[article] The next J-pop queen?

[ayu_fan929]

Originally Posted by Demure_Dusk

Also sure it was the 2nd week for Mika's album but I must remind you guys that it was a best compilation and usually best compilations sell at an insane level and there was also the NANA hype. I imagined Ai's and Mika's albums would struggle a bit for #1 but Ai easily got #1 for weeky.

they still shoulnt have put that cos its illogical. at least put that mika's album was released a week b4.
illogical-> heres the scenario.
if A BEST was released on 3/21; Distance released on 3/28. then this kind of news would say:
"Distance beats out A BEST in its' [Distance's] debut week."
of course Distance is gonna sell more than A BEST because its a) it just came out; b) A BEST was released a week b4, giving less demand for it.

[Kakeru]

Originally Posted by ayu_fan929

they still shoulnt have put that cos its illogical. at least put that mika's album was released a week b4.
illogical-> heres the scenario.
A BEST was released on 3/21; Distance released on 3/28. then this kind of news says.
"Distance beats out A BEST in its' [Distance's] debut week."
of course Distance is gonna sell more than A BEST because its a) it just came out; b) A BEST was released a week b4, giving less demand for it.

Actually, both albums came out 3.28. I know 'cause I bought both at the same time. But your argument does make sense.

[ayu_fan929]

^i no, i purposely changed the dates. i'll edit it to make things a bit clearer.

[andre2907]

Anyway, I don't think it's fair to compare Koda with Ai, I mean, it was a best album with HUGE promotion. I love Kumi and Ai, but the fact Ai new album will sell less than Kumi best album don't mean much, because all Ai studio albums sold more than Kumi albums...

Right now, after LOTS of money spent in Koda Kumi she's much more popular than Ai, but when it's Ai turn to release a best album, I suppose they'll spend lots of money on her too.

[maki-B]

I think Kumi ^^
hehe
she's so wonderful

[cleftjuston]

akurei, which country are you from?

[evolution105]

this isn't the propper place to do this cleft and sorry for speaking for you Akurei, but she's from the states.

[*Petit*]

Originally Posted by Demure_Dusk

Insightful and really interesting.

Honestly since listening to some of the 12 singles I've concluded that it's pretty impossible to become queen of pop unless she releases at an insane rate each and every year. I like Kumi but most of her releases are a hit and miss. Especially these 12 singles. Some were awesome (you, D.D.D), others were ok (birthday eve, lies) and others were simply awful (Lies, Shake It Up). I think she'll remain big but personally I don't think she can maintain this kind of popularity. Other artists were sexy in the past - Namie, hitomi but that didn't secure a permanent place as queen from what I've seen. In a couple of years her sexy act will get old and she'll have to reinvent a new image.

Also sure it was the 2nd week for Mika's album but I must remind you guys that it was a best compilation and usually best compilations sell at an insane level and there was also the NANA hype. I imagined Ai's and Mika's albums would struggle a bit for #1 but Ai easily got #1 for weeky.

Ai Otsuka has a huge chance imo. Since her debut she's been climbing up the JPop scene and she does produce the highest quality material per single even if LOVE COOK disappointed me. She also manages to create concepts for each and every single for example Neko Ni Fuusen - cats and loneliness, Planetarium - stars, memories. I am always curious to see what she comes up with since it's usually she does not release something just to have something on the market but she does give a lot of attention and care to her releases. The firstpress edition also gets me to buy her singles. However her cute act also cannot go on forever but from what I've noticed she also manages to portray a serious image of herself to the public.

As with regards to Ami well look at it this way - it's amazing enough that she came back with a huge label (avex). I don't think she will become queen but I have a feeling she'll be a pretty strong competitor for the future. She's talented, writes her lyrics, dances and is charismatic. I am waiting for a release which will skyrocket her popularity. Ami is a talented artist and I do hope she will have some attention given on her because she deserves it.

However right now Ayu will still be the queen. No one can beat her list of achievements and no one can really replace her unless she decides to retire. Plus the best releases are still by Ayu imo. Also I haven't yet seen Koda or Ai breaking a million copies in a regular album though LOVE COOK has a high probability to do so.

I have to agree with you. Out of the three , Ai's the one that's had the best and most steady "progression". She's constantly increasing, even without extreme and wow-appeal marketing. I still think she can become bigger. Ai is the only one that haven't tried any "scheme" or special feature (like Koda's 12, mika's NANA) yet to increase her popularity. Her sakuranbo was a sleeper hit that got her a lot of attention, but sleeper hits are never intended to become so because of some marketing strategy.

More and more people seems to be enjoying her music. Her best selling single this year closed in on ayu's worst without any gimmick. I think the only thing that may hold her back is herself. She's stated before that she was afraid of the limelight.

[Charitine]

Ha, kinda expected this...but think AYU is still the queen of Jpop & things are going to remain like this for quite awhile.

[greggerz189]

I swear, I just love this stuff -- who's the next "Queen" or "Icon", how good are each one's sales...OOH! I just love it. I would really love to total up Ayu's TOTAL SALES number (including DVDs, singles and albums) as well as Hikaru's and Mika's and then compare them to see which one of the three has sold the most STUFF so far! ^__^ As far as the three contenders mentioned in the article, the most practical successor to Ayu is Kuu. Unfortunately, I am not approving of her newest style (that which continues to lack more and more clothing, and the sex-based theme she has going on), but the Japanese public seems to be eating it up. I'm not a big fan of Ami Suzuki, quite frankly. Ai-chan...I always thought she might have the potential to become the next ICON (despite how biased against her I used to be) -- but she has to WANT it enough to be able to beat Kuu. I think the reason Kuu is the "next in line" is because of the three, she wants to be the next icon the MOST. I mean, she commented in an interview of hers once that she was making music that wasn't necessarily completely what matches her personal style, but then she went on to say that it was okay as long as she gives her fans what they want. I get the feeling that she'll do whatever it takes to become the next icon -- whether it means a raunchier style and set of lyrics, or a cutsie look that she seems to be going for with Koi no Tsubomi (>_< I can't ever get it right) -- it seems to me that it doesn't really matter to her as long as it gets her iconship and she can include songs that fit her personality a bit more in her albums every now and then. Ai, however, doesn't really seem to have a focal point with her style. She's kind of all over the place, trying different things (which I like), but she doesn't have the blatant motivation that Kuu does to become Icon. If she were to pursue it, she would have to really hone her craft; become more involved in her career (though I don't know much about her, I don't know if she writes her own songs or composes them, but I think that if she doesn't do those things, then she would have to start), become a bit more focused and less -everywhere!-, and really, above all, she has to WANT the iconship. Despite what people think about Hamasaki Ayumi, I believe that her career was more than just spun out of the air. She carefully planned and crafted her career so she was involved in so many ways and so she could reach out to the Japanese people. With clever business tactics and Ayu's creative sense of personal style and identity, she became the Icon. The girls will have to take a similar approach to achieve Ayu's level of Iconship.

WHEW! ^_____^

[kournikova]

time is different, we cant judge who can beat another based on its cd sales I think, becos:
1. There is iTunes
2. There is DL sections on some official sites...... like avex back then during pre-MY STORY

and I surely think, most of it iTunes, which makes the singles and albums sales drop so drastically, because I think people try to give it a listen whether it is "worth-buying"....
and at that time, Ayu back on 2000-2003.... she is so damn huge, people always interested in "whats next in ayu?" and hikki, so, of course they sells more, seeing that both of them insanely selling the album worldwide ^^.... and we can only see the who is next based on its quality,

Though, I think Kumi right now, is the most "kicking" artist with that good songs, she improves a lot since back then...... and there is no way for her if she improves to take that throne in a near future.... Ai, Ami, does have the same chances too... but at this time, Kumi is the most ambitious between those two....

as for ayumi, we all know, what she has been done to the j-pop, and a lot things she achieved.... even, she is not no.1 but she always be a legend (with hikki)..... 1. Hikki's first love... is insanely worldwide... 2. Ayumi's song during 2000-2001, and the impact she has done in Kose, Morinaga, that drink CM (forget), and a lot of stuffs....... she is a legend right now, not only a queen.... ^^ do not afraid if someone takes her throne, because she has already been a legend he he he... ^^

[CREA.tive]

interesting article...but they forgot to mention Namie Amuroshe was a big star too

[darkswordz]

^She was big in the 1990s but it was only for a while, not as long as that of Hiki and ayu though. I think Ai may be the one. Though Kumi is big now, the 12 single thingy may overexpose she and shorten her career. On the other hand, Ai haven't seem to reach her peak yet. I believe she will sell more in the near future

[ayu_fan929]

Originally Posted by greggerz189

I would really love to total up Ayu's TOTAL SALES number (including DVDs, singles and albums) as well as Hikaru's and Mika's and then compare them to see which one of the three has sold the most STUFF so far! ^__^

mika doesnt even compare to the modern day top 3 (ayu/hikki/namie). ayu has sold the most with like 45m+, hikki comes next with like 33-35m, then namie is like 30m.

Originally Posted by greggerz189

Unfortunately, I am not approving of her newest style (that which continues to lack more and more clothing, and the sex-based theme she has going on), but the Japanese public seems to be eating it up.

well, im guessing u've seen the koi no tsubomi covers, i dont see how she continues to lack more and more clothing. i think shes pretty consistent...

Originally Posted by greggerz189

Ai, however, doesn't really seem to have a focal point with her style. She's kind of all over the place, trying different things (which I like), but she doesn't have the blatant motivation that Kuu does to become Icon.

i kinda agree with u where ai doesnt really want to have that title. but,i disagree with u where shes all over the place. basically she does either ballads (planetarium, daisuki dayo etc.) or those cute hyperactive rock songs (sakuranbo, SMILY, Frienger etc.) one of the few exceptions would be the neko ni fuusen single.

Originally Posted by greggerz189

If she were to pursue it, she would have to really hone her craft; become more involved in her career (though I don't know much about her, I don't know if she writes her own songs or composes them, but I think that if she doesn't do those things, then she would have to start), become a bit more focused and less -everywhere!-, and really, above all, she has to WANT the iconship.

i think i can honestly say that ai is much more involved than ayu is when it comes to the music. she composes the song, writes the lyrics, and she does parts of the arrangement of the song. she does this to all of her songs, on the single and on her album. (not that it really has to do with anything) heck, her website is much more fancier than ayu's. but as i said, maybe she doesnt want to be "queen"?

Originally Posted by kournikova

time is different, we cant judge who can beat another based on its cd sales I think, becos:
1. There is iTunes
2. There is DL sections on some official sites...... like avex back then during pre-MY STORY

and I surely think, most of it iTunes, which makes the singles and albums sales drop so drastically, because I think people try to give it a listen whether it is "worth-buying"....

well, i read an article that computer DLs in japan respresented like 9% of the total digital DLs there, compared to like 65% in western countries. unless iTunes can be done on the cellphone in japan (i no it can be done here), i dont think iTunes is not yet a significant influence in japan yet, but rather mu-mo or the music programs the cellphone companies use is more significant rite now. (the article was from associated press).

[gogirlanime]

I'm not a fan of Koda Kumi at all, but I deffinately think she has what it takes, she's giving fans what she wants, even Ayu can't pull off a "all ***** out 12 buy them all singles" event. Next to her is Mika Nakashima because she is totally pro, beautiful, and great voice.

[hopeorpain]

very interesting article! thanks for posting!

[tinyppl]

Hey nice article. Hehe. But I don't even think Ami Suzuki should even be mentioned >.< Maybe until her popularity has gotten back to as high as Koda or Ai.

Got to say that I think the current Japanese music market is really emphasized on appearances and looks. It's really how they are packaged that makes them appealing to the mass. That's why I really respect artists like Hikki who composes both music and lyrics; and don't need to look fanciful to sell or gain popularity.

[MsMiyabi]

Originally Posted by ayu_fan929

well, i read an article that computer DLs in japan respresented like 9% of the total digital DLs there, compared to like 65% in western countries.

Good to know