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Namie Amuro turns down offer of special Grammy TV show

22 Comments

TV broadcaster WOWOW, which has aired the Grammy Awards since the 1990s, offered singer Namie Amuro a golden opportunity – an invitation to last Sunday's event and an exclusive interview with Lady Gaga, who Amuro has publicly stated she is a great fan of.

According to a television insider, “WOWOW had secured a production fee of 100 million yen for the program, and offered Amuro a fee in the double-digit millions.” Not a bad deal for Amuro and her agency – but the singer turned down the offer.

Another individual in the industry commented that Amuro stated flatly that she no longer wanted to make TV appearances, and she doesn’t need any more money so long as she can live with her son and be happy. Amuro’s annual income is rumored to be about 100 million yen, mainly from her concert tours and royalties. She rarely appears on TV, with the exception of the occasional music programs.

As to the reason why the singer would refuse a talk show with a celebrity she supposedly admires, entertainment reporter Toshio Ishikawa states, “It probably has to do with her relationship with comedian Atsushi of London Boots. Television shows are, in a sense, Atsushi’s territory and people will most likely start making comparisons in viewer ratings and income between the two. Amuro’s appearance on a special TV program with Lady Gaga would have only highlighted the ‘gap’ issue.”

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22 Comments
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I cannot believe someone referred to namie as "classless." I'll take their horrendous grammar and utter neglect of the fact that lady gaga is the one lacking class as a sign of their impaired judgment.

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OK I may have mis-worded that earlier comment. There has been for some time now an effort to try to get Asian artists more exposure in the west. Now before people start dissecting this just hear me out. There aren't many Asian artists out there with the talent that Namie has with maybe the exception of Mia. Although I haven't heard much from her lately. In comparison Namie is well out of her league. Utada, Koda Kumi, Boa, SoulHead, Heartsdales, Ayumi Hamasaki and a few select others are on my short list. Utada and Boa have steadily been gaining ground and are being requested more and more all the time. Lady Gaga is somewhat of an enigma as the music scene in the west has steadily been on a decline for some time now. Artists like Ne-Yo, Sean Garrett and a few others have been trying to change that but it's taking some time. They have also taken an interest in Asian Artists and working to get them more exposure. Ne-Yo for instance while in Korea requested Lexy to open for him much to her surprise no doubt. Lady Gaga has also supposedly talked about doing a collaboration with Koda Kumi but haven't heard anything on that as of yet. Biggest complaint among music fans back home is lack of musical diversity. The music industry now has become more about selling a product or image vs the music itself which is sad.

I am not saying this isn't true as well in Japan but not to the extent it is in the west. I also like the fact that Asian artists typically put out an album almost every year in comparison to 2 to 3 years back home. This might explain why new artist have such a hard time staying on top as to much money and effort is being put into promoting singles instead of promoting the artists themselves. Boa for instance has put out some 16 albums already in the past 10 years. That is impressive by any one's standards. Well at least it is in comparison to what the average western artist puts out in their entire career. This has benefited her a great deal as since her US Debut people have been steadily requesting more of her previous music which is only going to help her. I think there is a consensus among many in the west that artists like Namie and others can do for Asian artists what people like Selena, Enrique Iglesias, Jenifer Lopez, Mark Anthony have done for the Latin music scene. I don't know how many times I have been stopped by people asking what I was playing and being complemented on it. So the interest is there we just need better promotion. Ultimately of coarse I support Namie in whatever she does but it is my hope that Asian artists may finally get the recognition they have so long deserved and reinvigorate an industry which is slowly loosing significance.

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yeah, such strong work ethics, she wants to focus on her soft drink advertising. integrity!

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I'm not surprised by this. Ever since her little lawsuit against a photographer who shot an innocuous foto of her in a public place, not to mention her getting knocked up before she was married, I've not been much a fan. Too much a of a diva, and if sha had taken the gig and interviewed with Lady Gaga, likely it would've ended up as a cat fight or a cold war. As far as I'm concerfned with Ms. Amuro, let Japan keep her....

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It could be a good move on her part to not get diluted into the Japanese TV system. Look at SMAP who as a band now do cooking shows etc on TV dressed in concierge uniforms, what the heck is that?. I would agree with any musician not being dragged into that, real musos never die they often look that way though.

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certainly gives the media a whole lot more to sell as news, if all that 'stars' are NOT doing, or NOT going t'do, is lapped up as vital information.

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Kudos to the folks here who pointed out that just because some entertainment reporter speculated something doesn't mean it's true. These people get paid to come up with juicy quotes suggesting things like, "She did it to avoid stepping on her boyfriend's career toes." As if they know what was going on in Amuro's mind.

Some of the comments here seem to suggest that Amuro's appearance on the Grammy program would have gotten her exposure in the west. From what I understand, the show wouldn't have been seen in the west, but just broadcast on WOWOW from the Grammy ceremony...meaning a Japanese-only audience. WOWOW simply paid for the rights to show the ceremony and air their coverage from the actual event.

I'm with Namiefan. Who is Lady Gaga compared to Namie Amuro? Gaga might have the greater global fame now due to the power and worldwide reach of western media, but the jury is out as to whether she will have a 15-year staying power like Namie...something that is notoriously difficult in the music industry, today more than ever. The article seems to suggest that because Amuro admires Gaga, then it's odd she doesn't chase after her given the chance. Heck, Paul McCartney likes the Black Eyed Peas, but that doesn't mean Sir Paul would stop at nothing to be seen with them. Because he's Paul McCartney! This is my own speculation -- which means take it with a grain of salt -- but perhaps aside from being more concerned with being a parent, Namie is secure enough in her own career and status that she doesn't feel the need to chase after another celebrity she likes.

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annual income is rumored to be about 100 million yen, mainly from her concert tours and royalties

This is around a million USD, right? Wow, considerably lower than what I'd expected.

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Kudos to Namie Amuro. If she doesn't want to do it, she doesn't have to. I'm really surprised that this was leaked to the papers. Are they trying to pressure her into doing it? Some of the comments here are like she is obligated to appear on TV. She isn't, and neither are any other famous people. She may lose visibility and some popularity, but that's her choice. After years of being hounded by the press and paparazzi, she wants to take a break. Let her live her life.

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She mentioned that she doesn't need the money!!!! Well lets look at the benefits if you had of done the gig and not looked at the fact that YOU didn't the money.....What you could have done was won over millions of new fans and at the same time impress the hell out of your existing fans, by doing the job and donating the salary to a charity...perhaps Haiti!!!!

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thats the spirit! NIPPON JIN GO!GO!GO!

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"Asian stars who aren't martial arts stars are known in Asia and Asia only basically."

There are a lot of people in Asia. Asia is home to 60% of the world's population.

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Could it be JEALOUSY ? or just a plan idiot ? Or maybe girl fight ?

Since Amuro has been in the music business for 15 years and Lady Gaga has been for 5 + years and is world renown and more money !!!

Anyways she doesn't write her songs and doesn't do anything creative. She's classless !!!!

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As far as I know Namie Amuro doesn't speak English and has no people skills...which would have been needed to interview Lady Gaga ( and on top of that to handle Lady Gaga who has a reputation for saying quite outrageous things)-probably a good call

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Namie doesn't need exposure in the West when she's already a legend in Asia.

To be fair though, compared with the the status of Western media legends worldwide, being a legend in Asia is like being the proverbial big fish in a small pond. Media legends in the west are known worldwide; Asian stars who aren't martial arts stars are known in Asia and Asia only basically.

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That's why she stopped going to Kouhaku ever since she got custody back.

when did she get custody back?

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The Atsushi thing sounds ridiculous-- don't believe entertainment reporters. How would it come back to haunt her? That's really funny. Namie doesn't need exposure in the West when she's already a legend in Asia. Who cares honestly.

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I love you Namie!! That was a nice opportunity though..but respect for her always cause she doesn't let the fame get to her head.

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Well I respect Namie but this isn't just any show. It would have been crazy exposure for her. I have been waiting for years for a Japanese artist to finally break through and Namie was at the top of my very short list. Boyfriend or not it isn't worth risking his ego over her career. I respect her decision but I hope it doesn't come back to haunt her later down the road. Regardless though Namie has my support.

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Good on Namie for sticking to her guns. She's more like the 'reluctant' celebrity-- the one that doesn't enjoy fame for the sake of it and doesn't impose herself on the public more than need be. So sweet and humble. And she's said that being a mom and spending time with her son takes precedence over being Namie Amuro. That's why she stopped going to Kouhaku ever since she got custody back. It's a reason to respect her all the more. Some might say 'OMG HOW COULD YOU NOT ACCEPT AN INTERVIEW WITH LADY GAGA' and I say, so what? Who is Lady GaGa compared to Amuro? XD

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You actually believe what this "entertainment reporter" says? That's kind of sad.

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"It probably has to do with her relationship with comedian Atsushi of London Boots. Television shows are, in a sense, Atsushi’s territory and people will most likely start making comparisons in viewer ratings and income between the two. Amuro’s appearance on a special TV program with Lady Gaga would have only highlighted the ‘gap’ issue.”

Wow, so this woman, who had the opportunity to meet someone she admires may have given it up as to not shatter her BF's fragile ego. Kind of sad really.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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