Utada becomes first Japanese musician in iTunes top 20

[Tokyograph News]

This week, singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada (26) became the first Japanese music artist to rank in the top 20 of the U.S. version of online music store iTunes.

Using the name "Utada," the singer released her new English-language album "This Is The One" on March 25. It reached 19th on the top U.S. albums chart. Ever since the iTunes music store went live five years ago, this is the first time that a Japanese artist has ranked in the top 100. The album also achieved 2nd in the Pop category.

The CD version of the album will be released nationwide in the U.S. this May, but with this level of popularity, there is a possibility that her new album will already appear on the U.S. Billboard charts on April 9.

For the past month, Utada's promotional activities have expanded across the country, which contributed to a great start. This is her second U.S. album, following up on "Exodus" in 2004. And even though "This Is The One" was already released in Japan on March 14, her representatives have set the U.S. market as their main priority, hoping to make it a great success.

Link to article

[JTM]

I was pleasantly surprised by this bit of news. I wonder however if those numbers are a accurate reflection of American audience acceptance of Utada or if the sales numbers are resultant from Asian sales from countries like HK, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore etc. It will be interesting to see in the coming weeks whether Utada's handlers and PR machine can get her more exposure on the talkshows (Ellen, Regis & Kathy, The Tonight Show, Late Night) to plug her album.

I have mixed feelings about Utada’s newest album (got the Japanese release). I do like a lot the songs more so than the ones on her “Exodus” US album. For me “On and On”, “FYI" (which samples Sakamoto Ryuichi’s song) and “Apples and Cinnamon” are among my favorites with “Come Back To Me” as the best of the pack (hated the remixes). To me “Dirty Desire” sounds too much like Utada channeling Gwen Stefani.

I do hope Utada and BoA (who also released her first US album) can make some kind of mark as they are two of the best of the JPop singers now although they are getting a lot of competition from up-and-coming singers like JuJu, Ito Yuna, Kato Miliyah, Alan, Aoyama Thelma, Yaida Hitomi and Hirahara Ayaka, not to mention rivals Koda Kumi, Hamasaki Ayumi and Amuro Namie.

Unfortunately, if you look at other Japanese artists who have tried in the past (Pink Lady, Matsuda Seiko, Dreams Come True, Puffy Ayumi, Shonen Knife, Pizzicato Five) it looks daunting but who knows. ..YMO/Sakamoto Ryuichi and Sakamoto Kyu have done it but that was over 3 decades ago.

but.. itunes offered free download of her music and I believe they also have the music video for free download as well.. does this free download count on the rankings.. if so then that's not much of a success... you have to count people buying the music... she's had free download on her first us single as well..