depends? They have a policy of releasing stuff no matter what, resulting in tons of best album, but I feel like artist like Kana Nishino and Mika Nakashima are quite regular doing stuff.

Yeah, Sony is terrible but she's a huge artist, I don't think they're planning on messing her career up. She is literally the best-selling solo artist right now, I'm sure they're going to at least manage her well. I'm excited for new music this year! Glad to know Utada is not going to disappear for a few more years after Fantôme.

Queen of Education!

http://aramajapan.com/news/hikaru-ut...ransfer/70840/

Hikaru Utada announces label transfer

edit: ooops didn't see that someone already posted it, gomen :)

My feeling towards Sony Japan is that they don't really know how to promote their artists, and lots of once popular artists went to the rock bottom there. Mika is one of the good examples. She used to be really popular but her height only last about one album (LOVE). After LOVE her popularity started declining. Maybe problem lies within her (I dunno... :/), but Sony didn't really do much to stop the decline. Other examples including CHEMISTRY, ORANGE RANGE, Ken Hirai, etc. Again, probably their declines had nothing to do with Sony, but I felt like the company could have done something to avoid further decline.

Anyway, since this is hikki we're talking about, I don't think Sony would be messing her career around. And I'm pretty sure her dad will look after (as we know, her dad is powerful enough to affect the decisions).

She is taking some of her core staff with her and considering she's huge, she'll probably have lots of freedom to manage her career whatever way she wants. And it's Hikki we are talking about, she doesn't release new stuff that often, so there's no much to mess up.

And apart from cardboards and some weird tie-ins, Universal didn't really promote that well Fantôme. The only thing I really liked was those marketing stuff from the CD stores, but I think it's was their own initiative...

I wonder if the move has anything to do with her US career. Since her US albums were also UMG, right? Maybe she doesn't want to be obligated to release through them if she ever does another English language album.

what news!I wonder if her release pattern might change

yeah, I wonder what changes with transfer to Sony. though something tells me that everything will be the same haha

Hmmn, I agree with you somehow. Even back in the old days Toshiba didn't do really well on promoting hikki (If you did anticipate in Distance vs A BEST battle, you would know what I mean).

So I guess it doesn't really matter which music company she's in, as long as she can control her career by herself (or her dad helps her whatsoever).

this...an interesting decision...
sony seems to nit care as much, and maybe that will give her a freedom/lack of pressure that could be suited to her creative style.

hahaha i dont know!
hopefully she'll still be able to release as she likes, with her father to keep her safe and strong as an artist.

It's rare for major artists to make label changes so I wonder what the major reason was~ Sony must've offered something really good...

^she herself probably. She said she wants to try out new things and a label-change is like a fresh start. (I read that in an interview)

I'm glad she's doing this before the new theme for Kingdom Hearts 3. I think with Sony on board, we're much more likely for Utada to have another Sanctuary/Flavor of Life size hit later this year or next. :)

Indeed. There are not many well-known Japanese artists switching labels as far as I notice. Is there any negative outcome so far in Japan??

Guys, can you listen to Utada through any of the streaming apps like Spotify or Deezer? Spotify tells me there are plenty of her Japanese albums there, but they're all blocked for my country and the ones I've tried to VPN lol (Brazil, Japan, US and Canada).

^ I can only listen to Exodus and This Is The One on Spotify (US). I'm not sure if her Japanese discography is available in any streaming platform.

We can't even listen to TITO here in Brazil lol
It just occurred to me that maybe someone uploaded her albums from a private collection... And Spotify is listing them just because T.T

Cause if you Google Utada Hikaru Spotify you'll see at least both of hers Japanese single collections, covers and all.

that could be the reason ... because Hikki doesn't stream her music ... you have to buy her stuff ...

I'm pretty sure this is not a decision that comes from her, she seems pretty opened to whatever way she has to spread her word #godblessthegoddess I was really hoping for at least Fantôme =( maybe things will change after changing labels?

I am pretty sure it IS her decision ... And it IS the reason Fantome sold 650 k...