[article] Too costly to stage Ayumi?

[nmskalmn]

SHE'S going on tour in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Shanghai. But not Singapore.

We're talking about J-pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki's first-ever Asian concert tour, which she excitedly announced at a recent gig in Tokyo.

No doubt this is a major career move, but the news also came as a surprise - albeit a pleasant one - to many in the industry.

After all, Ayumi, 29, has not shown any interest in regional development since 2002, when she first ventured out of Japan to attend the inaugural MTV Asia Awards in Singapore.

TELL-TALE SIGNS

The first tell-tale sign of her renewed desire to expand in the region was when she agreed to pen the theme song for the Hong Kong film Confession Of Pain. She even flew to the 'fragrant harbour' to attend the gala premiere last month.

By New Year's Eve, she was prepared to reveal her new plans.

'I'm going to start touring Asia in March or April, and after that I'll come back to Japan for another round of concert tours,' she said on stage.

'There'll be plenty of opportunities to see everyone. Let us all have a happy 2007.'

Subsequently, her record label Avex Trax announced three concert dates: 24 Mar in Taipei, 7 Apr in Hong Kong and 22 Apr in Shanghai.
Click to see larger image

Singapore is not listed and unlikely to be.

The New Paper checked with three local concert organisers - Unusual Productions, Hype Records and VizPro - but none said they had plans to bring Ayumi in.

TOO EXPENSIVE

We understand from industry sources that her show was deemed too expensive to import.

A reliable insider, who declined to be named, cited a lack of sponsors, adding that Ayumi's largely teenage fan base would not pay exorbitant sums like, $888 (a benchmark set by K-popster Rain) just to see her perform.

Besides, if you're a real Ayumi fan and must see her live, it would be cheaper to fly to Hong Kong, Taiwan or Shanghai, where you can catch her concert and enjoy a short vacation at the same time.

J-pop queen skips S'pore on rare Asian tour
Too costly to stage Ayumi?

bummer

[hiroshi_ben]

sign...i'm so damn sad now ...me and my friends really want her to come here man...seems like i'd have to sacrify and fly to japan to watch her live~btw sg concert organizers,how do they know that we can't afford her concert tickets man!they didn't even try first...and rain precisely isn't that popular as ayu over here...they should consider bringing ayu in man...at least for a promotion for A BEST 2~i really hope that she will come here at least for some promotions~

[Olw---A]

If the Arena stage is too expensive why didn't they think to do a CDL-like concert in Singapore... less expensive and good for fans !

[Mad_Cactuar]

It's true, although I'm pretty sure Ayu is heaps more popular than he-who-must-not-be-named. God, I hate him.

Would YOU pay $888 to see Ayu? Personally, I wouldn't pay more than $150 for a good concert ticket.

On the bright side, at least Gwen's stopping by SE Asia for her tour. A local newspaper said that there's a good chance of Gwen coming to Malaysia!

[simonlau]

sorry but seems singaporean are getting envy on us

[perfectdeath]

woah, did rain's concert cost $888>??? dear lord. why did people attend that concert then. you probably would be better off flying overseas

[haruki]

Originally Posted by hiroshi_ben

sign...i'm so damn sad now ...me and my friends really want her to come here man...seems like i'd have to sacrify and fly to japan to watch her live~btw *******ing sg concert organizers,how do they know that we can't afford her concert tickets man!they didn't even try first...and rain precisely isn't that popular as ayu over here...they should consider bringing ayu in man...at least for a promotion for A BEST 2~i really hope that she will come here at least for some promotions~

Yea...! totally agree with that. If people can spend S$888 for that Rain, i cant see why people cannot spend S$999 for Ayu. She is much more famous than Rain @@ I'll be the first one to buy her tix if she ever comes to Singapore T__T

[AyuGAME]

i really want to see her...singapore is my last hope..but...yeah there is really small chance that she won't go there
i feel weird too that she not come to korea, i think korea is near japan and she has a lot of fans there

[Terri]

" $888 (a benchmark set by K-popster Rain) "

WTF?

[freedreamer]

i saw this article..

teenage fan base...if thats the case...why is the news paper telling us to visit the other countries when we are having school??

and one more thing, nowadays, Ayu can be found alsmost eveyrwhere in SG newspapers and magazines...tats gd

[andre2907]

Originally Posted by AyuGAME

i feel weird too that she not come to korea, i think korea is near japan and she has a lot of fans there

No, she doesn't. If you go to any big CD store in Korea you won't find any Ayu CD (but Gackt, Mika and Koda Kumi have their CDs on sale).

[Ayu_Jayson]

$888 is a bit too steep for a one-day performance, unless itz a 3-day concert? But then again, it depends the concert. Like perhaps goody bag with her exclusives cds stuff etc, then worth considering. In short, more value-added.

But I would try to raise $888 if she ever comes. But it would be more economical and practical to go Hong Kong. Market in sg seems small compare to Taiwan, China, Hong Kong.

Kinda glad I went to see Ayu during MTVAA 2002. But regret being unable to see her perform "M". Her red kimono top n jean combo is plain cool.

[Terri]

I would let Ayu go on her merry way back to Japan if she tried to rip her fans for $888.

[Ayu_Jayson]

Woah, dun think Ayu will bear to do that, I'm sure =) It just ain't her style.

[sora2522]

i'm sad for singaporeans cuz singapore is prolly like ayu's biggest non-japanese fanbase. i'm really really sad that she's going to taiwan in march!!
> x <

i really wanted to see ayu in the summer =( and i may not even get to go to japan...

[Terri]

Agreed. She has common sense AND style

[Qt Mashi]

wow, RAIN concert $888, maybe if Ayu had a concert in Singapore around the 2001 or 2002 era she could have set a bench mark as high as that

[ExodusUK]

Ayumi is 28 not 29 as stated by the article! Anyway sucks for those who can't see her!

[Olw---A]

... I think that it's just b********** ! I mean come on! sponsoring exists ! I don't understand that they can't find sponsors to decrease the ticket price and be sure of the sales !
I'm not living in Singapore BUT I'm frustated for them !

[*Petit*]

It sounds pretty stupid. There woulden't be too much trouble to arrange a smaller concert.