[identity profile] karadin.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] gackt_army
Ayumi Hamasaki - Japanese pop megastar and friend of Gackt - she was his 'Valentine' last year, this year it is You! will release her new album Next Level on USB flash drive.

USB distribution has been tried before, but this is a first for a major label in Japan. The USB album will be released in limited quantity on the same day as the regular CD version on March 25. The album will be released in a total of 4 different packages, including a CD+DVD combination. The USB edition will include all 13 tracks from the regular CD, 6 music videos, and a lyric booklet.

The USB flash drive itself will have a capacity of 2 GB. The album will take up about 800 MB, while the remaining 1.2 GB of space is free to use. At a price of 6,800 yen, the USB version is said to be a bargain, as typical USB drives reportedly sell for around 4,000 to 5,000 yen.

The USB will be packaged in a case the same size as a normal CD case, making it easy to display in stores. Oricon will apparently include the USB drive version in its sales tracking.

What would you think of a Gackt album released via USB drive?

Date: 2009-02-13 03:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ryuik.livejournal.com
Hmm.. I think it's an interesting idea, really.
Btw, what does it mean "his Valentine"?? *intrigued*

Date: 2009-02-13 06:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ryuik.livejournal.com
Lol, it's nice^^ I wonder where do people get this info from though)

Date: 2009-02-13 08:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ryuik.livejournal.com
^^ And in the case of Gackt and You?.. *puzzled* sorry for stupid questions, I just try to figure out how You can be Gackt's Valentine)

Date: 2009-02-13 03:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rizukichan.livejournal.com
That's a GOOD idea!
i would love to have Gackt Official USB...hehe

Date: 2009-02-13 04:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lilyginnyblack.livejournal.com
Like others have said, that would be interesting. That's for this intriguing bit of news! ^-^

Date: 2009-02-13 05:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zilldk.livejournal.com
I think it would be an funny new way to expand the market, but I guess I would see it as some sort of "collectors item". Not so much a way to distribute music generally. But maybe that has to do with me being a clumsy fool - I managed to ruin two USB-drives in the same week, so I consider them... not Zill-safe... ;D

Date: 2009-02-13 06:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kou.livejournal.com
In North America, solid-state memory is emerging as a distribution method for software and music, especially with the prevalence of mobile devices using MicroSD. Computer Associated (ca) antivirus and HR Block (TaxCut) sell their software on Kingston Travler memory sticks. And, SanDisk's SlotMusic (http://www.slotmusic.org/) project puts the music on MicroSDs for your phone.

That being said, 1. why the &@*# is flash memory so expensive in Japan, it's $14.95 (~1700 JPY) in the USA for a generic 2GB right now as opposed to 4000-6000... and 2. The only JPOP that's being sold alround here is through Tofu Records at local anime stores, and Dir en Grey sometimes at Hot Topic.

> The album will take up about 800 MB

At 800MB for a single CD, it's probably lossless or similar. What could it be? MP3pro? DTS HD?

Edit: never mind, there's 6 videos. That's what's taking up the space. Oh well.

Date: 2009-02-14 03:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jujugou17.livejournal.com
Meh I don't know about the USB thing. Nifty idea, true, but I don't know if I'd do it. If you're going to put it on a USB, just load it onto the mp3 player and sell it that way. Basically the same thing, honestly. *shrug*

USB drives are easily corrupted sometimes, though, even with virus protection. It is an intriguing idea, but I probably wouldn't buy it myself.

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