[CoriKaru]

Originally Posted by njanjayrp

The quality of music/songs doesn't necessarilly reflect the album's sales, if it did, Shimatani's HEART&SYMPHONY would sell millions And a solid number of boybands would be selling close to nothing (KAT-TUN and EXILE would be selling coffee and pancakes ^^), in my opinion.

This is Ayumi Hamasaki we're talking about where usually her name is all that's required to sell an Album so for one of her Albums to sell like this and with all of the versions on top of that, I'd bet a lot on the quality of the music strongly affecting sales. Not to mention I've seen how many of the Japanese have a problem with the music on this Album. After I listen to it, I'll have an idea of what others had a problem with.

And the Shimatani reference is completely subjective. I could say the music on that wasn't that good and that's why it didn't sell a certain way. That goes for the Boy Bands as well. I don't really like to make excuses for Artists. It is what it is.

Originally Posted by greenteadrinker

So true... Ayu's singles have actually done really well compared to other top female singers. As for NEXT LEVEL not selling as well as expected, I think it has a lot to do with it being released so soon after Rule/Sparkle + some other promotional issues.

It's usually the Single that suffers, not the Album so I don't think people would not buy an Album with however many songs because they prefer a Single with 2 songs.