[kimmeh]

I believe that some of Ayus downfall is how she kinda has lost her connection with her Japanese fans.
Videos like WARNING and albums like Party Queen is basically a big fuck you to the japanese industry and in that category; her japanese fans.
She acts like she wants to be american (which the japanese fans feel too), and that turns off a lot of her japanese fans.

Namie on the other hand keeps her image and focus on the japanese fans, even though she explores into english songs.