right and i did word my post incorrectly, shes not non-existant so i apologize. the only reason i said that because I did not even know about her last album release The Face until like a few days ago, and after listening I dont think I missed out on much. However, shes not really a top artist anymore except with her fans. her recent album sales have been crap because the albums have been pretty bad. she expanded to Japan because her popularity in Korea was vanishing due to Hyolee hitting the scene and shes not as popular in Japan anymore. Though because of songs like No. 1 and Peace B that made me interested in her in the first place, I will still be a fan of BoA.

anyway, Ayu's popularity have decreased in Japan due to the rising popularity of other singers like Kuu. Shouldn't be in denial of this. However, Ayu's popularity as a whole been increasing because shes been getting huge in other Asian countries. Shouldn't be in denial of this either. Its not biased cuz we are Ayu fans, its facts.

^Yeah, i know her popularity towards Asia is really going well. I wish she'd tour in places like singapore though, because she seems to have a huge fanbase there.

You are right. If it is #8 on the charts and is sold out in the store, all that means is the store wasn't that well stocked to begin with.

Ayu has lost popularity in Japan - I think that's pretty undeniable at this point. But she has been gaining more popularity overseas.(I think that's true for most Japanese artists that have been around for a while though)

I don't think her fanbase outside of Japan increases her popularity as a whole. I don't have any statistics on that, but I'm guessing her fanbase outside of Japan has remained relatively constant, with minimal growth if any. And even if it did grow, it would just be offset by the fans she has lost in Japan/rest of the world.

I know who koda, boa, namie, hikki, etc are but if they were to come here, I wouldn't go wait around outside the hotel where they're staying at and in such cold weather...coz I'm not their fan. I wouldn't go follow them to where ever they were shooting the pv and report the details in the artist's forums or websites. Some fans waited around not just one time/day but the few days ayu stayed there. That's really crazy if they were just into asian music. Ayu also signed the fan's cds as well. I wouldn't go buy a cd and wait around for a celeb just to hope they will sign my cd. Alot of huge chinese artists come here and I know them coz I listen to chinese music as well but I never thought of going to see them in person.

I don't know exactly how many fans were there but I know some followed her around when she was filming the pv and stuff...talking to the staff and all that. I know it is possible to happen to other artists as well...but we're not comparing who has more fans or anything. Just saying ayu have devoted fans even in paris and I'm impressed. That's all.

I remember ayu was ranked #1 on some french or whatever poll for japanese artist...the most wanted artist to perform there or something. I should look that up.

I think the internet and being able to get a hold of music much easier is just bringing down her sales a lot is all.
She's probably more popular. Just less bought cds.

Ayumi's gaining stability, which is important for any artist. She's built up so much popularity that I can't ever imagine her being "irrelevant" (though I know that's going to happen eventually) or out of the spotlight. If she left the music industry as of now, she'd certainly leave a void that'll be tough to fill for any one artist. By expanding into Asia, she's making sure that in a decade or two, if she still wants to tour, (former) fans from beyond Japan will remember her and attend her concerts. Madonna seems ANCIENT to me but her tours still gross ridiculous amounts.

Still, I think "popularity" is a relative term. Yes, her music is selling way less than it used to. Yes, she's getting wrinkly. Yes, audience members are starting to grow tired of her. She's still Ayumi Hamasaki - idol extraordinaire - and tons of people know her, even if they aren't her fans. It's better than being a total unknown, fresh but still in need of a big break.

I think Ayu is still very popular :irked

thats nice to hear, thanks :)

Since several ppl have brought this issue up, the people who refer to her losing some popularity, including me, are not saying ayu is being forgotten. Definitely not. It's not like everyone in japan have developed alzheimer and forgotten she exists. When I mention drop in the popularity, I'm not saying ayu is being forgotten, but actually ignored. Some people know who ayu is, but they don't care anymore and don't really follow her as they did back in the day. That's what we mean about her "popularity" decreasing. Some ppl don't feel the urge in buying or following her stuff anymore. To me, I consider that a drop in popularity.

I'm not really sure why you're making stuff up but the only reason why she's staying in Japan is because that's where she (and SM) can make the most money. Plus, her last actual album released in Korea was the best selling female album that year...

It makes me think of other artists (in particular I'm thinking of Amy Grant, at least in the circles I've been around) who were quite popular in the past, they peaked, they declined, and now they've settled with a steady fanbase. A lot of people know about her, but she's not *popular* as she was. Well known, well-supported, but not popular. I just hope MTV/VH1 doesn't tell Ayumi she's too old for them to play her pvs one day. lol

Very nice!

Not really following the conversation so excuse me for mentioning something that may have been mentioned again but...

Just cause that particular store's copies of the CD/DVDs were sold out does not mean anything. One, it's only one store. Two, the store itself could've stocked up only very few copies. If they ordered 20 copies vs. 200 copies, and those 20 copies were sold out, that doesn't mean she's necessarily popular. Three, judging purely on whether her CDs are in stock in a particular store does not say whether she's popular not.

Tons of singers can be popular with sold out concerts in huge halls without making a dent on the chart.

CD/DVD sales don't mean everything.

yea!
i've nvr heard of her losing popularity !!!
and if i ever do
we'll bring it back up!

Considering on those said things and the sales on her albums, which are cool and huge, I'd say Ayu's popularity isn't decreasing that easily. I don't even care about her popularity that much, even if it's nice to follow her career and all. :3 Ayu has something really interesting in her because people still love her. It's awesome how she stays popular now ten years later, it's cool. <3

On a side note, the new Panasonic FX35 is DOMINATING the charts...

Ayu's influence on commercials still works!

http://bcnranking.jp/category/subcategory_0007.html

Well, MTV/VH1 in the US still play MADONNA'S stuff, don't they? :laugh

Probably so, but she's got legend status. I was so po'd when I heard VH1 wouldn't play Amy Grant's new pvs because she's over. What kind of excuse is that? Anyway!! Ayu will be with us a long time if she has any say about it. :)

It's true, she's losing popularity, Oricon poll on favorite artist.

- Ranking 2005
1. aiko
2. Utada
3. Mr.Children
4. Porno Graffitti
5. B'z
6. Boa
7. Southern All Stars
8. Spitz
9. Otsuka
10. Nakashima
"
18. Ayu

- Ranking 2006 (out of top 30)
1. aiko
2. Spitz
3. Mr.Children
4. Utada
5. Dreams Come True
6. B'z
7. Koda
8. Porno Graffitti
9. Boa
10. Remioromen
11. Smap
12. Judy and Mary
13. Kou
14. Southern All Stars
15. Nakashima
16. AI
17. ELT
18. Ketsumeishi
19. Fukuyama
20. Otsuka
21. Hirai
22. Kinki Kids
23. Shuji to Akira
24. Shiina Ringo
25. YUKI
26. Sukima Switch
27. Yuzu
28. Exile
29. Def Tech
30. Kobukuro

- Ranking 2007 (Just the top 10)
1. Utada
2. Kobukuro
3. Mr.Children
4. aiko
5. Dreams Come True
6. Ayaka
7. Spitz
8. Porno Graffitti
9. Fukuyama
10. B'z