Does Japan's idol industry need to be revamped?

[________________]

It's dominated by Johnnys and 48/46G still.

 

I personally thought the whole election and handshake thing was kind of cool in like 2010-2012. 

 

But the whole idols-you-can-meet thing kind of got old. Especially since all the aces graduated.

 

 

Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka are basically just AKB48 2.0. Just prettier overall and no theater.

 

They pretty much operate the same way. No solo lines. Very little vocal skill required. (Not like wotas care about talent anyway)

 

Even though Momoclo wasn't the best, at least they tried their best to sing live with lots of energy. And I think the GP respected that. But Momoclo isn't popular anymore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think a lot of people that watched Produce48 were excited to see 48G girls get solo lines. Do girlcrush concepts. Perform songs with harder choreography/singing. Mostly KPOP fans though.

 

A lot of people actually liked the voices of the Japanese trainees (Takeuchi Miyu, Miyazaki Miho, Takahashi Juri, Nako, etc.) and didn't tune in just to watch them sing and dance in unison. 

 

Only to see them go back to 48G and barely be able to find them in their latest MV.

 

I know Little Glee Monster have decent vocals & they got invited to Kohaku. But I'm not feeling them TBH.

 

 

E-Girls peaked a few years ago but I only liked Follow Me, Gomennasai no Kissing You and Dance With Me Now. And people only knew Ami (because of her blonde hair).

 

(Also a lot of J-netz seem to think E-Girls and all of LDH are basically KPOP with Japanese faces)

 

[Guest]

The theater thing still exists?

[Ara-nim]

if what you meant by revamping is becoming more like K-pop, no thanks.

 

but other than that, sure, J-pop is getting old anyway.

[金彩媛]

they need more reality shows to get their names out there, properly showcase their personalities and find new aces

[lighterxx]

i just want solo lines honestly otherwise rest is up to their fandoms to me

[hehe haha xd]

It seems you are suggesting that the Japanese idol industry should be more similar to K-pop's industry? if so then No thank you, I definitely like the fact that they're different. Each industry has its own features that I like but I agree, some things are sure getting old and outdated.

I personally would love more solo lines but we can't always get what we want especially with groups that have 10+ members 

[________________]

It seems you are suggesting that the Japanese idol industry should be more similar to K-pop's industry? if so then No thank you, I definitely like the fact that they're different. Each industry has its own features that I like but I agree, some things are sure getting old and outdated.

I personally would love more solo lines but we can't always get what we want especially with groups that have 10+ members 

Yeah but not necessarily the same way LDH did it. And it should still have Japanese characteristics too. 

[✨ Lunar Miracle ✨]

if what you meant by revamping is becoming more like K-pop, no thanks.

 

but other than that, sure, J-pop is getting old anyway.

[Renos]

if what you meant by revamping is becoming more like K-pop, no thanks.

[satoori]

Yes.

 

It feels outdated.

[Kami Nana]

Wasn't LDH doing their thing before K-pop even became popular, though? J Soul Brothers and such. Only thing different is they created girl group equivalents to their existing boy groups.

[SeeYaWithYou]

You are only talking about the idols that are related to the mainstream. Which means nothing bc idols are barely mainstream anymore.

 

In the idol niche there are many popular groups with varying levels of talent and make unique music. 

The most popular groups nowadays are Last Idol, BiSH, and =Love and those all operate in completely different ways and are unique. 

 

So the idol "industry" doesn't need to be revamped because it was never one-note in the first place. Just the groups that have caught on with the general public lately are.

[Carmelizer]

Yes, not like K-pop though. I think the music industry should work on its accessibility to the world

[Kami Nana]

You are only talking about the idols that are related to the mainstream. Which means nothing bc idols are barely mainstream anymore.

 

In the idol niche there are many popular groups with varying levels of talent and make unique music. 

The most popular groups nowadays are Last Idol, BiSH, and =Love and those all operate in completely different ways and are unique. 

 

So the idol "industry" doesn't need to be revamped because it was never one-note in the first place. Just the groups that have caught on with the general public lately are.

Is Billie Idol counted among them or are they "nugu"?

[SeeYaWithYou]

Is Billie Idol counted among them or are they "nugu"?

I mean they are known, especially because of their WACK association, but they def aren't the biggest post-BiS group

[abra]

Not necessarily in that way imo. The more important thing is to make sure the idols are treated well.

[mitsuhoney]

Yes.

 

It feels outdated.

 

Agreed.

 

Not saying they have to follow in the same steps as K-Pop, but the whole industry is severely outdated. I am not basing my opinion on specific groups or singers, just a generalization that J-Pop as a whole just doesn't really seem to be going anywhere. It's been stuck at the same type of thing for the longest time. I grew up listening to J-Pop all my life (part Japanese here) and even lived in Japan for three years, and I feel like ever since not a hell of a lot has changed. It's just kind of boring to me. And any of the groups, artists or genres that stride away from the "outdated-ness" of J-Pop are either not popular at all, not consistent, or eventually revert to the outdated-ness of J-Pop (just look at FEMM and Faky) but that's just me, I know some people still like the way it is so that's good.

[Gene_e]

 

if what you meant by revamping is becoming more like K-pop, no thanks.

 

[Mandilinn]

Wasn't LDH doing their thing before K-pop even became popular, though? J Soul Brothers and such. Only thing different is they created girl group equivalents to their existing boy groups.

Yes. The OP just buys into a certain narrative that dance vocal units or artists with a heavy emphasis on good vocals and dancing didn't exist before the second K-pop boom. Which is a complete lie.

[Mika Chan]

imo Kpop is becoming more westernized than it already is. That's the main global appeal with Kpop whilst Japan is stuck in the past and wants to preserve their Japanese style of making music instead of opening up to the global market. It's abit of a dilemma really.

[abra]

Agreed.

 

Not saying they have to follow in the same steps as K-Pop, but the whole industry is severely outdated. I am not basing my opinion on specific groups or singers, just a generalization that J-Pop as a whole just doesn't really seem to be going anywhere. It's been stuck at the same type of thing for the longest time. I grew up listening to J-Pop all my life (part Japanese here) and even lived in Japan for three years, and I feel like ever since not a hell of a lot has changed. It's just kind of boring to me. And any of the groups, artists or genres that stride away from the "outdated-ness" of J-Pop are either not popular at all, not consistent, or eventually revert to the outdated-ness of J-Pop (just look at FEMM and Faky) but that's just me, I know some people still like the way it is so that's good.

FEMM and FAKY are "current"? 

[Sasori]

I don't think Japanese Idols need to change in a significant way, but it would be nice to see them try new things now and then. Too many groups do the same thing over and over just to appeal to Wotas. I would rather see Japanese labels push non-Idol girl groups. There's a void on the female side of Japan's music scene that KPop GGs seem to fill nowadays. Despite being Idols, they appeal to fans who don't really follow those kinds of groups. There's a whole untapped audience out there looking for alternatives, yet companies just pump out the same Idols. In the end, I guess Japanese companies make enough money distributing KPop GGs to bother promoting their own alternative groups.

[NoUsername]

Are you suggesting that idol music become more up to date and western? If so, then I don't see the point in that. The main focus of Japanese idols is not music, but they're more meant to be sold as products and present an image. Music is just one of services they provide and fans would buy it regardless of what they put out. It only seems like Kpop idols are trying to be seen as "real artists" while Jpop idols don't place importance on musicality.

[________________]

You are only talking about the idols that are related to the mainstream. Which means nothing bc idols are barely mainstream anymore.

 

In the idol niche there are many popular groups with varying levels of talent and make unique music. 

The most popular groups nowadays are Last Idol, BiSH, and =Love and those all operate in completely different ways and are unique. 

 

So the idol "industry" doesn't need to be revamped because it was never one-note in the first place. Just the groups that have caught on with the general public lately are.

BiSH.

 

Probably my fave song from them.

 

 

 

The industry itself doesn't need to be revamped, but I'd like to see something new among somewhat mainstream idols I guess. Nogizaka. Keyakizaka. Johnnys. Etc.

[onanimaster]

i just need more flop girl groups with dance-pop music like dream with members that can all sing and dance

 

 

but i wouldn't mind idol groups being more like kpop in sound and style if i can get another group like weather girls