What would ayu need to do to get amuro-likes sales numbers?

[mizuki-7]

^
Of course ^^

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

Lots of boy bands.
Johnny's of course, but lots of korean singers too. EXO in particular. And Big Bang.

In terms of the male students, they don't seem to have any interest in music. They just kind of like what's being played with no specific love for an artist.

Both male and female students love EXILE and all its variations though.

AKB is surprisingly not so liked. The few people who admitted it got picked on for liking them.

Oh and vocaloids are popular.

[mizuki-7]

^
Anime singers too ! that's another industry in parallel to the mainstream industry but the anison singers have never been that popular since the 90's and the decline of this genre in the early 00's ! Today a lot of anime singers have more success than the mainstream singers (including Ayu) despite not being promoted in the same manner !!

[attractive nausea]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

Both male and female students love EXILE and all its variations though.

I'm not surprised, EXILE is awesome, their concerts are too!

But like Johnny's, their songs kinda always sound the same, you know? This is why i don't agree with people saying Ayu doesn't have appeal anymore because her songs are always the same (i.e. Summer songs/Winter songs/Ballads), Johnny's, EXILE, AKB48...'s songs are always the same and the public doesn't seem to care.

[Delirium-Zer0]

I think Ayu has lost her appeal in part because music doesn't serve the same function for people that it did 10-15 years ago. This is true in the west AND the east - most music listeners back in the day enjoyed music because it resonated with them or it made them feel something; nowadays people like the singers who are cool, and sound-wise they just want whatever can be inoffensively playing in the background. People want a soundtrack rather than music they can listen to.

These days, hiring a really talented songwriter or sound engineer is going to be expensive and I think record labels see that as too much of a gamble (which would explain why DAI is focusing on an indie band and why the guy who mixed LOVE again and A ONE landed a job at a major label mixing a major artist before actually learning how to mix properly).

People probably would like an artist that makes them feel things again, but only an artist who's marginally unconventional will bring them that, and record labels aren't willing to invest in anything potentially groundbreaking because it's just too big a gamble for them right now.

[Uknow!]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

Oh and vocaloids are popular.

I will die if Ayu makes covers of vocaloid songs like "Electric Angel" or sagas like "Story Of Evil" and "The 7 Deadly Sins"

[AyuGAME]

I think what she really needs is new arranger...It will bring a really fresh splash to her music...I don't think the composition of her song is bad, but the arrangement is so old...

Hoping that she will work with FAST LANE...I see that name so many times in current popular Jpop songs...She desperately need new arranger

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

Was talking to some middle schoolers recently. One of them honestly had no idea who Ayu was. (She was born in 2000)

When I told another one that Amuro is older (career wise) she was surprised.

Another two girls mocked the way Ayu sings and said like "if that's the case I prefer Koda Kumi...but actually I don't like her either lolol"


Sooo yeah. Girls don't think Ayu's cool anymore. She's not edgy, she doesn't have slick videos, and her face isn't really the face girls are emulating now. Her style isn't relatable and her lyrics are lost on this generation (growing up with rather meaningless songs)

I know this is only one group of girls, but I can't help but think it's a general feeling.

The generation shock I talked about sometimes... People from the current generation will always find whatever represented the generation before it to be uncool and old, but because trends runs in circles, they will take inspiration from the generation before it.

So, for someone from the 2010's, anything liked by people from the 00's is uncool and things from the 90's are either seen as classics, so, worth of attention, or are so old people actually forget they are old.

It's not like those teenagers doesn't care about Ayu (or Koda, or Hikki) because they don't like them, they didn't even bother looking at what they did... Considering they were already big when those teenagers were born, it may feel like they were already around when dinosaurs ruled earth. Namie, on the other hand, as she was on a low point during +- half of their lifes, it feels like she is newer and fresher, because she wasn't everywhere when they were growing up.

That's why Seiko didn't make past the 80's, or why after having a peak during the 90's, Yuming is receiving more attention nowadays than she got during the 00's.

[DonkeyKongRemix]

I think she needs a new crew. One that can give her high quality music, PVs, and an overall "fresh" image. She should start doing TV lives again, use her music in anime more, and whatnot.

I have to ask if this is really what longtime fans would enjoy or not. But, I think higher quality can't be argued with. If anything, she should start collaborating with some bigger groups or artists. I feel like some of the people she does music with are a little....out of the left field....BUT I COULD JUST BE IGNORANT!!! XD

[ayuinh.k?]

Originally Posted by AyuGAME

I think what she really needs is new arranger...It will bring a really fresh splash to her music...I don't think the composition of her song is bad, but the arrangement is so old...

Hoping that she will work with FAST LANE...I see that name so many times in current popular Jpop songs...She desperately need new arranger

She should take a break from using Yuta Nakano as her main choice for arrangements and also any compositions by Tetsuya Komuro. Maybe she could use the REDONE team more often ala Movin on without you or try other arrangers like Giorgio Cancemi (he composed/arranged some of Nishino Kana's biggest hits in 2010) or maybe even Akimitsu Honna (he arranged a couple of songs on A song for xx)

[Kazeyomi]

^
Yup, using different composers/arrangers for once would be like a breath of fresh air.
But I don't think it would be good enough to getting huge sales.

I agree with those who said Ayu could never be relevant in pop music nowadays. But I don't see it as a huge failure.
I think Ayu achieved a lot during her career and life so far, actually it's much more rewarding being a living legend rather than a popular singer. I've listened to many popular female jpop singers through the years, but most of them quickly being forgotten or they just quit with music.

Would be cool if she would sells tons of copies like on old good days, but I think she's doing well anyway.

[AyuGAME]

Originally Posted by ayuinh.k?

She should take a break from using Yuta Nakano as her main choice for arrangements and also any compositions by Tetsuya Komuro. Maybe she could use the REDONE team more often ala Movin on without you or try other arrangers like Giorgio Cancemi (he composed/arranged some of Nishino Kana's biggest hits in 2010) or maybe even Akimitsu Honna (he arranged a couple of songs on A song for xx)

AGREE with TK...I know TK is a legend, but let's admit it that his song is sooooo old school sounding in a bad way. Please Avex don't push Ayu to sing his song for a while...don't give her any TK demo song at least for two years.

Even when I start to hear Jpop back at 1999. GLOBE already going down in popularity. So why to keep GLOBE-esque kind of song again in 2015??? I don't get it. Lots and lots of new composers waiting and I believe they want their's song sing by Ayu.

Especially new Arranger..she really need it, different instrument sound, different beat. It will be nice.

[chocopockymaster]

^ because the trends of pop culture are cyclical and what was ~*~hip in the 90s~*~ is officially "in" again.

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

SO 1, 2, 3, 4, you and me?

[freedreamer]

release the album

PLAY again

[Delirium-Zer0]

It's not just that she needs to work with DIFFERENT people... It's that she needs to know whose sound will work best with what she's trying to say. HAL back in the day - and Ayu said this when RAINBOW came out - just UNDERSTOOD what Ayu wanted, and their arrangements reflected the feeling behind the lyrics really, REALLY well. They GOT IT. And I think Ayu's current musical collaborators are making songs that she likes listening to and that she finds appealing, but they don't always bring out the feeling of the song in the best way.

[evolution]

Perhaps she needs dai to compose songs for her again

[stepYOU1234]

I actually really like the RedOne arrangement for Movin' on without you. It was nostalgic but modern at the same time.

[ayu99persen]

We were used to like ayus old style with so much creativity,unique and really concepted,look at her now,she really decreased from party queen,worst cover,worst pv... and now everything she does, selling out mini albums wont help her,she really needs to hear what we want,to be unique,creative,to be different,to be always concepted, she is suite with dark rock,dark rnb,or whatever that many of us doesnt heard before.... all of my friends used to praise all her pv,now? I even cant show them how "too simple" her pv now

*sorry for bad english

[Pieces_of_SEVEN]

Originally Posted by stepYOU1234

I actually really like the RedOne arrangement for Movin' on without you. It was nostalgic but modern at the same time.

Maybe that was on purpose since the song is a cover of a sixteen-year-old song. lol

I also want her to switch up some of her team. I miss the likes of BOUNCEBACK (although I don't much care for shake it), CMJK, DAI, HAL, CREA, etc. (Even though I know CREA will never happen and HAL technically doesn't exist anymore.) I can always dream...