If you pay attention to what other Avex artists are doing, and the stuff Ayu does...
It's pretty noticeable the aspects of her career that might be influenced more by them than by her.
I don't think people really understand what it means for an artist to have no control, and similarly for an artist to have full control...especially for people who only know Ayu.
I personally believe, that Ayu has a great deal more control over her own image and music than many other artists, and I think that when Avex has suggestions, she takes them.
I think she's created a nice balance, and I really doubt that, at this point in her career, Avex has to "tell" her to do anything.
Ayu is a very special artist, and honestly, I don't see the rules applying to her as much as they do for other people. In any case, I think Ayu knows by now what needs to be done, and that she doesn't have to be led or told what to do.
In any case, if you know anything about Ayu, you know that she isn't going to be jerked around or made to do anything she doesn't want to without a fight lol Stubborn, she is
/endlongpost