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I have met some people who lived in Japan during Ayu's peak, and it seens like Ayu was that kind of artist you know how to sing some songs even if you hate them... They also said Japanese people overall seemed her as a legend.
Every pop artist tends to get lower sales after sometime, most of Madonna's sales and hits are from the 80's, as most of Matsutoya Yumi hits and sales are from mid 80's to mid 90's. The mainstream recording industry is moved by teenagers mostly, and teenagers tend to avoid anything that isn't new or fresh anymore and the first 10 years (and most artists aren't even able to be relevant for all that time) tend to be those who define the artist and their catalogue to the public.
Ayu is not selling loads anymore, but there are still signals of her enduring influence and popularity:
-She still has some of the most attended tours in Japan, among female stars probably she is only 2nd to Namie right now on this aspect.
-She still has to release a fruitless album... Even if she is not having million seller singles and blockbuster hits, on her last 3 albums (counting FIVE), she broke one of the hardest records on the industry, had a major videogame tie-in and released a song adopted as an anthem by a social group.
-The hottest things among teenagers right now, both Kana Nishino and AKB48 are influenced by her, I would dare say post TK Namie is also influenced.
-Any little fart she does still is spreaded by gossip magazines, what shows public interest.
-"in" Korean groups showed interest on collabing with her, they most likelly were influenced by her too at some point.
-She still is one of the most played karaoke artists in Japan, 10 years after her peak.
-She is on a cover of a big fashion magazine almost every month.
-You can see people from all age groups on her concerts.
^^
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