They do that everywhere though...think about it:

Television runs so that stations can earn money from commercials. To get more money for commercial spots, they have to have a lot of viewers. To have a lot of viewers, they need good content. To have good content, they pay performers and such to make appearances.

Ta-da, we have musicians being paid to attract people to watch this show. :)

Actually I cut some portion of the article, but I can't find the names, since those who got over 1 million yen per performance are those oldie singers. Can you believe that? That is one of the biggest reason of why the viewership rates for this TV show, has has been held for over half a decade is deteriorating rapidly.

To put it in a harsh way, this TV show is going to die, it's struggling for breath because no Japanese youngsters wants to watch old people singing weird Japanese-old style songs.

And the reason why Ayumi got paid so low is because the TV company can't fork out so many money, The sole reason of why Ayu kept performing, is because she did performed in Kouhaku a few years ago, when she was still green that made her fame towards stardom.

In conclusion, ayu owes Kouhaku one too much, that's why she's performing.

That's not true. It's not just young people that watch this show. Lot's of older folks watch it. Probably the reason why more older singers are put on is b/c its mostly older people that watch it. Remember, the Japanese youth pop'n is shrinking while the elder pop'n is increasing.

actually, this show was used to be the tradition that everyone in japan will see that show that night, so, singer will go to that because of music industry in japan always thought joining red white is a tradition that only hit singer are allowed to join.
ayu go there with little payment with these reasons, one is to show that she is popular(although everyone in japan know, it is no doubt),one is that joining the show is a tradition of japan, another reason is that ayu need to appear in a hit tv program to keep appearing before the audience

interesting news
thanks!

thanx for the infor ^^ at least ayu is at the top ^^ tts all i cared about :p

when they show all the people in the present box ayu's in the front row LOL.

But according to my source, the viewership is falling every year.

It is. But that has nothing to do with how much people get paid.

o.o ...ayu must be very rich!

YAAY! Ayu deserves to be the highest paid, and thanks for the translation!

yerah, i love that show... she performed "Moments" last year... my friend said she was really good... i have to watch it this year... i missed it... wah...

Oh I watched Kouhaku! And Ayumi and that very intresting dress of hers... (o-O)....

-Miyo-