very well said :yes

What's really sad is that this thread is going on 10 pages, while other news [such as lyric translations, mag scans, live appearances] can barely make 2 pages. Some of y'all need to really get your priorities in order. Most of you don't live in Japan, it's not like you have to deal with the "embarrassment" of having a favorite 'idol' with declining sales. The unnecessary shallowness of the international J-pop community makes me sick to my stomach, it really does. Moreso in the "Diva sphere" [Ayu, Koda, Utada]. I'm ashamed to be associated with it.

Maybe I'm just in a different boat than most of you. I'm not into the whole 'Queen of J-pop' thing. I'm just saying that from my point of view, it seems that some of you are extremely shallow beings.

but ppl think
if ayu doesnt sell well,,,
how is she going to support herself .. she wont have the money to spend again :(

second day-less sales!!!

:no

The PV's of fairyland, JEWEL, and my name's WOMEN were all made like 4-6 years after her peak. They were some of the most expensive PV's in Japanese music history.

I thought two of the three PV's sucked major balls and were a complete waste of money. Avex wouldn't just blow money like this if they didn't consider Ayu a valuable asset to their company. I think Avex has a lot of faith in Ayu's music too.

And have y'all seen the sales of the new B'z album? They have got to be, hands down, one of the most highly respected acts in Japan [plus the highest selling with over 70 million records sold!] Total sales [so far, as its only been out for three weeks] = 382,377. If Ayu can get close to that, then she's really not doing that bad... If she can exceed that, then I think she's doing pretty damn well...

To put it simply, it doesn't matter whether she has some millions sales with this album or reaches #1, but as long as she is supported and happy with the sales and results herself (as all the songs are straight from her heart) everything's fine. It's not like her career or her contract with avex is in danger, since she's still one of the most successful singers in the whole Asia. But of course, as a fan, I, and all the others too who claim to be her fans wish for her to sell well. Please no arguing about this.

Did you see how much money she made this year alone? That lady isn't gonna go wanting for cash for a long time. Don't worry. :)

Selling well.. sure it's an added bonus, but I don't think it will ever directly affect the quality of the music. So I'm just whatever about it.

B'z album isn't doing bad since they've been hovering around the 500k album sales mark with their last 2 albums. Given the natural decline, they're still pretty much selling the same since 2005.

I think all of these pvs are amazing! my name's WOMEN is the best pv of ayu for me..


anyway the sales are :no:no

Me neither. Shouldn't that really be for Japan to decide?

I think you made a lot of valid points here. In the end most artists in Japan cannot maintain their high sales if they've been around for a very long time. We can see how artists like Ami Suzuki (who competed with Ayu back in her Sony days) now has to struggle to surpass 10k with an album. Namie too was a legend at her time but now it's impossible for her to reach the same figures even if her new album is probably one of her best works.

In the end an artists' hype can only last for so long. And unless the album isn't jam packed with something that really appeals to people (Like Kumi's pv overload and concert extra) only the normal fanbase is bound to purchase an album from an artist who's been around for so long. I'd say Ayumi's fanbase who occasionally purchase her stuff is probably around 300-400k.

Personally as long as her music has high quality I will be happy. Usually her highest selling singles are her summer releases and that's because it's got this happy and mainstream feeling that Japan loves so much, but the summer singles end up my least favourite ones. I liked her post t2m releases because they sounded more personal and reflected more her emotions. I'd take that any day over the typical overproduced, shallow and commercial music.

Exactly!

I agree. I understand that songs like glitter and BLUE BIRD are Ayu staples, and I do enjoy them sometimes. However, I prefer.. I don't want to say darker music.. but music that comes from the heart. B&D is such a tacky song, and I guess I can understand why people hate on it. But Ayu's presence in that song is so great, I can't help but love it.

I enjoy them too but not as much as her "more honest" stuff. Like her summer singles are usually about happy feelings, lost innocence or love. They're fun for summer and summer wouldn't be summer without them. However I also love her heartfelt songs where she puts an effort to display her own true feelings.

With B&D you either love it or hate it, especially since the style is quite different from anything she has released. I liked it too because it has a lot of attitude and had its' own unique charm.

LOL Ayu can retire and she won't ever have to move a finger, she is loaded with money ^^ So as long as she releases stuff we like, another 10 pages like these posted here are SOO UNNEEDED ^^

it sells better in 2nd days X)

that's pretty much what i have in mind (about the "clicking download button" thing)!:innocent:innocent

like some of us said : let the Japan decide about the sales number and chart on Oricon!:cool

the only thing we can do now is keep supporting ayu no matter what happening with the sales in Japan as long as ayu still CREAte wonderful songs and music, keep buying her original stuffs (for them who has the money), and hopefully attend her concert in the future(my wildest dream!!) :love

Rinoa, you've always got good points ^_^ And we all know that Ayu would rather die than live without music. So there isn't anything to worry about, because Ayu isn't going anywhere, low sales or not. So us fans are good to go for quite a while.

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

Ugh, these are such ugly numbers, Go Ayu Go :). Maybe they'll go higher up on 1/1?

3rd day is ok. i only hope that kobukuro won't surpass ayu.

Ayu is catching Kobukuro :)

147 776
139 296

The difference was 14k yesterday now it's 8.5k :P Let's hope for a boost tomorrow, otherwise there is a chance weekly #1 won't happen!

WOW, I'm not here for 3 days and look what happens X____X.

I think that if kobukoro will sell more avex will release GUILTY in way bigger amounts that it can help it be #1 :yes

yaiiy kobukuro musnt surpass ayu..
go ayu for tomorrow..
tomorrow must better to surpass kobukuro.. ^^

3rd day on top! woot...woot!!
come on CHAS_AYU, time to edit i suppose

up up up........!!
i will get my 2 copies from HMV.jp tomorrow. Excited :)

However, as i have mentioned yesterday, did anyone notice that GUILTY's sales figure is dropping faster than kobukuro's ?

tomorrow the sales must more than 10K so guilty can beat kobukuro's album ^^

Ayu's sales are dropping a lot faster than Kobukuro and EXILE. And now, the sales points are getting closer and closer... I'm worried she won't get her #1!

^ exactly...how i wish GUILTY has steadier sales...only steadier sales will ensure her number 1 streak.

Well I think when GUILTY starts selling around 10 k per day that the sales won't drop as much XD And I hope that the sales will get higher after the official release date and the new year's eve.And EXILE isn't a real threat ^^ anymore.

Same feelings.

Ayu can't beat Kobu, saturday Kobu will take the 1st place.
During the second week, Ayu can be beaten by Exile.

they just sold 950k copies....the problem is kobukuro...

It was the same with glitter/fated and t2m... I do think GUILTY will be able to get a #1 ^-^

no it's not the same...now it's more hart..and I don't think too she'll get a #1 :(

avex will save the #1 streak no matter what I guess, meanwhile she got the whole #1. They'll just release huge amounts of copies. I don't know if we really should worry =P.

i tink Ayu jus need to stay on the top position a few more days and it should be able to secure to No.1 position.. i jus hope e sales won't drop below 25000copies a day..*finger crossed*..
Judging from e sales, i tink GUILTY overall sales will be abt 400,000 copies.. (actualli its not bad cos A BEST2 only amount to abt 700,000 copies each)

it's not bad? LOL?
anyway avex can send to the stores 5 milion of copies but if people don't buy guilty...

Go Ayu~
Go GUILTY~
As long as it's #1...:yes

It actually does make more people buy, meanwhile it's a #1 :yes and will most likely be.

maybe countdown help the sales

^ i guess these performances will come in extra handy this time...as GUILTY really need alot more promotions.(official date is just 2 days away; let's see how it affects the sales.)

Probably there's no way to the album sales have an up in 1st.

:thud

Have you seen the GUILTY promo thread? Although someone DID say it was standard promotion... still, that's more than I've ever seen here.

yeah i agree it's more than what you've seen or even i myself...but i wish it would've helped in pullling up the sales much more.

more performance...why don't she perform dlma & marionette at music station & co?

As Rinoa have said they won't promote the album with an another song to don't have the risk of people dislike the songs. But... Together When was worst than Marionette and (don't) Leave me alone.

BTW A BEST 2 -BLACK- charted this week!

#277　***,950　*,698,591　浜崎あゆみ「A BEST 2－BLACK－」

amazing! really close at 700k!

nice ^^.And I hope that the COUNTDOWN and the upcoming perfs will really at least keep the sales more constant if not boost them.

Relax all, Ayumi will have a #1 album, if not then #2 which is really nice for someone who has had a serious streak of #1's. We all knew it wouldn't last forever, so let's hope she can get #2 at least and we can be happy cause After all this time #2 is a blessing.

what upcoming perfs?? there aren't new performance...

2007.12.31

Kouhaku
CDTV

you guys do know that the year end shows can also boost other ppl's sales too right?

On the 31st ayu has two TV performances and the CDL ^-^

ok but 2 performance are few....why not 3-4 performance in the first week of the year?

Ayu performed 1 LOVE in CDTV past year. I hope she will perform Marionette or (don't) Leave me alone.

They don't have a CDL though where they can put loads of GUILTY copies to sell and promote:yes

less & less sales everyday...so sad :(

go ayu go go!

yea, ayu will still be my Queen too....forever....no matter what happen

this is sure..she is our queen now and forever!

OMG.... it is going down....
Go ayuuuuuuuu

U R my goddess...

How is she going to lose her streak? She's been number 1 every day this week. Also, Oricon combines the last week of the year and the first week of the new year, so we still have a while to wait for the official ranking and sales for "first week."

I wouldn't mind if Ayu lost her #1 streak but if she lost it to Kobuhowthehelldoyouspelltheirname, than I'd be piss! :grumpy

^ For the luv of Utada.... U r so funny Luv ~Venus~

Kobukuro!! :P


Considering both Kobukuro and EXILE are at their prime, and Ayu is on the cusp of her 10th anniversary, I'm not suprised she is struggling for first against their second/third weeks. Ayu is still one of the most popular acts in the country and a legend. The fact that she is still getting the #1 daily every day so far is amazing, even more so for an album that has had no breakout hit. I have faith Ayu can manage to gain her #1 over Kobukuro, by a small margin, but it isn't anything to be upset over if she doesn't. Every major act has a slip in sales at somepoint in their career, and with Ayu's ambition and fame I'm certain she can make a comeback like Namie and Hikki have done recently. All we can do as fans is keep supporting Ayu, enjoy her music and work and relax.

^ I agree. I think we're going to see a dramatic increase in sales come the official release date, 1/1/08, anyhow.

This album is really good. After listening to it over and over again, i like it very much. Better than secret and (miss)understood. It deserve a number 1 as always.

Except for the Monday, and that's the reason why Kobukuro have the lead.

Somehow though, avex will find a way for Ayu to narrowly get the no.1 :D

-see JE and B&D-

But didn't she release her album on Tuesday? Coz I see an extra day for both Kobukuro and EXILE above...

I'm confused...

Basically, Kobukuro and EXILE get an extra day [usually it doesn't matter since stuff drops..but.. yeah. this is Kobukuro and EXILE here.] because they released last week. And Ayu was SUPPOSED to release on Wednesday like she usually does, but avex let it out a day before [Mai Kuraki's ONE LIFE, and w-inds' single collection had release dates of 1.1.08 but came out on Wednesday..]~

if the increase is dramatic, no. 1 streak will be secured..if not, something bad will happen to it but i will still continue to appreciate ayu's music.

I agree. I think there is a team in avex to predict the sales and the trend. Why they choose GUILTY to be released on 2008.01.01. There must be a strategy behind.