In the US what you get in return is more important,
I tend to agree.
This would have consequences of … let's say, game design, if games were (or are) considered art.
They would be made not to encompass the highest possible artistic achievement, but rather to comply to the greatest reachable audience.
Another example would be music. Decisions in pop music, for example are often fulelled by the desire to reach the most possible audience … Which could influence productions. The more demanding and complex the songs are, the less likely they are going to be produced and/or published.
Warner seems to have knack at how to do this. They publish individual versions of albums in different countries, try to influence the music artists …
From Wikipedia (compiled) :
Bonus Tracks released in Japan only
Bonus tracks - on some issues of the basic release in Latin America
Bonus Track also on its own as a bonus on an Australian release
Bonus track on Japanese, French & Australian editions of the album
Bonus Track on Limited Asian AVCD edition
Bonus track available on Japanese and limited German release
Edit : I just read that Warner has reserved 300 out of 1000 specimens of the "Collector's Edition" of Enya's newest CD for Japan ...
What is the reason behind the selling of these individual versions ? I don't know.
However, the music industry - it reads "industry", remember that ! an "industry" is usually a departure from [individual] art itself ! in the U.S. is rather centered on maximizing profits than to support the artistic goal of the artists. At least that's my impression.
I don't know of a country where art is as closely linked to economy as in the U.S. .
This might not be true for paintings, and for other forms of art, but for the music "industry" very much, imho.