The rise of AKB48
“Mezamashi TV” reports on how idol group AKB48 has expanded beyond its original Akihabara fanbase:
Sales of their recent single hit #1 on the Oricon charts, setting a record for first week sales by female artists in 2009. They’ll also be performing in this year’s N-H-K Kouhaku Uta Gassen (they failed to make the cut last year).
Their main appeal with fans to seems to be their availability. AKB48 regularly holds events in which fans are given a chance to actually meet and shake hands with members of the group. The organizers are clever enough to require every attendee to buy a copy of the new AKB48 CD, inflating sales figures and helping the status of the group on the ranking charts. They’ve also been experimenting in different styles for different members, and some of the girls have done gravure and fashion modeling work. Apparently this has had the effect of increasing their popularity among non-otaku men and women.
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