The downfall of J-pop? How the AKBG's biz model & culture get adapted in China

[Rika-Chicchi]

Seems hypocritical to be alright with this but have so many scandals over nothing......maybe people want delinquent virgins?

The idol industry has been running w/ that no-dating rule ever since its dawning, & in truth many idols have had BFs/GFs during their idol careers - only that it hasn't been uncovered publicly at the time (some fans closest to their idol, such as the senior staff of his/her fan clubs, even help hide such "secret" for the idol in order to protect the idol's career &, hence, the continuity of the fandom & the status quo of those fans' power/status w/i it). For example, members of the Onyanko Club, which was founded by the same industry "godfather" who founded AKB48 & its sister groups decades later, had revealed on a variety show many years later, when they'd already been middle-aged, that all of the members had BFs during their days in the group back then.

Personally I think the rule should never have been there at all, because it's inhumane & creates tragedies for the idols, & can even lead to various unethical acts, if not even crimes. But the sociocultural &, hence, economic pressures for its continual existence are immense & can't be changed easily. *sigh*

I think Ayaka had the best voice among the JPOP women.

She's a good vocalist, & had already been so when she hadn't even reached 20, which's rare in the J-pop industry.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

The idol industry has been running w/ that no-dating rule ever since its dawning, & in truth many idols have had BFs/GFs during their idol careers - only that it hasn't been uncovered publicly at the time (some fans closest to their idol, such as the senior staff of his/her fan clubs, even help hide such "secret" for the idol in order to protect the idol's career &, hence, the continuity of the fandom & the status quo of those fans' power/status w/i it). For example, members of the Onyanko Club, which was founded by the same industry "godfather" who founded AKB48 & its sister groups decades later, had revealed on a variety show many years later, when they'd already been middle-aged, that all of the members had BFs during their days in the group back then.

Personally I think the rule should never have been there at all, because it's inhumane & creates tragedies for the idols, & can even lead to various unethical acts, if not even crimes. But the sociocultural &, hence, economic pressures for its continual existence are immense & can't be changed easily. *sigh*

So when the backlash comes, is it from within the agency or from fans as well?

She's a good vocalist, & had already been so when she hadn't even reached 20, which's rare in the J-pop industry.

Honestly, it sounds like you're taking a few shots lol.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

So when the backlash comes, is it from within the agency or from fans as well?

Both, but ultimately it's always due to fans - when an agency takes action, it's due to actual or anticipated reaction from fans.

She's a good vocalist, & had already been so when she hadn't even reached 20, which's rare in the J-pop industry.

Honestly, it sounds like you're taking a few shots lol.

I was mostly thinking of commending Ayaka when I made that comment, but yeah, it also has a connotation of criticizing the current state of the J-pop industry. lol

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

Both, but ultimately it's always due to fans - when an agency takes action, it's due to actual or anticipated reaction from fans.

But then they still want delinquents? Lol this is why I can't stand nerds

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

But then they still want delinquents? Lol this is why I can't stand nerds

The delinquent image featured in some J-pop groups is an intentional, carefully designed/engineered & executed thing to suit market tastes - it's their outward, stage image, not the real, off-stage personality of the artist in question. So an idol can dress & act like a delinquent on stage & in MVs/dramas/movies, but s/he's still not supposed to be so IRL.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Behind-the-scenes footage of a former group ace of SNH48, now a solo artist of SNHG, shooting at a scenic site in a deeply inland northwestern region of the country while donning a local ethnic costume:

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

The delinquent image featured in some J-pop groups is an intentional, carefully designed/engineered & executed thing to suit market tastes - it's their outward, stage image, not the real, off-stage personality of the artist in question. So an idol can dress & act like a delinquent on stage & in MVs/dramas/movies, but s/he's still not supposed to be so IRL.

I suppose it's subjective to me, but the whole "I want a pretend delinquent" but IRL "I don't even want her to have a boyfriend" is kinda pathetic. It'snot even about roleplaying as a bad girl--I know many of these types are virgins and whatnot. But having an actual date is too much lol. Loser audience, propagating the "if I can't have you..." trope. It's not like these geeks backlashing will get them laid any better. We used to have a term called "hyon" which I'm sure doesn't exist with these otakus.

Also imo the ethnic fashion is much more glamorous......to where it got surpassed probably because the Western stuff was easier to just put on and operate with.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

I suppose it's subjective to me, but the whole "I want a pretend delinquent" but IRL "I don't even want her to have a boyfriend" is kinda pathetic. It'snot even about roleplaying as a bad girl--I know many of these types are virgins and whatnot. But having an actual date is too much lol. Loser audience, propagating the "if I can't have you..." trope. It's not like these geeks backlashing will get them laid any better. We used to have a term called "hyon" which I'm sure doesn't exist with these otakus.

The rule is for satisfying their fans' imaginative fantasies on them, which I always think is selfish & unreasonable, but that's a reality of the industry, & disregarding this reality is seen as being irresponsible to their fans (who have so much faith on them), their agency (which's invested so much resources on them), & even themselves (since it destroys their career & dream).

Also imo the ethnic fashion is much more glamorous......to where it got surpassed probably because the Western stuff was easier to just put on and operate with.

Agreed.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Quick update: As of late, members of various SNHG groups around the country have been descending on a southern provincial capital, which's also the home city of GNZ48, for the coming final results announcement event of the current SNHG General Election & the SNHG concert preceding it, as well as a number of other related & unrelated events & performances (including various performances at the exclusive theater of GNZ48 ) - currently the only group not arriving yet is CKG48, which members will also fly there shortly, after their upcoming dispatching ceremony for that event.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Behind-the-scenes footage of a former group ace of SNH48, now a solo artist of SNHG, shooting at a scenic site in a deeply inland northwestern region of the country while donning a local ethnic costume:

Another one, shot at a suburb of a city near the border in the same region - in a denim fashion this time:

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

The election manifesto of a prominent member of the 2nd team of GNZ48 for the current General Election of SNHG:

SNH48 GROUP年度青春盛典

^ It's shot around the home city of that group.

This should be the last one posted here - I haven't posted & can't post all of them here, of course. lol

[EDIT]
^ Her rendering a folk-style single w/ a live band & a live chorus at a theater performance of the group just an hour ago:

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

The rule is for satisfying their fans' imaginative fantasies on them, which I always think is selfish & unreasonable, but that's a reality of the industry, & disregarding this reality is seen as being irresponsible to their fans (who have so much faith on them), their agency (which's invested so much resources on them), & even themselves (since it destroys their career & dream).


Agreed.

Funny thing is, I thought a large part of that fetish is into cucking as well. It's basically on the same spectrum.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Funny thing is, I thought a large part of that fetish is into cucking as well. It's basically on the same spectrum.

That'd require a social psychological study to verify, lol but the fandom is quite heterogeneous & comprised of widely different types of people in terms of age, gender, sexual orientation, occupation, & wealth, among others.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

I would say something about not intending offense, but let's be honest--pigeoning people into your personal, unrealizable fancies is rather lame. But all the same, I can't deny that's what J-Stars have willingly signed up for and knew they'd be getting.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

I would say something about not intending offense, but let's be honest--pigeoning people into your personal, unrealizable fancies is rather lame. But all the same, I can't deny that's what J-Stars have willingly signed up for and knew they'd be getting.

Yeah, idols are selling fantasies for their fans' consumption, hence it's just market behaviors of sellers & buyers, who must abide by the rules of this market. If an idol or fan doesn't well understand that & crosses the line, s/he'll face the consequences.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

Does K-pop have the same thing?

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Does K-pop have the same thing?

I'm not familiar w/ K-pop sufficiently enough to really tell about that, but I suspect it's somewhat/partly similar. The K-pop industry started in a period under the shadow of J-pop back then, hence there must be some J-pop influences at the time.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Quick update: The top members of BEJ48 will have a live performance, titled "The Steppe Have a Date with You" (my translation), at the regional capital of Inner Mongolia later this month - AFAIK this' the very 1st time an SNHG group performs in the autonomous region bordering Mongolia & Russia, tho they did have done MV shootings over there in the past, IIRC.

 

[RebelOfDaNew]

I'm not familiar w/ K-pop sufficiently enough to really tell about that, but I suspect it's somewhat/partly similar. The K-pop industry started in a period under the shadow of J-pop back then, hence there must be some J-pop influences at the time.

So apparently, there's a ban but for trainees only. I guess...that's less odd? But not really.

Still don't get, if I'm being crucially honest, how this beat out City Pop and RnB. You know?

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

Still don't get, if I'm being crucially honest, how this beat out City Pop and RnB. You know?

That's similar to what industry veterans are thinking when they're presenting top awards to idol groups like AKB48 at annual musical award events year after year. lol