AKB48

AKB48 (pronounced A.K.B. Forty-Eight) is a Japanese idol musical girl group named after the Akihabara area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48 has sold more records than any other female musical act in Japanese history. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with its own theater and performing daily so fans could always see them live (which is not the case with usual pop groups giving occasional concerts and seen on television). This "Idols You Can Meet" concept includes teams which can rotate performances and perform simultaneously at several events and "handshake" events, where fans can meet group members. Akimoto has expanded the AKB48 concept to several girl groups within Japan, and internationally in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines and Malaysia. AKB48 have been characterized as a social phenomenon. They are among the highest-earning musical acts in Japan, and are the seventh-best-selling girl group worldwide. For example, their 2012 sales from record and DVD/Blu-ray releases reached $226 million, earning the group the top spot in the 2012 artist ranking. By April 2019, the group had sold over 60 million records, including over 6 million albums.…

AKB48 (pronounced A.K.B. Forty-Eight) is a Japanese idol musical girl group named after the Akihabara area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48 has sold more records than any other female musical act in Japanese history. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with its own theater and performing daily so fans could always see them live (which is not the case with usual pop groups giving occasional concerts and seen on television). This "Idols You Can Meet" concept includes teams which can rotate performances and perform simultaneously at several events and "handshake" events, where fans can meet group members. Akimoto has expanded the AKB48 concept to several girl groups within Japan, and internationally in China, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines and Malaysia. AKB48 have been characterized as a social phenomenon. They are among the highest-earning musical acts in Japan, and are the seventh-best-selling girl group worldwide. For example, their 2012 sales from record and DVD/Blu-ray releases reached $226 million, earning the group the top spot in the 2012 artist ranking. By April 2019, the group had sold over 60 million records, including over 6 million albums. At least 35 of AKB48's singles have topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, with at least 30 singles selling over a million copies each, making the group the highest selling musical act in Japan in terms of singles sold. Their highest selling single, "Teacher Teacher", sold over 3 million in 2018 according to Billboard / Soundscan. Between 2010 and 2020, AKB48's singles occupied at least the top two spots of the Oricon Yearly Singles Chart. As of their 61st single, they sold over 70 million copies. With their 66th single released, they ranked #1 on Oricon 53 consecutive times, starting with "RIVER" in 2009¹.

2018–2021: Produce 48, impact of COVID-19 pandemic

In June, 39 members¹ of AKB48 and their sister groups participated in the South Korean television competition Produce 48, from which Iz*One was formed. Sakura Miyawaki, Nako Yabuki, Hitomi Honda finished high enough to earn a spot in the group. For the first time, Jurina Matsui topped the 10th installment of the AKB48 general elections with 194,453 votes. In July, the RIAJ certified "Teacher Teacher" as a triple million, making the group the first girl group to achieve it. Shortly after Produce 48, Stone Music Entertainment and Genie Music signed a deal with King Records and AKS and became the official digital distributors of AKB singles in South Korea. On March 13, 2019, the group's 55th single "Jiwaru Days" was released, with Rino Sashihara serving as the center performer in her last single with AKB48. The single's third song arose from a collaboration between AKB48, Nogizaka46 and Iz*One. On September 18, 2019, the group released the 56th single "Sustainable", their first release of the Reiwa period and first in six months. On October 19, 2019, AKB48 held a concert in Taipei Arena with AKB48 Team TP. Following the assault on NGT48 member Maho Yamaguchi, the management of AKB48 faced severe public criticism. The year 2019 marked some major changes for the group, as AKBingo and AKB48 Show!, two long running nationally broadcast variety shows featuring the group, were eventually cancelled. The Akihabara-based AKB48 Cafe and Shop was closed after eight years of operation. In 2019, three regular annual events were discontinued, including the general election, according to the AKS then-board director "because it exhausted its set purpose after its 10th iteration". For the first time in the group's history, only two singles were released in a year. 2020 began with the announcement of plans to significantly change AKB48 management structures, with individual companies independently running each of the Japanese groups. On March 18, 2020, the group released the 57th single "Shitsuren, Arigatō". In April 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting stay-at-home order, the group launched the OUC48 project, named after the Japanese word for "home", , where the members perform regular stage plays from their own homes using group video chat, which is broadcast in real time via YouTube. This project is an expansion of an earlier video montage of 103 members¹ singing "365 Nichi no Kami Hikōki" from their homes, personally edited into a single video by General Manager Mion Mukaichi, which was received favorably. They did not participate in the NHK's 71st Kōhaku Uta Gassen due to COVID-19. On May 22, 2021, the last 1st Generation member, Minami Minegishi held her graduation concert entitled Minegishi Minami Graduation Concert ～Sakura no Sakanai Haru Wanai～ on Pia Arena MM. Also, Team 8 held the last leg of their Team 8 National Tour ~47 no Suteki na Machi e~ in Kanagawa, marking the official return of Hitomi Honda to AKB from her Iz*One activities. And, they also held their Tandoku Concert, performing 48 songs non-stop, with the setlist being made by Yuki Kashiwagi. In that concert, the long-awaited 58th single was finally announced, "Nemohamo Rumor" with the senbatsu also being an AKB-only senbatsu, a first since Chance no Junban in 2010. Yui Yokoyama announced her graduation from the group September 12, her graduation concert will be held on December 9 at AKB48 Theater. On December 8, 2021, at their 16th Anniversary concert, the group announced auditions for their 17th Generation. On top of this, a Team Shuffle was also announced, with the changes taking effect on February 6, 2022. Mion Mukaichi, Manaka Taguchi, Nanami Asai and Narumi Kuranoo were appointed captains of Team A, K, B and 4 respectively. On December 12, long-time member Miho Miyazaki announced her graduation from the group. Four days later, on December 16, Rena Kato announced her graduation from the group. They both graduated in February 2022.

Records set

The group and its songs have set the following records: Guinness World Record for Largest Pop Group — In November 2010, Guinness named AKB48 the world's largest pop group. Guinness World Record for Most Number of Pop Singers Featured in a Video Game — In December 2012, the group's dating simulation game AKB1/149 Ren'ai Sōsenkyo featured 149 members¹. Guinness World Record for Broadcasting the Most Same-Product Television Endorsements Within 24 Hours — In February 2012 AKB48 members appeared in 90 commercials for Asahi's Wonda Coffee Morning Shot, breaking the previous record of 60 commercials. Most singles sold in Japan by a female artist — In May 2013, after the release of the group's 31st single ("Sayonara Crawl"), combined sales figures for AKB48 singles reached 21.852 million since its 2006 debut in 2006 (breaking Ayumi Hamasaki's previous record of 21.416 million). Highest Japanese sales of a female-group single — In June 2013 "Sayonara Crawl"'s sales reached 1,872,000 copies, breaking Speed's 1997 record for "White Love". The single's total sales reached 1,955,800. Most consecutive million-selling singles sold in Japan — In October 2013 AKB48's 33rd single ("Heart Electric") sold 1,021,000 copies on its first day, becoming the group's 14th consecutive million-selling single and breaking the previous record of 13 held by B'z. Most million-selling singles in Japan — In December 2013, the group's 34th single ("Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono") sold 1,033,000 copies during its first week. AKB48's 16th million-selling single, it broke the previous record held by B'z for 13 years and nine months. Highest Japanese sales of a female single — In June 2017, the group's 48th single ("Negaigoto no Mochigusare") sold 2,555,912 copies during its first week. It broke the previous record held by Dreams Come True. Highest Japanese single sales of a musical act — AKB48's 60 singles' total sales reached 73.5 million copies.

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378301806 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.