[elepop]

Tie-ins play a huge factor in marketing. And tie-ins for popular drama are even better than for a movie. In Asia, dramas are in general more popular than movies. If a singer gets the chance to either have a song of theirs as an opening or ending for a popular drama, it's gonna sell. for exemple, Hana Yori Dango was HUGE drama. Both Hikki and Ai Otsuka had the chance to sing for the ending. When you hear that same song 11 weeks in a row, it really gets in your head. You end up humming it all the time. Well, at least for me. So yeah, it works!

Ayu never really had a big tie-in. Except Inuyasha maybe because it's a really popular anime. I wouldn't count SHINOBI as a big tie-in because the movie wasn't really popular.

I don't really think PVs play a big factor in sells. What people like are catchy tunes or emotional ballads. Not that Ayu doesn't really have those anymore, but let's face it. Her music isn't as catchy as it used to. And a lot of releases are really predictable. Summer single. Maybe a Zespri CM? A song that ressembles to fairyland, BLUE BIRD, glitter? And a fall/winter release. A ballad. Near January. New album? Same thing, every year.

What Ayu needs is to relax, sit down and compose some tunes. I want CREA back!

I don't think fashion is going to help her in sales either. She's not really a fashion icon/trendsetter anymore.