Ayu's social networks - Discussion #51

[Aderianu]

NEXT LEVEL USB is awesome T_T I'm afraid we'll never see something so cool again

[Gustavopc]

I guess that first/final meeting is stuff is like they will confirm and settle down official plans for the album for the first time cause probably she's just finished recording it, or almost, so now she and her staff can properly develop their strategies.

[Ryusei]

Give us that new song and album queen. I so wasnt used to waiting for more than a year for a new ayu album

[Gustavopc]

I think the same. Kuu has an upcoming album and she's doing a very different promotion than usual now that she has an instagram account and all. I guess they finally realised they can't depend on just one big soloist.

[hud]

thank god! I hope they'll give them all the attention they deserve.

[rainbow_smile]

Pretty sure she just shared a bit more about the production process this time around ^^ I'm sure she has many meetings for each album, she just never told us about them

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by rainbow_smile

Pretty sure she just shared a bit more about the production process this time around ^^ I'm sure she has many meetings for each album, she just never told us about them

One would think so, but even she posted with one of the pictures that she was having a rare meeting at Avex HQ.

They have a very large audience in the 20-40 year old range that are losing their idol. It would make sense if they are trying to use their current artists that have the potential to appeal to that audience; that's a ton of money that's about to leave the company and I don't see them really cultivating anyone new.

One can hope anyway that this might finally mean an album with better promotion again.

[voltron]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

One would think so, but even she posted with one of the pictures that she was having a rare meeting at Avex HQ.

They have a very large audience in the 20-40 year old range that are losing their idol. It would make sense if they are trying to use their current artists that have the potential to appeal to that audience; that's a ton of money that's about to leave the company and I don't see them really cultivating anyone new.

One can hope anyway that this might finally mean an album with better promotion again.

It could also just be because she hasn't had an album in 2 years, and really doesn't do much to promote them these days. But I'm wishful that this is signaling a change!

I'm curious if they really KNOW how to promote these days, to be honest. Namie was a bit of an anomaly - she's always had strong tie-ins and ad campaigns, but she doesn't do much by way of promo otherwise (not appearing on TV, not really doing interviews, etc.). So again, I'm hopeful that they'll pull it together, but I'm not sure how strong their team really is to begin with.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by voltron

It could also just be because she hasn't had an album in 2 years, and really doesn't do much to promote them these days. But I'm wishful that this is signaling a change!

I'm curious if they really KNOW how to promote these days, to be honest. Namie was a bit of an anomaly - she's always had strong tie-ins and ad campaigns, but she doesn't do much by way of promo otherwise (not appearing on TV, not really doing interviews, etc.). So again, I'm hopeful that they'll pull it together, but I'm not sure how strong their team really is to begin with.

I think a lot of these come as offers from other companies which want a certain celebrity to be their spokesperson. Sadly Ayu, even though she is a legend, lost that status years ago. Partially because of the many scandals and partially due to her inactivity. I remember last year when I was crossing the street near Yoyogi and looking over a couple of vans with ayu plastered all over them an older guy and a kid were passing by and the kid had asked who the woman was and the older guy said “hamasaki ayumi”. Most people in their teens, while probably know some of her songs, don’t really know her that well, I think. And while, sure, they could be targetting the groups between 20-40 which is where ayu most likely has more potential, the kids are usually the ones spending cash on their idols and related products. While this may vary in Japan, I don’t think it does significantly.

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

[...]. And while, sure, they could be targetting the groups between 20-40 which is where ayu most likely has more potential, the kids are usually the ones spending cash on their idols and related products. While this may vary in Japan, I don’t think it does significantly.

I think it's the other way round.
Young people rather stream their music than buying while the older ones buy. Would explain why there are artists with high streaming numbers on youtube (like a bunch of J-rappers with some millions), but it's not reflecting in sales. And for e.g. like Utada, who is big in sales, but not so big in streaming numbers (she e.g. only has about 30k followers on Line Music and somebody like Kuu or Ayu has thrice as much). Probably different for tours and goods tho.

I do agree tho, that probably nothing will change with Ayu and this new album. We just never knew closer, how she's working.
And I think the Music Fair special is probably also about her 20th Anniversary - about time they do something for it.

[truehappiness]

I think she's just being more public about the meetings and what they are for especially since she knows people are waiting for the album.

[EndOfTheWorld]

I don't think avex is increasing their attention to Ayu either. That would be great though. But sadly I think it is Ayu's decision to do less promo not avex.

[Refix]

Mmm yeah, I think I'm ok with this setlist...

[SunshineSlayer]

Yeah, I don’t know if they are putting more behind her or not, but I’m hopeful that they will. I mean hey, we’ve got two tv appearances around the time that an album is getting announced. That feels like already more promo than the last few years combined lol

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

Yeah, I don’t know if they are putting more behind her or not, but I’m hopeful that they will. I mean hey, we’ve got two tv appearances around the time that an album is getting announced. That feels like already more promo than the last few years combined lol

I hope they will every time a new release comes around.

[EndOfTheWorld]

Getting ready for 大阪城🏯✨

真っ直ぐにぶつかったならプライドも何もかも木っ端みじんに砕け散りそうでこわいね。でも避けて通るなら圧 倒的な勝利には一生巡り会わないだろう。
#powerofmusic2018
#ayu20thTOUR

[KillTime111]

Very excited to see she`s talking about the new album, looks like they had their last meeting about it, which means they`re in the production phase for retail (or otherwise). If there`s one thing I`ve learned about Japanese business, is that you go through many many many meetings and e-mails for every detail. Whether it includes everyone or not, there are usually more meetings than probably needed. And for someone like Ayu, you know they go all out, even if her label is weening back. Her staff will most likely continue to have meetings w/out her, in terms of marketing, distribution, etc. She`s most likely already expressed her goals and such in previous meetings for the new album, and thus needs to just follow a schedule her team has laid out, and will attend meetings on a needed basis if something comes up.

Let`s hope they`ll reveal more details right before and during the TV performances .

[njanjayrp]

^ hopefully we get the #NewAlbum announcement during the final!

[Sky High]

Maybe she will perform new song as suprise.

[Machiko]

Originally Posted by Sky High

Maybe she will perform new song as suprise.

That would be AMAZING.