Ayu & Avex

[ccsharumun]

Originally Posted by orbitalaspect

Labels don't have much control over their artists' touring schedule. In all actuality, the artist makes a very tiny fraction of the money generated from an album sale.

Originally Posted by orbitalaspect

Generally, artists release material through a label to promote tours, not really the other way around. If people like the songs, they end up selling more tickets and this is how the artists will make their money.

^This breakdown was spot-on (to my knowledge) in terms of how it generally works.

I would like to mention that while the Japan and US recording industries have many differences of approach, the way profits work appears very much the same. Even in the United States, most artists make their money from concerts, while labels make it from album sales. So, it really pays to be a performer (which we know Ayu is very good at, and people recognize that up to now, as her concerts still attract many, many people regardless of album sales).

I am also not certain how it works in Japan, but if it is anything like the United States, then the fact that Ayu writes all of her own lyrics means that she actually makes even more money on average than the artists who do not. Songwriter royalties make up a quite a chunk (I believe 10%) of the money each time an album or song is purchased. (And also every time one of her songs is covered by another artist and put up for sale). For instance, after Whitney Houston died, iTunes sales for her signature "I Will Always Love You" skyrocketed. But actually quite a bit of money went to Dolly Parton, who wrote the lyrics.*

So anyway my point is that Ayu's involvement with the creative process (especially lyrics) likely also means that while her profits from album sales may be small compared to that of Avex, her portion is likely more than the average artist who does not write (or compose as Ayumi did for a time as CREA).

*Not a part of the US music industry, but I have spoken to people involved and this is how it was explained to me.