[Hye Cheon]

How about a little less bashing and a little more reality? People really should stop confusing talent with taste, and not get so defensive over their favorite stars.

touchedstar is right, Avex isn't stupid. Yes, Ayu puts them in a very edgy situation -- when Ayu goes, they're at a great loss. But Avex also has some of Japans top artists, they just had an audition in 2002, they just finished another huge audition last month, and they're planning another for next year. They're not at a loss of up and coming talent. Then, BoA has earned them a lot of money -- she's, what? No. 6 in Japan? No company would be so idiotic as to put its own artists at a sales war. It's one thing if they want BoA (or any other artist) to be as well-selling as Ayu (it makes sense if Ayu decides to quit the biz cold turkey), but they would never try to knock Ayu out of the game on purpose. They would only do that if Ayu was LOSING them money, and if they had an artist close on Ayu's tail to catch the fall.

Sure, one day Ayu will be out of the game, but now with CAROLS (her 30-somethingth single) debuting at #1, it doesn't look like that day is near. She's still going strong.

Conclusion? Yes, Avex is trying to build up its army of money-makers and booty-shakers. Hence all the auditions and upped promotion of other artists. But this is backup (a rainy-day fund, if you will) for Ayu's final days. No, they are not trying to knock Ayu out. They will squeeze that money tree til the last drop.

Nobody has anything to complain about -- chill.