well i think it's BoA who makes lots of money now since she is popular in Korea, Japan, China, and other places....but
I think Ayu is the richest because she started her career really early~

^I doubt it. SM put a lot of money into her that she has to pay back to them...

You meant....... only J-pop?------> Certainlt, it's AYU!
In USA...... I think it should be "Green Day"!

I think its Hikki simply for the fact that she pays the most taxes in Japan. So you know when her income tax money comes back to her...........:D

Maybe Ayu... she makes a lot of publicity... Nobody becomes rich just singin even thought they sell a lot of albums! The higher income comes from commercials, an thank God Ayu mkes a lot of commercial and I can see her a lot!!!

I'm guessing Utada. With her husband's income and such. It seems as her whole family creates a fortune.

I once ready that Ayu only made like...2 mill a year which isn't much at all, maybe in Japan it is. That's why she's one of the highest tax payers :dead2

I think its ayu...coz her albums sells for quite alot

ayu... all those singles + albums + cms + ads + mags makes her very rich


utada is already married, half of her money goes to her husband

Has to be Ayu, no doubt about it. Being popular in Korea and China means nothing since there music industry is so, well, crap.

I read Ayu makes US$12 000 000 a year and Hikki makes US$11 000 000 there the first & second richest singers in Asia.

hoho
Ayu definitely

Ayumi..but Utada was 1st last year..XD

Ayu earned ~300 million yen in 2004 I think? Hikki earned close to 1 billion. Plus, Hikki has paid the most taxes within some 15 year period. So, I would think that since she pays more in taxes, Hikki earns more.

Ayumi...

I'm pretty sure Utada is not a billionaire. She is not listed in the Forbes list of Japanese Billionaires.

Ayu has many advertisement appearances... I'm sure she makes a HUGE amount from those and her single, album, and DVD sales are higher than Hikki's in Total.

I was speaking in terms of Yen. (It's implied since I was already talking about Ayu's earnings in yen) 1 billion yen would mean 10 emillion dollars. And the Forbes list of Japanese billionaires, to my knowledge is calculated in US dollars, so that's irrelevant.

And it's already a fact that Hikki earned more than Ayu in the past 15 years.

Utada Hikaru is richer than Ayu. That's a fact.

The fact she is married just make her even more rich, because her husband is from one of the richest families in Japan. And anyway, that's not how it works.

I think she is the highest earning in the entertainment industry bacause she sells a bucketload of stuff, not just records. But overall, Utada is probably the wealthiest.

utada has the highest net worth
all her albums have sold better than ayu's
ALL
ayu may have more copies of her music sold, but hikki still beats her

Where's koda kumi? o.O

Under "Other".

I don't think Koda earns much...

I wonder about it sometimes, becouse I don't know if she writes her lyrics or not - if you do that, it's a real salary boost-up, since writing lyrics is like 40% of the job when making a record (a song), so you get quite a big chunk of the income from its sales. That's just how Ayumi is making big bucks - since her first single, she's been writing almost all of her songs.

When you're just singing, without participating in writing lyrics or arranging music, you're not paid well - unless maybe your records sell amazing numbers, like Mariah Carey (I bet she earns big bucks without needing to write/arrange music, since her records sell a lot).

Koda did sell quite a lot recently, but - she also released a lot, which means, a lot of songs had to be produced for her and a lot of promotion had to be done, and all that costs a lot of money. Music production, PV filming, photoshoots... even if she generated 12 billion yen income for Avex this year, I bet at least half of it went to cover the expenses throughout the peroid of her topping the charts.

Also, I've heard some time ago she's rumoured to be not paid well by Avex...

i honestly thought hikki had to pay the most tax in japan meaning she earned the most.

She does write lyrics, but not all of them.

how about RAIN
hahahhaah


no bashing

Agree with you!! +1!
:yes

That's why I used the word "almost".

I was talking about Kuu...

Ah, my mistake! ^^"

ayumi

It's obviously Ayu

ayumi hamasaki. she's the highest paid singer currently in japan

Hikki :)

Other --> Koda Kumi --> BEST ~first things~ sold like crazy!!

it's pretty obvious that HIKKI is the richest female singer in Japan ...

I think I read somewhere that Ayu is Japan's richest woman. And hey, she's the highest selling solo artist in Japanese history. That definitely has to add to her moniez.

I wouldn't say so. I have hardly seen Hikki do any endorsement deals. And if you look at how massive and successful Ayu's deal is with Panasonic on top of smaller stuff like Morinaga and Kose (formerly) and this new ASH&Diamonds/Dior thing...the wealth goes beyond sales. Even if you were thinking in CD sales alone, Ayu still beats Hikki.

Hikki gets a ton of money from copyrights, which Ayu doesn't really get.

Up to 2004, it was a fact that Hikki was the richest female singer in Japan.

Yes, it's a fact Hikki is the richest on the list, she has more money than Ayu and most of the money come from copyrights anyway, which supposedly Ayu don't get because of AVEX (absurd) policy. Plus, Hikki had less CM deals than Ayu, but her price-tag for CMs was much bigger and she did have a contract with Nintendo DS.

But among all singers and producers in Japan, the richest is Komura Tetsuya.

Koda Kumi is actually not even among the 50 richest in Jpop world. And yes, her BEST sold like crazy, but that does not make her the richest -- have you ever seen Utada Hikaru sales? 7 million of her first album, 4 million for her 2nd, 3 million for her 3rd, 2 million for her best album, 1.5 million for her English album -- it's much bigger than Koda Kumi's sales. And even Ayu sales were much bigger, with four of her albums selling over 2 million copies.

Plus, Koda Kumi got a VERY VERY small salary from AVEX till early 2006, even less than an usual salary man, so...

Where are the sources for all of these facts? I don't mean that in a mean, condescending way; I just want to go and check out all the sites. :P Everyone's always arguing over who is correct and who isn't, so I want to go check for myself. :P

[[I tried to make that sound as not unbelieving as I possibly could, but I think I failed. >_< Sorry!!]]

look at her sales no. back then O_O it's scary!

Automatic/Time will tell (8cm+12cm): 2,062,780
Movin' on without you(8cm+12cm): 1,226,580
First Love (album): 7,650,215
First Love (single 8cm+12cm): 804,320
Addicted To You: 1,784,050
Wait & See ~Risk~: 1,662,060
For You / Time Limit: 888,650
Can You Keep A Secret?: 1,484,940
DISTANCE: 4,469,135
Final Distance: 582,120
traveling: 856,140
Hikari: 598,130
Sakura Drops/Letters: 686,720
DEEP RIVER: 3,605,000
Colors: 893,790
Single Collection Vol.1: 2,576,079
EXODUS: 1,074,000

total = 32,904,709

:roflmao

Hikki was rich off her first single! XD

Well, it's already been proven that Hikki makes the most money than those listed (check out page 3-6)...prolly if they were all combined, Hikki would still make more than them.

Ayuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! <3
But Utada Hikaru is pretty rich as well as Namie Amuro, Kinki Kids, BoA. The others...I'm not so sure :O

Ayumi Hamasaki, then Hikki, Namie Amuro, Koda Kumi, BoA

Well, I think she is maybe the richest, but as far as I understood she sings not for money she sings for her audience. And if the audience loves her so much whatever country she is in, we must thank her for her braveness to continue her career and love to her fans

i think still ayu the richest artist because she got highest earnig for 3 years...

ABSOLUTELY AGREE with you!!!

And a few words from me: Ayu is the best at all good things!!! That's why she is the richest one;)

i've read some where in magazine
the most highest income artist in 2006 are
1. koda kumi in 1000000000yen
2. ayumi hamasaki 2900000000yen
3. utada hikaru
4. ai otsuka
5. mika nakashima
and so on

Lol, I'm not surprised Ayu has the most votes XD, I mean it is a Ayu fan forum o_o.

Undoubtedly Ayumi Hamasaki, cause she has a lot of influence all over the world, not only in Asia.

I though Koda got like 3 gazillion yen in profit from 2006? That sounds quite rich to me :D

i'm guessing ayu, but i'm not sure! (and i don't really care! lol! :D)

lol! too funny! totally true!

Music wise, Utada probably takes the lead (though with Ayumi's releasing schedule, she can't be far behind). However, since the Ayumi empire extends to fashion, fan merchandise, and endorsements, I think Ayumi may have a higher yearly income. Tax returns can prove me wrong, though.

If I had to guess, I'd say it would be close between Ayu & Gackt.

Ayumi Hamasaki for sure :yes

It's either Ayu or Utada i guess..but i chose ayu.

Does anyone have actually reliable statistics that are current? I'm wondering if Kuu is making more than Ayu at this point...

I think Gackt is one of the richest Jrock-singer in Japan :yes

Yup, seems about right. Even though I'm aware, it's still rather shocking to see. I know there was one year recently in which Utada had the highest taxes, which indicated that she was the richest person in Japan. Being that they don't reveal one's salary b/c it's thought to be rude, they go by taxes.

i think ayu is pretty rich, she releases so many singles and they're #1, so a lot of people buys them and same with albums..though not GUILTY..but back to the point, she's having asia tours now, so that mean more audiences, more money~

Ayu!

Ayu of course

Probably Utada Hikaru because of First Love.

Ayumi!
shes sold like the highest amount of records right? plus she has her name on many products, other artists dont indorse products as well as produce Music so Id say shes pretty loaded
Namie might rival her tho, she has supported many products and probably profited from it, but the sales of her records and as high and as far spread as AYU
also Hikki might be able to rival her in record sales but not indorsement of products so I think AYU is the richest

AYUMI HAMASAKI

Ayu, of course! Appart from her sales, she had lots of tours, ties-in, merchandise...

vote for Morning Musume :D
but I think it's Ayu, Utada or Kuu

I voted Ayu ....
i dont know about namie, kuu and utada .. :/
it can be anyone of those ...

I voted for Utada, wasn't she the highest earner in all of Japan for at least one year? I'm not sure how much Ayu makes from advertising but in terms of the actual music, Utada would be way out in front, even though Utada's had fewer albums her overall sales aren't far behind Ayu's, and the real moneymaker in music is songwriting royalties, since Utada doesn't have anyone to split them with she'd get at least double for each CD sold.

Yes, I think Utada was the highest japanese earner in entertainment business for two years in a row or something like that, but she has fewer tours and shows than Ayu, and, nowadays, that's where the money comes from

I think it should be ayu .. After all, she is the jpop queen. I can't imagine how much she is earning :loony

I'm pretty much sure that it's Ayu. If I remember correctly, didn't Ayu herself pay all the jewellery and diamonds used in JEWEL PV? If she did, that must have paid a hell of a lot of money. And Ayu also has had lots of concerts and she's doing commercial thingies too. She has lots of money. I'm pretty much sure about this. :3

Ayu. She's sold millions of records and tours all the time.

Ayu without saying

Ayu. She has monster sales, endorsements, merchandise, huge tours-- everything an artist can possibly do, she does it.

at this moment, kuu ayu or namie.

of all time, none of these hos.

For sure not Koda xD

Ayu or Hikki take this (from those on the list)

Probably Ayu or Namie

Namie tours more than any of them, and touring = money. + her cd's and dvd's sell good.
Ayumi tours lots as well and she gets more money for writing the songs

Definitely has to be either Ayumi or Hikaru. As a matter of fact, I remember reading Hikki payed the most taxes in Japan (or in other words, she made the most money) at least once, and Ayu did so at least twice.
Even though Kuu was the top selling female for [I think] two years, I kinda doubt she earned the most even during those years; Namie practically disappeared completely for many years, so she shouldn't have any chance of catching up to Ayumi or Hikaru. ....And nobody else stands enough chance to even be mentioned, lol. :\
I'll say Ayumi, since she releases more than Hikki and had a higher peak. (Though, no doubt Hikki is getting a chance to catch up now, I'd assume.)

Ayumi Hamasaki, of course.
Although I wish you would have mentioned Jolin Tsai, many fans of Ayus and Jolins fight over who is a bigger queen, considering Jolin's Butterfly outsold Ayu's album in that year. Then again, Taiwanese/Chinese areas cover more people than Japan's. But that's up for debate.
They are both huge pop queens, very successful and skilled.
Ayu has the backstory, the charm, and is genuine. I love her ingenuity.
Jolin has dance skills, so she is a double threat.

Ayu, no doubt

ayu

Ayu~ no doubt! all the glamorous dress, jewelry, fashion, shoes, etc... And the APARTMENT! tsk tsk tsk...

Utada Hikaru or Ayumi Hamasaki? I think Ayumi.

Utada's got the highest selling album ever in Japanese history and all of her releases since First Love have sold very, very good too. Ayumi, although she doesn't quite sell as well as Utada-- has like at least twice the amount of total releases. So that's why I think she's probably richer.

I love them both. haha :heart

female: Ayumi
male: Gackt
band: X Japan or L'Arc~en~Ciel
:D <3

Jolin Tsai? WTF? Ai Otsuka is also a threat, and oh, Miliyah Kato sure is struggling with Ayu for the first spot too :roflmao

Utada for sure... even if she doesn't shows it off like Ayu, she is just more valuable to the market.

Ayumi is probably second, and she is everywhere, but as people have said, royalties and Utada huge's record breaking sales can't compare to Ayu's.

I'd say Ayu

Orange Range. lol.

Honestly, it's probably one of the males or male bands.

Ayu. Yeah... haha I don't even think there needs an explanation

But artists don't make their money from CD sales. Utada can outsell Ayu all she wants, but she barely releases a CD a year most of the time, which is not very profitable at all. Not to mention she RARELY tours, which is where artists make their money. Ayu tours at least once a year. So Ayu should definitely make more money than Utada.

Ayu gain more from tours... Utada gain more from tie-ins (considering Ayu's sux, and Hikki's are huge @____________@)

Don't agree is that obvious who makes more money...

ayumi and utada. Utada I hear is the richest, but ayumi makes the most, ayumi comes from new money, utada, from old money.

alan

all of jhonnys, their sales are INSANE

:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao

Ayu probably...

Ayu
she got money to send people from hong kong to japan and back just to get a pair of pants that she won't wear XD

Ayu, for sure!