[Kikaru]

Originally Posted by andre2907

I really doubt. But I hope it will sell fine, I mean, it's a triple A-side!

Anyway, people, Ayu ISN'T the number 1 anymore. Sorry, but she isn't. I know Koda Kumi last album was a best album but she would probably sell better than Ayu even if the album wasn't. In every 'role model' survey Koda Kumi is in front of Ayu and her fanbase is bigger, no doubt.

BUT, Ayu is still EXTREMELY popular. As people said, her old songs are still played! Heck, what other Jpop female artist went to 1 with all her release for five years?? She's still popular as hell and maybe, 4 years from now, Koda Kumi won't be as popular as Ayu was 4 years after her peak.

The only one who gets close to Ayu is Namie Amuro. Namie is everywhere, still has a big fanbase and everything, after almost 10 years since her peak! But her releases only sell fine, they don't sell really well and don't go to 1 like Ayu does.

Plus, it's not true there's more competition now than in 2002. In 2002, Ayu was the biggest artist in Japan nobody could reach her (besides Hikki, of course), but not because there wasn't any competion, she was just too strong. Now, she isn't 'untouchable' anymore and her fans finally found out the Jpop industry has lots of competition. I mean, in 2004, Orange Range fans probably thought there was any competion too...

I completely agree. Every artist will have their peak and will decline one day. As a jpop artist, Ayumi went for surprising long time after her peak.