Lim Young-woong’s 2nd Full Album Will Be Released Without ‘CD’
Singer Lim Young-woong (34) has decided to release his 2nd full album, which will be released on the 29th of next month, as a photobook instead of a CD in order to ease the burden on fans and to protect the environment.
His agency Fish Music announced on the 29th that Lim Young-woong’s regular album ‘IM HERO 2’ (photo) will be produced in the form of an album book containing photographs.
The agency said, “This decision was made after long discussions and deep consideration with Lim Young-woong,” and added, “Although the form of commemorating the album will change, we prepared it with the hope that the sincerity contained within can be felt even more closely.”
The album book will be sold through Lim Young-woong’s official MD Mall starting on the 31st. It is composed only of Lim Young-woong’s photos and messages, without a CD. It is a bold departure from conventional albums that usually come with a CD containing the music tracks. Above all, sales of the album book will not be counted in the official music album sales charts. The tracks can be streamed via various music sites.
In the K-pop market until now, there has been a widespread practice of fans buying dozens of the same album to collect photocards or to get chances for fan signing events, rather than simply to listen to music. To win in first week sales competitions, fans often buy in bulk, resulting in albums being thrown away, which has drawn criticism for causing environmental pollution.
Nam-young Kwon, Reporter