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Shane · 09 May 2002, 12:19

I believe there are commercial reasons for re-release of an album.

First of all, most fans (including me) would go and buy the re-release. Imagine if everyone who bought one initially (in 1977) bought the re-release. I know that wouldn't happen, but I believe many people would, so the total number of Bat Out Of Hell albums sold would skyrocket. If 30 million people had bought one copy each (making 30 million), and each of those people bought it again, that would make 60 million. This would help to push the album up into the top albums of all time (in terms of sales). Bat Out Of Hell used to be in the top 3, but at the moment I think it is somewhere around 25.

Of course, all this means more money for the record companies (and I'm assuming Meat too). There are other tactics used for other albums. Sometimes, record companies will put out the same album with a slightly different cover (like for Michael Jackson's Invincible or No Doubt's Rock Steady), or they'll re-release it again a few weeks (or years later), like they did for Westlife (a boy group) and include some bonus tracks to increase the motivation to purchase.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything wrong with this. Record companies and their artists have to make a living just as we do.

09 May 2002, 12:19	#18
Shane Super Loafer Join Date: 30.04.2002 Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand (GMT+12) Posts: 608	Commercial Reasons I believe there are commercial reasons for re-release of an album. First of all, most fans (including me) would go and buy the re-release. Imagine if everyone who bought one initially (in 1977) bought the re-release. I know that wouldn't happen, but I believe many people would, so the total number of Bat Out Of Hell albums sold would skyrocket. If 30 million people had bought one copy each (making 30 million), and each of those people bought it again, that would make 60 million. This would help to push the album up into the top albums of all time (in terms of sales). Bat Out Of Hell used to be in the top 3, but at the moment I think it is somewhere around 25. Of course, all this means more money for the record companies (and I'm assuming Meat too). There are other tactics used for other albums. Sometimes, record companies will put out the same album with a slightly different cover (like for Michael Jackson's Invincible or No Doubt's Rock Steady), or they'll re-release it again a few weeks (or years later), like they did for Westlife (a boy group) and include some bonus tracks to increase the motivation to purchase. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything wrong with this. Record companies and their artists have to make a living just as we do.