Amazon links: Release or Release Group?

MusicBrainz
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When I’m adding an external link to a Release in MB, it recognizes an Amazon URL and auto-selects “ASIN” for the link type. It is not recognized when editing a Release Group.

It seems to me that this should be the other way around. Amazon doesn’t appear to distinguish between releases. At least, if you search for an album title, it’s nearly impossible to tell which release you might find. It feels more appropriate for Amazon links to be associated with RGs rather than releases.

I haven’t found any other discussion of this, and it may not be a big deal, but, thoughts?

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Yeah, Amazon is a bit vague, but then it is just a shop selling produce.

I think when you get reissues the ASIN will change. Especially if extra tracks \ extra discs are added to the Release. So you will see multiple ASINs under the same Release Group.

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The Amazon product IDs and with it the URLs are for specific products with a specific barcode. It is clearly per release. Example:

CD: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B085RRNXQY

CD limited edition: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0863R7XHR

Vinyl: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0863TFVPN

Download: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B085CLLND5

Clear vinyl: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08BXW6KBX

See how the ASIN is different.

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Okay, I see that. Thanks.

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And indeed when you search by catalogue number or EAN/JAN/barcode, you find a specific ASIN:

https://musicbrainz.org/edit/24158714

Although this is not the best of examples because two editions (regular and limited CD) are sharing the same catalogue number and same JAN, so they also share the same ASIN: //amazon.jp/dp/B00005L9A1

But two editions are still not the whole release group. :grin:

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How does this make sense? Amazon is selling products and their concern is to distinguish different but similar products. If you order that thing how would they decide if they ship you the regular or limited edition? Do they roll a dice? I’d also assume those two would have different prices.

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When I order at HMV (Japan), there is a notice if the limited edition is still available or not.
The first press will get the bonuses, then you get the regular edition.
When the catalogue numbers and barcoeds are shared (happens with some labels or some artists like 陰陽座 albums).
I very rarely ordered from Amazon but I guess you can know if there is still first press in stock.

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A lot of the time old albums on Amazon are being sold second hand by marketplace sellers, which makes Amazon’s database get more slack.

It is also common to see multiple ASINs for the same edition for this same reason.

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