Do you pay attention to singles?

[wrist cutter]

Back in those years before I came to know Japanese music, I never realized that there were singles - those CDs with just a couple of songs centered upon one of the artists's better songs (there are typically about 3 per full album). But eventually I came to realize that they did indeed exist in America, but just in an odd way.

When I first learned about the existance of these things, I always figured you released a series of singles to lead up to the release of the full album - and that's how it's done in Japan (seems like the logical way to do it). But then I learned, that in America and probably many other countries, a full album is released first, which is followed by the singles.

To me this seems ridiculous - why release a single after an album? Nobody is going to buy a CD with only a few songs on it when they can get the song on a CD with a bunch of other music on it. But in Japan this wouldn't be an option, as the album wouldn't be out yet.

And a question - was there ever a time when 3" CDs were used for singles? In Japan, that was the standard up until 1999, when maxi singles (the standard 6" disc) became typical, usually due to the huge amount of remixes of a song taking up so much room on a single.

[RicoTranzrig]

I think when a CD is released here in America, they don't really know what will be the big hit...well, some do know but typically, not many will spend their money for only a few tracks, that's what the radio's for.

[James]

[color=royalblue]There are several reasons why the singles are released after the main album. And actually, it's a [i]better[/i] and more intelligent way of publishing music than the Japanese way.

Why? Simple.

Let's say you release three singles in a row over a three month period. And in the fourth month, you release your album.

By this time, your three "main" singles are older and have been out there for a little while. People are getting more bored of them and newer music is entering the charts.

If you release your album first and then release your first single, people become interested in that single and they buy the album.

Then, another month later, you might release a second single from the album. Because it's a new song (and presuming it is good) it reignites interest in your band/group. You keep your music fresh for the public and you draw out your album's popularity as long as possible.

I hope I've explained that well enough. lol

When I see albums that have been out for ages, but new singles are still being released...it makes me think that if I like a more recent single, I might be more encouraged to buy the actual album itself.

Hope that made sense. o_O;;[/color]

[wrist cutter]

I never really saw that as a problem. I'll take LUNA SEA for example.

After their debut album IMAGE, which had no singles, they released a single called "BELIEVE", which had a really catchy tune and everyone loves it basically. After that, they released a second single called "IN MY DREAM", which was another dark pop-rock type of track which can be catchy. Now, certainly these songs would grab many people's attention, so the anxiety for the album increases, more energy is stirred for LUNA SEA. Both singles ranked very high, especially for a rock band in the early nineties in Japan.

So then EDEN is released. It contains 11 total tracks and the two singles previously released. However, they've been redone. "BELIEVE" had a different intro and a few instruments were reporformed, including the vocals. And IN MY DREAM had a completely different ending, which I really enjoyed. And now that the album had been released, everyone is going after it since they've been waiting for it so long (and usually there are several months between singles). You get 9 completely new tracks (many of which are so frickin' good, like JESUS, Providence, STAY, LASTLY etc..) and the two old songs which you always loved, and in a new form. Many bands in Japan do this - they make "album versions" of their singles so to make it a bit more enticing to buy the album, since there's something different.

Now as I said this seems to be the way to do it - the album should be the main release that everyone waits for, because it's always more special than a single (and this method promotes selling singles a lot more, I think). The method you mentioned, however, promotes the selling of albums and not the singles. When you look at it there's no use in the release of singles at all, since the album is always available.

Personally I haven't gotten tired of the singles, they never seemed like "tired old songs" by the time the album is released, because they're singles! They're the songs that are above and beyond the rest, the ones you don't get tired of.

I recently had this experience - a band, Laputa, recently released a 6 track minialbum of completely new music. This got me into their new style that they've been doing lately. Then they release a single, with 2 songs that are both great... and now I'm really hyped for the album released and have my $30 saved away for it already. Then the album is released... and actually the single is completely missing, the album is 12 completely new tracks. I think - THIS SUCKS!

OK, sure, we're getting more Laputa this way than if 2 of those tracks on the new album were from the previously released single. Now I have to buy the single as well. But the thing is, I was really hoping that both songs would be on the album, because I really enjoyed them and DIDN'T want to have to shell out another $15 for the single. Quite a good marketing ploy.

Many underground Japanese bands do this. A band, kagerou, has released nothing but singles. They've released four - "Biological Slicer", "hakkyou sakadachi ONANISUTO", "jikasei FULL COURSE", and "yuugure no shazai". All of these contain three tracks, not found on any full album. What a way to milk the fans, eh?

And recently, they released two singles on the same day. Each one had the same songs, except for one track. Three songs on each, and only one was different - and the killer was, they were just remakes of previously released songs! They're really stealing the fans here, and its aggravating but a smart way to grab money from your fans.

I see how American singles work now, but I think for Japanese music perhaps this method works better, since I'd never buy singles if they were released after an album with them on (unless it had some great coupling tracks).

[Semjaza]

I buy singles, but only if they have some b-sides or extras. Most of the bands I listen to seem to make singles with the main song, a live track and a b-side. To me that's worth paying the import price.

A lot of bands here put out a single a little before their main LP comes out. It gets interest in the CD. The reason most are released afterwards though is to generate continued interest in the CD and hopefully keep sales going. Seems like most bands release 3 singles per LP, and they are usually a month or so apart. If you play all these singles before the LP even comes, I don't know if anyone would care once it finally is out. This isn't including people that are into the band in the first place, because singles are used to get new people into the band. Playing it all out at once and not allowing people to buy the CD would probably deter interest.

I don't really know how it works in Japan, as I really am not into most Japanese music :).

[PiroMunkie]

[color=indigo]Personally, I've seen both ways of using singles. A lot of the local bands here in Omaha will release a few singles on CD before they will come out with their album. The only thing is you have to go to their shows as well to get these singles, but they are usually really cheap ( $1... $2 at the most) or free, and admission to the shows range anywhere from $5-$12 depending on the venue and the bands playing there. I think this is a rather good way to work if you are just a starting band like such. Since you're new, you [i]want[/i] to say things like "This is what we sound like, this is how we perform. Buy our album when it comes out." Then by the the album comes out, you can already be working on the next set of singles to release once your album has been out for a while.

Though, when it comes to more well known groups/bands. They do the opposite releasing the singles after the album. They know they already have a bunch of people who like their music so they don't need to worry too much about sampling people with their music. Now they will release singles (and now even get on the radio with them) after the album comes out, cause they know that those who have liked them before will get the new album, and those who may have not heard of them before are now getting sampled with their music and will go buy the album. Most often singles are released on the radio before they go on a CD, and to sell the single on CD the band might change the way the songs sound. Perhaps it will be a live version of the song.

That's always how I've seen it done.[/color]

[Transtic Nerve]

I prefer the Singles before the album. Why? Simply because the Majority of people simply don't pay attention to singles. At least not in countries where they are released after the initial album. I actually become impatient. I pay attention to the albums more than any singles, and since singles can't really be found in regular stores in America, like department stores, people just don't care. So in the middle, there's a complete laps in the group. It seems like it takes much longer to make somethig new. I've already wore out their music. I'm bored for 6 months or whatever.

Typically in America, a group releases one single before an album... and it's like a month before the album is released... so you have that laps inbetween. With Japanese music and releasing singles before an album, I always have new music to look forward to, And it also gives me a perspective on what the newer music may or may not sound like.

But yeah, never payed attention to singles before I got into J-Music... and I really don't now. What little American music I listen to, I just hear about the album, and only care about the album.

[James]

[quote]because the Majority of people simply don't pay attention to singles. At least not in countries where they are released after the initial album.[/quote]

[color=royalblue]That's actually not true at all.

Singles are the primary selling point for albums. Singles are also one of the most (if not THE most) profitable area for music artists.

The album is the backdrop. When you release the album and a single to correspond, people buy the single because they can afford it and it is less risk to them (they may not like the album, so they buy the single of the song that they know they already like).

Then, a month or so later, a second single might be released. Once again, this is an opportunity to draw more listeners into that particular song. But moreover, it entices people to purchase the album (that is why, when singles are released after the album, you'll notice that a lot of cross-promotion occurs...this is the best way of shifting albums out of stores).

So in actual fact, singles are the lifeblood of the music industry in some ways. Singles can make or break an artist, regardless of their album, also. If you have a good, number 1 single...it doesn't matter that the rest of your album is horrible; the "tag effect" and cross promotion will ensure strong album sales.

And thus, continued releases of singles post-album release, encourages a longer life expectancy for the album itself. If all singles are released before the album, then there are no singles to release [i]after[/i] the album is complete. Thus, the life expectancy/sales life of the album significantly diminishes.[/color]

[Transtic Nerve]

But the want of new music is fulfilled. I can only hear an album so many times before it goes back into the booklet and away for a few months. With new singles after the album for upcoming albums, I get my fulfillment for new singles and a stronger want for the album when it is released. I guess there's two ways to look at it. Initial want for an album or long standing want for an album.

Anyway, as far as singles are concerned, they just aren't popular in America. NO one buys singles here. Why buy singles when you can buy the full album for 5 more bucks? But if you release singles before an album, people will buy the singles to hear the new music. Thus increasing the sales of singles dramatically. I think the majority reason singles are even released in America is to gain radio play. Which is like I said, about 1 singles a month before the album is released, while in Japan, they release about 3 or 4 anywhere from a year to 3 months before an album.

America and Japan are the two biggest music producers in the world, and they both release things in a different way. I assume they both are successful, so there are just two ways of doing it.

[Semjaza]

I'm not sure where you are shopping, but singles are VERY easy to get around here. Assuming you like something in the Top 20 singles at the time anyway. Every single music store here has stacks of them, and Target, K-Mart, Best Buy, etc. all have seperate single sections as well as having some filed with the bands LPs. They sell well enough to justify their own racks at stores. If you look at singles charts they sell considerably well depending on the band.

It seems singles are more popular in Europe. Most of the singles I actually want (for their B-Sides) are imported and cost like 10 to 14 dollars. Domestic singles on average cost $1.99 to $5.99. Considering a lot of places are still charging $18.99 for an LP, I don't think that's all [i]that[/i] bad.

Singles are used for radio play... In fact, those are generally the CDs that are sent to radio stations. That or full promos, which are changed from time to time (Tweaker comes to mind). I know a lot of people who buy the singles just because they like the one song on the radio. They don't seem to care about the other songs, regardless of whether or not they might like the entire CD. It makes no sense to me, but there are people like that.

And really... I don't know that the record company really cares how long you listen to the CD as long as you bought it. Singles released afterwards help make an LP seem more new than it actually is. It ups the life expectancy (or so they hope), and may get even more people into the band. I think a lot of people around here would be rather upset if they had to keep buying singles with an LP nowhere to be found for another year.

I guess both countries should stick with what works best for them :). I'm not seeing a problem really with either way of doing it.