thanks Akutenshi!

No way to say, Voyage, GUILTY are a little surprising to me. I expected much more streams. Also was not expecting MY ALL to have the most streams.

Wow this is very interesting information. Obviously my listening habits are completely different to those who stream her music - songs that feature at the top of my most played in iTunes don't even top their respective albums for people on Spotify. It certainly seems like her ballads are her most popular.

Top 45 ayu songs on Spotify

1. SEASONS – 850,547
2. M – 686,941
3. Boys & Girls – 636,512
4. Dearest – 532,795
5. Blue Bird – 515,056
6. A Song for xx – 338,418
7. Movin' On Without You – 320,601
8. Voyage – 254,672
9. Moments – 231,804
10. evolution – 217,754
11. SURREAL – 216,838
12. CAROLS - 191,762
13. appears – 154,773
14. Mad World – 146,403
15. Story – 143,704
16. Fly High – 136,268
17. TO BE – 126,599
18. Last Minute – 125,045
19. Zutto... - 122,781
20. Love song – 121,012
21. Trauma – 119,640
22. Who.. - 116,941
23. HEAVEN – 108,359
24. JEWEL – 105,577
25. Feel the love – 104,331
26. momentum – 101,777
27. Out of Control – 99,617
28. NO FUTURE – 99,601
29. vogue – 98,905
30. Days – 98,662
31. WARNING – 96,958
32. No Way to Say – 95,263
33. is this LOVE? - 93,800
34. Merry-go-round - 93,236
35. STEP you – 88,901
36. Because of You – 86,972
37. Far Away – 85,418
38. You & me – 82,954
39. MY ALL - 80,316
40. HANABI – 78,636
41. Free & Easy – 75,380
42. Song 4 u – 74,120
43. Anything for You – 70,002
44. The Show Must Go On – 69,497
45. a Bell - 68,800
bonus - 46. The GIFT – 68,655

Wow, there are 10 A ONE songs in this top.

7. Movin' On Without You
o_O

wow Merry-go-round is the only song on the list i listen to when i listen ayu from Spotify! haha it seems that i have so different taste than anyone else

I am surprised. I would never expect some of these songs to be here.

it's a Hikki song after all lol

I have had CAROLS on repeat during winter, so I feel responsible for its high hits.

Yuck, no love for monochrome or ever free.

Are you kidding me? LOL

people listen to A ONE a lot it seems.

Guys there is a very weird "glitch" on Spotify...

no more words - BRENT MINI'S ROTARY mix on the Daybreak single is.. WORDS..

Whut?

Not on mine

WORDS as in her latest song? weird, very weird.

it's normal here for me. also it's a very good remix! :D

Don't know if y'all are aware or not but the entire MADE IN JAPAN album is finally on spotify

Made in japan is now complete on spotify!

FINALLY! My playlist can now be completed!

The WORDS glitch doesn’t work for me either, I must admit I got excited for a minute

ummm that makes me think that maybe she's coming with new material!

Kinda surprised A bell is on the list...

FINALLY!!! We've waited so long ;_;

How does a play qualify in Spotify?

A ONE was her FIRST album on the page so I guess people just played through it without realized a Bell was a interlude? LOL

Not surprised on Moving on without you, it was her most well received track on years (by non Ayu fans)

I think you have to play at least 30 seconds of it or half of it.

I'm having a similar glitch right now! Pressed play on count down from Rock 'n' Roll Circus, and Spotify is playing the live version from AT2010.

De-lurking to say that the "glitches" are more than likely due to Spotify trying to match their songs to your local files. If you opt for Spotify to substitute in local files when available, it sometimes mismatches songs. That's how one user can have "WORDS" play instead of "no more words" and others do not experience this, or how live versions sometimes get subbed into the albums (I used to experience the latter a lot).

I believe this feature is turned on by default and you can turn it off in your settings.

Carry on.

I always listen The GIFT on spotify. :love

Spotify created a "This Is" playlist of Ayu's songs! *_*

https://open.spotify.com/user/spotif...SzypPbP6rgUAsQ

That's what's up!!! :luv2:luv2:luv2

That playlist is more like it!

浜崎あゆみ_official's Pick (Summer Playlist)
01 July 1st
02 glitter
03 Boys & Girls
04 BLUE BIRD
05 INSPIRE
06 You & Me
07 Summer Love
08 Sunrise ~ LOVE is ALL~
09 Feel the love
10 monochrome
11 HANABI
12 Sky High
13 AUDIENCE
14 evolution
15 independent
16 UNITE!
17 Far away
18 SEASONS
19 AX_WAT_516 SMZ-ATS_arr#2
20 MOON
21 blossom
22 ANother song
23 Merry-go-round
24 fairyland
25 Greatful Days
26 Summer Diary
27 Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
28 HANABI ~episode II~
29 Step by step
30 NEXT LEVEL

19 being a random new instrumental that just popped up there LOL

What is this?

It is an instrumental demo that was released last night on Spotify and other music platforms. You can find it in the Ayu Downloads section.

Could this be a new song preview?? She’s been in and out of the recording studios.

Honestly, it's strange she/her team didn't release a 'short' version or preview with vocals? Why an instrumental?

It's a mistake as far as we know.

^ That does seem to be the logical case...but on the other hand, surely someone in her team would have noticed by now?

It's suchba mistake it ended up being on her summer playlists. :P

She is clearly trying to grab the fandom's curiosity to promote her next release

It's working too - I've noticed quite a few fans have commented on her Twitter post about the playlist asking about it/sharing screenshots. It is exciting, and does manage to come across as more mysterious as opposed to unprofessional imo.

This is one weird way to do it then with an unfinished demo. I would like this to have been planned but it seems so unlikely.

It's very unlikely to be a mistake. It has a cover (a very simple one) and as far as I know, Spotify requires a cover to release a song and it is produced by artist's management. Sounds like they are trying to get free media exposition by mystery. Don't know if it's working, but it's definitely intriguing.

It does look intentionally, but why doing it with an instrumental and not a full song?
The impact would be much bigger with a full song, when it works. Like that it's just strange.

It does go in the same direction as Words.
Don't fancy, hope we'll get some variety with the album.

They sent the demo to several streaming plataforms.
The demo has a cover, as it was already pointed.
It wasn't taken off, something far easier than publishing it.
Them you have a playlist created by her team, with the songs clearly having a though out order.
The demo appears in the playlist, right after her biggest hit.

Ern...

Maybe they are testing the impact of the song with audience. "If people get interested, let's work with that, if not, we can considerate others".

Whatever this is, I don't really think it was a good way to go about it. I love when artists do teases but this doesn't feel at all intentional.

Didn't she release the Rainbow instrumental before the actual song as part of the promotion for RAINBOW/A Ballads?

Hm, but the thing even misses a proper title.
So how should any more casual listener recognize the full song with vocals and mixing later on?
Like that it's likely people will listen to it, noticing vocals and title and all are missing and not thinking about it any further, categorizing it as mistake like people here do as well.
A title would at least suggest there's a thought behind it, a strategy maybe.

^This isn't the kind of promotion you use to attract casual listeners.

On the same way a casual listener couldn't care less about having TA Members singing back up vocals for a song or about a mystery snippet of a unhead song on one of her albums.

That was more of a campaign. First press of Rainbow came with a code you could enter into a website to download a short instrumental clip of the song, and then you could submit words/lyrics/thoughts that it inspired in you - she read them all and used them to inform the lyrics of Rainbow when she later wrote them. Then the song was released on A Ballads after the completion of the campaign.

^If she actually read all of them, them there most likely weren't that much of them. In other words, this wasn't something casual listeners were excited about.

This kind of promotional tatics work for those already converted, on the same way not releasing stuff for a longer time only impact those who already had a chance of buying her stuff.

IMO she is simply working with the fact that her fanbase is anxious for a new release by leading them into getting curious about this demo that magically appeared on her streaming profiles and summer playlist.

Considering the whole description of the playlist is in Japanese, this is not something done with her overseas fandom in mind and if her japanese fans speculating about it on social media bring attention for whatever new release she is clearly planing, the campaign worked.

It's not like she started this whole thing with the demo. She didn't release anything for longer than her usual, kept on hinting on social media that something will be released soon, is sharing videos from her record sessions with the public, etc. I remember someone saying on her social media thread that they would go into the studio way more confortable than she was if they were there to record music. She most likely does, when there isn't plans to film or photograph it for promotional purposes (and when she isn't being paid to wear ugly ass shoes to promote them :B)

The whole thing is pretty much a promotional effort aimed for the japanese public that follows her through social media and digital music plattaforms.

A few fans posted screenshots on Twitter that showed she produced this. This is obviously her just giving us a glimpse of what she's working on (and perhaps wants fan input like the RAINBOW lyrics / You&Me remixes), but maybe CREA is making an appearing on the new album?

Where are these prints? I'm curious about that. Was it on metadata file?

Yeah, it's just 'Toru Watanabe & ayumi hamasaki' in the composer section. But may just be her lyricist credit squished in.

I wish I could tell you how to find that info on Spotify, I just saw screenshots online.

OMG WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT?!?!

I have the feels for itttt

Oh, I just saw that. Judging by the way it's listed in other songs, it's just the lyricist credits.

Is this a new composer?

He is for Ayu, he has worked for Koda Kumi (you) or AAA (Lights) and for a bunch of idol groups

If I'm not mistaken, he composed Koda Kumi's "you".

EDIT: found this link listing some of his works.

I hope we won't have to wait to much to hear the full and finished song because it sounds so good for summer.

I do think it's quite a funny coincidence (or is it?) that she started promoting the summer playlist right after this thing leaked :laugh

i didn't listen to it til the end but it's boring if it's meant to be summer song :no

Meh, nothing groundbreaking about it

I agree.

enjoying the demo! sounds like classic ayu!

After listening to the longer track it sounds like it could be a nice laid back summer single.

It sounds like a mega mix of her most uninspired songs to date.

I think it's difficult to tell with something this early on in the production process. A lot of her songs at this stage with MIDI vocal guides and barebones arrange probably are not that interesting.

I'm hearing a mixture of WORDS + MY ALL. Sounds like a song she would sing at the end of the concert or one of those "i'm happy to have seen your faces today" kinda songs

I think it sounds rather nostalgic and has a potential to be a nice mid tempo song. People just have to take every chance they have to use the word “uninspired”. I don’t think ayu has any “uninspired” songs either.

It has a very 'classic' melody for Ayu for sure. I wonder where it will go from here since this is like the most barebones we've seen an Ayu song or even just in the process of being made. Usually when we hear songs it's at least a 'complete' snippet or nearing completion like that Feel the love video.

Classic Ayu is best. She is always the artiste i go back when I need a familiar sound after too much currentness or K-Pop or experimental genres. And her nostalgic/classic sound always hits the mood right for me.

===

NICE! and "With your smile" too

I already dreamt that we got the finished song. Only Ayu can provide such nice dream with only a demo ♥

Just listened to it and it is very Ayuish indeed! But I'm afraid it will be classical or boring...

I like the demo! The melody is catchy and easy to listen to.
Yeah... nothing innovating. But it is really sweet. It is a bit like Summer Diary

For what purpose?

I like the demo but whenever I listen to it my brain tells me WORDS. I know it isn't but it confuses me a little. It does sound a little plain but I don't think this demo is near it's final form. It's pretty minimal.
Overall I like it. It sounds bright and pleasant. Maybe it gives off a Love Again vibe a bit?

Some articles are popping up online about the strange demo. I can't find any in English though.
http://dailynewsonline.jp/article/1474461/

It sounds like a happier version of Now and 4ever. I love it.

I actually really like this mysterious demo. It has a very Summer diary-ish feel to it which I really enjoyed.

Okay, so it wasn't just me going crazy! I came across this song randomly yesterday as well. It sounds a bit boring, but too soon to say I think.

The demo is #6 at AWA most streamed songs chart lmao

^ Honestly, I don't think it makes me happy. In my eyes, this whole situation is one big mess. Some weird way to make people talk... doesn't convince me and makes me feel embarrassed as a fan.

her power amazes me, love u queen ayu :cool

Not like I'm happy (in fact, I'd say it's funny) it just amaze me her power, if another random demo was released by x artist I doubt it would be charting, I think the fact that it has "Ayumi Hamasaki" as its artist is what makes the difference, and demostrates once again that people still care about her despite everything some people claim, wheter it was a mistake or a weird promotional campaign, I think it's working.

The little synthy sound at the beginning of the demo is one of my favorite sounds lol.

I love when songs use that sound. I don't know what to call it, but it used to be in a lot of J-POP songs.

I finally listened to it and it's very Ayu, I can almost hear her voice with it. It's nothing special but it's nice.

Great news, it's a hint that their strategy is working somehow.

In this world you have to find new strategies to promote music. It's nice that it works well. So I don't see how it could be called a mess objectively. The more it is out of the ordinary, the more it has chance to work. If you stay in the usual path you won't be noticed.

I think it seems like a mess because it looks as though they meant to submit it as a preview even 3 weeks ago when it was filed but then whoever did the paperwork for it failed to title it properly. At this point I think they may just ignore that this exists and release the 'real' thing later and be like here's a new song! That other 'single' didn't happen.

It's my favourite bit as well!

I'm still surprised avex / Ayu still haven't commented on the demo, I kind of hope it will not stay on her Spotify!

The fandom is talking about it, a part of the media is talking about it, the demo reached top 10 on a streaminf service.

The campaingn is succesful.

I am glad for her it's charting on AWA.
Though, streaming isn't really big in Japan (Spotify apparently only has about 200k users there e.g., Line Music apprently being the biggest platform) and according to RIAJ last year, the majority of Japanese people is using Youtube for listening to music (about 45%, only about 10% streaming sites, and about 40% using CDs - first time last year physical CDs were beaten).
I wonder why certain artists/companies don't use that knowledge further.
Youtube started their own streaming service in May in some countries and it's coming to Japan eventually as well.
Going to be intersting to see, if their service helps the streaming market in Japan.

This HAS to have been done intentionally, right? The fact that it's charting, people are talking about it, news outlet are reporting it. There's just no way her, her team and the record label are oblivious to it all. Like if this was a mistake, they would've pulled it out asap as soon as news broke.

Geez...it IS a marketing technique. It has gotten people to talk about her. Just appreciate it and stop thinking its a mess. It was obviously an untitled demo that they sneakily leaked amidst her online summer promotion. For all you know, she hasnt even written the lyrics for it and just put it up to see if the reception is good. WHO KNOWS?

I was honestly quite meh if she just rehashed A SUMMER BEST and branded it as a new summer playlist but hey, now that there's this strange demo in there, totally got my attention. By the time the tune comes out officially, this demo would probbaly have had some listens and the actual track would give a feel of FAMILIARITY which is what marketing is intended to do - make something new seem familiar to you so that you actually buy it.

Really embarassment? Isn't that a bit too much?
Everybody his/her preferations to its own, but to me it sounds a bit Ayu-stage-theatrics to feel ashamed.
No shade intended.

To me it sounds very intentional, well planned... it is even placed well-aimed (like someone said, right after her biggest hit and it even flows about right into MOON) I don't care about the summer playlist anyway, because therefore we have A SUMMER BEST. Now it sparks our interest, because of this demo. So yea.. I wouldn't view it as 'messy'.
I would say she nailed it.

Extra interest in new material now!

^ well said! @freedreamer

I think it is the laziest promotion I ever seen. Throw some random demo on spotify and let the people speculates about it and do the rest.

Sharing your work in progress isn't a good idea, it ruins the surprise factor and we will be already tired of the song when the real thing gets released, we might even remember more the midi track than the real track.

Even if it was a mistake, it's still pretty effective. It's still generating a decent amount of buzz. Fans are talking about Ayu's mysterious new song.

When she released MIJ people complained they didn’t wanna be surprised and that they would have much preferred her releasing singles first and anticipate the album. There is no way to make everyone happy I guess. I listened to the demo once...it’s your decision to have it on repeat :yes

At least they are trying something new out.