I think it's a misconseption that she's more honest in her non happy songs. Especially in the summer, we're easier going and happy at least here where the winter can be dark and heavy. I don't think her other songs are more heartfelt at all. Every emotion is contained with us, none is more truethan another.

I thought a lot about what she could do to regain sales (apparentl she doesen't really need to gain popularity as she makes money like never before (compared to others in the industry) but I honestly have no clue what could work.
I think she needs to do a namie move without loosing her streaks. Which is seemingly impossible.

some ppl care about sales too much...I'm just happy she's still releasing music and not retired like how she wanted to few years ago. If some of the ppl in japan doesn't want to purchase the cd to support her, there is nothing we can do about it. If that's how much she sold, that's how much she sold. Alot of artists out there that can't even have sales of GUILTY with their best selling album. I prefer her releasing music that she likes and not try to release stuff to try to sell well. She's already passed that point few years ago. She doesn't need to prove anything and I doubt she cares about sales that much....or else she would be including a whole bunch of goodies with the album.

Now all I care about is receiving my copy of GUILTY in the mail, the cdl and the asia tour dvd. :love

All I care is the quality of her music she produce and she keeps produce superb musics and getting better and better, and her album being #1, I doesn't really care about the number of sales anymore, but lets hope it gets better thou.

everyone hope for the best to ayu!!

Oh... I feel the tense is going up. Go Ayu... Go Ayu... tho' I love Kobukuro but I am A DIEHARD fans of Ayumi, so sorry kobukuro, please go down for this once ^^

We don't need a new thread. :|

Nooo I was speaking of people who care only about her sales but don't buy stuff themselves, I wasn't saying things against you. Don't worry about it, i like you guilty_me! Your posts always make a lot of sense and you seem to like Ayu for the right reasons, for her music not for her current popularity or sales index! :yes

Just out of curiousity, but does anyone know why other albums that released on 01/01 (like Mai Kuraki's new album) still hasn't charted yet while GUILTY has already charted.
Shouldn't the albums have already been sold in music stores?(since on 01/01, no stores will open).

http://blog.oricon.co.jp/hayarimono/

A News in Oricon Style with the title "記録更新がかかる浜崎あゆみのニューアルバム"

Could anyone translate it?

Thanks

I don't know...maybe avex give retailers an extra "incentive" to release it earlier?

I'm a big Ayu fan, but it's hard for me to decide whether sales do or don't matter to me. At one point I don't care but when I see and single or album of Ayu's or anybody elses sell bad, it Feel sorry for them. But I would never listen to some ones music just because it sold really well (I only do it when I'm previewing new artist sound I check out which song is most popular). But since I don't live in Japan theres no way for me to support Ayu's music but thats okay for since I can be a fan, and supporter without having to buy cd's. Even though I do own I few, I just hope this Album does well so it will Make Ayu happy , and keep Avex satisified. it's not to god, when a artist sells bad. thats why I always want Ayu to sell good, I don't want her to have and problems.

Something about a new album [GUILTY] on 28th of December... And about Ayu having many records with her 8 full-lenght albums, GUILTY having good opening sales on 25th, about someone important to Ayu "shining" in the GUILTY songs. Also mentioned Ayu's 10th anniversary and ASIA TOUR 2008. I didn't really get the last part with my crappy japanese skills and even crappier internet translator. :rolleyes I don't think there was much anything new.

rough translation by me

Ayumi Hamasaki recorded new album
December 28, 2007 (Friday)

Since her debut album during 8 years(?) all the original album ranking leader was high (?), "from the first original album(???)" (original full album only) with the all-time record of Ayumi Hamasaki. GUILTY is the latest album (released January 1, 2008), itself a record, it takes a renewal. Will it trend?

(?) 12/25 DEIRIA RUBAMU RANKINGU, new album debut with a good starting off.

9th album of original works include the hit single "glitter", "fated", "talkin' 2 myself", in addition to the collection of digital single "Together When ..." plus new songs recorded. It was a great effort.(?)
　
Singer is going to debut next year in the 10th anniversary of the April nationwide tour "ayumi hamasaki ASIA TOUR 2008 - 10th Anniversary" including concerts nationwide.

Right at the dawn of the memorable year, announced on January 7 next year will be 1 / 14 weeks with ranking new recorded album(?) The trend is noteworthy.(?)-the last part I took from google

I marked (?) where I wasn't sure

Position: #1
all we need to hear :P

all those number r counted to january the first, so lets wait and see what will be actuall number. they relased it sooner a first cos it leaked on internet and they wanted higher sales. everythin will be counted for january only so the number will be way higher:)))

3rd day sale: 18,391
Estimated 3rd day sale: 18,391 x 1.75 = 32,184

Total 3 days estimated sales = 143,393

01->02->02->02 - Kobukuro - 33384 + 21742 + 16841 + 14,960 (x1.7) = 147,776
xx->01->01->01 - Ayumi Hamasaki - 39292 + 24256 + 18391 (x1.7) = 139,296
02->03->03->03 - EXILE - 24610 + 15207 + 11568 + 10,547 (x1.7) = 105,284

Ayu is catching up!

^not that much of a huge drop
And yay for the article.

Mi Kuraki's popularity is around average she won't be a big threat to Ayu's sales

I wish Kobuwhatever would lose! XD I'm tired of them now! Ugh! I can't believe their best album is still charting in the top 30...what's even worst is that they have surpassed Hikki's BEST album!!! :weep