This image, captured from KTOWN4U’s website, shows K-pop boy band NCT’s ‘jewel case’ albums.
SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — As the K-pop market continues to expand, music albums are taking on a greater variety of shapes and sizes.
Artists in recent years release an average of two or three types of music albums, along with so-called ‘jewel case’ albums, which are CDs packed into a transparent plastic cases commonly found during the 1990s and the 2000s.
K-pop boy band NCT released its third album “Universe” in December of last year, unveiling 21 ‘jewel case’ albums that each portray one of the 21 members.
“Jewel case albums are easier to make, and sold at a more affordable price for teens and 20-somethings, who are major K-pop consumers,” an industry source said.
K-pop producer BIGTONE and 4-member boy group LUMINOUS released so-called ‘platform albums’ that come without CDs, but instead with photo cards.
Platform albums contain an authorization token that can be scanned by a smartphone to access the tracks. Each of them is officially counted as an album.
“Platform albums are shaped like cards, and can be designed into photo cards to cater to fan demand,” an industry source said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
