|
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.
|