[Official Message] 『A SUMMER BEST』8. August 2012

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

I disagree and I think the difference in sales between Style and Queen of HipPop reflects successful marketing (There wasn't a huge difference in the musical style between the two); she had atleast 3 drama and commercial tie-ins for the singles and comissioned an espicially created pink panther-likeness for the album, a very unique marketing approach. The tie-ins increased for Play and so on. And when her sales were low, she went on an Asian tour. Namie also continues to present herself in a very attractive way; look at the cover for Play or Best Fiction. I think anyone, a Namie fan or not, would want to pick up the album just based on the cover alone. Look at her Youtube channel or her facebook, of course Ayumi has her twitter and weibo but thats not for the casual fan. One can market themselves in alot of ways.

I understand that Tie-ins or beautiful cover art isn't the cookie cutter solution to sales, but I don't think completely giving up on these options is either.

I'm just convinced that whatever Ayu's current vision is, it doesn't maintain the high standard she had for herself in the past and I wish her team would just pick up the slack in any way. Photoshoping yourself till you are unrecognizable doesn't count, lol.

And just for future reference, Namie did some Tv promos for one of the songs off Uncontrolled; I think it was Break it (maybe someone can correct me.)

Break it was releases 2 years ago... I highly doubt that lives would help the album promotion.

Unfortunatelly, tie-ins aren't 100% up to the singer (or the label or their team), as the other part needs to agree on having a song from the artist on their material, what doesn't always happen. Still, Ayu had around 2 drama themes, 1 movie theme, 1 game theme and 8 cm themes since Rock n Roll Circus era... Her movies and drama tie-ins being or not being successful having little to nothing to do with her (as we can't know if the movie/game/cm/drama/etc will be a hit until it is). She is also having another major movie tie-in and a major game tie-in this year.

I agree Ayu's facebook is forgoten, but her youtube channel isn't, Namie's don't have full videos but some selected from time to time, and Ayu still is among the japanese youtube users with the most followers and views... She also is one of the most followed japanese people on twitter (where Namie is absent). Namie's covers being prettier than Ayu's falls into personal opinion... IMO they are both at the same pace, with one being better sometimes, and them the other being better than the first.

I just don't get what you guys think Namie is doing and Ayu isn't promotion wise.

[Yumsushi]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Break it was releases 2 years ago... I highly doubt that lives would help the album promotion.

I only mentioned it since you said that Namie doesn't do any TV promos thats all.

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Unfortunatelly, tie-ins aren't 100% up to the singer (or the label or their team), as the other part needs to agree on having a song from the artist on their material, what doesn't always happen. Still, Ayu had around 2 drama themes, 1 movie theme, 1 game theme and 8 cm themes since Rock n Roll Circus era... Her movies and drama tie-ins being or not being successful having little to nothing to do with her (as we can't know if the movie/game/cm/drama/etc will be a hit until it is). She is also having another major movie tie-in and a major game tie-in this year.

I agree Ayu's facebook is forgoten, but her youtube channel isn't, Namie's don't have full videos but some selected from time to time, and Ayu still is among the japanese youtube users with the most followers and views... She also is one of the most followed japanese people on twitter (where Namie is absent). Namie's covers being prettier than Ayu's falls into personal opinion... IMO they are both at the same pace, with one being better sometimes, and them the other being better than the first.

I just don't get what you guys think Namie is doing and Ayu isn't promotion wise.

I thought the artist has a say in the tie-ins. For eg Namie contacted the studio that produced Sin City to promote Violet Sauce to them. Maybe its not always like that?

I agree that the covers are a personal taste issue, but we can both agree that you won't find Namie photoshopped beyond recognition on any DVD, album or single cover.

Look at how Namie is celebrating her 20th anniversary and look at how Ayu celebrated her 50th single for example. That is what I am referring to. I could compare Koda Kumi and her crazy promos instead but I think I made my point.

Anyhow, I only brought up the marketing issue because I thought this release could be much better than it is. I thought the least she could've done is rerecord something, make it special somehow. Maybe I'm still pissed off for having to buy the A best 2s to get part of me lol.

[Delicious n Bold]

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

I only mentioned it since you said that Namie doesn't do any TV promos thats all.



I thought the artist has a say in the tie-ins. For eg Namie contacted the studio that produced Sin City to promote Violet Sauce to them. Maybe its not always like that?

I agree that the covers are a personal taste issue, but we can both agree that you won't find Namie photoshopped beyond recognition on any DVD, album or single cover.

Look at how Namie is celebrating her 20th anniversary and look at how Ayu celebrated her 50th single for example. That is what I am referring to. I could compare Koda Kumi and her crazy promos instead but I think I made my point.

Anyhow, I only brought up the marketing issue because I thought this release could be much better than it is. I thought the least she could've done is rerecord something, make it special somehow. Maybe I'm still pissed off for having to buy the A best 2s to get part of me lol.

LOL you could have just bought the black one

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

I only mentioned it since you said that Namie doesn't do any TV promos thats all.

I didn't say Namie never does TV promos, just that she hasn't done them for quite some time now...

And the Sin City team accepted doing a Sin City tie-in... They could pretty much refuse it too. It's not just giving a call, they have to discuss price, schedule, production and aprove the final result. Also, a lot of movies/dramas/etc already invite the artists to sing the themes before the production is openly announced.

About being photoshoped beyond recognization... I strongly believe people over here tend to be overdramatic about it. She is very edited on advertising and fashion magazines, but ignoring Sunrise/Sunset covers I always find Ayu easily recognizible on her releases...

On the same way, Namie is very edited on Best Fiction (ok, it was part of the concept) and Break It single cover (where I can't really recognize her)