[tabloid] Ayumi loses her shine
 

http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/waiwai/face/index.html


Polished Ayu losing her shine.

Diva Ayumi Hamasaki's reign as the queen of Japan's charts appears poised to pop, according to Shukan Jitsuwa (12/30). Rumors she was shunned by the Japan Music Awards she has dominated for years, troubles within her record company and loss of a long-time endorsement contract have given voice to whispers that Ayu's long-time dominance of the Japanese music scene is now on the wane. Some reports had Ayu saying she would refuse to accept if she won this year's Japan Record Award, probably the country's top pop music prize. But the organizers of the awards said they had not heard anything formally from Ayu or her record company Avex, and now some are saying she was never considered for the prize in the first place, anyway. "This year's contest has always been about Kiyoshi Hikawa and Mr. Children. Ayu wasn't in the running from the start," an entertainment beat reporter tells Shukan Jitsuwa. "Having won the past three awards in a row worked against her. Some say many people voted against her simply because they wanted to see somebody else win." If that wasn't a slap in the face, being dumped as the main poster girl for cosmetics giant Kose -- a position Ayu has held for many years -- could well have been. What may really hurt, though, is that Ayu was replaced by 18-year-old Beni Arashiro, a new face on the Avex books that Hamasaki has supported for years. "It's not like Ayu was bad or anything, but Kose wanted to make sure consumers weren't getting bored because she'd been doing it for so long. She's basically reached her use-by date," an advertising agency insider tells Shukan Jitsuwa. "If you think about it, if the company is starting off an ad campaign focusing on a new direction, Ayu doesn't have much impact." Even Ayu's biggest fans -- top Avex shareholders -- may not exactly have turned against her, but have spoken out publicly with concerns that the company putting all its eggs in one basket by focusing on the 26-year-old's career could be dangerous if her shell starts to crack. A letter Avex President Masato Matsuura sent to Ayu to soothe her following shareholders' complaints may also have backfired. "It's not the right behavior for the president of a major record company listed on the stock exchange to show in relation to one individual on its books. Doing so would only make her feel more than ever that she is the reason the company is getting by," a music industry source tells Shukan Jitsuwa. "Many in the industry are worried that other singers will start copying Ayu's behavior, while there are quite a few saying that Ayu should be put back in her place because she's become too big for her boots."

All i can say is "ugh"

"put back in her place"

ugh..that's pretty harsh.

If any of this is true, it is pretty harsh. I don't want Ayu to start going downhill only so long after I started listening to her. I don't want to believe that her place at the top is being overthrown because people are sick of her.

hhmm... interesting...

....eh
that is harsh if is true...

that's mean......

Wasn't this the same site that made up the story about the rivarly between Namie Amuro (referred to as The Monkey in the article), and Ayumi Hamasaki (referred as make-up monster in the article).

Beni Arashiro... I've heard of her, she's just released her third single hasn't she?
I'm pretty sure she's 18 too. Oh well, if that's how things are working for Kose I don't see anything wrong with it. I think she'd be fine without the endorsements though, she still has Panasonic right?
Either way her music has to stand on its own now, which could be good or bad.

It is avex's own fault that ayu has supposedly "become too big for her boots." Back during her peak, she was responsible for almost half of their profits. They are the ones who became too reliant on her, it wasn't her pushing them. They milked her for everything they could.

It amazes me how stockholders are supposedly complaining about avex putting everything on her. She practically releases like a 'regular' artist now. We don't get a new single every 2.5 months anymore. It hasn't been that way for a long time. And I find it amusing how just a few months ago, when she threatened to leave with matsuura, and the stocks dropped. So apparently the stockholders do have a dependance on her as well.

And the Kose contract, who really cares at all. The new girl she was replaced by can't hold a candle next to ayu. I doubt ayu is very torn up about that at all. She's still the spokesmodel of Panasonic, which I'm sure grosses WAY MORE every year than Kose could imagine.

Avex put her where she is, there needs to be no "putting back into place." She's been at the top since forever, and the only way she'll diminish is if she quits. And I'm sure if reports like this continue, she might just give the stockholders a little more than what they wanted, if you know what I mean.

"[...]there are quite a few saying that Ayu should be put back in her place because she's become too big for her boots."

that always makes me shudder when someone says that.

So I was reading some of the other articles from the side column, and they all have a tabloid-y "I-just-want-to-get-a-story" feel to them. The reporter doesn't list any sources, only says "a correspondent from the music industry" or "a...insider tells..." No names, no nothing. No credible sources.

Actually, the reporter really reminds me of Rita Skeeter from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire :P

I dunno how to say it, but Ayu is really losing her popularity...but I hope, not yet...not for years..

yeah yeah whatever, blah blah *tosses article in bin* ok im over that.

its all lies.

no proof or anything of sources.

also have you seen the sales of my story? proof.

I think I hear a hiatus coming. I think this is the best for Ayu.

its so sad how the entertainment industry has to be so cruel.. sigh.. i guess we can only wait to see what happens next.

I was beginning to think if this was some kind of tabloid story that was put out just to spite her after her recent Album release.

You know how in the US when Actors/Actresses come out with new movies they're in the tabloids about something or other? This is what this reminds me of, and what it probably is.

I hope for the best, there were very harsh words used there, but some if it seems so fakey to me. I wouldn't advise any of you take this stuff seriously, unless it's proven sometime in the future..which I doubt.

They must be desperate for a news story...

oh dear...

articles like this depress me because it reaffirms that it's not only about the music... Ayumi is in an unenviable position.

i just dunno why people always make a problem if ayu goes down.. to me personally i dun care if ayu go down or she doesnt shine as she usually does... coz she already shines in my heart n it wouldnt go down... (:P)

dun believe this WAI WAI news.

This WAI WAI news is famous for always making up negative articles - like HK newspaper.

If you surf thru other articles in Wai Wai - most of it are exaggerated news.

aw :( that's sad. But we love her, and that's all that matters.

What a bunch of baloney.

Harsh. But i still very much like Ayu no matter what they say.

She might not be as popular as she was but her music is still great to me.

perhaps "put back in her place" means she's going to be #1 again :) (wait she's already #1, at least in my heart)... Well, i don't care much about what those people said, for me, knowing there's an artist like Ayu that i love so much is all that matters.

Thanks for the info

.. what a bunch of rubbish. They'll do anything for cash.

Shukan Jitsuwa is a tabloid.

An intelligent response! I agree.

I just have to say that this artical only makes me slightly mad, but not really. I mean.. its common sense in business terms to get a fresh face to get consumers to buy their products. Also.. its makes complete sense what avex said about putting all of their eggs in one basket. Its not safe at all to keep a record company going soley on one artist because if ayu does start to break in her success, which.. if you watch.. is starting to slowly but surley happen, the company will be left in ruins also. It makes me feel horrible that this kind of stuff is happenign to Ayumi's music carrer because I have been a die hard ayumi fan since the release of her album I am. Like anyone I wish she could be top dog forever. Sadly though, all good things come to an end, especially in the music business, and Ayu's career is no exception.

hmmz crazy pple (=_____=)''''' they are just out to get on her i think... they are jealous... such sick articles :grumpy hope someone can shut them up

believe it or not, one day she will become forgotten. she is popular now, but there is still this one day when she will have very little fans.

the perfect example would be the spice girls

I think we all need to realize that Ayumi's popularity isn't as it used to be and that one day, someone new will replace her as the top j-pop queen (just as Ayumi replaced Namie, etc). It doesn't mean she'll disappear altogether but we'd see less of her. Avex does depend a lot on Ayumi for their revenue, which will be bad when her sales start to inevitably decline. As for her ego, well, I wouldn't be surprised. All famous people have some sort of a superiority complex (some less than others). It's almost impossible to stay normal when everyone is willing to do anything for you.

yep thats all it matters atm.. be happy :yes

omg! i used to love the spice girls!! but not now :no no way

That's wot i've in mind too. If this NEWS is true than who are those people buyin' her newest album "MY STORY" ? Ha! Dun't try to tell meh that Hamasaki Ayumi sent her staff to buy her own album! :eyebrow

uh okay.. next.. moves on to the next "fun read"

:laugh one of the 'sources' is a showbiz reporter haha... oh yes, so reliable :rolleyes

Some of you crack me up with how naive your responses are.

I'm agree with u. Btw I think Ayu started to losing her popularity when she begun to be commercial. Her new album is good exemple: popish song like "HONEY" that's make me think of singing something like "oh baby baby" but I hope ours AYU don't made with herself another Britney Spears :( It could be "End of the World"...

I hope no, I think it's all a lie!!

we have to face the fact that ayu might lose her popularity someday... i dread to see that coming, but its inevitable i guess

^^ Yea but I'm so tired of all these articles that come out after her release that says she's burning out because honestly, I really doubt that. It's probably all these annoying tabloids that make her want to quit. >.>
So what if she's not AS popular anymore? She still has loads of fans, and that's good enough for me.

In fact, this is not the correct news as the Prize Committee announced that they had received Ayu's resignation for the prize earlier. That means there are some misunderstandings happened.

Popularity is pointless to if I like/support an artist or not. Any other Sowelu lovers in here?

LOL she's indeeedd unpopular but I like sowelu's songs too so I guess you're not alone ;)

She's not the same... She can't be the jpop queen forever.

What a load of....
 

That's just ridiculous, sounds to me like just another jealous report out to try and bring down ayu.

That letter that max sent to her, that's nothing, if not stupid. I mean, he was the one who found her, who encouraged and even hounded her to start her singing career in the first place (she originally hated singing, and wanted to act)

And let's face it, if you go on the oricon numbers, and a report i saw somewhere, about her income tax lodgement (i think that might have been from time asia) this woman has bought avex around 1.5 billion yen. So, no offense, but this woman really has been supporting avex ;)

But, that's really beside the point, does it really matter if she's sliding? She's in a business where popularity changes overnight. If the "Pop Charts" no longer like her, the millions, or more fans that her and her music has touched will still love what she's produced.

Draco

I have to agree with a few things people have said in their replies too.

Yes, without a doubt, ayu has changed, a lot.

And, while I'm sure I'll cop it a lot for saying this, I'm sure a lot of people who've seen her concerts have noticed a slump, or atleast a lack of energy in her perfomances. It's been evident since countdown 2002-2003, but really started to show in things like a-museum.

I don't follow magazines or articles on ayu, only through her songs, but it definitely seems her songs are..better.. when she's sad.

Songs like memorial address, moments, or even going back to surreal, or to the song that started it all for her, a song for xx. she shines when she's depressed.

That's got to take it's toll on anyone, something I'm sure those rumour mongers, like Jitsuwa would never think to consider.

i like her voice too!

oh well... ayu did some pretti nice ads for kose... since she's not the spokesperson anymore... *time to delete kose off Favorites*

ayu will alwais be queen to us ^____^

Someone may get as popular as Ayu but replacing her would sound strange to me. I mean even if whoever gets more popular than Ayu, that still wouldn't replace ayu at least in my eyes.

Heh, too right. Besides, panasonic haven't dropped her, and panasonic is worth a hell of a lot more than a cosmetics company.

well, its like this...you know how you get some singers here in the USA that are super hot at first and than kinda slow down...but suddenly make a HUGE come back and stay? That's our Ayu! I mean, Janet Jackson has been around forever adn everyone still loves her! Seroiusly, this article is full of harsh BS.

if ayu went on hiatus then she would have to make a comeback and from what i haev been noticing about the jpop industry popular singer are only good for about 5-7years then it goes down hill

Ah, Beni Arashiro sucks in my opinion anyway. If she remplaces Ayu, I will stop following Avex for sure lol

Let's face it... HOW many times have we read or heard about Ayu losing popularity, going down etc... and how many times has she bounced back? I don't even give two thoughts to these articles anymore, because Ayu will bounce back if any of it does turn out to be true.

I know she'll lose popularity one day, that's unavoidable, but i seriouslly can't see it happening for at LEAST another year or two

Well.. it's entertainment news after all, news that are for the the purpose of entertaining people.

(off topic)

YAY! just found 2 other Sowlu lovers in here.

First, I'm going to day that I liked MY STORY, making it the first Ayu album I have actually liked since I am... (Rainbow I regret buying, especially considering that the first press wasn't very impressive).

Ayumi is no longer the singer she used to be. I first got into her back when M came out and she was the top of her game. She no longer has the sway over the Japanese music industry like she did. She's still amazingly popular but it is waning. Eventually some young new thing will shoot in to the scene and take the crown, much like Ayumi took Amuro's crown beforehand, and Amuro who arguably took Keiko's crown, etc.

The major difference with the next succession, is that it is looking more and more likely that the new jpop queen won't be an avex one.

Ayu losing Kose is a big blow, arguably bigger than if she lost Panasonic. Kose is a COSMETICS company, Panasonic is ELECTRONICS. If you were a pop queen/fashion diva, which company would you rather be the headliner for? Panasonic might pay better but it doesn't hold the same awe factor.

There has also been a decline in other contracts - didn't she lose the Tu-Ka one a while ago?

It's not just avex that has all their eggs in one basket, Ayu's most diehard fans might have done so to.

^ interest in an artist is an investment?! well, not in my case. And I do have other artists in my "basket" so....

PS: definitely KOSE

PS: Ayu died in a plane crash last night.

Dude, these tabloids are just trying to freak people out and chip away at Ayu's self-esteem. It's bogus propaganda, reguardless if it is true, it's none the less propaganda ment to sway your thinking into pessimism.

I honestly couldn't care less if Ayu "looses her shine", is she looses all her endorsement, and if she is replaced by some bimbo. If she still makes music, I'm fine with it. I don't need her at number one, I just need her music.

I think they're refering to her wax figure finally start to lose the shine from the petro ingredients. wahhahah

People need to be practical. Just because it's Ayu doesn't mean that she won't go through phases in her career like other artists do. We can't be expecting her popularity to always be at it's peak- or else it'd never get interesting.

With that said---

Let the tabloids say what they want. I don't really care. If I like the music, I like the music. That's all there is to it. About the endorsements--- stuff happens. It's business, after all- what do people expect?

this story is pretty interesting actually....

DON'T ******* with Ayu, damn I hate this people

Everybody is entitled to their opinions, but the tabloid is going far. Yes, i do truly believe that Ayu is somewhat losing her shine, but I rather not let the entire world know, especially since Hamasaki herself can easily read the publication. Hmph.

Oi....I like Beni Arashiro....>_>


Honestly, why do you people get riled up at this stuff?

^ 'cause it's amusing to make fun of it... at least for me

ayu don't need more awards for proof her talent...
ayu don't need more awards -.she is a personality in the japan music history for ever "singin' or not"



bye

All i can say is that's crap. Ayu shouldn't be "put back in her place". She friggin WORKED to get where she is and deserves EVERY BIT of what she's got and what she's got going for her!! People just want to take her down because she's an intimidating woman--she's the HIGHEST PAID ARTIST in japan, taking in 700 million yen a year, she sells hit albums and damn right she's carrying Avex on her back! I hope that MY STORY hits the million soon and makes a smash! >< I really hope this doesn't discourage Ayu from making more albums and pursuing her music career. (Not that i think it would! ^_^)

Bimbo.. lol! Great word :) I feel it the same.