[2009] What actually causes ayu's sales to drop?

[jbrat2219]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

Gyah! >_<" timeless! Yes that should be the word to use instead of "ahead of its time" lol, I apologize.

Ayu needs a "timeless" hit now... the most recent one, pardon me for saying, would be Days, yet it really isn't that timeless; just really mainstream-but-Ayu if anyone gets what I mean lol

No need to apologize

And yeah she does need another timeless track. I hope her musical direction in the future can produce one.

[ayumisrael]

ayu does have some ups and downs though and we don't know if the sales will keep decline, they might go up once again at a certain point, or go up and then down again and eventually go just down.

Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ for example could be called her best seller since Together When...
It sold average physically but it did really well digitally, ayu's best since 2007.
Of course it doesn't mean she didn't become hugely popular again (and there is nothing to talk about or to compare to pre 2004 popularity) but ayu can still be accepted by the geneal public and maybe even more just than that.
We called Days a success but Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ was received as well or even better by the public (even if it was the usual summer song for AHS).

Comparing with other female artists I think that it means just goods for her.
(This is not for degrading purposes)
kumi for example sold with her recent album just around 13,000 more while her peak was just 4 and 3 years ago and she is a singer almost 9 years, comparing it t ayu's 2001 peak and 11 years and a half year while kumi barely outsell ayu anymore and ayu outsells her in singles (and for Days/GREEN and Rule/Sparkle not just by 13,000. We can see that ayu is still of the regarded. Of course it just means that kumi's popularity dropped like a rock but it still means that ayu isn't dead.
JUJU might sell millions digitally (and Sunrise just did close to it) but that's mainly her thing. miliyah kato became popular but her singles don't do as well as ayu's and her album which is the popularity upper can barely sell more than ayu's recent album.
It might do it eventually (if it will) but it sure takes its precious time.
Also namie's single of this year, namie just sold a million with an album, and raised her popularity once again but her single this year just sold around 9,000 copies more than Sunrise/Sunset but it didn't do nearly as well as Sunrise digitally, thus the general public was more interested in ayu's song.

There were artists like YUI, yuna ito and Angela Aki that had nice images and some hit songs and the first albums were great sellers (YUI 2nd album) and they all were fresh but look at yuna ito and Angela Aki now. YUI still does well in her own way thogh (even though I don't think she had a good digital seller like Sunrise at least this year),
let's not even extend too much Thelma Aoyama that just last year (or was it 2007?) had the 2nd best selling single of the year.

ayu also had her longest tour this year and probably with the most participants (even taking down the account of the unsold resellers tickets) ever (unless if she had more on 2001's DOME TOUR).

ayu also sold really well with a limited book.

As indifferent as the general public to ayu in Japan is, I don't know if it's her hard to relate to image, or the music and lyrics that are different from the old ayu.
It seems at least to me that she still might bring it up, at least from the place she is now.
It seems that she can pick up people even sometimes releasing things that are as or even more creative than what she did or less but still can be relateable, and sometimes act more relative even if it's hard. I mean if the indifferency to her from the general public is solid, as much as 750,000 is not a million I'm sure that she can get people into her again with the right music, lyrics and charm. If it doesn't correlate with the things she would like to do (or some of them) in the future then so be it but she still got it in her, or else Sunrise wouldn't do well as it did, and not just that and I won't be surprised if what helped were mainly the lyrics since Sunrise's lyrics are really pretty (and even reminded me strangely enough a song from ASFxx which I can't recall). Because more people should have been indifferent to her or lose interest, after so many years.

So yeah it doesn't mean that her popularity will sky rocket again or anything, but basically, I think that it is possible that the general public can be interested in her in higher levels again and hopefully she won't have to go back to old ayu mode and be just accepted as her, with a relateble image and do ASfxx~Memorial address music and loneliness, the world's taugh lyrics all over again.
She needs to bring it up with at least a bit different ayu (at least in my opinion).

[rusuke]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

Basically, once again, I think that people are just losing interest in her. She was the inspiration to girls back then, but now girls have a lot more options, like the new&improved Namie Amuro, Kuu, alan, Crystal Kay, misono, Superfly, Utada Hikaru, Ai Otsuka, maybe even more.

I'm not say these singers ARE the inspiration, but there really are a lot more female singers now to "look up to" than say in 2001.

Also, with more singers, more songs would be made, and many of the songs have a more EPIC-vibe than Ayu's newer songs. Ai Otsuka had Sakuranbo and Planetarium on 2003 and 2005 respectively, Kuu had CUTIE HONEY & Butterfly on 2005, Namie Amuro had the VS tie-in, 60s70s80s, PLAY in 2007-2009, Utada had Flavor of Life in 2008, alan had um well never mind about her, Theyma Alma (what's her name again) had soba ni iru in 2007 (2006? I don't really know lol)...

What I want to say is, these 'hot" and 'wow" songs are in the second half of the 21st century. And what has Ayu offered in terms of BOOMZ for her songs from 2005? HEAVEN, Days... that's all I can really think of now.

Moreover, Ayu has a very "TA is MY ALL" thing going now... RED LINE ~for TA~... um? How does a new fan actually RELATE to Ayu like this?

I don't think Ai/Namie/Kuu/whoever blogs about their fanclubs all day... Ayu might not be realizing it, but by focusing SO MUCH on her TA, she's distancing herself from the rest of Japan/casual listeners. It's like she has created "AYULAND" for herself, her dancers/staff/band and TA... and no one else can get in cos they can't relate to ANYTHING about this "AYULAND"!

My advice: Ayu, rename RED LINE ~for TA~ to RED LINE or RED LINE ~ties~/whatever, and maybe the new single would have another 500 more copies sold. ^^

I also agree with what you said. This just make a non-TA member feel awkward because Ayu is focusing too much with her "Team" not knowing she has other fans who loves her but unable to join her "LAND".

But really, Music still matters. I'm listening to Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~ and I have to listen to it over and over again to appreciate it. I'm not saying it's worst but it's not like her "old music" that you would love instantly.

Her image too. She's just too unreachable.

[KarenPang]

yeah if you were to compare ayumi against the other batch of female solo acts out there , she's doing better relatively so to speak

& Aoyama Thelma's Soba ni Iru ne Feat SoulJa was the 7th best sold single of last year but it was overall the best selling single by a female solo artist

it's sad but she deserves much more than a sleeper hit T_T

[Kanzaki]

Downloading and time itself

[ayu_ready?]

I think that probably she's been too long on the stage. plus, she still releases an album every year. people got a bit bored maybe

moreover, a big change in style, image and music and lyrics. I think that must be the best reason for sales dropping.

[PrincessAyu]

a different style. When I was in Japan, none of my friends liked the new "sound" of NEXT LEVEL.

[Raleigh]

I'm not in Japan so I can't tell but I think the fact that she doesn't appear so much on tv, shows or public events and has only like 2 singles a year... well maybe casual fans are more likely to lose interest.

[tinka69]

1. People prefer to download music and or paying less on the internet instead of paying full price for the cd package. Not only causing Ayu's sales to go down but everybody else's.
2. She's been around way too long and is getting old.
3. constant change of listener interests

[Miduhyo]

Most of what I want to say has already been posted so I guess I'm just agreeing to a lot of what has already been said. But Ayu has been around for awhile and even though her sales are dropping it doesn't mean she's gone. She's one of those rare jewels that just seem to be noticed even years later after being discovered -- even though her sparkle isn't as strong.

But because she's been around so long, people don't get that excited anymore and not only that, she's experimenting too much. I personally love her taste for uniqueness but when it comes to the music scene, sometimes being too different will cause people to become an outcast instead of a showstopper. Which is sad, but true.

I think once she's found something that she's absolutely comfortable and strongly confident and secure with then maybe the sales will rise up again. Maybe not tremendously but it may just happen. (Of course, there is also the factor that internet downloading really doesn't help with sales...)

[Melodie]

I won't say anything about the music itself, as I agree with some of the posts, however...

We all know that image affects one's popularity these days.
(That's unless you're very talented)
But regardless of that, when I look at this, I prefer the photo on the left,

Spoiler:

Ayu had a zillion photoshoots, but this sweet, innocent facial expression continues to be recycled.
Yes, Japan loves cute, and cuddly. Britney was cute at the begining of her career, but I don't recall a trademark smile that would get on people's nerves as much as Ayu's pouty lips seem to.
Though it's useless to compare them...

Most of the time I'm pleased with Ayu's photos, but if you think about a country of 120+ million people, their tastes must vary.
And perhaps some women, whether younger/older, would like to see her behave like an adult?
Same goes for her male audience, maybe they would like to see the woman in her?
She had some adult-themed photos, but her face doesn't change. To some she may look like a little girl who is trying to be sexy. Maybe some people don't fancy a 30+ year old child lookalike, others may think she's desperate (Naked Talk?). In her older photos she looks relaxed, doesn't she? Some of them even express emotion.

If you were a 30 year old Japanese woman who's married and has children, how would you react to Ayu's behaviour on Heyx3 when she was interviewed with this actor(was it?)?
I can understand her excitement, but do others?

How about the cute segments of her performances?
They seem to become more childish with each year.

During one of them (I truly don't remember which one) they showed the audience on camera, and I noticed this really pretty Japanese woman who didn't seem very excited. Maybe she was disappointed?

In the past, she stood by the belief "I'm not a product".
Maybe some people feel that she's stopped fighting?

Now, I know this may be irrelevant, and I love Ayu just the way she is, but sometimes even if you enjoy the music, if the artist's behaviour isn't to your liking, there's a chance you'll stop listening to the music.

[channy]

Well, Ayu has changed her image consecutively over the years. She's not the 'product' she used to be back then. Some people are able to accept these changes, and others don't.

For me it started with NEXT LEVEL, not really the Ayu I liked, Rock'n'Roll Circus even worse. Now I am hoping for Love songs to turn out as an stunning album.

[xLuna&1LOVE]

^ YOU! Melodie... You are AHS new theorist.

I thought it was because the music industry is full with new artists, new musicians etc. And we like that 'fresh' new young thing.

I will explain it..:

When Madonna was 'like a virgin' a lot of people loved her. Liked her. Now, posing in a fishnet panty, or sexy dancing in a club with guys, she is not that 'fresh' we were looking for. She had her time.

So has Britney yeah. She had a great come back but a lot of people in my place called her 'hooker' when she released Circus, Womanizer and Gimme more.

And it seems like Christina Aguilera had her time too. So had Pink, Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park, Robbie Williams etc.

And I do think: USA, Asia, Europe, The whole world loves catchy tracks. I mean, why do a lot of girls like Justin Bieber? Sure, maybe he looks 'cute' but hey, once listening to Baby and it's in your head. For Ever.
Same with Lady Gaga.
And be honest: Ayu doesn't have that. She has classics, but her music is serious. She is not only here for her fans, she is here for herself and not many people do get her then (what she wants to tell us)
I call her an artist with 'deep' music.

Sorry for my english.

[channy]

Originally Posted by xLuna&1LOVE

USA, Asia, Europe, The whole world loves catchy tracks. I mean, why do a lot of girls like Justin Bieber?

Sure, maybe he looks 'cute' but hey, once listening to Baby and it's in your head. For Ever. Same with Lady Gaga.

And be honest: Ayu doesn't have that

That does not count for everyone. I did never listen to Lady Gaga nor Justin Bieber.

Do not compare american pop music idols with Ayu. It just won't work.

If people want to listen to songs that consist of "Po po po po po-ker face. Papapapapapa, paparazzi. Ring ring ring ring ring, TELEPHONE, Alle alle alle allejandrooooh" let them be happy with that.

But this kind of pop singers won't survive till 2020 with number 1 albums/singles each year, non-stop (which would be a career then, as long as Ayu's nowadays).

Not speaking of how much Ayu changed, but her music most likely counts to the best produced pop of our time. That is my opinion.

Just don't compare this to catchy american bubble gum pop. There are galaxies between Ayu and US pop... and if people don't care if something is just meant to be catchy-sounding and want to replace Ayu's music with such artists, let them do it.

[xLuna&1LOVE]

^ what I actually tried to say, badly is the following.

I was mentioning the listener. Not just an Ayu-fan. Sure, it's us, people on AHS and other die-hard Ayu-fans who want her albums!
Most people (the youth) just listen to the radio and mtv, and like or dislike the songs they hear there.

And I never wanted to say that Ayu's music is replaced with 'such artists.' And I didn't say that. You know it's not. The listener will always love the best songs. Better than Baby baby baby ooooh...

The music industry is so big. And that's the main reason why Ayu's sales dropped.

So, that's it.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by ShiSeido

That does not count for everyone. I did never listen to Lady Gaga nor Justin Bieber.

Do not compare american pop music idols with Ayu. It just won't work.

If people want to listen to songs that consist of "Po po po po po-ker face. Papapapapapa, paparazzi. Ring ring ring ring ring, TELEPHONE, Alle alle alle allejandrooooh" let them be happy with that.

But this kind of pop singers won't survive till 2020 with number 1 albums/singles each year, non-stop (which would be a career then, as long as Ayu's nowadays).

Not speaking of how much Ayu changed, but her music most likely counts to the best produced pop of our time. That is my opinion.

Just don't compare this to catchy american bubble gum pop. There are galaxies between Ayu and US pop... and if people don't care if something is just meant to be catchy-sounding and want to replace Ayu's music with such artists, let them do it.

Never knew people on AHS could see the future! So, u are sure who will or won't sell in 2020? Can u also say who will i marry to?

-

Ayumi has only 4 "problems" on her career:
-She releases too much and is superexposed for years now
-She doesn't fill the ideal role for an ideal jpop idol... not even of an ideal japanese woman
-She is 30+ years old on a country where women over 25+ are old
-She has a 12 years old career and her peak ended for almost 9 years now

Just that... she grew old... and this will happen with any artist in the universe who is able to keep relevant AND producing for years... and even if she has another peak, she will have another fall... the Duty - Rainbow years will never come back again. If she had not change, she would fade alway faster and for good...

Is this bad? Nops... just natural... and have a very good effect: She may not be the hottest thing on Japan, but she has a name of her own... The respect she is ganing over the years u can only gain by being around for years... That's why having something produced by her is a big thing, and also why her tours have more and more dates over the years...

[emi♡]

^you're gonna marry me silly!


And I think there's something we need to get clear on this forum.

You know, it's not THAT easy to produce a beautiful melody that is catchy, and deep, and powerful. And if it was, EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT.

Yet, there are people like, say, Lady Gaga, who understand that, when you want to spread what you think all over the world, sometimes, the way in which you present that message, can be even more important than the message itself.

Amazingly enough, Gaga has been able to do this with many of her tracks. Because she knows how to manipulate music and phrases to do what she wants. To hit at the right times, and to fit with what she wants to get across.

And one point in time, Ayu had this too.

Think about M. Think about SURREAL. How many of us know those songs by heart? How many of us feel the depth of those songs, her message, how she was feeling? How catchy are those songs? How hard hitting are those melodies? AMAZINGLY SO.


But this is going off on a tangent now.

In any case, this is the goal, of the music industry. To move people, and make them think only about those productions.

And as long as we have people doing it, it is ALWAYS going to be popular. Even in 2020.

As far as charts and sales...they don't really mean anything do they...since...not only are they easily manipulated, but they are becoming obsolete.

[waterballoon]

One word: RELEVANCE

She's just not relevant to the public anymore... as we can see, most of her advertising/promotion tactics are targeted towards her fan clubs, and as much her fan club is her main/ONLY source that would buy her stuff these days, cos the public simply... doesn't care anymore?

[Andrenekoi]

^Well, even now she is able of touching people... Days for example is a hit that deserves respect for it's own... And it's easy to understand why, those lyrics are ridiculously relatable, what is Ayu major force on her music..

But most of music market is moved by teenagers... teenagers are more passionete about their idols and are more likelly to buy 5 copies of an album, every magazine, the physical singles, the dvds, etc... When people get older, besides passionete collectors or really hardcore fans, they will pretty much download the songs they liked or buy the album where they will get the single tracks... and only if they like the music on the album^^

I would not say she is not relevant cuz she is selling well and she is producing track for at least one new artist... and she is also having her biggest tour of her career for for 4 consecutive years now... I would say she wasn't being relevant if she wasn't selling, nor producing, nor having bigger tours...

[waterballoon]

^ well I think she isn't 100% irrelevant to the public of course, like what you said Days for example was her recent hit that resonated well with the general public.

However, when you think about it... why did Kana Nishino's album sell over 600k? How did ABK48 & ARASHI sell like hotcakes?

Isn't it because they're relevant to the public in whatever ways; music, personality, style, etc that almost made it compelling for people to buy their stuff?

For Ayu's case.. she definitely had such a relevance back then from 2000-2002 I guess, but I had a feeling she started to slide from 2004, where she made the OMG statement about quitting avex if Max was gonna be fired.

THAT, to me, seemed like almost a scandal to the public, like "omg how could a woman make such a powerful statement!? it's not right!"... like what you love to say, Japan likes it when their female idol has no brains

so i think it was around that time where people feel that "ayumi hamasaki" isn't relevant to the public; like she couldn't represent the women well, for example.