[10/4 ORICON] Current Yearly TOP 40

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by immel

What is evolution stated to be on ORICON? And what is/was The Planet Chart?

I wonder if we'll ever see avex's downfall, they're skilled at what they do, even if we, here, think they make retarded choices. They are careful and go for what they KNOW will sell, they don't have to push out money to explore new corners of the market as it works fine going on as they do right now ... I guess they're pretty settled. They couldn't really grow much more, being the second largest recording label in Japan.

According to the Oricon chart, the sales numbers are around 900,000+ (maybe 980,000?). According to the Planet Chart, the sales numbers are 1,000,000 (I think 1,000,100, estimate - sorry, I have to dig through my old backup CDs to get the exact number). I can PM you the Planet Charts I managed to save before the site went kaput Needless to say, a lot of the Oricon and Planet Charts sales numbers do not match up.

The Planet Chart was my personal alternative to the Oricon Chart. It also counted physical sales, and at the end of the year recorded the sales numbers of all top 100 singles and albums and top 50 (I think) DVDs before the Oricon Chart started doing so. The Planet Chart was around from 1991-2004, and kept all their records available online. It was better than the Oricon, in my opinion

Yeah, Avex is criticized a lot, but they're very smart to still be around and this big after practically a decade. They're responsible for the biggest acts of the past ten years: Namie, globe, TRF, Ayu, Koda Kumi, etc. etc.

[immel]

At least the biggest, and longest lasting, acts, when it comes to solo artists.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't care too much about the numbers. I think that it could deserve it's own thread though, if you looked up and compiled all the sales numbers for Ayu on their charts.

Do you know how they counted the sales?

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by immel

At least the biggest, and longest lasting, acts, when it comes to solo artists.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't care too much about the numbers. I think that it could deserve it's own thread though, if you looked up and compiled all the sales numbers for Ayu on their charts.

Do you know how they counted the sales?

Edited my post above I didn't know exactly how the Planet Chart numbers worked. Sometimes the sales would be higher, sometimes lower. Hikki's Deep River sales were lower in the Planet Chart than the Oricon Chart. And yet Exodus was a million-seller according to them, earlier than Oricon said so!

I was obsessed with the sales numbers for a good five years, and then I started not caring recently. It took a while for me to realize that whatever the numbers are, it's the music that matters.

[immel]

I think sales numbers are interesting, but my interest in them ends there, hehe. It's fun to discuss them, but that's it, I really do not care about them either.

Thanks for notifying me that you edited it, wouldn't have noticed.

It is cool that they kept the records public, but that's probably why they finally died, ORICON makes money from what they do.

I wonder what their algorithms looked like... I always thought that ORICONs way of counting is pretty doubtful... if not very.

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by immel

I think sales numbers are interesting, but my interest in them ends there, hehe. It's fun to discuss them, but that's it, I really do not care about them either.

Thanks for notifying me that you edited it, wouldn't have noticed.

It is cool that they kept the records public, but that's probably why they finally died, ORICON makes money from what they do.

I wonder what their algorithms looked like... I always thought that ORICONs way of counting is pretty doubtful... if not very.

That's probably why. Oricon used to keep all their records public (until 2001, I think), and then suddenly implemented the subscription service in order for visitors to gain access to the numbers. They're now the Avex of the music charts The Planet Charts are still around, as a pale, sad version of their former glorious selves:

http://planet-chart.jp/

All the old records are gone sadly, and they don't put up sales numbers anymore. Sigh. Life changes so quickly.

Yeah, sales numbers are fun so long as you don't take them too seriously (like I did) And I'm with you, I really doubt the Oricon numbers are that accurate. I bought a CD of My Story in early November last year in Tokyo, and I noticed that the sales numbers for the album never changed between the Oricon half-year chart and the Oricon year-end chart! (They don't even round off to the tens or hundreds). Ever since then, I can't look at Oricon numbers without a little doubt in my head

EDIT: Oricon sales for Evolution are 950,000+

[immel]

Haha, well, there's also the fact that they don't update the public numbers as soon as the CD goes off the charts. Only if you have their most expensive subscription service you'll have access to the "exact" numbers, although those are still based a bit on assumptions.

Indeed sad about the planet-charts page.

By the way, it's evolution .

[~*Mabushii*~]

man.. the music industry in japan is really brutal isnt it?.. I mean.. look at america.. you can be old and still have tons of fans and sell tons of albums ect..
but in japan.. once you start to age your sells go down and your fanbase leaves?

[immel]

Well, staying on the market for a long time/until you're old is very rare on both markets. Madonna is unique.

Ayumi is pretty unique, on the Japanese market ... she's been around for a long time and I'm pretty sure she could be around forever if she wanted to go for it, her sales would decline, but she'd still be popular enough to live on her music.

To stay popular when you grow old, or for a long time, is rare on any given market.

[LacusClyne]

^at least ayu had made her name known for years. i can still see ayu's cds selling 10 years from now.

[pbs1605]

Not a good year but thanks for posting.

[..:Hot:Like:Wow:..]

Just somethings that astounds me..

In Japan they seem to prefer female singers to be a young as possible but when it comes to male solo singers, they seem to like the older one's mainly in there 30's

[Ayumi-Yummi]

Aww poor AYU sale -- Always so sad for me. I love Kumi, but I don't care about her charts at all. I hoped that AI would have top charts for something, "Believe" I thought sold well.

[ayu_fan929]

Apparently, Oricon is going to extend their year this year by 3 extra weeks. That means the 2006 year will end with the releases of 12/6.
https://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_co...il.asp?no=4757

[BraiNz]

I don't think that Ayu's popularity is falling or something, it's just that there are TOO MANY new artists in japanese market Therefore, sales fall quite fast almost for everyone. I think "BLUE BIRD" did quite well for this year. Let's hope Ayumi's brand new mini-album will break into top 10 @ yearly album charts!!!
And let's support her by buying more singles!

[immel]

Originally Posted by ayu_fan929

Apparently, Oricon is going to extend their year this year by 3 extra weeks. That means the 2006 year will end with the releases of 12/6.
https://ranking.oricon.co.jp/free_co...il.asp?no=4757

That menas ULTRA BLUE will definately pass (m)u, unless it already did? Not that it matters, could be fun to know.

Originally Posted by Kingofpop

Just somethings that astounds me..

In Japan they seem to prefer female singers to be a young as possible but when it comes to male solo singers, they seem to like the older one's mainly in there 30's

Take a peek at the US, younger and good looking females has a lot easier to break through there aswell. There's not many pop artists who stay at their peak when they start hitting their 30's over there either. The exception would be Madonna.

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by immel

By the way, it's evolution .

Semantics!

Nowadays, it seems that extremely big male solo singers are a rare breed. I can only think of Masaharu Fukuyama and Ken Hirai. Male artists usually succeed in bands and Johnny's Jimusho groups.

You could count Gackt, but I think he caters more to a niche market.

Of course, the most popular male artists are usually under 30. (KAT-TUN now known as KNUTT?). They're even under 20! To be big in Japan when you're past 30, you have to either be a) in a band or b) an enka singer.

[immel]

How much does Gackt sell? I think I vaugely remember some numbers, and I was shocked by them... considering that he always seemed... huge, to me.

Gackt is all about an artist of perfection, the way any artist should be, like you say, maybe he does only cater a niche market.

His live performances size match Ayus though, or they did, I think?

Anyone mind filling me in?

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by immel

How much does Gackt sell? I think I vaugely remember some numbers, and I was shocked by them... considering that he always seemed... huge, to me.

Gackt is all about an artist of perfection, the way any artist should be, like you say, maybe he does only cater a niche market.

His live performances size match Ayus though, or they did, I think?

Anyone mind filling me in?

Well, as incredible as his music is, he doesn't sell as well as the other big names. His Sixth Day Single Collection sold around 200,000+ copies, though his latest (Diabolos) didn't even make last year's top 100. His bestselling single is Another World (around 300,000).

I think Gackt is even bigger in the West than in Japan, thanks to all the fangirls who are into J-rock Or maybe he's someone more popular for being himself than for his music.

I haven't seen any Gackt concerts, but watching the Kouhaku I'd gather he's very popular among the female population. It's usually women in Japan who are into visual kei. The dark side of the Johnny's Jimusho phenomenon, I'd say. (You have to keep in mind that Ayu has more concerts on her tour and plays in bigger venues.)

EDIT: His singles sales numbers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gackt

[immel]

True about more venues and so on.

Gackt isn't into Visual Kei, though, that was back during his malice mizer era, I'm pretty sure?

Thanks for the numbers, puts me a bit more in perspective.

I don't know if you like watching concerts, or if you like his music, but watching them for sure is worth it. The Sixth Day/Seventh Night one put up one hell of a show, excuse my language. If I have it somewhere I could upload it, I don't know if I still do though.

[Uemarasan]

Originally Posted by immel

True about more venues and so on.

Gackt isn't into Visual Kei, though, that was back during his malice mizer era, I'm pretty sure?

Thanks for the numbers, puts me a bit more in perspective.

I don't know if you like watching concerts, or if you like his music, but watching them for sure is worth it. The Sixth Day/Seventh Night one put up one hell of a show, excuse my language. If I have it somewhere I could upload it, I don't know if I still do though.

Yup, he's no longer visual kei, but I think people still associate him with that movement and his predominantly female fans just followed when when he went solo.

I LOVE his music. He's my male Ayu, and Ayu is my female Gackt I became a fan of his at the same time I became a fan of Ayu (I heard his Saikai ~Story~ and I heard Ayu's Surreal). I'd really like to get his concerts (and Ayu's) on DVD, but I just don't have the money I can barely afford buying all the J-pop CDs I want. But maybe that's because I insist on buying only the Japan versions...

Oh, I'd be very thankful if you could upload a bit of his concerts! But only if it won't be that much of a bother for you