Ayumi Hamasaki, Japanese singer-songwriter also called Ayu by her fans, has been dubbed the “Empress of Pop” because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan. The music and fashion trends she has started have spread to many other countries She has appeared in or lent her songs to many advertisements and television commercials.
Since her 1998 debut, Hamasaki has sold over 50 million records in Japan, ranking her among the best-selling singers in the country. As a female singer, Hamasaki holds several domestic records for her singles, such as the most number-one hits overall by a female artist, the most consecutive number-one hits, the highest sales, and the most million-sellers. Since 1999, Hamasaki has had at least one single each year top the charts. Hamasaki is the first female singer to have eight studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon and the first artist to have a number-one album for 12 consecutive years since her debut.