Atm the only other example I can think of was sweetbox's COMPLETE BEST which was released in December 2007 but it's on top 100 oricon of 2008 and the sales aren't split up.

It was out on 12th December so if it's true so Days/GREEN will be counted in 2009 oricon year, yay!

True but I figure that as long as she sells well they won't really bother. So I don't think they are worried about how it will chart on Oricon if on 2008 or 2009. Unless they plan to milk it for all it is worth.

I was actually surprised that avex isn't milking more out of Ayu's 10th anniversary.

My theory with the four CD jackets is that they saw the four CD covers with MW, and the sales did go up, and Mirrorcle World technically isn't really a new song, and they're repeating the four single jacket thing.

I think the best logical time for an album release is probably in February/march if she wants a full album. Granted, MA did pull off the sales with No way to say only a month ahead of time, but I hope marketing-wise, they learn their lesson from B&D in term of release time (But then again, it's avex...)

I am also pretty surprised that her 10th anniversary wasn't so eventful. Thought they'd end up releasing so much stuff. In the end though I suspect Ayu just wants to slow down her career. She's achieved pretty much everything she had to achieve and now she wants to enjoy her life.

Probably you're right about the four jackets. They realised that the goodies attract more sales so I'm guessing there will be more first presses extra in the future.

Well I do hope this time she'll spend some time to release her album and give time to her fans to buy the single. I don't want her releasing an album in January just to have an album out. MA pulled off the sales because she was extremely popular and now I doubt she can pull if off again. Hope avex figures that out too..

If this was 2001 ayumi time, whatever Ayumi put out, people will buy.

But in this era, even I think Avex knows that they cant do it.
People just don't buy much of physical music anymore.
If you think about it, like, the top selling album of this year will only make 1.5 million.
And during Ayumi's peak, 4 - 6 million was so common.
So I understand why Avex knew that putting out all these things for her Anniversary is unrealistic.
They will probably lose money before gaining. T T

I think.. in a few years time, what happened to Namie will happen to Ayumi.
A slump for some years, and then able to sell 1 million once again. LOL
At least, that's what I hope~

And I was thinking about her vocal situation right now.
It's exactly the same thing that happened during Surreal.
She was singing so well in lives, then suddenly bam, for Audience, and all those singles,
It was so horrible. LOL.
So we just have to wait some time, she will return to her good vocal standings~
Without complaints~ I will wait~

So I think, yeah, we just have to wait and see about this single..
It will do well, I think, its been a good wait.
And people seem to be responding well to this song, Green..

Hopefully days can be an equally exciting song.

@ ^: I agree 200% :yes

Well it's pretty logical that all those tricks work for sales, or they wouldn't have done it for MW and BLUE BIRD in the first place. =p

even though her popularity (musically wise) is going down from her peak era, it's really nice to see people's expressions when I tell them I love Ayu. They're amazed and then proceed to tell me their favorite songs, and it's just a genuine admiration for Ayu...it's so nice :D There's a lot of respect for her, in my experience, at least.

i still feel that ayu's way to celebrate her 10th anniversary is to get closer to her fans. and thats why this yr's ASIA TOUR is exceptionally long and grand.. :)

wow.. I'm happy to know abt this release!! A Double A-sided single sounds so great! The covers must be nice!! hahaz.
oh great! 4 versions. N more 10th anniversary ver.!!! They are making me so wanna get this single. :luv2

Hopefully she'll have two very different covers for both versions, kind of like ayaka's Why/CLAP&LOVE & CLAP&LOVE/Why

anyone knows if Days is gonna have a tie-in??

It sure will. MW doa and MW YOU version hade diffrent covers so. But I hope for more diffrence then like the BB diffrent covers. More like MY STORY. That would be awesome. ^^

Totally right except 4 - 6 million... It should be 2 - 4 million instead. During ayu's peak the highest album sales was hikki's Distance (4.3 - 4.5 million copies?), and A BEST was another album able to pull off 4 million copies. Next year (2002), the top album was again hikki's DEEP RIVER (3.5 million copies), while ayu's I am was around 2.3 million copies.

So even back in ayu's (and/or hikki) peak era, the declines has been started already. I remember I was actually shocked that I am first week sales was only 1.6 million copies (actually 1st and 2nd week combined since it was released on the new year). Duty's first week sales was over 1.6 million copies as well, but that was done in one week. I thought ayu's popularity was sharply decreased during that moment, but then later on I realized that everyone's sales decreased as well...

OMG sorry I was too off topic LOL. I hope that this time Days and GREEN's covers will be totally different. I would be shocked if all covers have the same theme... And if that's the case I don't see why avex names 2 covers with Days as the lead, and the other 2 with GREEN as the lead..

^

Didn't First Love sell 6 mil?

AVEX is pretty clever
they know what theyre going with their artists
xD

and obviously ayu is the one who gives/gave them more income ^^



so they need to bring her back (if they didnt do it already) again.


AC was just a big step to another bigger one!
xDD



not just in Japan, but in all Asia




what is next??

the WORLD????

O___o




**madonna, kylie, britney shivering**

Well, if you consider just 2000 - 2001, then it's right.
But 1999, still one of her best years, Utada sold more than 7 million~ with First Love.
I was so amazed at that one too~ ahaha
So I just chose 4 - 6 as a fair estimate.. LOL

But in that way, still, you are right.. sales I think were starting to fall even then.

I am pretty sure if A BEST was not released in competition to Utada, it would have sold MUCH more..
Big mistake with Avex LOL

Oh well~ at least we know Green will be a solid sales..
Even if not #1 for a week, it will be at least for a day..
And I think that's fine, because most people will probably buy it in iTunes..
And not stores?~

Oricon should really enter partnership with online things. LOL

@ ^: Nah it will get #1 weekly don't worry.. ^^ It's an oriental song which sells well, she hasn't released anything for a long time, it has 4 versions, avex can always use avex magic, and so far there isn't any major planned from other artists in the same week.

But yea the physical copies are going down..which is a shame. : / I can't believe people would rather download something than own a physical copy.. I'd prefer paying $20 extra for a physical copy any time.

@nagamori: Haha maybe. But somehow I think that if she'd go worldwide she'd lose her #1 streak. : P thus if she does go worldwide she'd take a second alias so she can keep her Ayumi Hamasaki #1 streak. Like Hikki.

trueee
but personally I wouldnt mind
xDD

if she still being the best in japan and asia

being second, or third or whatever in the World doesnt worry me at all

^^

me too ^^

totally agree with what you've said!!