[Official Message] Official TeamAyu 'A & STAFF DIARY' entries

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

^So why wasn't it a big deal when the entries used to get posted here in INDIVIDUAL threads all the time? I don't get it. I reaaaaaaaally wish avex would let people in other countries sign up for TA. I'd have done it years ago.

[BlackSilence]

maybe people back then were more relaxed and not as many were in the fanclub?

[truehappiness]

A $20/2000yen option for digital-only membership would help a lot.

TeamAyu GET ON IT.

[Delirium-Zer0]

I absolutely agree there should be a $20/year website-only membership, and I absolutely do agree that there should be maybe a $75 a year foreign membership (Avex would HAVE to charge more cuz shipping outside of Japan isn't cheap).

Right now, however, Tenso is the only option - and we should be thankful there's an option at all! This was NOT always the case. Avex is being kind enough to allow Tenso as a middleman (not all Japanese shops, sellers, and businesses allow this). They can't justify allowing foreign members until and unless people use the Tenso version of the service, proving it's profitable to extend membership to other countries at a price that's reasonable.

I do not mind paying Tenso if it means I can tell avex with my wallet that a foreigner like me wants their product.

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

^So why wasn't it a big deal when the entries used to get posted here in INDIVIDUAL threads all the time?

The POINT of those threads was the translation, though. It did irk me when the raw Japanese text was posted, but if that was a means to the translation's end, then so be it. There is NO REASON for these entries to be straight copied & pasted here EXCEPT to make it so people who don't feel like joining TA can be appeased. Which isn't fair.

If you want the product, buy it - you've had PLENTY of previews in the form of translated entries over the years, most of you know by now whether or not TA membership is worth it to you or not.

[truehappiness]

Dealing directly with avex (without Tenso) would probably be the easiest way of handling things. I mean I would 100% be up for an annual digital membership if it meant I could access the English entries + early news directly.

Should we start an interest thread or something? I feel like this is an issue we need to gather some data on and send on over to avex/TeamAyu.

[Mai82Go]

Originally Posted by pimenta

I personally don't mind sharing the messages, but I respect your opinion. Maybe the other AHS members who are also TA members could also express their opinions about sharing the messages so we can decide? If more people don't feel ok with sharing we can just stop doing that..

I'm a little torn on this issue. I mainly agree with Delirium-Zer0 and Earth_maiden though. I thought about it as a paying TA member and maybe it is selfish, but I feel bad about the entries being posted here - basically just copy&paste. The main reason is that they are now being posted directly in english at TA. There is no more need to translate. I also understand the fans who want to know what Ayu is writing about in her diary. I think a good solution is to just give a little summary/overview about what Ayu posted, not the exact words/entry like it appears on TA copy&pasted.

[Delirium-Zer0]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Dealing directly with avex (without Tenso) would probably be the easiest way of handling things. I mean I would 100% be up for an annual digital membership if it meant I could access the English entries + early news directly.

Should we start an interest thread or something? I feel like this is an issue we need to gather some data on and send on over to avex/TeamAyu.

Well, all we can do is try to find out if avex is keeping track of how many FC memberships & mu-mo orders are being made with Tenso shipping addresses. They could get the numbers better than we ever could.

Ultimately, the decision is theirs - if they think there aren't enough of us for it to be profitable for them (also keeping in mind the cultural xenophobia present in Japan anyway), they're just not gonna expand. But perhaps there's some way to find out whether or not avex is interested in how much of their fan club & mu-mo income is from fans with Tenso addresses?

[emi♡]

Just had a conversation with someone where I said I would join JUST so that I could give everything out to everyone else.

So. I'm obviously ok with this.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

In a way, I agree that they shouldn't be posted...but I do want to read them. Boo.

Originally Posted by emi♡

Just had a conversation with someone where I said I would join JUST so that I could give everything out to everyone else.

So. I'm obviously ok with this.

THIS IS WHY I LOVE YOU. lmao

[pimenta]

Honestly, I feel about the FC content being shared pretty much the same as I feel about all the media that is shared. Artists release CDs or DVDs and a few buy it while the majority will just download it for free and have access to the same content (and some even get mad if the content doesn't leak fast)... Is it fair for the one who bought the media to see the content being shared for free? Maybe not, but people don't usually complain about it...

Some may argue those are two different things, but I personally see both situations the exact same way, maybe it's just me, but that's how I feel about it, and that's pretty much why I don't mind sharing... In my case, I pay to be a member of the FC just because I like the feeling being a member of my favorite artist's FC, and not for the exclusivity, it just makes me happy to be a member. The same as I buy the CDs because I like to collect what my favorite artists release, and not really because I want the media in them (I don't even play my CDs because I don't want to risk damaging them, I just love collecting). But that's me, and I respect who has a different opinion, so if more people in the forum don't want to see the posts being shared I'll just stop sharing them here, I don't mean to disrespect anyone...

[emi♡]

People DO want them to be shared. Everyone has been asking lately where they can find the new TA entries.

But there will always be people who feel you're disrespecting them by sharing content they are paying money for. There are still people who are angry that we have a Downloads section You can't help that.

[kinix]

Originally Posted by pimenta

Honestly, I feel about the FC content being shared pretty much the same as I feel about all the media that is shared. Artists release CDs or DVDs and a few buy it while the majority will just download it for free and have access to the same content (and some even get mad if the content doesn't leak fast)... Is it fair for the one who bought the media to see the content being shared for free? Maybe not, but people don't usually complain about it...

Some may argue those are two different things, but I personally see both situations the exact same way, maybe it's just me, but that's how I feel about it, and that's pretty much why I don't mind sharing... In my case, I pay to be a member of the FC just because I like the feeling being a member of my favorite artist's FC, and not for the exclusivity, it just makes me happy to be a member. The same as I buy the CDs because I like to collect what my favorite artists release, and not really because I want the media in them (I don't even play my CDs because I don't want to risk damaging them, I just love collecting). But that's me, and I respect who has a different opinion, so if more people in the forum don't want to see the posts being shared I'll just stop sharing them here, I don't mean to disrespect anyone...

Actually, people still do complain about things being shared in the download section, but they're just tired of voicing out as it doesn't have any effect. I remember somebody actually got annoyed when I shared the blu ray disc of the CLIP BOX 1998-2011 (Original quote : annoyed that people are sharing this. it's so expensive, and we already have the PVs in DVD quality). And I'm sure we all know that even when downloads are available easily in this era, that doesn't mean that it is right to share them freely online. Note the significant drop in sales. You might say that it's because of ayu's fame is dropping. But may I ask you again that if it's just that cause, why are there still so many people downloading ayu's new song? And I still think that the drop off from streaming ayu's concert online was due to the concert was being captured and released online way before the concert DVD/blu ray was due.

For me, sharing the FC contents and ayu's media online is the same thing (90% of the freebies doesn't really attracts me...). But I'm pretty sure that you don't need to have ayu's msg to be a fan of her work. Maybe a leak in some of her more important messages would justify. But, definitely not all of it (esp things when they've noted, to not share it outside of TA). I've decided to drop off buying physical items after her 15th anniversary. And I will drop off TA if there's nothing else special in being in the FC anymore.

avex must have noted the significant drop in the FC membership as you can see from their current promotions were targeted at the FC privileges. If FC specialty were made easily available to the mass, I'm pretty sure that would ultimately be the doom of ayu's career. Ayu doesn't have much endorsement as the past and what she is depending on now is her fame and fan base. It's ur decision to keep on doing what you want/destroying whatever that you like.

[Delirium-Zer0]

Originally Posted by pimenta

Honestly, I feel about the FC content being shared pretty much the same as I feel about all the media that is shared. Artists release CDs or DVDs and a few buy it while the majority will just download it for free and have access to the same content (and some even get mad if the content doesn't leak fast)... Is it fair for the one who bought the media to see the content being shared for free? Maybe not, but people don't usually complain about it...

Some may argue those are two different things, but I personally see both situations the exact same way, maybe it's just me, but that's how I feel about it, and that's pretty much why I don't mind sharing... In my case, I pay to be a member of the FC just because I like the feeling being a member of my favorite artist's FC, and not for the exclusivity, it just makes me happy to be a member. The same as I buy the CDs because I like to collect what my favorite artists release, and not really because I want the media in them (I don't even play my CDs because I don't want to risk damaging them, I just love collecting). But that's me, and I respect who has a different opinion, so if more people in the forum don't want to see the posts being shared I'll just stop sharing them here, I don't mean to disrespect anyone...

Apologies for the wall of text here. You can scroll down for a tl;dr if you want.

Some of us ARE paying for the exclusivity. The exclusivity is part of the product we're buying, which is what makes it more worth paying for, and what makes it different than CDs & DVDs that are mass produced and intended for both fans and more casual listeners.

Part of what makes it special is that only the big fans - who have put money and work into the viewing of these things - are seeing it. It's called a fan CLUB for a reason. We're not passing, temporary "fans" who enjoy Ayu for a few songs and then move on. We're people for whom Ayu is a security blanket, people who have been deeply affected by Ayu or her music, people whose life soundtrack includes Ayu for all our major life events. I was an ayu fan for YEARS and YEARS before finally joining TA. In that time I went through romances, breakups, college, having a child, getting my career started, getting mental health issues diagnosed, and finding my "ibasho" as Ayu was able to finally find hers. Ayumi Hamasaki's music has been the soundtrack of my life for nearly half my life. That, to me, means giving her a little extra tip every year in the form of my fan club dues - and that, to her & her staff, means letting me read her feelings & what she's up to in her blog, among other things.

It doesn't upset me that the BIG ayu fans here are seeing these blog entries. They absolutely deserve to see them if they really are big fans. What bothers me is that minor, fairweather, probably-won't-be-here-next-week fans are seeing it too. Ayu posted those messages for the die-hards, not for the casuals. And she personally has made that clear to us.

When Ayu's blog entry about Ayumi Ogata's death a few years back was shared through mass media, Ayu was REALLY upset about it - she'd perceived her relationship with her fans as trusting, and that trust she had for us was breached. Maybe you guys don't remember that, but I do. I kept translating her TA entries for awhile after that, but eventually I grew to feel bad. Pretty soon it was easy to cut it out of my life as a priority and I gradually stopped. Misa took over - and I certainly do not begrudge her that, it made it easier for TA members who don't speak Japanese to get the full benefits of their membership - but now, there's no reason to share them. Those of us who've put the money and work into joining can now get this benefit. If you don't pay for it, you don't get it.

Now, that said...

There are plenty of things that even TA members STILL do not have. If you guys really want to translate and post things, no one translates the blurbs in TA magazine. Why not do that? Ayu's blog wasn't always translated - why not translate old entries that no one's done yet? THAT I would not have a problem with. Uploading photos, wallpapers, screensavers, and other benefits that are no longer available would be a great service to members and non-members alike. Some of that stuff is still floating around the internet.

I understand the spirit and intent behind sharing - I was a sharer once, you guys know that, and I have NO issue uploading things that are especially difficult to get, or are not possible to get anymore through legitimate means.

But those of you who are HUGE fans, who love Ayu as much as I do, you should just join TA. You'd like it. The stuff you get in the mail is really cool. Actually holding an issue of TA magazine in your hands is awesome. Knowing you're supporting Ayu financially just a little more is gonna make you feel better about the stuff you've downloaded over the years. The mu-mo and TA shop bonuses for pre-ordering CDs & DVDs are kinda awesome. Even if you can't (as a foreign fan) get concert tickets, you still get a shot at the TA exclusive merchandise. Sure, you get those TA magazine scans here, the TA merchandise goes on sale at Yahoo! Auctions and eBay or gets sold by members here... but if you're not willing to use Tenso and join TA properly, then... you're not a big enough fan to deserve this stuff.

If you can't afford to join now, join later. Play catch-up buying the TA goods & magazines you've missed from YAJ which is what I've been doing for the last few years. I'm making up for lost time, but I couldn't afford to join until now so I didn't. And I lived! Imagine that!

Anyway. Ending my rant here. Yes, I feel that some people genuinely deserve to see these blog entries more than others do, and the ones I feel deserve it are the ones FOR WHOM THE ENTRIES ARE INTENDED. I'm out.

tl;dr:
1. Exclusivity is part of the product.
2. Ayu only intends these blog entries for big fans.
3. If you're not WILLING to pay, you're not a big enough fan.
4. If you're not ABLE to pay, join when you can & play catch up - you'll live.
5. If you really wanna share TA stuff, why not help us play catch up & translate old entries & TA mag issues?

[pimenta]

@kinix: wow, you just got what I said and gave me an unnecessarily over dramatic answer.

How is sharing messages destroying what I like? But then you also say sharing the messages is the same as sharing media, and you also state you wont be buying anymore, so I assume you'll only be downloading the media shared, which means you are no different than me when you say I am "destroying" what I like. That comment of yours was completely unnecessary.

Originally Posted by kinix

And I'm sure we all know that even when downloads are available easily in this era, that doesn't mean that it is right to share them freely online. Note the significant drop in sales. You might say that it's because of ayu's fame is dropping. But may I ask you again that if it's just that cause, why are there still so many people downloading ayu's new song?

I never said that, as well as I never said it's right to share the media. But on AHS sharing the media if fine, sharing the TA magazine scans is fine (there's a thread for that), sharing the TA screensavers is fine (another thread for that), but I am destroying what I like by sharing posts? WTH?

Still, I respect other opinions, that's why I asked what other members from TA think, and I did say that depending on their answer I really would stop sharing in respect to them despite of what my opinion is, so could you please just respect my opinion when I say I don't mind sharing when I already said I would even stop doing that in respect of the others? And, yeah, saying stuff like "I respect it, but you are destroying what you like" isn't really respecting at all.

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

tl;dr:
1. Exclusivity is part of the product.
2. Ayu only intends these blog entries for big fans.
3. If you're not WILLING to pay, you're not a big enough fan.
4. If you're not ABLE to pay, join when you can & play catch up - you'll live.
5. If you really wanna share TA stuff, why not help us play catch up & translate old entries & TA mag issues?

Delirium-Zer0, I did read your whole post, I'm just quoting this because it's smaller

I get your point, of course exclusivity is part of the whole FC idea, but I personally just don't mind it. But I understand why so many people do, so I'm not arguing that, it's completely understandable. I totally agree with you, though, that Ayu must have written the entries for her big fans, but that's way too hard to filter, and kind of mix with the not being able/willing to pay thing. I agree, who's not willing to pay shouldn't really mind not reading the messages, but many people aren't able to pay. Yeah, some will say TA isn't that expensive, and it really isn't if you think that's an annual tax, but still some people can't because that's not all, you still have to pay for Tenso, and that one really expensive! Those who live in countries near Japan may not find it, but I live in the other side of the world (literally) and for me the cost for their EMS shipping is hell expensive, I'm just lucky I have a job that let me still pay for that, but many people can't, and I personally wouldn't mind sharing what I have access to with them. But then again, it's impossible to filter those who aren't able from those who aren't willing, so it's either share to all or not share at all... I'm more inclined to the first option, but I understand who prefers the second.

Anyway, I respect your opinion, that's why I asked what others think about it as well But some of the answers... Sometimes I don't even know why I bother to ask D: (not you, Delirium-Zer0 ^^)

Oh, and the 5th item, I can't really help with that. I would love to if I could, but I can't really help with translations, my Japanese skills are far from great

Originally Posted by Delirium-Zer0

If you can't afford to join now, join later. Play catch-up buying the TA goods & magazines you've missed from YAJ which is what I've been doing for the last few years. I'm making up for lost time, but I couldn't afford to join until now so I didn't. And I lived! Imagine that!

But that's even more expensive! I find it difficult that those who can't pay now will be able to pay even more for those later... In my case, I collect the TA stuff that were sent after I joined, but I won't buy stuff sent before that, not because I don't want to (I would love to), but because it's impossible, I have to pay ridiculous amounts for shipping and everything else to buy something from YAJ I love that people shared the scans here, it's still not the complete magazines, but since I can't afford those, I'm happy someone shared those scans <3
But you are right, of course, people will survive xD

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by kinix

For me, sharing the FC contents and ayu's media online is the same thing (90% of the freebies doesn't really attracts me...). But I'm pretty sure that you don't need to have ayu's msg to be a fan of her work. Maybe a leak in some of her more important messages would justify. But, definitely not all of it (esp things when they've noted, to not share it outside of TA). I've decided to drop off buying physical items after her 15th anniversary. And I will drop off TA if there's nothing else special in being in the FC anymore.

avex must have noted the significant drop in the FC membership as you can see from their current promotions were targeted at the FC privileges. If FC specialty were made easily available to the mass, I'm pretty sure that would ultimately be the doom of ayu's career. Ayu doesn't have much endorsement as the past and what she is depending on now is her fame and fan base. It's ur decision to keep on doing what you want/destroying whatever that you like.

This is 100% the fault of Avex and maybe Ayu, and her team. I don't know how much say she has in anything.

You can not at all blame fans for destroying her when they are making her more accessible for ALL potential fans.

If Avex and Ayu want to create a secret club on earth where they only share their most personal secrets, then they should EXPECT it to be alienating, exclusive, a turn-off to casual listeners, and a drop in their income.


OTHER artists give out exclusive content for free. Other artists communicate and send out pictures with their fans, for free. Other artists still do promotions and give out goodies. Other artists do all of these things for their releases.


But I mean, you know. It's okay! Ayu fans are so dedicated, they are happy with digital earrings. So I don't know what you guys are worried about when it comes to sharing her fan club content.

On an Ayu specific forum. Where mostly only big Ayu fans hang out and actually read anything.

[kinix]

Originally Posted by pimenta

@kinix: wow, you just got what I said and gave me an unnecessarily over dramatic answer.

How is sharing messages destroying what I like? But then you also say sharing the messages is the same as sharing media, and you also state you wont be buying anymore, so I assume you'll only be downloading the media shared, which means you are no different than me when you say I am "destroying" what I like. That comment of yours was completely unnecessary.

I never said that, as well as I never said it's right to share the media. But on AHS sharing the media if fine, sharing the TA magazine scans is fine (there's a thread for that), sharing the TA screensavers is fine (another thread for that), but I am destroying what I like by sharing posts? WTH?

Still, I respect other opinions, that's why I asked what other members from TA think, and I did say that depending on their answer I really would stop sharing in respect to them despite of what my opinion is, so could you please just respect my opinion when I say I don't mind sharing when I already said I would even stop doing that in respect of the others? And, yeah, saying stuff like "I respect it, but you are destroying what you like" isn't really respecting at all.

I'm just stating out to you about the effect of sharing. And I'm still different from you as I've been buying all her media release since 2000. Not that I'm rich but I've been saving up for her release since student till working stage. But I've decided to stop buying them as I've felt why should I continue buying when all those were made available online easier and faster? Even though I'm living in asia, yen is still a higher currency as compared to SGD. Sharing exclusive message in TA (which is the main reason why I've joined TA) kinda beats the purpose of me joining TA. I'm sure others have felt the same way. And if all of TA's exclusive (Yes, those messages are exclusive to TA. TA magazine I would excuse them as members get the physical item. Whereas messages are just messages in the club) were again to be made available easily, I'll drop off from TA too. You might think I'm making a big fuss out of this or trying hard to make these 2 connects. But in fact, it is related. Sales = income for the artist. May I know which company would fork out money for an artist that isn't making any profit? Esp avex which we're talking about. What is ayu's main income now? Mainly 5 aspect : concert, media release endorsement, merchandise and FC. Which all 5 are growing weaker by the day. So I hope you know what I mean. And seriously, it really isn't making a big fuss out of nothing...

[AyUmIXx]

i used to be a TA member when i still got a friend who stayed and worked in japan for around 2 years and we both split the TA member fee, but since my friend has been back for good, so i don't become a TA member anymore. yes, there's an option via tenso but like pimenta said, it'll become very expensive, and not many people could afford that amount of money. if i'm still a single, maybe i still could afford it, but now i have kid to think about, and some priority things, i think i should make a choice too and have to think twice. so I'm grateful if i found some fans who are willing to share TA msgs and stuff, but if they don't want to share, I'm fine too. Even though ayu and avex have asked the fans to not share the TA msgs, the TA pics, there will always be fans who will share them eventually, we can't really prevent it from happening and i'm sure ayu and avex know about it too. it's liked, it's not you who share, then he will, or she will, or they will.

so I'm fine with people who want to share it. and maybe we could just keep inside the forum. you may see it here but you can't take it out. but yeah there's no guarantee bout it too.

well, peace out! ^^

[Ayu-me]

On a more neutral note, there's a new TA message with a photobook sneak peek. I'll leave it up to pimenta as to whether it should be published here, the message itself barely says anything though and the image isn't all that much to describe except that it's a picture of Ayu.
For some reason, the photobook images aren't available in big HQ versions anymore, perhaps due to them being shared (or the increased fear that they will be shared)? Oh well, I'll be able to see HQ versions when I get my photobook anyways.

[Earth_maiden]

Just adding my personal opinion on the matter:

As a member of the FC, it's not so much the sharing that annoys me/that I think is unfair, it's people complaining about how they can't join for various reasons but still acting like someone else should be obligated to post TA messages. I've seen it many times on here, people saying "Oh, that's a lot of money, I can't afford it" but then they buy Ayu's latest Bluray release and photobooks or whatever. I mean, it's their choice what they purchase with their money, but don't complain that you don't have access to Team Ayu when you choose not to pay for it. And I'll repeat myself again: Joining is simple enough with tenso, so you have an option to be a member or not.

EDIT: Ayu-me, I totally LOVE your set.

[Minttulatte]

I've never joined any fanclubs and I wish to stay that way because it's just not my thing. Even if they give a lot of extras there, I just don't feel like I'm that interested that I would join. It's my thoughts. And my choice. Besides, I wouldn't even go there every day so paying 50-75€ for a membership every year for a place I probably forget to go every day is just something I won't do. There are other things in my life that come first, and that's all. Not everyone puts Ayu at first place in their lives and it would be nice if some fans here would respect that, too.

And calling someone who doesn't join TA a bad fan is just bullshit. There are no bad fans. Everyone are fans and they shouldn't be classified in any way. It's just so stupid. I'm not going to join TA just because it makes me a bigger fan in other fans eyes. I just don't give a damn about how big of a Ayu fan I am in everyone's eyes. I don't think fanclubs even determine how big fan you are. It's what you think of the artists/bands/whatever you love the most. Being a part of a fanclub is just a part of the whole fandom, and not a factor of how big you are because you can be a big fan and not be a part of some really private fanclub. It's everyone's own choice and nobody should be able to tell you what to do. If you want to join a fanclub, you do that and if you don't, it's OK too. That's how I feel about it.

And now I'll go relax in the Kuu thread and work on my NaNoWriMo project♥ ->