Who says that Ayu is loosing popularity...?

[Melon Panda]

It's tough for any artist to break the mold the public has set for them. Namie Amuro has done well with her hip-hop/R&B material, but it could also have gone the other way and decreased her popularity even more. Ayumi tried gospel, and while I liked Bold & Delicious, the public didn't seem to. A catchy summer single followed by a ballad is a formula that works, and although Avex may allow Ayumi to try different styles, they'll still pressure her into releasing a summer and ballad single. Personally, I don't think Ayumi's voice suits R&B the way Namie's does, so I can't see that genre as being successful. Ayumi could return to her old dance-pop roots, which I do see selling well.

[hightea_xx]

@venus

so when you say versatile, you mean she should copy everyone?

i definitely agree with a lot of people's comments that she's not as popular as she used to be, and of course sales are down, they are all in decline on average. but i think popularity is not necessarily just based on sales....

[milky_way]

For some reason, I want Ayu to have another dance song. It doesn't even have to be an A-side. The only one she really had was Startin'.

[pommy48]

ayu is still so popular!!!

[Melon Panda]

I'm pretty sure people will definitely remember Ayumi Hamasaki years from now. People still remember Seiko Matsuda, and Ayumi has similar if not greater fame. Koda Kumi, Ai Otsuka, and BoA will probably also be remembered, but perhaps not to Ayumi's extent.