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Ayaka's debut album reaches million selling mark |
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Written by Ryuji Murata
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Thursday, 19 April 2007 |
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 19 year old singer-songwriter Ayaka is the first female artist in four and a half years to have thier album sell more then 1 million copies. The artist's debut album, 'First Message', was released last November, and went straight to No.1 in the Oricon Chart. That week alone, the album sold more than 351,000 copies. She said, "Wow! This has given me a lot of confidence and energy to make my own way."
Making her debut only in February last year, she burst on the music scene with her single 'I Believe'. Used as the ending theme for the Japanese Drama, Rondo and also later used by Japanese ice skating queen Miki Ando, the single become the 2nd highest selling downloadable debut single for a female artist. Since then she has released four other singles and her album.
She's gone on to win the best new artist award at the Japan Record Awards, making an appearance on NHK's Kouhaku Uta Gassen at the end of last year and also receiving another five prizes at the Japan Gold Disc Awards last month.
The last female artist to reach this goal was Nakashima Mika with 'True' back in late 2002. The only other album to sell a million copies so far this year is Mr. Children's "Home".
Ayaka's next single is released on July 4th, titled 'Jewelry Day'. |
