Why do kpop fans still buy physical albums in the age of digital streaming?

In my case i like to feel the paper between my fingers and watch the pics printed in. Is very satisfactory.

I have 0 interest in the CDs. I don't have any device that plays CDs, except for an old ass DVD Player from 15 years ago (I'm not joking, I was watching Disney cartoons on that thing when I was 6).

If I buy the album, it's because I like collecting stuff. I like the package, the posters, the photocards etc. that come with the album.

Quote from Serendipity2000

Ooooh I'm not familiar with this. So do the inclusions come with every album or is it like a rare thing like winning the lottery. Is there a set of items that come with albums on a normal basis?

Every Twice album has a photobook, a minimum of five random photocards from a large group of photocards, and usually some other accessories depending on the album (can be things like bookmarks, sticker sheets, coasters, etc)

Then if you preorder you will get an additional set of photocards that are static and unique to that version of the album. Posters also come with preordering the album.

I can't really speak for a lot of other groups, but the amount of inclusions you get varies by group and company, but there's always extra stuff.

Buying the album isn't just a CD, it's surrounded by other great things.

For all the goodies inside

.

Quote from Serendipity2000

I would've made it including western artist but then my thread would be moved to another thread. Since kpop fans keep better tabs on the entire process I thought I'd get a better idea here. CD players are kinda rare to find these days everything is on a pendrive or online. So I dunno if its the older gen or the younger ones who buy a bulk of these albums. Do you think album sales will decline in the future?

I know your intentions of this thread are good. I was just replying to users who think "it is wrong to buy albums during streaming/digital era" and those who do it are just "obsessive fans".

In US, worldwide album sales have been on decline since forever. They used to sell 400m in 2008 but in 2020 they sold only 100m . While Korea went from 10m in 2010 to 40m in 2020. Japan has been stagnant in album sales since 2012-13 (I don't think they're declining). So it just shows that the west has given up on physicals but the east is still there. I think they'll continue to decline in the west. Can't say anything about the east for now.

Quote from Rozysebelas

Theres something like this in Korea too .

In makestar crowdfunding sites that mainly used by KPop group , like if the group don't have budget for anything like album producing , photobook ,etc and theres a Tier on it and some of them mention like cafe date .

But thats before covid , idk about now.

*I just check . It still is

https://www.makestar.co/projects/singer_girlkind_03

If u donate high enough u got a tea time and a bike ride date at Han river.

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Oh yeah, I forgot about Makestar.

I never caught on to being content with having an album I love only in a digital format. I hope they keep making CD and LP. The booklets and goodies that come with these physical kpop releases are undeniably worth every penny. Especially because there's such a deep adoration and admiration of these idols and their visuals specific to the kpop genre.

Is there a thread where people post k pop merch like posters, photobooks, LP's etc?

Pretty packaging

Quote from 4d-maknae

I don't have any cd players so it isn't for the music..... I buy the albums for the package and all the inclusions, also I don't use spotify or stream like crazy on youtube so that's my way of supporting them

I agree. I think it's more about the support and the other sort of prizes you can only get by getting the physical album. I still have a CD player but I buy my albums mainly for the aesthetics and stuff we get with it. Oh and for display.

If you don't have your favs album , you are not their stan

-japan

I buy mine 'cause of photobooks.

I know I can find the pictures online, but there's nothing like grabbing that photobook and checking the pictures every once in a while.

For those hot ass photocards

Fun fact: JYP predicted this 12 years ago, in 2009. He straight-up told Western producers and music execs the way that digital streaming and high-speed internet will change the way that music albums are bought, and what albums will mean for fans.

I buy the albums because I prefer having an actual, physical item to keep.

I convert the songs into mp3s of course so I can listen to the music on my phone as well, but that's different.

I don't use Spotify at all. I dislike streaming.in general.

I like collecting albums because it's nice to have a physical represenation of albums I really like.

A lot of them have pretty cool artwork on them as well so it's a nice way to decorate my room and show my hobby without putting up member's faces on my wall.

I also like to look at fashion and makeup so I kinda treat them as fashion magazines without having to worry about the pages being monopolized by a product. I especially like to display and look through certain themed albums each season to get me in the mood for the season.