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What is the deal with Japanese exclusive bonus tracks/promo thing? Interested about why a significant number of albums have Japanese promo versions with extra

What is the deal with Japanese exclusive bonus tracks/promo thing? Interested about why a significant number of albums have Japanese promo versions with extra tracks. Is that a cultural thing about Japan or is there another specific reason? (I know it's not only Japan but mostly Japanese editions that I see throughout the web) As if, almost even brouillard has a Japanese bonus track named brouillard in their album brouillard.

Hamuko 5y ago
I heard somewhere that it was an incentive for the Japanese market, which still today is a large physical CD market, to buy the locally distributed releases of albums instead of just buying the original foreign release, which may have been available earlier and for cheaper, or if they already bought the original release, buy it again.
- dotancohen 5y ago
  Is this why the super-high quality vinyls were also available only in Japan? I cannot remember the name of the company, but there is (was) some company selling increased dynamic range recordings of popular albums, on very durable (as in, regularly replace the needle) vinyl. I had heard an imported (from Japan) Dark Side of the Moon recording on that once, and it just blew me away.
  - Hamuko 5y ago
    I imagine the super-high quality vinyls are because of a very special breed of Japanese audiophiles who don't mind spending on their hobby. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-gift-for-music-lovers-who-have-it-all-a-personal-utility-pole-1471189463 https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-gift-for-music-lovers-who-hav...
    - dotancohen 5y ago
      I was likely wrong, it wasn't a Japanese company. This is most likely the company that produced the high-quality recording that I heard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab
scns 5y ago
I once read somehere that CDs are expensive when new, can't confirm though. When i was there i bought them used for cheap. Slayers' Hell Awaits, colored like egg yolk ~6€ IIRC, thank you very much.

Hamuko 5y ago

I heard somewhere that it was an incentive for the Japanese market, which still today is a large physical CD market, to buy the locally distributed releases of albums instead of just buying the original foreign release, which may have been available earlier and for cheaper, or if they already bought the original release, buy it again.

dotancohen 5y ago
Is this why the super-high quality vinyls were also available only in Japan? I cannot remember the name of the company, but there is (was) some company selling increased dynamic range recordings of popular albums, on very durable (as in, regularly replace the needle) vinyl. I had heard an imported (from Japan) Dark Side of the Moon recording on that once, and it just blew me away.
- Hamuko 5y ago
  I imagine the super-high quality vinyls are because of a very special breed of Japanese audiophiles who don't mind spending on their hobby. https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-gift-for-music-lovers-who-have-it-all-a-personal-utility-pole-1471189463 https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-gift-for-music-lovers-who-hav...
  - dotancohen 5y ago
    I was likely wrong, it wasn't a Japanese company. This is most likely the company that produced the high-quality recording that I heard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab

scns 5y ago

I once read somehere that CDs are expensive when new, can't confirm though. When i was there i bought them used for cheap. Slayers' Hell Awaits, colored like egg yolk ~6€ IIRC, thank you very much.