Downfall in Sales of Music Albums

I have always been a music lover and my house is full of albums from different language and styles like Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, English, Rock & Pop, Jazz, Blues, Oldies, Japanese, Korean etc... Over the years, I have not seen much changes in the operation of the album retail shops and record companies and I feel that the service and album release are all getting from bad to worse.

Every now and then, there have always been news of the music industry facing piracy and file sharing issues. I do have to admit that this is part of globalization and does affect in certain areas of sales but is it the only reason that created a downfall in music sales?

When Michael Buble released his latest album "Call Me Irresponsible", I went to purchase the album in the store and that was the first album release. A few weeks back, I went to the music store and discover that there is a second edition release which include 3 bonus tracks. I been thinking why should I buy the album again? I should be a fool if I did. Does the record companies think on the consumer side? No i suppose not, making more money was their only option. In the older days, special edition albums are on first come first serve basis which the normal version will be release there after. I was more of a happy customer then as I got something bonus as I make a first move. It suddenly become the opposite now which is indeed very disappointing.



Even department stores, fashion stores know how to create more business by inviting their loyal customers to special occasion or pre-sale functions. Over the year, I don't even think that the music store know who you are and don't even bother to get to know its loyal customers. Talking about the rewards card they have invented was indeed very disappointed as well. As most of the albums are commonly priced at $17.90 - $18.90 and only if you purchased over $20.00, you will get a stamp and after collecting 20 stamps you can get a free album priced below certain prices. It mean that in order to get a stamp, you will need to purchase 2 albums or 1 album and CD cleaner or other cheaper stuff. If you calculate that I purchase 2 albums everytime, for the 20 stamps I will have brought 40 albums and that cost $17.90 x 40 = $716.00. It does seem still acceptable to get a discount of maybe $25.00 after purchasing $700.00 but the thing is that the music store only set a time period of six months. Unless you really have a lot of friends sharing over a single card, if not it just prove to be an useless card.

Well I suppose that there are many ways for the music industry to make a move and gain back all the lost and angry customers and don't always blame it on the environment, globalization, digital media etc... when they have not even look at how they are doing business when the world is already changing so fast.

Just Some Christmas Songs

Well, finally today is Christmas Eve and I hope everyone will enjoy and have a very happy Merry Christmas. I have found some christmas related songs and hope you like it.

Christina Aguilera - Silent Night/Noche De Paz
The best Silent Night I have ever heard.


Unknown artist - Nochebuena y yo (Christmas Eve and I)
Sad Lonely Christmas Song. If you don't like to be sad then don't listen. :)
Learn a spanish word - Christmas eve is Nochebuena... remember it..


B'z - Itsuka No Merry Christmas
Still one of my favorite song after so many years.


Michael Buble - Grown-Up Christmas List
Such a beautiful voice and such a beautiful song. What more do you want..


Cookies - 曲奇聖誕歌


Funny Anime Catonese Christmas Jingle


Alvin and The Chipmunks - The Christmas Song

X Factor UK Season 4 Winner!!

Finally the result was out on last Saturday, it was really a strong fight between Leon and Rhydian. I do think both of them are great in their own ways. Rhydian have a fantastic vocal and he have been a very good performer ever since his first apperance. I do believe he will be a great artist even when he is not the winner. Leon on the other hand have worked a long way from being so stiff and nervous on his first performance and finally able to give a solid and amazing performance is indeed more touching to many. Overall Leon have a whole package and have shown the capability to sing different song styles wonderfully. You do deserved to be the winner! Congratulations!! Let's listen again to the performance by Leon!! It's really a great final ending song especially with such wonderful lyrics "There can be miracle when you believe", I do believe a miracle will happen to me someday.

Leon Jackson - When You Believe (Final Round)


Leon Jackson - Home (My Favorite Song for the month)


Leon Jackson Duet with Kylie Minogue - Better The Devil You Know (Wow)

Japan Advertisement Special

Advertisements on the train.

Pachiko Advertisement


SQ Jump Square Manga First Edition.


Kamen Rider advertisement.


Nara Ticket Advertisement.


Advertisements at the Kobe train station.


Advertisements at Kobe.


Koda Kumi Fever Live in Hall!


Cup Noodle advertisements.


Halloween 2007.


Famous advertisement board at night.

JLPT Test - 2 Dec 2007

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is organise once every year. There are 4 different levels beginning from Level 4 which is the most easy and level 1 the hardest. I have registered myself for the Level 4 test and will be tested on Sunday, 2 December 2007 at the Japanese School at Upper Changi Road North. It is quite a big school with swimming pool, playground and a lots of classroom. You will need to take off your shoes before entering the classroom. Luckily, i don't have any holes on my socks. :)

I left the house late and so decided to take a taxi down, there are very limited bus to that area. On the way, saw a lot of taxi going in that direction and indeed there was a little jam outside the school. There were several boards in the main hall to determine where we will be taking the test and it was assigned according to our registration no. I was assigned to the room 2-8. There are 3 floors in the school and let's asume that each floor, there are 8 classrooms so 3 floors will be 24 classrooms and assume that each room can take 30 candidates so it will be 720 candidates. If we add the other side of the school then it will be 720 x 2, which is 1440 candidates who will be taking the test in the morning. I understand that there is also another batch coming in the afternoon, i never expect there are so many peoples taking up Japanese lessons here.

There are 3 sections for the test: words & language, listening, grammer and reading. There is a little break after every section. This year the test was quite easy compare to other years i have seen but listening was the most difficult every year as it is hard to understand what the speaker is talking about and selecting the correct answer. I know i did real bad in that.. must work harder... Overall, i believe i should be able to pass the test but the results will only be out in Feb or March next year. In the meanwhile, i will start to work harder for the level 3 test next year! Yeah!!

Winners for the UK X-Factor

The UK X-factor singing competition have already reach it's fourth season. It's really a pity that the show didn't have the chance to make it apperance in Singapore. Anyway, the season 4 result will be out in a few more weeks but before that, let's take a look at the previous three winners.

Season 3 Winner - Leona Lewis (UK version of Mariah Carey)

A Moment Like This


Season 2 Winner - Shayne Ward

Somewhere Over The Rainbow


Season 1 Winner - Steve Brookstein

Against All Odds

Nunobiki Herb Park Special

Nunobiki Herb Park at Kobe.

Entrance.
























Houses near the Cable-car Top Station.














Roses!!

Lavender!!





















































































Morning Glory!


















Big Lalang!!



























Chilis











































Surroundings..










































































Unknown flowers!!














































































Exit!!

Music album price differences

After returning from Japan, i went to the largest music retail store in Singapore and was looking whether the albums i have bought from Japan were already available in the store. Sometime albums can wait for a very long period or even not available here.

This is the latest album of Onitsuka Chihiro and was just released on 31 October 2007. I bought the special edition in Japan for 3300 yen (S$42.00) because it comes with a DVD of three music videos. I saw the album at the local store and it was the normal edition and selling for S$77.00, which was almost double the price. I think that the price was indeed placed too high and was also without the DVD. I went to Yesasia.com to compare the prices and indeed it was much cheaper than the local store. For the normal edition it was price at S$39.04 and the special edition at $43.75 and it qualifies for free shipping if you purchase more than $S25.00, which mean that is already the sale price of the album.

I bought another album in Japan, this is Yuzu's 10 years anniversary album released on 3 October 2007. I have a hard time looking for this album in Japan, most of the larger music stores i went only have the normal edition which is without the DVD. Luckily on the second last day of the trip, i manage to find it at one of the stores in Den Den Town. I bought is at 3500 yen (S$44.80) and it comprises of 2 CDs and a DVD. Back in Singapore, i found it at the store and of course it was only the normal edition and it cost S$66.00. Yesasia.com was of course selling at a lower price, the special edition at S$49.16 and the normal edition at S$41.21. I think that the high prices at the store is due to payment for the shop rental and other expenditures while Yesasia is operating at a lower costs but as a customer i will of course choose the lower price although you may have to wait for a longer period before it will reache you. I do hope that larger retail store will be more careful in their pricing, if not more customers will be lost or do they really care?

Japan Osaka Trip - Final Day

Sennichimae Doguya-suji - Shops dealing with utensils used in restaurants.
























Shops at Doguya-suji.
































































Namba City Shopping Area.


















Christmas at Namba City.























Mos Burger latest promotion.























Tower Records & Muji at Namba.























Express Train to Airport.