What is the cure?

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

But but but if she's shoved in people's faces, they might become bored of her, won't they?

over promotion in her early hey days probably did her more harm than good . A typical case is her label mate , girl next door

When they 1st debuted 4 years ago , avex overpromoted them like nuts until in some circumstances , it backfired quite badly . Now with barely little or no promotion , their popularity has dropped a great deal

I don't know if it's also because of the type of music they do which the public weren't really accepting it but for avex , it is either you love to hate them or hate to love them >_>

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

It doesn't have to be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much promo I guess. But fans and the public should KNOW that she is releasing something, and when, and hear a teaser of the music. I feel like that's not even happening.

[Delicious n Bold]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

^^Possibly, but I just feel like Avex needs to do SOMETHING. I feel like they are completely and utterly FAILING her and letting her down. If I were ayu I'd kinda be pissed at them. She barely gets any promotion, and they're releasing the same material over and over again. sigh

Well, with the way you put it, I guess being shoved in everyone's faces will remind them that Ayu's still around and stuff. I've also been kind of ticked off that they hardly promote her these days. Just because she's a legend, doesn't mean she doesn't need promotion... I don't know.

[RayJason]

I wonder why they haven't started promoting ASB yet. It'll be released in a month now! COME ON AVEX, NOT ONLY NAMIE, PROMOTE FOR AYU TOO!

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

^^See?! I just don't get it. WTF avex.

[aloopy]

Originally Posted by RayJason

I wonder why they haven't started promoting ASB yet. It'll be released in a month now! COME ON AVEX, NOT ONLY NAMIE, PROMOTE FOR AYU TOO!

? avex has nothing to do with Namie's promotions, she's not managed by avex like Ayu and Kuu.

-
I like the CD+DVD cover, from what I can see atleast. I won't comment on the CD only one
I'm glad that TK will do the new song and not Timmy lol, it better be a real summery song and not one of those ~kinda-somewhat summerish~ songs.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

^^Since when? AFAIK, Namie, Kumi, and Ayu are all under Avex.

[emi♡]

I think Avex just does Namie's distributions or something.

Like I think it's even a little different with koda vs ayu, because koda is under rhythm zone...not sure about that though.

[aloopy]

Yep they just release her products or whatever, but she's managed by Vision Factory.


Maybe avex can't afford to promote their artists because Max used up all the avex money to keep TKs ass out of jail lol

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

^LOL omg that's so wrong. I Just wish we knew how ayu felt about all this. Does she even notice that there is like no promotion? Does it not bother her? Is it killing her inside, but she is too nice to say anything? Gotta wonder.

[ImpactBreaker]

I'm listening to Uncontrolled right now. Both it and JAPONESQUE are radio friendly albums. They seem more up to date with current music trends. They have songs that sound like they can be used to advertise products and fashion, and be used in gyms to boost people with energy to do their exercises. Party Queen, despite its name, has a mix of songs that really sounds out of place for current music. I love PQ, probably more than both U and J, but the whole album feel is really disconnected, and most of it is not really partyish. I'd take that the majority of ayu, kuu and namies fanbase/listeners are made of teens and younger adults. I really feel like kuu and namie's songs sound more like they're what's "in"; maybe I'm wrong because I don't know Japan to be honest.

It's been a time since I last listened to namie, but hey, her english accent improved so much. It used to be slightly annoying, but now it flows smoothier and makes more sense. I don't feel anything weird with the english used in Uncontrolled. I still get a bit embarrassed when ayu sings english words though...wish she'd improve that too, though she has improved.

About labels, seriously, I'm probably wrong, but I always I thought Rhythm Zone and Vision Factory, and whatever, are just different sides of the same coin. All avex, with separate labels in order to experiment with diffferent kinds of music genres. It's not uncommon for some industries to split into different brands (3M lol). I don't really know how it all works though.

[aloopy]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

^LOL omg that's so wrong. I Just wish we knew how ayu felt about all this. Does she even notice that there is like no promotion? Does it not bother her? Is it killing her inside, but she is too nice to say anything? Gotta wonder.

She still gets to perform alot and she is like the richest (probably?) artist in Japan, so I doubt she is wasting any tears over it lol

Originally Posted by ImpactBreaker

About labels, seriously, I'm probably wrong, but I always I thought Rhythm Zone and Vision Factory, and whatever, are just different sides of the same coin. All avex, with separate labels in order to experiment with diffferent kinds of music genres. I don't really know how it all works though.

Rhythm Zone is a sub-label under avex yes. VF isn't a label, it's a talent-agency that just manages artists or something, idk tbh, but it isn't a part of avex

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

Originally Posted by aloopy

She still gets to perform alot and she is like the richest (probably?) artist in Japan, so I doubt she is wasting any tears over it lol

Rhythm Zone is a sub-label under avex yes. VF isn't a label, it's a talent-agency that just manages artists or something, idk tbh, but it isn't a part of avex

There's a chance you're right, but I don't think ayu is like that. Money isn't everything. She must feel some type of way after being the empress for so long and now it's like...whoa.

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by Pieces_of_SEVEN

^^Since when? AFAIK, Namie, Kumi, and Ayu are all under Avex.

even though all 3 of them are under avex , it all boils down to the way their music is marketed & distributed differently

For eg. Kumi's music is distributed under Rhythm Zone which's 1 of many sub record labels that avex owns while for Namie's case , even though her material is distributed under Avex Trax , external affairs of hers & etc are managed by Vision Factory which's a talent agency

For ayumi's case , I suppose both her music & external affairs are managed by avex under one roof ? I could be wrong but this's only based on my assumptions

It can get very confusing & it's the same with Johnny's too . Even though the music of V6 and Tackey & Tsubasa are distributed by avex , they're still tied down to their talent agency Johnny's & Associates at the end of the day

Even though I studied management before in school , I sometimes do wonder why does such a big company like avex trax love to complicate matters as times like this

[AyuWorld]

Originally Posted by aloopy

Maybe avex can't afford to promote their artists because Max used up all the avex money to keep TKs ass out of jail lol

eh dont know about this! he's in jail? why???

anyway i just saw on namie's official FB page and OMG i loved her staffs! they are doing really well promoting her on her page,and the most surprising for me how they write both in English and Japanese so there for all her fans can easily understand it. they also upload her full vid on her YT channel. that is so pleasant for fans with such friendly staffs.

Isnt it would be great if Ayu's staffs could do the same thing for her?? dont they see how many fans she got from all over the world,we would be really appreciate if they did like what Namie's staffs did. Plus they can expose Ayu to more people internationally

im so so so disappointed with her management lately,they seem had no idea and interest for her career anymore? Ayu why you say nothing and keep quiet like nothing happened...

ps: she seems neglected her diaries on TA too

[jang-kun]

ONE MAJOR SOLUTION:

AYU BETTER KICK AVEX OUT OF HER LIFE AND MAKE HER OWN LABEL

[Jawdarna]

It's almost like the old band story; each member ends up with a solo album so that they can produce whatever genre/sound that they like without having to consult with other members of their primary band who may have differentiating tastes at the time.

Maybe this is the stage Ayu is going through? Where she just wants to make music that she currently likes right now. That's great for her, just not great for fans who are expecting what she typically does/are following what is popular.

If she wants this, perhaps she should release an album under the name CREA instead of Ayumi Hamasaki? (Indie Ayu?)
Ayumi Hamasaki is Avex, but CREA is what I feel fans define as Ayu.

I actually really respect Ayu for continuing to produce and release music that she enjoys and wants to sing; even if it is making her unpopular. Personally, this current trend of Dance/Gaga/Namie like pop is doing nothing for me (still better than Party Queen though). It is the epitome of generic, corporate-loving money making music, and I'm so glad that somebody like Ayumi Hamasaki still does whatever the hell she wants (even if it's not too flash at the moment).

[Maemi]

Originally Posted by channy

^ Yes, I feel the same way.

Like, what happened to all the uber successful singers from the past? Momoe Yamaguchi? She ended her career for her husband and her family. Akina Nakamori? She was big in the 80ies, 90ies, her last album was in 2009, nowadays she reversed to a hiatus for an unkown period of time. Seiko Matsuda, still a welcome artist for shows like Kouhaku Uta Gassen but not anywhere near as successful as in the past when she and Akina were the number ones.

So probably that's what happening with Ayu, too. Within the next few years she may lose more and more recognition and importance to younger people (new generation of teens that are 13, 14 years old) because what are the 80ies and 90ies stars mentioned above to teenagers these days? Often they don't even know them or they do know them but just by their names. Same is going to happen to Ayu.

Circle of life? :'D

I agree...

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

She needs to pull a Ray of Light.

Come back down to earth, Ayu.

Release thought provoking magic again. With good acting. :-[

[zaqwanbadli]

Originally Posted by SheFliesHigher

I feel like she's so overdone with makeup and photoshop these days that the images of her have no spirit. The recent Summer Best CD cover is so terribly photoshopped that I nearly want to cry looking at it.

Ah, the recent Summer Best CD cover... the first moment I saw it I thought to myself, wow, Ayu looks like some Eva Longoria variation. She appears uncharacteristically... blank.

These days I find myself fighting, straining to move on and letting Ayu go... but she is one of the few singers I listen to, so that binds me to her.

In my humble opinion, she's too complacent in her career now to "make" any effort. I guess it's only natural. You can say you want to do something that you like forever or else you'll die, but the hard truth is things always change. People change.

The only cure I can see is that Ayu needs to pick herself up. After all, she has full control over her career. She's capable to venture out if she wants to.