[Translation] [2013] ayu loses sales record to AKB48 (Article)

[Zemus]

The term アーティスト (artist) refer to both solo and group/band. This is always the case in Japan.

[TeamAyu2004]

oricorn you fail again.
AKB48 does not = 1 female artist.

[AyuWorld]

you guys said what i thought already

and still Ayu is no 1 best selling solo female artist so yeah , AKB?for me they are not a really a singer

[Minttulatte]

Let's just pretend this didn't happen, ok? ;3

//And yes, I hate AKB48. I would party hard if they just disappeared suddenly and the era of talentless crap would end.

[marty]

I don't really care, it's obvious AKB48 result is just fruit of a mass phenomenon, the two can't really be compared!

[BlackSilence]

^i have a feeling when they're obsessive fans forget them, people asked if they know who they were will have no idea hwat to answer. they're just a phenomenon for sure, Ayu is a legend.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

I don't know how they can compare one person to a group; that's definitely not a fair or reasonable comparison. At least we can say it took a group the size of a small country selling like 10 versions of each single to beat her.

This!

[orbitalaspect]

Originally Posted by Yumsushi

I don't know how they can compare one person to a group; that's definitely not a fair or reasonable comparison. At least we can say it took a group the size of a small country selling like 10 versions of each single to beat her.

This ^. My first thought was "female artist" means "female ARTIST" not "ARTISTS". Congrats to AKB48, especially seeing as they've had declining sales for their past few singles and it's neat to see them have a major comeback, but I can't put 48 teen girls in bikinis against 30+-year-old Ayumi Hamasaki. Arguably, Ayumi has not had 47 other girls around to cover up bad stage performances, poor vocals, and help do all of the promotion throughout her career. So, that said, I don't think AKB48 technically did surpass Ayumi here. They are, however, the biggest group of female artists in Oricon history.

[Deep snow]

AKB48 does _not_ have 48 members; they have like, 60 I think? More? Hahaha.

I'm really surprised with their popularity. It seems that this is really the kind of music the young generation of Japan is really into right now. What with ayu not fvcking releasing any single for almost three years now, a hard hit to the sales' guts is bound to happen. What baffles me is that Oricon puts a female group under the 'female' category (or maybe it's just me being a sore loser over my Regnant's defeat to a bunch of younglings).

I hope ayu follows in Namie's footsteps, in that she gets a massive comeback and regains her popularity back. She needs to be 'seen' again as someone who is still relevant.

[hsienko]

Originally Posted by waterballoon

21.85 million / 48 members = 0.455 million per member

21.1 million / 1 Queen Bee = 21.1 million

***** be rollin' with her $$$

Its probably much much lower than that probably more like $500 per person.

[Deep snow]

Originally Posted by Zemus

The term アーティスト (artist) refer to both solo and group/band. This is always the case in Japan.

Ah. I see. How unfortunate; this kind of blunder really muddy things up and undermines the achievements of solo artists.

I like AKB48. Some of their music are indeed enjoyable. And their promotion team is impeccable. Their success is really well-deserved. Which is why I feel sad because ayu could've achieved all that but didn't, it seems simply because she didn't want to / stopped caring as much anymore ; ω ;

[freedreamer]

their a group and sell insane amt of versions. not a fair basis. period.

[marty]

Originally Posted by artcika

^i have a feeling when they're obsessive fans forget them, people asked if they know who they were will have no idea hwat to answer. they're just a phenomenon for sure, Ayu is a legend.

My point exactly!XD Truth is they'll be remembered like a bunch of girls whom sold a lot because in a certain period Japan had a soft spot for big girly groups and Ayu'll be remebered like a Queen whose success has been immediate because the lyrics she wrote touched everyone.
Like I said, I could not care less for this "overtaking".

[Delirium-Zer0]

Originally Posted by Deep snow

Ah. I see. How unfortunate; this kind of blunder really muddy things up and undermines the achievements of solo artists.

Not really. They have a Female Solo Artist ranking and a Solo Artist ranking as well, and she's still on top of both of those.

[Mari-chan]

I also would not compare a solo artist with a group. Makes no sense for me.
So.. Ayu is still the best.
And I also would'd care, if someone other is better... for me, she is the best.

[channy]

Originally Posted by YUKARI

yeah, you can't compare mega-pop group consisting of 200+ girls (with all the affiliates) and one tiny 156cm woman

So cute, I gained weight just by reading this

[kaled kalil]

I really don't understand all this bashing on the AKB girls, and about sales records overall. It seems to you guys that Ayu having the sales record is the ultimate goal for her career, geez. Pointing that the sales aren't real because the theater version won't make Ayu looks better.

I know that this is an Ayumi Hamasaki forum, but by doing that you guys just comes across desperate and mean to those girls.

I don't like AKB48, but I'm happy for them cause they worked hard for that as much as Ayu did back then.

It's just sales, you guys. It's not like Ayu is retiring because of that, so take it easy.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by kaled kalil

I really don't understand all this bashing on the AKB girls, and about sales records overall. It seems to you guys that Ayu having the sales record is the ultimate goal for her career, geez. Pointing that the sales aren't real because the theater version won't make Ayu looks better.

I know that this is an Ayumi Hamasaki forum, but by doing that you guys just comes across desperate and mean to those girls.

I don't like AKB48, but I'm happy for them cause they worked hard for that as much as Ayu did back then.

It's just sales, you guys. It's not like Ayu is retiring because of that, so take it easy.

Thank you so much for this. I wanted to write something like this, but had no idea how to word my thoughts correctly.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by kaled kalil

I really don't understand all this bashing on the AKB girls, and about sales records overall. It seems to you guys that Ayu having the sales record is the ultimate goal for her career, geez. Pointing that the sales aren't real because the theater version won't make Ayu looks better.

I know that this is an Ayumi Hamasaki forum, but by doing that you guys just comes across desperate and mean to those girls.

I don't like AKB48, but I'm happy for them cause they worked hard for that as much as Ayu did back then.

It's just sales, you guys. It's not like Ayu is retiring because of that, so take it easy.

The sales are real and even though I think AKB is worth nothing, I don't mind that over 50 girls have managed to beat Ayu's record as they could ultimately never have done it if they all were solo performers. Not that it matters as Ayu hasn't really been competitive sales wise lately and as much as I miss the days when it was still fun looking at the Oricon charts, I am pretty happy with what she has now. I am also glad that some Ayu fans are the way they are as in a way it's a good thing for Ayu.

[SURREAL__RAINBOW]

Originally Posted by kaled kalil

I really don't understand all this bashing on the AKB girls, and about sales records overall. It seems to you guys that Ayu having the sales record is the ultimate goal for her career, geez. Pointing that the sales aren't real because the theater version won't make Ayu looks better.

I know that this is an Ayumi Hamasaki forum, but by doing that you guys just comes across desperate and mean to those girls.

I don't like AKB48, but I'm happy for them cause they worked hard for that as much as Ayu did back then.

It's just sales, you guys. It's not like Ayu is retiring because of that, so take it easy.

AKB are disliked if not hated by many, so don't be too surprised if people talk bad about them, they are very controversial and they either have hardcore fans or people who really hate them. Although most people just try to ignore them lol I'm talking about my personal experience when I was in Japan btw.

Some people in this forum just think it's not fair to compare a group to one person, and that's completely understandable. Even if it wasn't ayu, maybe namie or another solo artist that they beat, it would've still sounded unfair to some.

But somehow in Japan is just a female thing and not the number of members, I get it, they put everything together, so whatever.

I'm sure records mean nothing, they don't determine talent and all of that but, of course some people will feel a bit upset if their favourites get beaten lol It's a normal reaction.