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

[hsienko]

Originally Posted by primavera♥

I think that response shows a lack of insight regarding ayu's career. It is something I would expect someone from the general public who doesn't really follow her to say though because I don't expect them to put that much effort to figuring out ayu or any celebrity really.

I've followed Ayumi Hamasaki since 2002 which is longer than you have, I feel as a decades long fan, people like you are the reason for her decline you keep putting this idea in her head on twitter and other social media that music from 1995 is what her fans want to listen to when its not true. I'm sure you have all sorts of modern artists you're listening to but instead of saying things on twitter or facebook which Ayumi has shown she's listen to, you won't say "This song is boring" or "This song sucks" and that's why she's disillusioned and keeps releasing crappy music. Now you can say whatever, it really doesn't matter the sales show the music sucks.

The japanese public are the only people who really have a say here because their domestic purchases have a say in her chart standing and their whose say actually count. I don't really get why you all are so anti-progressive, you'll listen to Selena or Ariana Grande but you want Ayumi to make music that sounds like "A Song for XX" which is stupid because in the majority, no one wants that sound anymore. I mean if we wanted to listen to something that sounded like "A Song for XX" 10x over then we would listen to "A Song for XX." Her sales are not good, so do you really think another release like sixxxx is going to get her Amuro status sales or good sales period? No. People on Amuro's team will tell her "that idea is no-good" instead of bullshitting because there is nothing wrong with not being a bitch boy and saying something is not good or won't appeal to the masses. I mean you guys as a the fans have a strong voice and you guys are 2000% entirely to blame because you keep putting in Ayumi's head as well as well as Avex trax that old school Ayumi is what people want when it's not true at all. Denying that fact... just look at the sales, Madonna at almost 60, can sell 3 million or more well all across the board but Ayu can barely sell 50,0000 around the world, that's very sad, I personally blame the fans especially the people here and people like you. You all should be ashamed of yourselves and how dare you call yourselves ayumi fans. No real fan would want their favorite to rehash the same music over and over again until it is as dead as Anna Mae. Be ashamed of yourselves because you all are personally responsible for her decline because she listens to you all and you keep putting bulllshit ideas in her head that enka would sell or crappy trance music from 1997 would sell. She went from selling 500,000 in 2006 to barely selling 50,000 you all should be ashamed of yourselves. Now, you can say whatever I really don't care, but we'll see who has the last laugh when Ayu stops putting out music forever because that's where her career is headed with you trolls who claim to be fans.

[murasakinohana]

Originally Posted by hsienko

I've followed Ayumi Hamasaki since 2002 which is longer than you have, I feel as a decades long fan, people like you are the reason for her decline you keep putting this idea in her head on twitter and other social media that music from 1995 is what her fans want to listen to when its not true. I'm sure you have all sorts of modern artists you're listening to but instead of saying things on twitter or facebook which Ayumi has shown she's listen to, you won't say "This song is boring" or "This song sucks" and that's why she's disillusioned and keeps releasing crappy music. Now you can say whatever, it really doesn't matter the sales show the music sucks.

The japanese public are the only people who really have a say here because their domestic purchases have a say in her chart standing and their whose say actually count. I don't really get why you all are so anti-progressive, you'll listen to Selena or Ariana Grande but you want Ayumi to make music that sounds like "A Song for XX" which is stupid because in the majority, no one wants that sound anymore. I mean if we wanted to listen to something that sounded like "A Song for XX" 10x over then we would listen to "A Song for XX." Her sales are not good, so do you really think another release like sixxxx is going to get her Amuro status sales or good sales period? No. People on Amuro's team will tell her "that idea is no-good" instead of bullshitting because there is nothing wrong with not being a bitch boy and saying something is not good or won't appeal to the masses. I mean you guys as a the fans have a strong voice and you guys are 2000% entirely to blame because you keep putting in Ayumi's head as well as well as Avex trax that old school Ayumi is what people want when it's not true at all. Denying that fact... just look at the sales, Madonna at almost 60, can sell 3 million or more well all across the board but Ayu can barely sell 50,0000 around the world, that's very sad, I personally blame the fans especially the people here and people like you. You all should be ashamed of yourselves and how dare you call yourselves ayumi fans. No real fan would want their favorite to rehash the same music over and over again until it is as dead as Anna Mae. Be ashamed of yourselves because you all are personally responsible for her decline because she listens to you all and you keep putting bulllshit ideas in her head that enka would sell or crappy trance music from 1997 would sell. She went from selling 500,000 in 2006 to barely selling 50,000 you all should be ashamed of yourselves. Now, you can say whatever I really don't care, but we'll see who has the last laugh when Ayu stops putting out music forever because that's where her career is headed with you trolls who claim to be fans.

Oh PREACH!! I hardly listen to her music anymore. It's 2015. You cannot, you simply cannot force me to listen to something that sounds like it could have been produced back in 1999-2002. It's dated as fuck. Seriously you guys, sometimes I get second-hand embarrassment listening to her recent songs. Like, really Ayu? I think this song fits in the 1999-2002 era. It doesn't sound like it should fit in in 2015.

[KarenPang]

How some fans can claim that A ONE & sixxxxxx are 'masterpieces' I cannot accept that . In fact I'm dumbfounded beyond words

I've been an Ayu fan for almost 10 years & seeing her in releasing/rehashing music styles that she did before & re-releasing them again , it just does not work

What worked back in the 90s , it doesn't apply the same now . Sure maybe if 1 or 2 songs sound like a throwback to what she does is OK but it's not doing her any good if she keeps doing it over & over again

Ayu should just go on a well deserved break . Get refreshed & recharged and come back with something great that will blow the heck outta everyone . She has been working/touring non stop , it's time she should do that

Also forget about trying to sell/do what Namie does . Namie's music journey is different from Ayu's and it's frankly really old if not very boring to keep comparing what both ladies does

[Minttulatte]

As much as I love A ONE and sixxxxxx (for the lyrics mostly) I think she should keep experimenting no matter what people say but not like what she did with COLOURS. That album was nice at first but when I read the lyrics, it was the first time I felt so disconnected with her songs. It didn't feel like Ayu. I also felt that she was trying too hard to be a western popstar there, especially in XOXO PV. I couldn't stand it because I felt like I was watching Ariana Grande (I can't stand her) instead, lol. And Ayu is not that annoying. A ONE and sixxxxxx are good because they have that Ayu feel on them that I love.

(Miss)understood era Ayu is the one I love the most. That album really has a perfect mix of many different genres in it. It would be awesome if there was something like that coming out next. Not the same thing, but similar. I think Party Queen's diversity was going to the right direction and it sucks that she stopped experimenting like that after that. I hope she'll experiment more in the future but keeps the Ayu feel in her work. It would be like a mix of old and new or something like that.

As for the sales issue here, I don't think she does badly at all. I think it's awesome that she can still hit 40,000-50,000 sales after being active singer for 17 years. Her sales could be much, much worse, too.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by primavera♥

I think that response shows a lack of insight regarding ayu's career. It is something I would expect someone from the general public who doesn't really follow her to say though because I don't expect them to put that much effort to figuring out ayu or any celebrity really.

But not only that, a lot of replies here shows a total lack of understanding how the market works as a whole. There are a lot of unreal expectations.

Now, you can say whatever I really don't care, but we'll see who has the last laugh when Ayu stops putting out music forever because that's where her career is headed with you trolls who claim to be fans.

So, you just admited you are wanting her to end her career and we are the trolls? Why would we spend our money on her releases if we didn't really like them?

As for the sales issue here, I don't think she does badly at all. I think it's awesome that she can still hit 40,000-50,000 sales after being active singer for 17 years. Her sales could be much, much worse, too.

And her releases still get the top 5 once they debut... This actually is quite impressive considering how long her career is and how for how long she was super exposed. She is also still is one of the biggest solo performers in the country.

[primavera♥]

Originally Posted by hsienko

I've followed Ayumi Hamasaki since 2002 which is longer than you have, I feel as a decades long fan, people like you are the reason for her decline you keep putting this idea in her head on twitter and other social media that music from 1995 is what her fans want to listen to when its not true. I'm sure you have all sorts of modern artists you're listening to but instead of saying things on twitter or facebook which Ayumi has shown she's listen to, you won't say "This song is boring" or "This song sucks" and that's why she's disillusioned and keeps releasing crappy music. Now you can say whatever, it really doesn't matter the sales show the music sucks.

The japanese public are the only people who really have a say here because their domestic purchases have a say in her chart standing and their whose say actually count. I don't really get why you all are so anti-progressive, you'll listen to Selena or Ariana Grande but you want Ayumi to make music that sounds like "A Song for XX" which is stupid because in the majority, no one wants that sound anymore. I mean if we wanted to listen to something that sounded like "A Song for XX" 10x over then we would listen to "A Song for XX." Her sales are not good, so do you really think another release like sixxxx is going to get her Amuro status sales or good sales period? No. People on Amuro's team will tell her "that idea is no-good" instead of bullshitting because there is nothing wrong with not being a bitch boy and saying something is not good or won't appeal to the masses. I mean you guys as a the fans have a strong voice and you guys are 2000% entirely to blame because you keep putting in Ayumi's head as well as well as Avex trax that old school Ayumi is what people want when it's not true at all. Denying that fact... just look at the sales, Madonna at almost 60, can sell 3 million or more well all across the board but Ayu can barely sell 50,0000 around the world, that's very sad, I personally blame the fans especially the people here and people like you. You all should be ashamed of yourselves and how dare you call yourselves ayumi fans. No real fan would want their favorite to rehash the same music over and over again until it is as dead as Anna Mae. Be ashamed of yourselves because you all are personally responsible for her decline because she listens to you all and you keep putting bulllshit ideas in her head that enka would sell or crappy trance music from 1997 would sell. She went from selling 500,000 in 2006 to barely selling 50,000 you all should be ashamed of yourselves. Now, you can say whatever I really don't care, but we'll see who has the last laugh when Ayu stops putting out music forever because that's where her career is headed with you trolls who claim to be fans.

Lol this is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on this forum. I usually only witness this type of ignorance and lack of logic on the hip hop forum I go on.

Being an ayu fan for a long time doesn't matter if you don't try to understand anything. Being unreasonably pessimistic is typically just about as ridiculous as being unreasonably optimistic.

You just compared ayumi's sales to Madonnas...as if they ever compared. Consistently unreaosnable observations like that make me continue to not want to give a full response. Open your mind some.

Clearly don't know all of the actual opinions of ayu from myself and many of the ayu fans that you blame for her career state as well. Everything is way more nuanced than you make it.

[NintendoHTF1242]

lol she experiments with Colours and you guys dislike it. She does basic shit with A ONE and you guys dislike it. Is there honestly any way for Ayu to win anymore?

[Andrenekoi]

^To be fair, a lot of her most experiemental tracks are also those the people around here hates the most... Snowy Kiss, NaNaNa, Shake it, the next LOVE, Eyes Smoke Magic, Return Road, Bold & Delicious...

[Delicious n Bold]

People around her? Like her fans who go to her tours?

[Andrenekoi]

^"around here", I missed one "e"

[koumori]

Originally Posted by hsienko

Now, you can say whatever I really don't care, but we'll see who has the last laugh when Ayu stops putting out music forever because that's where her career is headed with you trolls who claim to be fans.

This sort of wording isn't proper contribution to debates here on AHS. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but people lowering themselves to personal insults only undermine their own arguments. You may have had a good point buried in there somewhere but all I had in my head by the end was this.

The discussion is interesting but let's deescalate. Thank you.

[Gustavopc]

I wonder how the general Japanese public reacted to her covering globe? Were there any news on this? Maybe covering Hikki and now globe are a bit of strategy for her image. idk how it works exactly in Japan, but covering a song is a good move.

[Delicious n Bold]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

lol she experiments with Colours and you guys dislike it. She does basic shit with A ONE and you guys dislike it. Is there honestly any way for Ayu to win anymore?

lol I thought A ONE was the "best album she released in years" and "a return to form".

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by Delicious n Bold

lol I thought A ONE was the "best album she released in years" and "a return to form".

That's why I'm baffled with this thread at the moment. People were just saying A ONE was the best thing Ayu has released in years (psst... It wasn't).

[TheRainbow]

Originally Posted by hsienko

Denying that fact... just look at the sales, Madonna at almost 60, can sell 3 million or more well all across the board but Ayu can barely sell 50,0000 around the world

I like Madonna, but come on, the last time she sold over 3 million was 7 years ago. Her latest one hasn't even hit 1 million, if I recall correctly. Plus, their careers are so different--Madonna built her career and expanded globally way earlier. She's a global legend in a way that Japanese artists really can't be (hell, without fluent English, it's almost impossible to be a successful act in America or any other major international market).

As for lower sales = worse music, well, everyone's had this argument a million times and it's never going to be proven right or wrong. Not when predictable music is successful plenty of times.

And really, if I didn't enjoy her music, I wouldn't get it--I would like to keep as much as my hard-earned money as possible LOL. But I do, even Colours, A ONE and sixxxxxx. I have fond memories of singing along with friends, of being put in a good mood or getting intrigued, even for a few minutes. So I pay for her music (and many others') as a sign of MY approval. Even if someone else considers it boring or a rehash. It'd be way more silly to force myself to hate music when I already enjoy it, right? If I do dislike something, I'll say something about it every now and then, but dwelling on it bores me way more than a bad song.

And yes, she probably doesn't want to be critiqued, I agree, but it's her right to not want the critique at this point in her career. She isn't trying to break into the industry and doesn't need to save her career. At the end of the day, she's still making a substantial amount of money doing something way more interesting than white-collar work.

But above all, who cares? Even if she ends up selling 5,000 per release, she'll be fine. If her latest music makes her feel fulfilled, why should she honestly put so much effort into manufacturing a new image for herself when she already has so much? She's made her own mark in music history and no amount of "bad music" can destroy the past. Her success and appeal won't be permanent, but let's face it, she's good in pretty much every current aspect of her life.

[melissalove]

Originally Posted by NintendoHTF1242

That's why I'm baffled with this thread at the moment. People were just saying A ONE was the best thing Ayu has released in years (psst... It wasn't).

Those are the people who claim that everything ayu does at the moment is perfect. Then on her next album, they say this new one is the best. It's a circus really.

[channy]

I'm actually certain that bad releases of today can potentially devaluate accomplishments and quality standards of the past. Alas it's not like her "golden era" from 2000/2001 justifies wrong turns that happen 10 years later, vice versa though, unsuccessful, infamous output can demolish the reputation and value her image once embodied.

The less I watch and listen to the older Ayu, the more I forget about the fascination I once felt. If I wouldn't regularly go back to her older stuff and prevalently listen to what is her style these days instead, I would most likely lose any interest in her music.

[TheRainbow]

Maybe I should clarify what I meant by that haha.

Of course, there could be any number of reasons to not enjoy her past music anymore. You might not want to replay her old songs because her new ones don't show the artist you loved "fully." Maybe she'd have passed away or committed a heinous crime (I really hope she doesn't become a criminal lol ). But none of that will undo any emotional connection she had with people in the past. All the people that were happy listening to her years ago--that can't be undone. That's her legacy, in my opinion.

[paper_doll]

Originally Posted by hsienko

just look at the sales, Madonna at almost 60, can sell 3 million or more well all across the board but Ayu can barely sell 50,0000 around the world, that's very sad

What kind of unfair comparisons.

Ayu's music isn't even sold globally. And it's not in English (which is a huge barrier for sales, regardless). Madonna's last album hasn't even sold a million copies, either...

[KarenPang]

Originally Posted by melissalove

Those are the people who claim that everything ayu does at the moment is perfect. Then on her next album, they say this new one is the best. It's a circus really.

They're the very same group of people who're completely disillusional & still feels that every single thing that Ayu puts out is great/perfect/flawless no matter how bad the music and/or covers are

And when the covers are bad , they still are in deny how really bad they're in reality

I think for longtime sane fans of Ayu , you will know what's the era(s) & songs that define when she was at her best . I'm not speaking from sales perspective but from when she nailed every aspect well (from image , lyrically , vocally & the way her past PVs were executed in conveying the message she wanted to bring across the board)

Recently I spoke to a friend who's also a longtime Ayu fan & she said the last release she was really impressed of her was FIVE & that was 4 years ago . She used to buy her releases but she already stopped doing that

Ayu is the 1st Japanese artiste I listened to . As such no matter how many bad choices she has made over the years since then , she still has a special place in my heart but I've already long accepted that her peak is over . If in the future she still can manage to pull something great that will blow me away , I say bring it on as I haven't have that WOW feeling from her in a very long time now