What do you think Ayu can do to boost sales?

[Amuro_Ray]

Secret has a film tie up.
Hope it can help her to sell a little bit more.
At least as near as MU

[Kikaru]

I agree with AsongforXX the most. I think she needs to have a few really good drama, and by that I mean ones with big names. (i.e. PLANETARIUM for Hana yori dango and such). Better first press items (her first press items aren't really that great. They should do something more creative, like giving out the nails that Ayu was wearing in the photoshoot or something).

But she's been out for 8 years as a solo pop artist. Every artist have their peaks and decline.

[Zeke.]

Well actually, everyone says "AYU WILL BE REMEMBERED AS THE QUEEN" and such but look at Seiko Matsuda - what did everyone think of her? If she was/is so big, I haven't heard much of her besides that Ayu surpassed her record. Never really read about her in articles or anything and haven't heard any of her material. What if Ayu ends up like that??

[Taki]

It seems to me that to the people in our time simply laziness to buy when also same it is possible to get for nothing in a network. Disks, albums, singles which can be held in hands this the destiny of fans. So to boost sales will help the overvalue of values at people. It is my opinion.

[Hakaru]

honestly,...i just think she needs to realx,take a break, disapear, theirs a certain calming feeling that you get dont you? when you clear your mind of everything exept a few satisfying things? in ayus case, her decreasing sales and the meaningless drama of stardom. i think she just needs to get out of the whole j-pop queen phase, i mean people always talk about koda replacing ayu or that ayu will be replaced, but she's allready been given the title, and you cant take that away...like the beatles and elvis are credited with starting rock 'n' roll its not like 'the monkeys' or 'the who' ever took their titles away, im sure alot of people dont even know who they are, same with newcommers and ayu, ayu will be rememberd for changing j-pop, even of her sales decrease and she disapears, other newcommers who are just following the bandwagon really wont be remembered past the time they disapear, so i say stop stressing, ayu is ayu, sales dont matter the music does and she makes amazing music..

BUT anyways i slid way off topic i think, LOL, ayu needs a break to re-new herself, to think, everyone needs that and latley she hasnt had any she's been really submersed in the stardom thing for 8 years now and its really starting to drown her, also ive noticed that her songs lately just dont give me those tear jeaking emothions,i dont feel what they lyrics suggest i should feel, her lyrics are still amazing but not as unique i mean i love ayu but it seems that latley its like she's been running like a computer, just putting things out.. i dunno she needs a break i think, mabye i suggest that because its the only thing she has yet to do...

sorry for the long post!~<3!

[*Petit*]

^
Your post is gold. I think the comparison to beatles and elvis was quite fitting. Just like namie, she'll always be remembered for what she did no matter what she does in the years to come.

[moombasista]

Nothing

[truehappiness]

Koda shouldn't be mentioned here. :p

[Ayumiko]

I cant really think of what she can do now to boost her sales up for Secret...except perform other songs besides JEWEL!! It would be nice if she can do that for the remaining year end events.

I think what ayu have done in Secret is a improvement. Look at the album tracks and pvs and compare them to the single ones. If she wants to continue to sell around 2006 amounts or hopefully more in 2007, she really needs to bring out very good singles and doesnt give ppl commercial or generic feeling. She shouldnt purposely (thats how I felt) create music for the tie-ins..(ex. born to be) She should also keep doing good pvs not like b&d, pride, 2006 single pvs...coz those dont really make her stand out from other ppl...and ppl lost interest in her because she is no longer unique (style, music) like she used to...

Speaking of style, ayu is no longer how she was...remember the fox tail, crazy nails, camo prints, and her other changing styles? She is now the high class elegant lady who always wear those stylish expensive clothing that alot of ppl cant affort. She is not cool anymore for the younger generations. so since her fashion style and music changed, not as many ppl follow her anymore like it used to. I think that is one of the several reasons why her sales are declining. Plus you do know that she is getting older...I still think she looks very young and stuff but ppl get tired of her after seeing her everywhere for many years. I think it wont be long till ppl get tired of seeing koda later. I really think its a accomplishment for ayu to have been popular for all these years already...approx 8.5 years now? ppl cant expect her to sell like she used to at her peak and it is not fair to compare her to other ppl who is currently at their peak...look at hikki and namie...who used to sell big...and look at them now...yes they are not selling as much as they used to but ppl havent forgotten about them and they are still very popular and loved. so I think ppl should stop saying whoever is gonna replace or take over whoevers spot because nobody can replace anyone, and nobody can stay at the top forever.

Hopefully in 2007 she will do the following:
-release a new single like around march-april with really good songs 1 A-side or double, something refreshing and different from being commercial, and come with great pvs please! It would be nice if she includes a pv from Secret...just like my names women
-start composing again under the name CREA
- Stop releasing summerish songs in the summer....fairyland and BLUE BIRD is enough! a summer ballad would be nice. ex. hanabi, seasons, etc or somekind of cool upbeat dance song...I want to see the cool ayu again...Im tired of her wearing pretty dresses all the time in music shows...ah the old days..
-Release a very emotional ballad with sad lyrics and different arrangements. I think 1 A-side is enough. JEWEL and secret is good but it gets a bit boring...something with a bridge atleast.
-make the asia tour awesome!
-dont release a album next year...maybe early 2008?
-have some kind of major tie-ins for a song...she lacks those...and if she get the right tie-ins, it would boost her sales up for that song just like other ppl...

thats all I can think of now...

[ph33r]

Buy her own stuff XD

[pbs1605]

Dont release Albums so close together.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by pbs1605

Dont release Albums so close together.

._. Do you not want albums?

[explodingbird]

I love her summer songs. I don't care that they sound like each other - I love listening to them. They're fun.

To boost sales? What's the point? What will it prove? She's proven enough. Damn, let the woman keep on doing whatever without having to constantly remind people of how great she is. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to know her fans have such low confidence in her music, her career, and her ability to sell and appeal to people. Great self-esteem booster, that.


Okay, a suggestion?

She can TAKE HER TOP OFF ON LIVE TV! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Mad_Cactuar]

Instead of trying to validate her sales drop as something normal, I think she should indeed take a few steps.

Crazy bonus goodies like Koda Kumi. Koda's marketing tactis holds me in awe. Now with the slot machine scheme, I can bet Black Cherry will sell a lot. And the single + photobook thingy too must be done, like with Maroc. More unique photoshoots. And dramas, instead of just making a tie-in, STAR IN ONE, DAMNIT. Main movie songs, like HEAVEN is vital. She hasn't done a proper big name tie-in since HEAVEN.

No stripping or boob-baring, that'll just lower sales. Janet and Courtney Love = Living Proof.

[Kikaru]

Originally Posted by Mad_Cactuar

Instead of trying to validate her sales drop as something normal, I think she should indeed take a few steps.

Crazy bonus goodies like Koda Kumi. Koda's marketing tactis holds me in awe. Now with the slot machine scheme, I can bet Black Cherry will sell a lot. And the single + photobook thingy too must be done, like with Maroc. More unique photoshoots. And dramas, instead of just making a tie-in, STAR IN ONE, DAMNIT. Main movie songs, like HEAVEN is vital. She hasn't done a proper big name tie-in since HEAVEN.

No stripping or boob-baring, that'll just lower sales. Janet and Courtney Love = Living Proof.

And plus I don't think Ayumi has much boobage to begin with...so...

I think this album had really good tracks such as 1love, secret, and kiss o' kill, and I don't mind it not selling millions.

I've noticed, When she was releasing summer songs people were like "omg she should release rock/ballads". When she's singing ballads people are like "omg she should stop singing ballads". When she do rock that is the opposite of the light, poppy stuff people goes "omg it sound like what she's releasing this year (although if you can find what's so similar between BF and 1LOVE I will give you a cookie)".

I'm sorry if I sound a bit snarky and snappish. If I offended someone, I'm sorry, but as someone observing from the sides, it seems like nothing Ayu does nowadays can satisfy people. They ask her to take a break, which she did between BB and Secret, and then I see people going "I wish she had news and releases more stuff". When she did release, people goes "I wish she goes on a break".

[raspberrygashes]

Originally Posted by Kikaru

And plus I don't think Ayumi has much boobage to begin with...so...

I think this album had really good tracks such as 1love, secret, and kiss o' kill, and I don't mind it not selling millions.

I've noticed, When she was releasing summer songs people were like "omg she should release rock/ballads". When she's singing ballads people are like "omg she should stop singing ballads". When she do rock that is the opposite of the light, poppy stuff people goes "omg it sound like what she's releasing this year (although if you can find what's so similar between BF and 1LOVE I will give you a cookie)".

I'm sorry if I sound a bit snarky and snappish. If I offended someone, I'm sorry, but as someone observing from the sides, it seems like nothing Ayu does nowadays can satisfy people. They ask her to take a break, which she did between BB and Secret, and then I see people going "I wish she had news and releases more stuff". When she did release, people goes "I wish she goes on a break".

What she said

[Dreamland]

Originally Posted by Kikaru

And plus I don't think Ayumi has much boobage to begin with...so...

I think this album had really good tracks such as 1love, secret, and kiss o' kill, and I don't mind it not selling millions.

I've noticed, When she was releasing summer songs people were like "omg she should release rock/ballads". When she's singing ballads people are like "omg she should stop singing ballads". When she do rock that is the opposite of the light, poppy stuff people goes "omg it sound like what she's releasing this year (although if you can find what's so similar between BF and 1LOVE I will give you a cookie)".

I'm sorry if I sound a bit snarky and snappish. If I offended someone, I'm sorry, but as someone observing from the sides, it seems like nothing Ayu does nowadays can satisfy people. They ask her to take a break, which she did between BB and Secret, and then I see people going "I wish she had news and releases more stuff". When she did release, people goes "I wish she goes on a break".

agreed 100%

IMO Janet has been around longer than ayu (and most artists) so she has paid her dues in full same with michael jackson.

[explodingbird]

Star in a drama is easy to say. Not so much easy to do. Plus at that point it'll be all about the sales, not the music. And that's definitely not what Ayu is about, from what I can recall her saying. We're trying to make her about the sales, from the looks of this conversation - we're prioritizing success over music and musical integrity.

[Kobayashiwoof]

She should take a break and think about the crap shes making recently. I only got Secret because i respect her, not for her music. Ayumi needs inspiration, and not release stuff like she usally does. Summer single, winter ballad etc. She should sing other peoples songs instead of singing her own if she needs to.

[DerrickRocks]

Originally Posted by DavidG

She should take a break and think about the crap shes making recently. I only got Secret because i respect her, not for her music. Ayumi needs inspiration, and not release stuff like she usally does. Summer single, winter ballad etc. She should sing other peoples songs instead of singing her own if she needs to.

im there with you!! Ayu needs to stop right now this minute after SECRET is done being promoted. Stay out the public eye and come out with an total image change! no more blonde but her hair short and black like the "I AM" days with a killer triple A-side single and new photobook and maybe a documentary and a secret live she needs to reinvent herself and not worry about the others if she is really as good as people say she is she wouldn't have to worry about losing her spot!