Hi, MJD
Actually you under estimated her Taiwanese success a lot.
https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20091221/32175644/
Next Level released in 2009 actually sold 26k copies that year according to Taiwanese labels. It is the best selling Japanese album of 2009 in Taiwan, yes, the #1 of that year.

https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20081220/31246691/
Gulty sold 44k in Taiwan and A Complete~All Singles sold 46k in Taiwan, being the best selling #1 and #2 Japanese album of 2008 in Taiwan.

http://badxbyy.com/gb/5/7/20/n991561.htm
My Story released in 2004 shipped 73k copies in Taiwan by July 2005.

https://m.bilibili.com/video/av10145534.html
Duty in 2000 shipped 2xPlatinum=100k on its first day of release according to Avex's official TV CM in Taiwan.

http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/00e71410eeb49e6f1b8bfd2b7ceebc22
Even her 2002 remix album"ayu-mi-x 4 selection Non Stop Mega Mix Version" shipped 100,000 copies in Taiwan in just one month, from its reported "March"release to April 10th. I am... released in January 7th in Taiwan according to Avex Taiwan website, which released 6 days later than in Japan, so its difinitely not I am, although I am shipped 114k copies according to IFPI in the whole 2002, being the #1 selling Japanse album of that year.

https://www.avex.com.tw/artist/artist_news_info.asp?NewsID=147
Ayumi sold 280k records in Taiwan in 2003, which worth 100 million TD. Did you consider it? I think Memorial Address reprensented only a little bit actually, most shipments I thought were done in 2004. And, I think as you already know that Rainbow sold 110k by May 2003, I think adding catalog sales it would be around 125k though, the same for A Ballads which reported at 80k also by May 2003.

https://news.livedoor.com/lite/article_detail/3837679/
EMI reported that Distance by Hikaru Utada shipped 4.86 million domesticly, and 590k overseas. Also, EMI Taiwan reported that Dsitance by Hikaru Utada sold 250k copies there. Although in 2001 the whole Taiwanese markets was down, it was still very healthy for big J-pop releases. A Best in that year was said to sold 300k-400k in Taiwan. No reports actually. It was just everyone said that it past 300k. It was very possible, because you found that since 1999 no western album past 500k in Taiwan, because J-pop was repacing western music in Taiwan then. First Love past 500k, Distance past 250k, and Deep River past 150k(I don't know why it didn't became #1 selling Japanese album of 2002 because I am sold less at 114k, but EMI did report 150k for Deep River, maybe because of catalog sales). Then, in late 00s, K-pop repaced J-pop.

There was an interview that said FIVE sold 10k in Singapore. Guity is said to sold 25k in Hong Kong. I think that you over estimate her early album sales in China. Chinese markets were actually rising in early 00s.It peaked at 2004. So, I think her best seller was actually I am... Ayumi was a nobody in A Song For XX era in China actually.

http://web.archive.org/web/20021222092134fw_/http://www.avex.com.tw/ayu/index.htm
Actually,Ayumi's albums were not only issued in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. Avex reported that RAINBOW was released in 7 Asian countries at the same time, yes at the same time as Japan (included in the 7 Asian countries). So obviously in Singapore, I think Ayumi's albums were sold as local versions, not imports. Because imports can be sold any time, Avex don't need to repeat that it released at the same time.Another fact that she was also very popular in Thailand. At the end of 2002, Ayumi was awarded the "Ruby Ambassador" by the Thai government and the National Gemstone Jewelry Export Association. Wikipedia said that Ayumi's albums were released by Universal Music Thailand. I think it may be true.

Hi, MJD
Actually you under estimated her Taiwanese success a lot.
https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20091221/32175644/
Next Level released in 2009 actually sold 26k copies that year according to Taiwanese labels. It is the best selling Japanese album of 2009 in Taiwan, yes, the #1 of that year.

https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20081220/31246691/
Gulty sold 44k in Taiwan and A Complete~All Singles sold 46k in Taiwan, being the best selling #1 and #2 Japanese album of 2008 in Taiwan.

http://badxbyy.com/gb/5/7/20/n991561.htm
My Story released in 2004 shipped 73k copies in Taiwan by July 2005.

https://m.bilibili.com/video/av10145534.html
Duty in 2000 shipped 2xPlatinum=100k on its first day of release according to Avex's official TV CM in Taiwan.

http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/00e71410eeb49e6f1b8bfd2b7ceebc22
Even her 2002 remix album"ayu-mi-x 4 selection Non Stop Mega Mix Version" shipped 100,000 copies in Taiwan in just one month, from its reported "March"release to April 10th. I am... released in January 7th in Taiwan according to Avex Taiwan website, which released 6 days later than in Japan, so its difinitely not I am, although I am shipped 114k copies according to IFPI in the whole 2002, being the #1 selling Japanse album of that year.

https://www.avex.com.tw/artist/artist_news_info.asp?NewsID=147
Ayumi sold 280k records in Taiwan in 2003, which worth 100 million TD. Did you consider it? I think Memorial Address reprensented only a little bit actually, most shipments I thought were done in 2004. And, I think as you already know that Rainbow sold 110k by May 2003, I think adding catalog sales it would be around 125k though, the same for A Ballads which reported at 80k also by May 2003.

https://news.livedoor.com/lite/article_detail/3837679/
EMI reported that Distance by Hikaru Utada shipped 4.86 million domesticly, and 590k overseas. Also, EMI Taiwan reported that Dsitance by Hikaru Utada sold 250k copies there. Although in 2001 the whole Taiwanese markets was down, it was still very healthy for big J-pop releases. A Best in that year was said to sold 300k-400k in Taiwan. No reports actually. It was just everyone said that it past 300k. It was very possible, because you found that since 1999 no western album past 500k in Taiwan, because J-pop was repacing western music in Taiwan then. First Love past 500k, Distance past 250k, and Deep River past 150k(I don't know why it didn't became #1 selling Japanese album of 2002 because I am sold less at 114k, but EMI did report 150k for Deep River, maybe because of catalog sales). Then, in late 00s, K-pop replaced J-pop.

There was an interview that said FIVE sold 10k in Singapore. Guity is said to sold 25k in Hong Kong. I think that you over estimate her early album sales in China. Chinese markets were actually rising in early 00s.It peaked at 2004. So, I think her best seller was actually I am... Ayumi was a nobody in A Song For XX era in China actually.

http://web.archive.org/web/20021222090902fw_/http://www.avex.com.tw/ayu/event/rainbow_news/index.htm#5
Actually,Ayumi's albums were not only issued in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. Avex reported that RAINBOW was released in 7 Asian countries at the same time, yes at the same time as Japan (included in the 7 Asian countries). So obviously in Singapore, I think Ayumi's albums were sold as local versions, not imports. Because imports can be sold any time, Avex don't need to repeat that it released at the same time.Another fact that she was also very popular in Thailand. At the end of 2002, Ayumi was awarded the "Ruby Ambassador" by the Thai government and the National Gemstone Jewelry Export Association. Wikipedia said that Ayumi's albums were released by Universal Music Thailand. I think it may be true though.

Can you do an article for Xuxa?

Hi djdj!

I do not believe all claims I have read about her sales in Taiwan as there is consistent data making them unrealistic. For example I Am... is often claimed at 150k+ while it did 114k as you mention. Also, I compared YouTube Views / streams distribution for all her main markets, and it's clear that she exploded from I Am... only in Taiwan. A Song for XX charted there but without making big waves and its singles are already among her top performers pre-I Am. Hikaru was way, way bigger than her there, she is a bad comparison. In China for example Ayumi got big earlier for sure, while getting a new boost in the second half of the 00s with My All.

Rainbow was indeed released in more countries but that's precisely an answer to the larger success abroad of I Am... Up to that album, her releases were made in Japan / HK / China-or-Taiwan. That's also why we should be very careful for claims from each of these markets as they include exports to remaining countries.

Figures mentioned for China / Exports / even Taiwan aren't 100% verified figures for early. They are known sales abroad distributed as per the strength of each album's main singles in each of these markets. Basically, totals are correct, the distribution is aims to reflect her popularity in each of them, but that's not factual data.

For Memorial Address, near 100% of its shipments were definitely done in 2003. In 2004, I wouldn't be surprised if its shipments were negative since for all her post-peak releases mass shipments happened upon release and that was levelled out in later months. Then for the 280k figure, we tend to focus on 2/3 studio albums, but that's a records total, we need to consider everything else, remix albums, compilations, physical singles, music videos, etc.

I think you should pay attention to the fact that the news especially some data released by record companies is often suspected of exaggerating , thus ,it cannot be a proof.

I am curious where the sales figures for digital downloads come from. The only source that I've been able to find is figures from RIAJ, but they are far lower than what is posted here. For example, Seasons is only certified for 100,000 digital downloads with RIAJ, as opposed to the million you have here. Not questioning the validity because I honestly thing your figure sounds more correct. I've just been searching for a good resource to find download data for Japanese artists.

Do Cyndi Lauper, please!!

Hi Christina!

When I started working on Ayumi, digital sales were my main concern. Between Avex figures, early RIAJ certifications, market figures from RIAJ as well and chart runs on distinct charts (Ringtone Monthly, weekly Digital Track, etc), it all became fairly clear through. At the end I was even more comfortable with them than with album sales!

Basically, the 4 sources I mentioned give a very good idea of sales during promotional campaigns. The only area of doubt is catalog sales. Then, she has got enough 'catalog' certifications to put head to head their initial sales and catalog sales, and then define ratios with their streaming numbers (both on AWA and YouTube). The most streamed songs recently appeared to be, naturally, also the highest catalog sellers, then it was only a matter of assigning %s of these catalog sales to the other, non-recertified old songs, based on their relative strength in streaming. After doing all that it appeared that totals were perfectly in line with the all-time lists of Recochoku.

I actually have 4 numbers for all songs: Chaku-Uta, Chaku-Uta Full, Downloads, all in Japan, and foreign sales. For Japanese downloads, the former format started being much stronger very early in the 00s, then it moved to Full ringtones, and then to downloads. Th

Ok so assuming Britney sold 1.6 billion dollars according to you. Then its still more than Ayumi's 1.2 billion dollars value. So I was right. Britney sold more, value wise. So whats ur point? 🙄

You are fooling yourself. Ayumi's 1.2 billion dollars are just physical record sales, which do not include catalog sales,export sales and foreign sales. Also, 46.5 million digital singles were not counted at all. Combined, that would be over 2 billion dollars.

These were official figures provived in early years, which include no inflated sales at all.

Hi, MJD. I am WAS NEVER CLAIMED as a 150+k seller acutally. It was just that it was certifed at 3xPlatinum+Gold, which equal to 175k copies by the early critera. But actually, when I am was certified 3xP+G, the critera was changed, so acutally it was 105k certified. It was never been inflated, the wrong inflated igure were caused by the fans which mistake the certification critera.
https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20091221/32175644/
Next Level released in 2009 actually sold 26k copies that year according to Taiwanese labels. It is the best selling Japanese album of 2009 in Taiwan, yes, the #1 of that year.

https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20081220/31246691/
Gulty sold 44k in Taiwan and A Complete~All Singles sold 46k in Taiwan, being the best selling #1 and #2 Japanese album of 2008 in Taiwan.

http://badxbyy.com/gb/5/7/20/n991561.htm
My Story released in 2004 shipped 73k copies in Taiwan by July 2005.

https://m.bilibili.com/video/av10145534.html
Duty in 2000 shipped 2xPlatinum=100k on its first day of release according to Avex’s official TV CM in Taiwan.

Again, these figures were provided by official company soures, which been reported by official newspapapers. These are not just like the fake figures often reported by those labels, because these were YEARLY LABEL SHIPMENTS reports, which were very very very reliable, just like I stated Michael Jackson's Taiwan figures to you last time. Duty was 2xPlatinum on its first day of release, yes, it was its AVEX official commercial video said,as I linked you the video. Ayumi already got huge popularity then. As Avex stated, Duty was released on September 27th, 2000(See Avex Taiwan website, which stated I am released in Taiwan on January 7th, 2002, which released 6 days later than in Japan), the same day as in Japan. A place where albums can be released at the same time in domestic, obiviously Ayumi was already popular there.
https://books.google.com/books?id=UBAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=ayumi+hamasaki+taiwan&hl=zh-CN&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj127yEysvlAhUFMN4KHfWhBOgQ6AEITzAG#v=onepage&q=ayumi%20hamasaki%20taiwan&f=false
You should know that Avex Taiwan was a very very large label in Taiwan, which represents a lot in Taiwan music industry, Ayumi can be early promoted there, not like Southeast Asia where Avex don't know what to deal with. Hikaru was way way less popular than Ayumi in Taiwan in late 00s though, As I provived you YEARLY Ranks for J-pop album shipments provided, Even NEXT LEVEL, a flop album for her in Japan, was the best-selling J-pop album that year. In 2008, both A Complete~All Singles and Guilty outsold Namie Amuro's hit compilation, which sold nearly 2 million copies in Japan, while Guity only sold around 600k there. And Utada's every album released at that time were not expoded in the rankings, confirming her popularity in Taiwan got really big decline,while her albums can still sold many million in Japan. I don't know about early years, However, A Best were always confirmed as a 300k plus seller in Taiwan. I think you underestimate a lot for REST OF ASIA region.Utada's First Love shipped 8.6 million(reported by EMI in 10s,there are a lot of articles,the figures were up to date) in Japan and 9.9 million globally, including 500k in Taiwan and 200k in China, leaving a smash 600k for Rest Of Asia. Distance shipped 4.8 million in Japan and 5.5 million globally, including 250k in Taiwan. Estimating 100k sales in China, still leaving a huge 250k for Rest of Asia. She sold close to nothing outside Asia back then, and Ayumi's Asian popularity were above her at that time. It was hard to tell, YouTube Insights can't tell anything since Avex don't allow Ayumi's PVs released completely on YouTube and limits the views overseas, while Utada's PVs has no limits at all on YouTube. As seen on EBAY or otherwise, Utada's records were also nothing like Thailand version or Singapore version of releases, meaning that they just got disappeared and no one who owns them wants to sell them out, they want to collect themselves, so actually they all existed.
Besides, can you add a breakdown for comilations which sold over 1 million copies ,and THEtotal album sales per country, which all other artists have?Thanx

Hi, MJD. I am WAS NEVER CLAIMED as a 150+k seller acutally. It was just that it was certifed at 3xPlatinum+Gold, which equal to 175k copies by the early critera. But actually, when I am was certified 3xP+G, the critera was changed, so acutally it was 105k certified. It was never been inflated, the wrong inflated igure were caused by the fans which mistake the certification critera.
https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20091221/32175644/
Next Level released in 2009 actually sold 26k copies that year according to Taiwanese labels. It is the best selling Japanese album of 2009 in Taiwan, yes, the #1 of that year.

https://tw.entertainment.appledaily.com/daily/20081220/31246691/
Gulty sold 44k in Taiwan and A Complete~All Singles sold 46k in Taiwan, being the best selling #1 and #2 Japanese album of 2008 in Taiwan.

http://badxbyy.com/gb/5/7/20/n991561.htm
My Story released in 2004 shipped 73k copies in Taiwan by July 2005.
https://m.bilibili.com/video/av10145534.html
Duty in 2000 shipped 2xPlatinum=100k on its first day of release according to Avex’s official TV CM in Taiwan.

Again, these figures were provided by official company soures, which been reported by official newspapapers. These are not just like the fake figures often reported by those labels, because these were YEARLY LABEL SHIPMENTS reports, which were very very very reliable, just like I stated Michael Jackson’s Taiwan figures to you last time. Duty was 2xPlatinum on its first day of release, yes, it was its AVEX official commercial video said,as I linked you the video. Ayumi already got huge popularity then. As Avex stated, Duty was released on September 27th, 2000(See Avex Taiwan website, which stated I am released in Taiwan on January 7th, 2002, which released 6 days later than in Japan), the same day as in Japan. A place where albums can be released at the same time in domestic, obiviously Ayumi was already popular there.
https://books.google.com/books?id=UBAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=ayumi+hamasaki+taiwan&hl=zh-CN&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj127yEysvlAhUFMN4KHfWhBOgQ6AEITzAG#v=onepage&q=ayumi%20hamasaki%20taiwan&f=false

You should know that Avex Taiwan was a very very large label in Taiwan, which represents a lot in Taiwan music industry, Ayumi can be early promoted there, not like Southeast Asia where Avex don’t know what to deal with. Hikaru was way way less popular than Ayumi in Taiwan in late 00s though, As I provived you YEARLY Ranks for J-pop album shipments provided, Even NEXT LEVEL, a flop album for her in Japan, was the best-selling J-pop album that year. In 2008, both A Complete~All Singles and Guilty outsold Namie Amuro’s hit compilation, which sold nearly 2 million copies in Japan, while Guity only sold around 600k there. And Utada’s every album released at that time were not expoded in the rankings, confirming her popularity in Taiwan got really big decline,while her albums can still sold many million in Japan. I don’t know about early years, However, A Best were always confirmed as a 300k plus seller in Taiwan. I think you underestimate a lot for REST OF ASIA region. Utada’s First Love shipped 8.6 million(reported by EMI in 10s,there are a lot of articles,the figures were up to date) in Japan and 9.9 million globally, including 500k in Taiwan and 200k in China, leaving a smash 600k for Rest Of Asia. Distance shipped 4.8 million in Japan and 5.5 million globally, including 250k in Taiwan. Estimating 100k sales in China, still leaving a huge 250k for Rest of Asia. She sold close to nothing outside Asia back then, and Ayumi’s Asian popularity were above her at that time. It was hard to tell, YouTube Insights can’t tell anything since Avex don’t allow Ayumi’s PVs released completely on YouTube and limits the views overseas, while Utada’s PVs has no limits at all on YouTube. As seen on EBAY or otherwise, Utada’s records were also nothing like Thailand version or Singapore version of releases, meaning that they just got disappeared and no one who owns them wants to sell them out, they want to collect themselves, so actually they all existed.
Besides, can you add a breakdown for comilations which sold over 1 million copies ,and THEtotal album sales per country, which all other artists have?Thanx