Ayu: Anything Goes [XXI]

[attractive nausea]

^ I don't know... she's not mentioning anything about new music, not even a hint. It's really weird not getting anything for a whole year besides a song that's not even a physical release lol
Maybe something is up for her 20th anniversary, i mean it has to be, right? But it also feels like her anniversary has begun since CDL 16-17 so... i kind of feel underwhelmed about the whole thing. + her anniversary will be overshadowed by Namie retiring, i mean it's not like her sales were gonna be really huge anyway, but still, Namie is really stealing the spotlight these days

PS: Don't see this as an opportunity to diss Namie because i love her.

[Xianghua]

I'm not that bothered about the lack of music because she's so busy with touring, but I am getting impatient to find out if she'll have a big live the day of her anni. I know it's too early to get info on that, though

And yeah, I also feel that her 20th will be overshadowed by namie's retirement (concert wise.) I wonder how they will go about promoting it, because I think that ayu's team has been a bit weak in that department the past few years.

[himawariii6]

Originally Posted by Xianghua

I'm not that bothered about the lack of music because she's so busy with touring, but I am getting impatient to find out if she'll have a big live the day of her anni. I know it's too early to get info on that, though

And yeah, I also feel that her 20th will be overshadowed by namie's retirement (concert wise.) I wonder how they will go about promoting it, because I think that ayu's team has been a bit weak in that department the past few years.

Ayu needs a new team, to be honest.

[melissalove]

Originally Posted by himawariii6

Ayu needs a new team, to be honest.

Big time.

[RealLight]

Originally Posted by Xianghua

I'm not that bothered about the lack of music because she's so busy with touring, but I am getting impatient to find out if she'll have a big live the day of her anni. I know it's too early to get info on that, though

And yeah, I also feel that her 20th will be overshadowed by namie's retirement (concert wise.) I wonder how they will go about promoting it, because I think that ayu's team has been a bit weak in that department the past few years.

A bit?

[Xianghua]

Originally Posted by RealLight

A bit?

lol I didn't want to come off as too harsh

Originally Posted by SunshineSlayer

One that is actually on top of things; news, updates, getting people hyped and excited, etc.

Yes, exactly my thought! The hype! I just don't feel it anymore.

[voltron]

And I know I sounds like a broken record, but it's been a year since the TA 2016 finale now -- let's get that released already!

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by voltron

And I know I sounds like a broken record, but it's been a year since the TA 2016 finale now -- let's get that released already!

Yep. I've been very Ayu starved. I need some kind of release; even just the TA tour would be fine, but something. We've been too spoiled in past years, but right now it feels like we are in a barren desert of anything new or any news whatsoever.

And yes, I agree Ayu needs a new team. She has needed one for a long time now. One that is actually on top of things; news, updates, getting people hyped and excited, etc. Also needs a good image overhaul.
:cough I hear Namie's team will be coming available soon. :cough

[truehappiness]

Well, I don't think the team is the issue but rather that she isn't demanding more from the people she has. As much as it may be their fault, it is just as much Ayu's if things don't come out well.

[voltron]

^ It's funny to joke, but with Namie leaving...is Ayu the top (solo) earner for Avex again? Or is Koda Kumi above her? Or someone else? And I mean all in, like tours and goods and everything.

It makes sense that without Namie Avex is going to put a lot more effort into someone else in order to make up for the loss.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by voltron

^ It's funny to joke, but with Namie leaving...is Ayu the top (solo) earner for Avex again? Or is Koda Kumi above her? Or someone else? And I mean all in, like tours and goods and everything.

It makes sense that without Namie Avex is going to put a lot more effort into someone else in order to make up for the loss.

I would imagine it has to be Ayu that will be the top earner again, because even with much lower CD sales I don't think Avex has any other solo females that can tour consistently to the level she does.

I mean, yeah, what is Avex's plan? Honestly, more than putting that into Ayu (because honestly, they might think she is too old and image too far damaged unfortunately) they might put it into a young unknown? But honestly, Avex has failed to find that person who would be the successor to Ayu and/or Namie for the last ten years, so I'm not so sure.

They might end up just pouring even more into all the Exile groups since that is their bread and butter these days mainly, but ugh.

I mentioned elsewhere that this would be primetime for someone like Maki Goto to make another run at a solo career with Avex; her style of performing and strengths were very similar to Namie, but I don't know. So much up in the air. Namie's absence will be hugely felt though; that's for sure.

Obviously what I would love to see most though is that the attention gets put back into Ayu again. That like it or not, they say to Ayu, your team sucks - here, take Namie's - and they just go to town and give her the same kind of excellent image overhaul and care of planning that Namie got from about 2006 onwards. THAT would be amazing.

[voltron]

It's definitely a question of product vs. promotion/placement, right? I don't think Ayu is willing to undergo a huge overhaul at this point -- either in sound or in overall image. But I do think she could stomach a "clean-up" if you will to polish the edges a bit, be a little more commercial, etc. BUT I do think with enough money dumped into her, a tight execution strategy, and maintenance of things at a high level of quality, would all combine to a better public image. Namie has been lucky in that she hasn't had to "work" for publicity in the traditional sense (dodging the knives that are about to be thrown at me), because she still doesn't go to TV shows or a super long promo trail. She just gets good tie-ins and that does the work for her.

But yes, I would hate to see Avex just focus on the groups. Mostly because they don't do a whole lot for me. But it might actually be a better financial strategy for them.

And as an aside, I would also love a Maki Goto comeback. I really loved her Sweet Black stuff, but her mini not as much.

[melissalove]

Originally Posted by voltron

It's definitely a question of product vs. promotion/placement, right? I don't think Ayu is willing to undergo a huge overhaul at this point -- either in sound or in overall image. But I do think she could stomach a "clean-up" if you will to polish the edges a bit, be a little more commercial, etc. BUT I do think with enough money dumped into her, a tight execution strategy, and maintenance of things at a high level of quality, would all combine to a better public image. Namie has been lucky in that she hasn't had to "work" for publicity in the traditional sense (dodging the knives that are about to be thrown at me), because she still doesn't go to TV shows or a super long promo trail. She just gets good tie-ins and that does the work for her.

But yes, I would hate to see Avex just focus on the groups. Mostly because they don't do a whole lot for me. But it might actually be a better financial strategy for them.

And as an aside, I would also love a Maki Goto comeback. I really loved her Sweet Black stuff, but her mini not as much.

Yeah, namie’s team had a bit of a play in her success but it was 90% namie. She decided to part with TK, change her style and refused to tour like avex wanted all by herself. If ayu wants to have any sort of success she needs to change everything and do Something different.

[SunshineSlayer]

Originally Posted by melissalove

Yeah, namie’s team had a bit of a play in her success but it was 90% namie. She decided to part with TK, change her style and refused to tour like avex wanted all by herself. If ayu wants to have any sort of success she needs to change everything and do Something different.

But what I'm talking about is just basic stuff though; stuff that IS her team. Like her fanclub site is updated constantly and has lots of great content. I constantly get emails from it as well informing me of everything. In general, it just feels more professionally run. Stuff like proper releases with proper lead up is something that is done extremely well as well. etc. etc. She just has a management team that seems much more on top of it than Ayu's does and Ayu could definitely benefit from something like that.

But yeah, I agree with what everyone is saying; Ayu is left pretty much on her own and she doesn't seem very concerned with changing things; unfortunate imo because she has stagnated.

[truehappiness]

Well, I think part of it is that she is just going 'inactive' somewhat with less promo and less releases. The touring has always been a lull but something has always come after a while. This entire year was her recovering due to her knee and other ear issues I guess... so we won't get more than what she can give us. However, the year still isn't over!

[truehappiness]

I think the team was a big part for Namie. It's similar to how Perfume does well. It's all very clean and such.

[EndOfTheWorld]

I thin Ayu's team just does what she tells them to do and just caters to her. And I think Ayu doesn't really have much of a vision for her career these days. She just wants to focus on performing and making an album to support her tours. Even when I watch behind the scenes video of Ayu or see her with her dancers or something, they seem to almost be servants to her and treat her like she is their precious goddess.
I think avex actually leaves Ayu alone within the company, doing her own thing and they just go along with it. If Ayu had a team around her that was proactive and had a sense of vision for Ayu's career, it would improve her overall presence in music and quite possibly the quality of her output.

[Xianghua]

^I think avex pretty much leaves her alone these days too, aside from maybe "you need to release this many albums in x amount of time" or something. I also think she's not that much concerned with staying on top of the charts or starting new trends - she just wants to do things for her fans and we're her priority.

[Evan Odinson]

^ I agree, I think (imo) that Ayu doesn't care/pay too much attention to sales and charts anymore, at this point she just enjoy what she does, she loves wrtting music and performing for us. She already sold and broke way too many records (not that I wouldn't like her to be on top of everything like back then again tho) she doesn't need to stress herself, specially with her condition, and still with little promo and not too much innovation she always manages to be on Oricon's TOP 3 or 5 so yes, she will probably stay with her current way of doing things

[melissalove]

Originally Posted by Evan Odinson

^ I agree, I think (imo) that Ayu doesn't care/pay too much attention to sales and charts anymore, at this point she just enjoy what she does, she loves wrtting music and performing for us. She already sold and broke way too many records (not that I wouldn't like her to be on top of everything like back then again tho) she doesn't need to stress herself, specially with her condition, and still with little promo and not too much innovation she always manages to be on Oricon's TOP 3 or 5 so yes, she will probably stay with her current way of doing things

That’s fine, doing what she does is her style popular or not. It takes a strong person like ayu not to bend to trends and always staying true to herself. respect!!