Similarly to bluegie, I'm feeling quite good about this decision. Seems avex have learned from the past mistakes of (miss)understood and Secret and are trying to boost the new album as best as they can.

If they released a physical single things wouldn't be so good. After the Bold&Delicious fiasco, which almost ruined her streak, avex won't risk it again and we all know that only hardcore fans will rush to buy a single a month before the release of an album. December is a pretty hectic time to release a single, almost everyone is releasing something for Christmas, meaning competition. They'd have to find her a week where no big act is releasing a single and it would still struggle with sales. Ayu is famous for her #1 streak and avex sure as hell wants to keep that.

On the other hand singles help to boost album sales, if the single is good so releasing a digital single with the same material as a single was a good choice. We won't be worrying about who his #1 and how many copies she has sold. If this song is a ballad, I'm pretty sure it'll attract attention. If it's a heartfelt ballad, it'll attract much more. So let's hope this song is really good so that it would push the album to sell really well.

^ yeah..and who knows?..maybe this upcoming album will sell better than secret ^-^

^i truly truly wish....

^About time quality will start to take high sales. It didn't happen on the last two years (with albums). ^_^

it's a good back-up plan for future reference too, I mean, releasing digitally. If Ayu ever has a bunch of weeks with really good competition, she could just release digitally, and not lose anything. :P

oh lala...digital single =O i can't wait for it...
but but the song sounds so sad T-T

I think it's rather cool and I want the cover too look more interesting than t2m one

WOW! This is the firt time Ayu release a digital single!

It really seems like a "part of Me" part II. Ahaha. I wonder if they'll be related in anyway...

Watch, it'll be just like all.night.raver said, the BEST cover in ages, and there's gonna be no physical copy. Ahahaha. But I'd order a poster if it's that great. Since I don't have any Ayu posters or anyhing.

I believe it'll have a cover but I have a feeling that this and the album cover will be related somehow...

Basically, it'll have a picture that goes along with it when you download it onto your phone/computer [iTunes or music.jp or dwango and so on..]~

The picture will hopefully be good. I don't want some plainass photo taken from the special PB D:

And as I said, it is very unlikely that Ayu will release a physical single by this time of the year but instead an album.
And it turned out to be true except the digital single part.
Smart Avex.

Waiting for the cover and the PV!

I'm confused (and feel very out of the loop). I never heard about anyone dying when this song was in production. Where can I find the news about this?

Okay, I'm a little confused...

So a "digital single" is basically a single that won't be released in stores? You can only buy it online? Just... it'll have a PV and cover art.

...Riiight? XD

Well I think the problem was that the last albums were badly planned. (m)u was awesome but Bold&Delicious turned off many potential buyers and the whole Geo thing made people reluctant to buy. Secret then had no single to promote it and thus no hype. This album seems to be planned more carefully but who knows... there are many other factors too including the fact that sales for everyone are slipping.

Yes !:D

Jaja i hope the PV gonna be beautifull!! <3

Ayumi is saying goodbye! ; ; She's taking a vacation...I'll miss her.

After reading this thread, I have the exact same question.

i'm actually rather excited to see the response to the digital single. :)