J-Pop princesses in dirty dual for chart queen
crown
Dirty diva Kumi Koda seemed to have the Japanese music world at her
feet thanks to an arousing amalgamation of sexy outfits and racy
tunes, but a new rival has emerged to threaten her position -- even
within her own record label, according to Shukan Shincho.
Koda, last year's winner of the Nihon Record Taisho -- Japan's
equivalent to the Grammys -- is aiming to double up in the
country's most prestigious music award, but Ai Otsuka has come out
of virtually nowhere to usurp Koda's title as J-pop's heir apparent
to the throne currently held by Ayumi Hamasaki.
Making the rivalry even fiercer, like Hamasaki, Koda and Otsuka
both belong to Avex Inc., Japan's most powerful popular record
label.
"When an artist makes a name for themselves at Avex, the company
sets them up with a support team of their own. The number of people
in the team reflects the popularity of the artist. (At the start of
the year) Ayumi Hamasaki had the biggest support team, with about
30 members, Koda's team had around 20 and Otsuka was in third, with
a team a little bit smaller than Koda's," an entertainment beat
reporter tells Shukan Shincho.
Things have changed a little recently that have got Koda and Otsuka
at odds.
"Otsuka's team has been increased to about the same size as Koda's.
The music industry is in a real slump at the moment.
Avex is feeling the pinch and needs to find new ways of making
money. The company's emphasis is shifting toward its movie-making
division. That's why Otsuka appeared in the movie 'Tokyo Friends.'
This was a straight-to-DVD product.
In a line where sales of 10,000 units is judged to be a huge hit,
'Tokyo Friends' sold 50,000 copies," the hack says. Otsuka ripping
up the charts inside Avex has got Koda cringing.
"They're both 23, but Koda spent a lot more time working her way up
through the ranks. Otsuka's rise has been meteoric in comparison.
And (unlike Koda) she's now making movies," a TV network insider
tells Shukan Shincho. "Koda was popular last year for being behind
the erotic-cute phenomena, but she's still doing the same thing
now. Some say she knows people are gonna get sick of her gimmick
eventually. Koda's rivalry with Otsuka has more than a little
jealousy in it."
Trailing behind Koda not so long ago, Otsuka has now moved on to
equal footing.
"Avex held a concert for its shareholders in June. Ayumi Hamasaki
took the top billing, but Otsuka was given second billing, with
Koda after her. Koda was furious," the TV insider says. "Koda and
Otsuka are bitterly opposed to each other and make little secret of
their rivalry. Koda goes around saying that Otsuka has no talent.
And Otsuka says that Koda is 'vulgar' and 'acts like a cheap,
nightclub hostess.'"
Their battle has made Koda's quest to repeat her Nihon Record
Taisho win even more desperate than ever.
"Winning a second award would restore her place in the pecking
order. But Otsuka is standing in her way," the entertainment beat
reporter says.
Avex, however, disputes the accounts.
"They belong to the same record company, so there's no question of
a dispute," an Avex spokesman says.
Music critic Masaaki Hiruma says that the problem is not whether
Koda and Otsuka are at each other's throats.
"It's the ridiculous way they both desperately want to win the
Nihon Record Taisho. It's a really tacky fight," the critic tells
Shukan Shincho. "Unfortunately, it's also a sign of how far the
prestigious award has fallen."