What's wrong with avex?

...so does that answer the question?

[Raleigh]

Originally Posted by evolusean

It makes sense. The Japanese music scene was generally always made up of fleeting idol singers. They were hot for a while, then faded out. 3 albums sounds too early for a greatest hits album, but when the artist doesn't last much longer than that...

I don't know if Avex expected Ayu to last much longer than your average idol, and they probably wanted to cash in on her one last time for certain. Ayu definitely didn't want to die out after only 3 albums, so probably saw the pressure for a hits album as a lack of faith in her to make a lasting cultural impact. I don't think they were trying to end her career, but wanted to be sure they could get as much money from her as possible before it did end.

Hmm.. yeah you do have a point here. They might have done that.

[RAISKA]

I like Avex, no matter what others say. It's so huge company, that produce really cool, great and famous singers! It makes such cool stars, so, I like it! I will only hate it, if it will make something bad for Ayu...
I think Ayu choosed her way in life herself, I think, if she felt bad, she could go away from Avex everywhere she wanted to, even after "A Song for XX" album. I'm not protecting Avex, but so many people say, how bad it influences on Ayu, but I say, as I think, Ayu choosed herself that life...

[nmskalmn]

Originally Posted by devilayu

I can't deny that I think there are problems within the actual running of the company somewhere, there's no solid proof. Eh, business is business.

Sure there are problems at avex. The ousting of Tom Yoda last year is evidence of that. But every company is going to face issues sooner or later. In my opinion, the only thing unusual about what happened is the public and dramatic way it came out.

I have worked for 4 different businesses so far. All of them had management issues, and at two of them really dirty things were going on. I don't mean being rude to guests or showing favoritism towards certain employees. I'm talking about things people can go to jail for. And in both of those cases the company's customers had no clue what was going on. Likewise, none of us would know if Giza, Pony Canyon, etc was having inner problems.

At least at avex it's only been personality conflicts, and not fraud or other criminal acts (that we know of anyway ).

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Originally Posted by luminaire

Both "A BEST" and "A" were released in order to try and force Ayu to end her career, for whatever reasons. I don't know if Avex wanted her to pull a Yamaguchi Momoe, but it certainly left her very upset after the "A BEST" incident.

We know that Ayu did not want to release "A BEST", but it would make no sense whatsoever for avex to 'force Ayu to end her career'. I assume this is just a theory dreamt up by fans.

Another unsubstantiated claim I've seen is that avex is 'trying to bring Ayu down', or 'make Ayu less popular'. Again, it makes no sense for avex to take such action. I don't understand the basis of such comments.

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Remix albums, compilation CDs, multiple covers. I don't see any negative side to releasing these things. It's no extra work for Ayu, except possibly a cover shoot. Remix albums make work for the DJs and brings in extra money for avex and Ayu. If avex can sell more units through these tactics it's incredibly foolish not to take advantage of it. No one is forced to buy them

(Incidentally, I tend to buy best collections for singers besides Ayu. I can't afford to get every album from every singer, and the compilations contain all the tracks I want anyway.)

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Originally Posted by hanabiwings

I have viewed stock holder meetings where discussing "managing the idol" has been a major topic.

Toshiba-EMI, Sony, etc don't do this? I understand why people dislike the way record companies treat their artists as commodities. I don't think it's right either, but that's the price of fame and fortune. This is the reality in our consumer culture.

Originally Posted by RAISKA

I think Ayu choosed her way in life herself, I think, if she felt bad, she could go away from Avex everywhere she wanted to, even after "A Song for XX" album. I'm not protecting Avex, but so many people say, how bad it influences on Ayu, but I say, as I think, Ayu choosed herself that life...

I agree. Ayu is an adult, she knows way more about what is going on at avex than any of us, and she can decide for herself.

[marty518]

Originally Posted by evolusean

can anyone explain Arashiro Beni to me? Why does she exist? Ahh yes, she won a beauty contest (and boy does she take the cake when standing still, quietly).

It's true that Beni isn't as talented as Ayu or some other Avex artists, but you have to forgive her because she's only just begun her career as a solo artist. When Namie was in the Super Monkey group, and Ayu was releasing her first songs, their voices definitely sounded different than they do today. I'm not promising that Beni will come to have a beautiful or distinct voice like Namie and Ayu (who were also Kosé Visée spokeswomen like Beni is now!), but I think that she deserves a chance.

Her latest single is my favorite new summer song so far. I like it considerably better than fairyland, though I like Namie's new stuff a little better than Beni. I'm not going to fight to the death for Beni, but I'm a huge fan and now is the time that she needs support most. Hopefully then she'll be able to be more heavily promoted by Avex and release really great songs.

I think one thing Avex has done right is to allow Beni to be one of the opening acts at A-nation '05! This will be her chance to showcase what she's got, and hopefully she'll do a great job and win a lot of fans over.

[boogieordie]

I find it amusing that it's considered bad when Avex pushes one artist more than others. This happened with Ayu for a long time, when she was making up something like, 60% (?) of their revenue. No Ayu fans would have complained about that practice then.

I think they're a business, and, as a business, they are doing what they're supposed to be doing. I can understand why they rerelease the SAME thing over and over, and why they choose not to pay for remixes for 10 track singles anymore. They're in the business to make money. But as a fan, I like it better when they paid for remixes because I felt I was getting more for my money.

I don't know. I don't really have too big of a beef with them as it is.

People just need to realize that Avex is a business. Their artists are signed to make them money. Ayu has said that she IS a product. They'll manager her, and the other people that work there, in the way that'll make them the msot money. All record companies do that.

[ashlee]

i think that avex is a an OK company. but the reality is that you can't blame the company for everything about Ayu's career. just like any artist, popularity is going to fade and people can't blame the company for an artist who is losing popularity, styles of music change and etc. ayu can't be popular forever in japan and thats a fact and the company cant be blamed for it either just that simple.

[hamayu]

Originally Posted by touchedstar

You're looking for facts and sources, but I honestly think there aren't any to give. The majority of us know very little about Avex and I just don't think we have any concrete evidence that Avex is "bad."

well probobly cuz it isnt bad... we just like to think dat way cuz we find dat dere seems to b rumours about avex trying to replace ayu or sometin and we as ayu fans ofcourse will defend her dere for thinking avex is BAAAAAADDDDD. but if u really look for reasons den i guess dere isnt dat many. u never no, maybe dere is...