system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 Why do so many bands put bonus songs on Japanese releases?
gpt
Because of studio collusion, CDs in Japan are sold for around twice the price they are in, say, the United States. Bands often put exclusive tracks on the Japanese version as a way to encourage Japanese consumers to buy the Japanese version over a cheaper parallel import from overseas. CDs sold in Japan also often contain other extras like mini photo books in the liner, as well as of course translations of the lyrics. It should also be noted that the Japanese market still remains very much physical media-focused, with the majority of music sales still coming from CDs instead of digital downloads.