That's what I feel too but on the other hand, if her sales continue to worsen then she might not be able to release music in the future

Thanks. Not bad, it seems.

She can release music as long as she wants to regardless of sales (as long as there is avex).
Just look at other artists who were really popular and don't sell well nowadays (and they still tour in arenas) like seiko matsuda for example.

btw the achivement ayu got is because she passed matsutoya yuming's record of a solo female having the most top 10 albums (47) and ayu has 48.

Well yeah, but ayu is too deeply embedded in music for that option. Even then, nothing last forever. I hope she continues to make music, even though I don't always love everything she released. Hopefully, this album have some legs. It deserves better sales.

3rd day on the 2nd week - #10

http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2015-04-15/

I wonder how 's about Namie Amuro's sales ?
Don't know why Namie can have the high sales although she and Ayu is all the great Diva !

It's way better than yesterday ♥

4th day on the 2nd week - #11

http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2015-04-16/p/2/

I think the sales just reflect the time we live in. Agreed she doesn't have the biggest fan base she had but also they don't include her digital sales. I think that if it did, her position would be higher as it is a more convenient way for everyday music listener, more so in Japan too. Physical sales are nothing compared to digital sales nowadays, but the music industry still holds onto the whole physical side more. They also don't count overseas purchaces too

The sale of any singer can increase from by this logic ... It doesn't change nothing...

I think she used to sell more tickets so Saitama Super Arena configuration for her shows was bigger, and for the current tour its capacity was reduced to Yoyogi numbers or even less.

Nothing last forever, except Matsuda Seiko's career :laugh she is like the ayu from the 80's still releasing things even if she's not selling that well anymore ;) so don't care about ayu, she will never be in misono's case

This. This. This. :yes

I did notice a decrease as well!! :(

It's getting to the point where CD sales do not matter. Ticket sales and things is what is going to count.

Agreed so.

I have to wonder...when will Japan start to make its 'final', 'big' change to digital? I know Johnny's artists won't release music on iTunes, hence those sales numbers, and AKB48, despite they're on iTunes, those handshake tickets that they covet...!

But yeah...eventually CD sales might not matter very much. I mean, there's this recent trend of digital music downloads in FLAC format, which is starting to gain some traction...

In Ayu's case, it really changes a thing. A One debuted at #3 on the digital chart of Japan, just behind A BEST and Southern All Stars album. miwa debuted at #5 for example. Since the A BEST domination last year, she gained a lot of presence on the digital market.

Of cos the money generated from the current sales... it's too little to be a major factor. But IF the sale is still 300-400,000. It's a big deal. Being on the chart is actually a big matter as endorsement comes from current popularity. No brand would want a old, unpopular star when they could get a popular star instead.

Unpopular, yeap, you are right, but old no. The star a brand uses for promotion must have appeal with the public the brand is aiming for... Kana Nishino, Kyary and AKB48 doesn't sell for women over 50, but Seiko Matsuda, Akina Nakamori and Matsutoya Yumi do.

Speaking of the whole Oricon achievement, Seiko didn't manage to beat Ayu on that? She's released over 100 albums of material, and more than half of them didn't chart in the Top 10?

Apparentely no, Oricon would no as they are oricon.

A BEST was #1 weekly on recochoku albums charts last week. Wow! It's really timeless there!