Editing Ayumi Hamasaki (section)

=== Musical style ===
Hamasaki has released almost three hundred original songs; through them, she has covered a wide range of musical styles, such as [[dance music|dance]], [[Heavy metal music|metal]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[progressive rock]], [[pop music|pop]], and [[classical music|classical]]. Hamasaki has cited Madonna, [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]], [[En Vogue]], [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[Deep Purple]] among her early influences, and has openly appreciated the works of [[Seiko Matsuda]], [[Michelle Branch]], [[Yumi Matsutoya]], [[Rie Miyazawa]], [[Hikaru Utada|Utada Hikaru]], [[Joan Osborne]], [[Miyuki Nakajima]], and [[Keiko Yamada]].

Hamasaki began commissioning remixes of her songs early in her career, and this practice also influenced the diversity of her music.<ref name="VillageVoice" /> These remixes span a variety of genres such as [[Eurobeat]], [[house music|house]], and [[trance music|trance]], as well as [[acoustic music|acoustic]] mixes, classical and [[Music of China#Traditional music|traditional Chinese music]]. The musicians and acts she has worked with directly include [[Above & Beyond (band)|Above & Beyond]], the [[Lamoureux Orchestra]],<ref group="fn">
For a comprehensive list of Hamasaki's Avex-sanctioned remixes released in Japan, see Hamasaki's discography at [http://music.mu-mo.net/DispDetailArtist.php?id=%E6%B5%9C%E5%B4%8E%E3%81%82%E3%82%86%E3%81%BF&subgenre=0&filetype=0 mu-mo.net] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20090116163809/http://music.mu-mo.net/DispDetailArtist.php?id=浜崎あゆみ&subgenre=0&filetype=0 |date=January 16, 2009 }}. 
</ref> [[Tom Holkenborg|Junkie XL]], and the Princess China Music Orchestra.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avex.com.tw/4th/artist/artist.asp?aid=306871&aname=pcmo&main=1&cateid=2 |title=Artist profile of Princess China Music Orchestra |access-date=May 2, 2008 |publisher=[[Avex Trax|Avex Taiwan]] |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009103208/http://www.avex.com.tw/4th/artist/artist.asp?aid=306871&aname=pcmo&main=1&cateid=2 |archive-date=October 9, 2008 }}</ref>

In addition to writing her own lyrics, Hamasaki has involved herself in other aspects of production throughout her career. Though Max Matsuura is officially credited as the producer of her records, he said of Hamasaki, "Ayu is a very meticulous worker behind the scenes. A lot of the work she does by herself is more in the producer's arena. I think really we should say 'Produced by Ayumi Hamasaki'."<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820032901/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/beatfreak/142/artists/ayumi.html|archive-date=August 20, 2004|url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/beatfreak/142/artists/ayumi.html|title=Loveppears|last=Kazuki|first=Okabe|work=Beat Freak Online|publisher=[[Avex]]|access-date=November 6, 2009}}</ref> In 2022, Matsuura stated that he stepped away from the lead producer role in 2000 as Hamasaki took on more responsibilities.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=July 22, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwbW2ifrwEs |title=【松浦勝人】 浜崎あゆみの歌を作らなくなった理由を語る‼︎【切り抜き/avex会長/ayu /エイベックス /生放送】 |publisher=松浦勝人の切り抜き君【avex】 |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=January 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109080434/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwbW2ifrwEs |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Hamasaki began to pen her own compositions in 2000, beginning with her single "[[M (song)|M]]".  During its production process, she struggled to find a melody that matched what she had in mind, and decided it would be faster to compose it herself.<ref name="TimeInterview2" /><ref name="Rockin" /> In a 2001 interview, she stated that 'I never thought it was important for me to start writing original songs... with "M", it just so happened that the melody I wrote fit the best.' In the same interview, Hamasaki said she felt no pressure to continue composing, and that she felt she could 'only go so far' with it due to her lack of formal knowledge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=kimonobeat |title=MUSIC CREATOR April–May 2001: Hamasaki Ayumi "A BEST" & "NEVER EVER" (translation) |url=https://ko-fi.com/Blog/Post/MUSIC-CREATOR-April-May-2001-Hamasaki-Ayumi-A-BE-H2H5KU8D}}</ref> Her final published composition was "Will", the b-side track to the 2005 single "[[Heaven (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Heaven]]".