Hamasaki's Next Level album available in USB Memory stick

[furuya]

Avex will a release the new Album of Ayumi Hamazaki, a J-Pop Singer, on March 25th. And the Japanese company decided to sell this new album, Next Level, through a USB memory of 2GB.

In this USB thumb drive, you’ll have 13 song of the album, as well as 6 promotional video. Regarding the price, it should cost around 6,800 Yens (Around 60€)

Next_Level_1.jpg

Next_Level_2.jpg

Source: http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-17544...mory+stick.html



I kinda want that USB stick (it being computer stuff) but man that's expensive. Good to see Japan trying out new stuff though.

[Special Needs Tricycle]

Man, that's gimmicky as fuck, but cool as hell.



I would've never expected any label to actually do this, though. It seems to be one of those things that they think would make it easier to pirate things.

[neshcom]

[quote name='Tokyograph']Ayumi Hamasaki's tenth original album, "NEXT LEVEL," marks a new stage in the era of digital music. With the industry gradually shifting away from CDs, Hamasaki has decided to make the album available to fans on a USB flash drive.



USB distribution has been tried by indies artists 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. "NEXT LEVEL" 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.



Hamasaki explained, "As the way we listen to music changes from day to day, I looked at things from the listener's perspective and decided to sell it this way."[/quote]

For the price, I think it's not that bad. It looks REALLY small. I would love to have that on my keychain. It'll match my wristband~ I'm kinda excited for the idea.

[Pflaume]

[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='59797' date='Feb 13 2009, 03:04 PM']Man, that's gimmicky as fuck, but cool as hell.[/quote]



I definitely agree. I despise her, but getting an album in that form would be cool as frick. I'm not sure what it will do for sales, but WELL PLAYED on the idea front.

[peachgirldb]

It looks really damn cool. I wish I could afford one. xD

[ostrich]

That looks really pretty... I might consider buying it... but knowing me, I'd probably just keep it in some display case, and never actually touch it... I'd get the actual music/videos from other sources. XD







[quote name='Special Needs Tricycle' post='59797' date='Feb 13 2009, 03:04 PM']I would've never expected any label to actually do this, though. It seems to be one of those things that they think would make it easier to pirate things.[/quote]

And whatever they've been doing so far seems to be working so well to prevent piracy already. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':whistling:' />

[Joel]

[quote name=':Peach' post='59802' date='Feb 13 2009, 03:18 PM']It looks really damn cool. I wish I could afford one. xD[/quote]



I'm sure they'll sell like a Hong Kong version on yesasia.com. If that's so, I think I would get it.

[tsukinobyouin]

This is such an awesome idea. I'm not an Ayu fan, but if some group I did like put something like this out I'd be all over it. I wonder if you can move the album over to your computer and delete it to free up even more space?

[darkzero]

Wow that's one of the neater looking designer USB sticks.

Awesome idea, but that wing is gonna go missing for anyone who decides to carry it with them. USB caps are notorious for going the way of the getting-lost persuasion

[sadude]

Wow, nice, I want one as well. Agreeing with everyone on this thread: it's a cool concept. And for comparable USB drives in Japan, that IS a good price.



I'd love for H!P to make one of their loopy logo. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /weeeh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' />

[nihonjin_berryz]

I would lose that. Or be scared to break it.

[Pi Mako]

I would so lose that as well. Regular CD version for me, please. <3

[neshcom]

How is everybody saying they're gonna lose it? <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /blink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':cryalot:' /> I keep my USB drive on my keychain at all times. As for the cap staying on, it looks like there's a little tab on the actual dongle to help keep it in place...

[YunkuShiraishi]

OH sounds cool and looks cool! Problem i'm also not really a fan though, that would just be awesome to have. How about selling them as regular USB things without stuff on them just as a ad campaign thing.



Buy this album thing get a mini collectable USB drive with it.

(now that would rock! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /dance.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':sideways:' /> )



Not the album on a usb, but a collectable usb that came with the cd album!

[Geof]

A number of bands have been releasing singles on USB for some time now, but this one does have a much greater cool factor going for it. I'm still not sure I'd pay upwards of $70 for this, considering the potential for it to get wiped, but I do like the fact that it's at least SOME step away from the traditional CD format.