February 6, 2010

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.”