I personally don't care.

But it would certainly put her in the news again for "failing" to continue her streak. Perhaps she doesn't want to deal with that possibility right now.

they're not doing new singles because they won't sell.probably not-sold single is much worse, but not-sold album could actually be justified. singles won't attract as many sales now, due to Avex policy and lack of promotion. they have problems with selling albums, I can imagine their fear of releasing a new single then

Bingo, especially the bolded part. Come on guys use your head why do you think it's so rare for Japanese singers to release mini albums.

^ Ummm... but she doesn't lose her streak if she doesn't get a number 1.
She will still have it... and most likely for a VERY long time... since it took almost 20 years for ayumi to break the last one held by Seiko.

Uh I know, and what does that have to do with Japanese artists never releasing mini albums? I said the bolded part was important cause I'm getting the impression so many people believe that mini albums work better in the Japanese market compared to singles.

^ I was referring to your quote and you said you agreed. You did say " especially the bolded part", but the quote did mention avex was afraid of losing her number 1 streak.

I was discussing that part of it.
but I do agree with singles making more then mini's... thats just common sense.
But at the same time, there is no guarantee that they would all sell equal, or that they would total the sales of 1 mini... there is just too much that goes into it.

there is a reason why they are releasing this mini the way they are.

I just want to step in guys and just a few of you need to just.... relax a little bit. People have different opinions, ways of seeing things etc, there's no need to get heated with each other ._. I don't want to close this thread. Please, please, please let's stay civil :)

Lol, I had never even heard of a mini-album until I got became a J-fan. Then I realized it seemed everyone was releasing mini's in the asian market...

^ what about EPs? that's basically the word north Americans/Europeans use for mini albums!

wait I'm confused now

First you say singles making more than minis is common sense...then right after you say that there's no guarantee they would sell equal/more what :confused

Yes there is a guarantee singles will do better...and I'm confident in my answer because like Mr. Goto said barely anyone in the Japanese market releases mini albums and there's a good reason for it! If Japan's industry was like Korea then okay these mini album defenders would have a point.

and yeah they're releasing this mini the way they are to preserve her #1 single streak

This is the part where you make no sense... they are not preserving anything. If she was releasing a single and if it did hit number 2, she still has her streak. She still holds the record. Just because she no longer gets a number 1 single it doesnt mean it goes away.

And you cant be sure if she released a single it would sell the same amount as a mini album...

Unless you have some crystal ball that tells you what ayumi's sales are going to be before she releases something?

As for singles making more then mini's, I was giving you two examples. The first one was singles making more money...
If ayumi released two singles instead of this mini:
First single - sells 90K
2nd single sells 110K

that would equal 200K

and if she released the mini and it only sold 150K. then the singles would have made more money.

But, if the singles only sell 30K each and the mini sold 100K... then the mini made more money. It can go both ways....

If she doesn't get a #1 single there's no more chances to keep expanding on that 36 single record it's finished, done forever. By not releasing singles right now it stays intact with potential to increase it even further.

Down the road a new Ayu might pop up and threaten her streak so by doing it this way it gives avex a chance to lengthen it even more. It very well could happen, in 2008 people were saying we would probably never see a million selling single again (not counting JE) and that HEART STATION would be the last original album by a female artist/group to sell over 1 million.

Then akb happened oops

If it was really that simple don't you think the heads of record labels, advertisers etc. would have figured that out by now.

Sure it COULD go both ways but as proven by the way the Japanese music industry has operated for the past 30+ years singles are better.

Yeah but I still hadn't seen an EP as common until Gaga and the like began releasing them.

Ayumi has had 37 number 1's and they are not consecutive. So even if her next single gets a number 2 and then the one after that gets a number 1... she would have 38... the number doesn't change because her previous single wasn't a number 1. She would no longer be able to extend the number of consecutive number 1's. But by not releasing any singles, she still doesnt add to her achievement. It does nothing for her.

I think you just completely ignored everything I said...
So I think I should say it again.
You CAN'T say for sure what will happen. Her singles my BOMB, they may even do better, you DONT know.
And yes, it is simple... it's all by the numbers.

ayu has a consecutive no 1 record tho, she broke seiko's consecutive no 1 single record with L. so by not releasing anything now it gives avex a chance to preserve that record should another seiko/ayu were to debut.

^ it's preserved if she releases something or not...
if she releases a new single and it doesn't hit number 1 she STILL has the record she just cant extend it.
She would have to start all over again if she wished to break her own record and extend it. But her record of most number 1's by a female solo will continue to grow no matter how many singles she has in between L and her next number 1.

^ she has two records.

most number 1's and most consecutive 1's by a female artist. how can she still continue the consecutive record if she releases a single that doesn't reach number 1 :shakehead why would avex throw away the chance to extend that record should another seiko/ayu debut...like i already said

That's the record I was referring to. My mistake

I said it could go both ways lol. The original point being made was singles vs mini albums and I have oricon's entire history on my side, not assumptions.

^ Dont know what to tell you.
You are assuming a lot.


Sigh... I know she has two records...
I really dont think you understand the way it works... If she releases a single and it doesn't reach number 1, she still holds the record for most consecutive number 1's... she wont lose that till someone can beat it...
Seiko held the record for 22 years before ayumi broke it with L in 2010. Even though Seiko had released about another 20 singles after the fact.

If she gets a number 2 single, she can no longer extend that record unless she release's another 26 number 1 singles to beat her own record and add to the new record.

Further more, if her next single gets a number 2 and the one after that gets a number 1 she can add it to her overall number 1 singles and bring the number to 38.

omg

yes obviously she will keep her record after getting a non #1 single i'm talking about the future hence the ANOTHER SEIKO/AYU comment

^ OMG. You even quoted yourself and you dont understand. LOL