[Bad Wolf]

^ I would argue they don't really try as much experimentation as Ayu does for a pop star. That's not to say Ayu is out there by western standards, but Japanese ones? Probably.

Plus there are likely some silly people who think girl pop star and don't see why she should have anything useful to say/sing past four albums, which... completely misses the point with Ayu entirely, but oh well. More fun for us.

This has nothing to do with the comment I'm responding to, but I hate whenever things get released with Ayu because sales threads like this become this giant worryfest about how sales are in some way connected to integrity and worth and success and so on and so forth. Ayu is successful, there's no doubting that. I personally don't think anyone can really base anything about one's music on sales considering crap like SNSD and AKB48 and other idol groups -- whether they're imported from Korea or homegrown in Japan -- sell so well and really don't have anything worthwhile to commend them... I mean, it's not like they're important or GOOD musicians. They're wind up dolls. That doesn't mean people can't like them, and I'm not saying anything against those who do, but look -- if things like THAT sell well, doesn't it suggest that high sales are never a reflection on what's GOOD but instead on what's POPULAR?

I'd rather Ayu put out music that's worthy of respect and my admiration and I think, after all her years in the business, she's probably more concerned about that than how well she lines the company's pocket. If that even ever meant anything to her in the first place...