[NJ] Oricon's Heisei Sales Ranking: Heisei's Highest Selling Artist is B'z, SMAP and Utada Hikaru Rank First on the Single and Album Rankings

[eclecticcupcake]

Oricon's Heisei Sales Ranking: Heisei's Highest Selling Artist is B'z, SMAP and Utada Hikaru Rank First on the Single and Album Rankings

 

Source: Netizen J

[mmmmm]

Ayumi, Utada and Namie literally created some of the best music in j-pop, they brought so much recognition to Japanese music during the early 2000's all throughout Asia. They changed the landscape of music during the 1990's and 2000's. You have Utada the 16-year-old prodigy who produced and wrote and arranged all her music, or ayu who literally wrote some of the most poetic and sublime lyrics, she also produced some of the most iconic songs during her peak.  

[APTX4869]

B'z 

[Kai Ackerman]

I've heard this about B'z...they are unstoppable

 

Ichibu to zenbu is an awesome song

[Misa]

SMAP

[ParadiseMaze]

*Ventures out of Kpop land to cheer for B'z* Yay my fave Japanese band! I saw them once in the US in a small venue and it was the most amazing thing ever. glad to see they're still appreciated All my Japanese friends made fun of me for liking old-people music when I was there, but I don't care

[Liberty]

Namie is where she belongs, IN HER HOME OUT OF THIS LIST 

[Midnight~Circus]

Truly the end of an era. There will never be another Heisei era music wise. I truly appreciated the amount of talent, creativity and amazing music trends. 

[kevinpr9]

Absolutely the end of an era. Those late 90s-2000s era was the most diverse Japanese music mainstream scene I've ever encountered. I cannot think of an upcoming music era that will have the same amount of exposure as in the late90's-2000s.

 

There won't be another female artist who has the same amount of caliber as Utada, Ayumi, Namie, and even Kumi Koda. Who'll be the #1 artist for the upcoming Reiwa era will be totally different. We will not be seeing either a huge prodigy like Utada, Mai Kuraki, or an artist that catches massive attention and buzz like Ayumi, Namie, and Kumi. The same thing for Japanese bands. Ofc the bands will be alive but there won't be any that produces sales as big as Glay, B'z, Mr.Children, and L'arc-en-ciel.

 

Also the 2000s was the time when the idol groups didn't make a large portion of Japanese music revenue. The Hello Project and Johnny's were the only idol groups that garnered big media attention at that time. And the revenue was absolutely bigger than nowadays. But then Akimoto happened and the current industry is largely dominated by those gimmicky sales from idols which causes the industry to be declining. Imagine omitting those sales, do you think the industry is gonna stay healthy?

 

Oh and also I can't wait to see some predictions from all of you guys of what will the next era looks like. It'll be a fun thing!

[DocumentaLy]

LOL, the AKB bashing was expected because they're very out of place. It's a measure of different things.

 

None of this surprised me since I'm very aware of the charts. 

 

I only really like Utada and Ayu out of these lists.

 

 

Absolutely the end of an era. Those late 90s-2000s era was the most diverse Japanese music mainstream scene I've ever encountered. I cannot think of an upcoming music era that will have the same amount of exposure as in the late90's-2000s.

 

There won't be another female artist who has the same amount of caliber as Utada, Ayumi, Namie, and even Kumi Koda. Who'll be the #1 artist for the upcoming Reiwa era will be totally different. We will not be seeing either a huge prodigy like Utada, Mai Kuraki, or an artist that catches massive attention and buzz like Ayumi, Namie, and Kumi. The same thing for Japanese bands. Ofc the bands will be alive but there won't be any that produces sales as big as Glay, B'z, Mr.Children, and L'arc-en-ciel.

 

Also the 2000s was the time when the idol groups didn't make a large portion of Japanese music revenue. The Hello Project and Johnny's were the only idol groups that garnered big media attention at that time. And the revenue was absolutely bigger than nowadays. But then Akimoto happened and the current industry is largely dominated by those gimmicky sales from idols which causes the industry to be declining. Imagine omitting those sales, do you think the industry is gonna stay healthy?

 

Oh and also I can't wait to see some predictions from all of you guys of what will the next era looks like. It'll be a fun thing!

 

It's hard to take a guess of what the next era will be like when we have no idea how long it will be. It could be a year or 30 years. Naruhito is 59 now.

 

Your claims are a bit much, but true to a point. The media landscape is just too fragmented now to support a megastar like that. Also the youth population and the economy aren't there as well.

[kevinpr9]

LOL, the AKB bashing was expected because they're very out of place. It's a measure of different things.

 

None of this surprised me since I'm very aware of the charts. 

 

I only really like Utada and Ayu out of these lists.

 

 

 

It's hard to take a guess of what the next era will be like when we have no idea how long it will be. It could be a year or 30 years. Naruhito is 59 now.

 

Your claims are a bit much, but true to a point. The media landscape is just too fragmented now to support a megastar like that. Also the youth population and the economy aren't there as well.

 

Well let's say the Reiwa will end after 15-20 years from now. Can u make a guess of what music will be during that time? Just make a guess!

[DocumentaLy]

Well let's say the Reiwa will end after 15-20 years from now. Can u make a guess of what music will be during that time? Just make a guess!

 

It's hard. When I was a KPop fan 15 years ago, I didn't imagine mainstream Western media taking it seriously the way they do today. Me in 1999 didn't imagine that R&B would completely die in the mainstream. Or that there would be basically no real vocalists now.

[kevinpr9]

It's hard. When I was a KPop fan 15 years ago, I didn't imagine mainstream Western media taking it seriously the way they do today. Me in 1999 didn't imagine that R&B would completely die in the mainstream. Or that there would be basically no real vocalists now.

Damn! You're right! A few weeks before 2010s started, I made some 2010s guesses that I expected big rise of R&B singers like Thelma, Miliyah, and Kana Nishino. And the rise of these singers vs. the rise of idol groups might elevate the music revenue a lot. Another guess was that Yasutaka Nakata was gonna be the next Tetsuya Komuro.

 

 

But my goodness, my guesses were not totally true. Even I didn't imagine back in the early 2010s that the idol groups contributed to the large slice of the revenue pie. I also didn't imagine the dying of urban music and the fall of Ayu and Kumi.

[Jotham]

The late 90s to early 2000s was the golden era for Japanese music.

 

 

Damn! You're right! A few weeks before 2010s started, I made some 2010s guesses that I expected big rise of R&B singers like Thelma, Miliyah, and Kana Nishino. And the rise of these singers vs. the rise of idol groups might elevate the music revenue a lot. Another guess was that Yasutaka Nakata was gonna be the next Tetsuya Komuro.

 

 

But my goodness, my guesses were not totally true. Even I didn't imagine back in the early 2010s that the idol groups contributed to the large slice of the revenue pie. I also didn't imagine the dying of urban music and the fall of Ayu and Kumi.

 

Around 2008 - 2010, one would have expected R&B singers/groups to dominate the whole Jpop scene in the 2010s. Kind of weird to see how most of them just fizzle out.

[starlightshimmers]

Anime's largest overseas market is China, and we can deduce that it would also be J-pop's largest overseas market, and I think what you'll see is more Asiatic preferences (i.e. China and South-east Asia) will dictate more and more of J-pops stylistic choices rather than the West.

[DocumentaLy]

Anime's largest overseas market is China, and we can deduce that it would also be J-pop's largest overseas market, and I think what you'll see is more Asiatic preferences (i.e. China and South-east Asia) will dictate more and more of J-pops stylistic choices rather than the West.

 

But aren't those areas trending towards KPop and local clones?

[starlightshimmers]

But aren't those areas trending towards KPop and local clones?

 

K-pop are popular in those places as well, but there are arguably more J-pop fans in China and the Asia-Pacific than there are in the West, by the sole fact that J-pop is without a doubt more accessible and more visible in the Asia-Pacific than it is in the West, and the Japanese economy is shifting to accommodate Asian consumers. Before, Japan didn't really accommodate Asian consumers, but now with higher incomes in the region its logically more profitable to appeal to the regional market than the often fickle Western markets. For example, the USA was the top market for anime up until 2015 when China and Taiwan overtook it.

 

The Chinese music market is growing at a rate of 8% consistently since 2010, which means it leapt from 20th place to the 10th place in less than 4 years. Give it another 4-5 years, China would be the 5th largest music market, surpassing France and South Korea. It would make a lot of sense for J-pop to capitalise on this given the fact its a high growth market right on their neighbourhood.

[Jotham]

But aren't those areas trending towards KPop and local clones?

 

I think you are underestimating the popularity of Japanese anime and vocaloid music in China. The thing is most Chinese young adults and youngsters (born in 80s to 00s) grew up watching Japanese anime and listening to Japanese OST. 

[DocumentaLy]

K-pop are popular in those places as well, but there are arguably more J-pop fans in China and the Asia-Pacific than there are in the West, by the sole fact that J-pop is without a doubt more accessible and more visible in the Asia-Pacific than it is in the West, and the Japanese economy is shifting to accommodate Asian consumers. Before, Japan didn't really accommodate Asian consumers, but now with higher incomes in the region its logically more profitable to appeal to the regional market than the often fickle Western markets. For example, the USA was the top market for anime up until 2015 when China and Taiwan overtook it.

 

The Chinese music market is growing at a rate of 8% consistently since 2010, which means it leapt from 20th place to the 10th place in less than 4 years. Give it another 4-5 years, China would be the 5th largest music market, surpassing France and South Korea. It would make a lot of sense for J-pop to capitalise on this given the fact its a high growth market right on their neighbourhood.

 

If KPop is already popular, what makes you think people will shift to something different like JPop?

 

 

I think you are underestimating the popularity of Japanese anime and vocaloid music in China. The thing is most Chinese young adults and youngsters (born in 80s to 00s) grew up watching Japanese anime and listening to Japanese OST. 

 

But what does this have to do with actual Japanese music?

[Namie-Knowles]

Damn. Namie, Ayumi, Utada, Koda, and Mai were my top favorite artist during these times. It's going to suck seeing this era pass. The new girls are...alright and they are bound to become more big and start setting all types of digital records. But, the talent these 5 had the charisma, the artistry, it's not impossible to recreate but it is hard as fuck. I don't expect them to sell the same amount of albums because physicals aren't as high anymore. Things are shifting towards digital. Which means less money, but Japan will slowly figure it out like America currently is doing. I hope we get some bops from the newer girls and they get success. Now since the industry is less solidified than before, many people will keep arguing if they are successful enough. If they are able to get decent digitals, physicals, and touring I would consider it top tier. Regardless of other arguments. I wish the newer solo artist the best. Lets do this! Onto a new era.

[kevinpr9]

 

Damn. Namie, Ayumi, Utada, Koda, and Mai were my top favorite artist during these times. It's going to suck seeing this era pass. The new girls are...alright and they are bound to become more big and start setting all types of digital records. But, the talent these 5 had the charisma, the artistry, it's not impossible to recreate but it is hard as fuck. I don't expect them to sell the same amount of albums because physicals aren't as high anymore. Things are shifting towards digital. Which means less money, but Japan will slowly figure it out like America currently is doing. I hope we get some bops from the newer girls and they get success. Now since the industry is less solidified than before, many people will keep arguing if they are successful enough. If they are able to get decent digitals, physicals, and touring I would consider it top tier. Regardless of other arguments. I wish the newer solo artist the best. Lets do this! Onto a new era.

 

This is what I want to see for the next era.

[Ariya]

Utada's first love remain unbothered

[DocumentaLy]

 

Damn. Namie, Ayumi, Utada, Koda, and Mai were my top favorite artist during these times. It's going to suck seeing this era pass. The new girls are...alright and they are bound to become more big and start setting all types of digital records. But, the talent these 5 had the charisma, the artistry, it's not impossible to recreate but it is hard as fuck. I don't expect them to sell the same amount of albums because physicals aren't as high anymore. Things are shifting towards digital. Which means less money, but Japan will slowly figure it out like America currently is doing. I hope we get some bops from the newer girls and they get success. Now since the industry is less solidified than before, many people will keep arguing if they are successful enough. If they are able to get decent digitals, physicals, and touring I would consider it top tier. Regardless of other arguments. I wish the newer solo artist the best. Lets do this! Onto a new era.

 

 

But will you get bops when none of the new girls are trying to be like the Heisei artists you liked?

[Namie-Knowles]

But will you get bops when none of the new girls are trying to be like the Heisei artists you liked?

I like a variety of sounds. They dont have to sound like the 5 I mentioned for me to like them

Hopefully some new girls will bring something fresh that I like