Why do Japanese versions of American bands' albums have extra tracks not available in the U.S.?

Question

I've been organizing my ipod and have been using wikipedia... I've noticed on a BUNCH of the albums that there are extra tracks available on the Japanese version albums, AND - "Rage Against The Machine" had an entire album available exclusively in Japan, "Live & Rare". WHY?!?! I live in Japan and it seems like they still appreciate their own (annoying) music more than American music.

Answer 1

You will find lots of bands/artists whose album has extra tracks in Japan. Sometimes they only issue albums in Japan.
The reasons are two: money and licensing.

Very often artists have extra material that their own labels are not willing to take a gamble on and realease. However in Japan, many lables are more than happy to fork over money to get an "exclusive" album for the Japanese market. Also, these lables make it very easy to get stuff released in Japan.

This stuff has been going on since the 50's believe it or not.

Answer 2

Yes you are right.
In Japan, I always notice that there are "service track" or "Additional song" in the American and European alubums which are released in Japan.

Isn't it a strategy of the each record labels?
Or Japanese music market is huge. They need to add something to let Japanese purchase western music?

Answer 3

even as Pearl Jam all started putting out CD singles decrease back contained in the ninety's, there have been all of those imports with extra stuff on them that I had to scour the interior reach record shops for (no eBay, no internet)... then I undergo in recommendations the band stopped permitting extras to bypass remote places. one in each of my singles, i imagine it replaced into for Dissident (VS) is stickered "no longer to be at a loss for words with the added intense priced (similar) import version". i imagine it truly is a ploy via the record organizations to get the diehard followers to purchase more beneficial than one reproduction of a unmarried or album. they have taken this even farther those days via freeing albums with a similar song yet different album covers (because some creditors ought to have all of them)... and freeing albums with somewhat numerous tracklists at different shops - like most suitable purchase could have 10 tracks and three bonus tracks, and objective could have different bonus tracks.

Answer 4

That's a really good question, I wonder that myself. I always thought, because things are so expensive in Japan, bonus tracks provide an added incentive for people to buy music.

Also, most bands are signed to different record lables in different countries (i.e: radiohead was signed to capitol records in america, but also signed to emi in the uk). So maybe different lables have different publishing rights.

I also hear that Japan just has cooler stuff than other countries. I don't know, just my guess.

Answer 5

Yes that is right! Looks at the Japanese version of Nirvana's In Utero or Out of the Vein by Third Eye Blind!

Answer 6

I think it has something to do with the music label/recording company.

I mean like, somtimes you see music or even movies gets released/premiered in other countries instead of the origin of the media, and have like special cut scenes etc.

Answer 7

Expanding on what Shichido said...another aspect, I think, is that back in the states people buy the record (CD, whatever...) and many will then find an "import" release...and then buy that too, because it has an extra song or something...