Japanese division of the record label. That's why the CDs always come out earlier there too.

Becky

littlebitofsoul · #3 09-23-2002, 06:16 PM

I always thought it was because Bon Jovi's biggest market was in Japan, hence the early release dates, also the Tours normaly start there. Basicly I guessed that Bon Jovi look after their Japan Fans.

Jovian · #4 09-23-2002, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebitofsoul

I always thought it was because Bon Jovi's biggest market was in Japan, hence the early release dates, also the Tours normaly start there. Basicly I guessed that Bon Jovi look after their Japan Fans.

Elaine, what Becky said is pretty much how it is -- all bands that have a solid fan base in Japan (not just Bon Jovi but more or less every band that have made it big in Japan) are either adding some extras and/or bonus tracks to their Japanese releases or releasing their new albums first in Japan. Or both. It's because the domestic albums in Japan are very expensive compared to the albums that are imported there from the US or Europe, whether that be legally or illegally. So in order to boost domestic sales and the domestic album charts (imports don't count on the charts), the Japanese branches of various record companies add extras to most non-Japanese albums sold in Japan -- that way the domestic albums are made more appealing to the Japanese fans compared to the simpler but considerably cheaper imports. It's a standard practice within the music industry and by no means exclusive to Bon Jovi.

Bonus tracks

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