Well I didn't use mu-mo because only avex songs are on there. As for the Chaku-Uta full, I don't think #3 will get her any high download certifications by the RIAJ. (Plus, it's already falling down the daily charts)

The slump in sales really makes you think. It's clear that Ayumi is still popular in Japan. She still ranks high on Oricon polls and magazines so she still has fans, her tours are always mighty popular and she seemed to have several fans visiting in her radio shows. So it's not exactly a matter of popularity. She also still wins several awards despite the fact that she has stepped back on the major ones.

Guess the problem is that this single just didn't attract the attention of Japan. Now when I think back on Ayu's discography I guess this was a gross miscalculation by avex. Usually Ayu's powerful rock singles are B-Sides, while the A-Sides are more pop and happy. I think avex was trying to do something powerful, experimental and different but from what I can see it wasn't attractive for Japan. Same goes for Shimatani's angsty crossover songs which are fantastic but sell around 10k and Olivia's pre-NANA sales were so bad. I suppose this was the reason why these kind of songs got the b-side or album treatment.

I think it's time that avex does yet another style makeover. At this stage her next album will sell less than 500k and that would be a big problem. Maybe they should try collabs or something that appeals to the public more since this single's sales are not a good sign. A heartfelt ballad sounds a good choice since we all know how Japan love these emotional ballads.

What positon is it today?
Oricon didn't update the whole day... (or just I don't see it?)

But avex showed that mu-mo's membership grew a lot this year, so the fans of the avex artists as it seems (of ayu, kumi, tohoshinki etc.) download the singles through mu-mo the most and don't buy physical copies.
That's mainly the reason why I think they still sell good but mainly on legal downloads through mu-mo, because all of avex artists sell less physical copies lately.

Oh, I was referring to the Chaku-Uta full charts. It's #6 today.

While mu-mo membership did grow, I think most of the mu-mo members represent the more hardcore avex fans and not the casual listener/buyer. These people would have probably bought the physical copy and the soft copy on their cell phones. Personally, I think other companies like Recochoku, music.jp, the au Music store probably have more traffic than mu-mo does.

So why do they need membership that they can dowload legally if they only buy physical copies? Do they pay for nothing?

I still do think that from the different methods avex gained a good profit over this single, radio plays, legal downloads, decent amount of physical copies etc.
I really don't see why this single did any bad like people here exaggarate mainly only because of the physical sales. It even was a #1 hit, the 2nd single on the charts sold around 40,000 copies less and they are a boy band...

^No, what I meant is that they buy both physical and soft since I think most mu-mo members are more hardcore than the casual buyer.

I personally don't think it will do anything spectacular that will "make up" for the lower physical sales, but I guess we'll see when RIAJ releases their certifications next month.

EDIT: I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think mu-mo downloads in general will be that much compared to other sites. And since it didn't do that well in the other sites, I don't think legal downloads "stole" that many sales from the physical side.

RIAJ releases certifications monthly?
And I don't think that a gold CD means something bad.
I think that t2m might reach Gold CD certification and it's already means good sales.

^Both Download and Physical certifications are released monthly.

I think it already got Gold physical certification already but I'm not too sure for downloads.

Woah! Woah! Woah! Woaho! I thought mu-mo had a varity of artist from different labels....at least that's what I saw when I saw on Hikki's BW/K&C profile (on wikipedia).

That could very well be a part of it because everyones sales have been crap the last couple of weeks. Kinki Kids did manage to sell 190,000 of their new single it's first week if I remember right, but even so, that is one of their lowest numbers ever.

Woah! Woah! Woah! Woaho! I thought mu-mo had a varity of artist from different labels....at least that's what I saw when I saw on Hikki's BW/K&C profile (on wikipedia).

As I tried to say many times in this whole thread.

Things show a + general decrease in physical copies shopping.
ayu's physical copies get hurt from this too.

Obviously. But I was specifically referring to Japan's political situation and the effect it could be having on all artists cd sales.

i completely agree. shes been making music for the sake of music since she started her singing career. as long as she keeps making quality music and shes enjoying what shes doing, at the end of the day that is what's most important isn't it?

You guys know why kinki kids's single has first week sales so much higher than that of other artists?

I wouldn't say it's low---just not up to Ayu's regular standards. It still got number 1. You also need to take into account the fact that t2m was available for download a long time before the single was released, as well as online vendors like iTunes Japan, mu-mo, etc. Physical sales are slumping because of digital advancement.

Furthermore, the promotion/budget for this single is rather low IMO. t2m and decision's PVs were rather lackluster compared to her previous efforts (really out there PVs like fairyland aside, even). Also, the TV performances of t2m were less than spectacular...in the majority of them, her voice sounds punctured and tired and people who are usually not fans of Ayu may be turned off by such lives.

And about taking breaks: I'm not really sure that would help? The Brilliant Green took a hella long break and when they came back, they sold only decently and it wasn't a brilliant comeback or anything. In comparison to the earlier years, Ayu does release at a slower pace; she's only had two singles a year for the past two years....who knows though.

The industry is quite unpredictable now, so whatever happens, happens. Ayu will still continue to make great music, regardless of sales, and that's what matters.

Well, it's not like the single sucked or anything. At least, not for me. And for a lot of other people.

But it was low for them. Ayu's sales are a lot higher than any other artist this week too, but by her standards it's low - same thing with Kinki Kids.

Ehh... I think that only applied for last year... in 2005 she released STEP you/is this LOVE?, fairyland, HEAVEN, BnD/Pride.

I really hope she'll release one more single this year.. cross my finger for that :).

Yeah, I wasn't counting 2005. I consider 2007 almost over so I meant 2006 and 2007 when I said "past two years" :)