[Hye Cheon]

Nah, definitely not a publicity stunt. Avex lost money; just check the stocks. It only would have been a publicity stunt if it actually attracted the fans to buy more Avex products. (For example, Ayu says she's leaving, Avex re-releases old singles, fans buy them, Ayu announces she's rethought her decision, Avex makes out like a bandit.) And I don't know about you guys, but now I feel a little dirty thinking about Avex. I didn't want to buy more stuff during all this, it only made me a little anxious. I was rooting for Matsuura to start his own company, too. It would be refreshing to see Ayu under a new label. Now Avex just seems stale and weak to me.

I'm sure it was pretty much just as reported. A steamy fight broke out during a production meeting, the generations collided, and the passionate visionary Matsuura stormed out and made a rash (albeit refreshing) decision. Then, a few days later, after the sea had calmed down, some sense was talked into both sides and compromises were able to be made with smiles rather than gritted teeth.

No doubt Avex's bonus treatment to Max was to keep him from actually considering leaving again, but they can afford it, so why not. Personally, I think he's done enough for the company to deserve something more. I don't think he was holding out for it, though.

Besides, if this was a stunt, it would mean that Max and maybe even Ayu herself would have to have been in on it. And do we really want to question the integrity of Ayu and her mentor? It would be really disappointing...