About AKB48 (Request)

It's the whole concept of "idols you can meet".

Why they are popular?

Great members, great music, great PVs, AKB theater, lots of events, constant media exposure, lots of interaction with the fans, sister groups, AkiP...

Why are they greater? Because that's just how the music industry is. I mean, Arashi is waaaay more popular than SMAP who basically paved the way for them. That's just what happens. It doesn't necessarily mean that Arashi is better than SMAP, it's just who the public prefers at the time. One will always rise up over another.

Is AKB48 better than anything H!P does? That's a matter of opinion. I like a few of AKB's songs and know absolutely nothing about the girls and the other groups; but I have more H!P songs that I enjoy listening to. Someone else will say the complete opposite of my statement. That's like someone saying that rock music is better than classical music. It's all music and it's all a matter of personal taste.

And personally, I think AKB appeals to the visual sense for fans more than the artistic sense. There's a lot going on, there's a lot to look at and it's great for those with short attention spans. There are some songs that I enjoy and there are many that I'm just like, meh. There are some that I don't have that I will probably never have because I don't want to invest that much money for a cd. I wish just a few more songs were available on iTunes instead of that one album.

I think It really just boils down to three things

First is concept. AKB's "idols you can meet" concept is fresh, and new, and different than H!P, or any other idol groups' concept. In the idol world, new and fresh=good, because it's said that wota can get bored of a group quickly.

Second is because of some of the stuff hitoyou said. AKB has more events, more exposure, more interaction with fans. A huge part is because their popular. They can afford better PV's/exposure, etc. But some of it is because AkiP's a marketing genuis. He knows just what to do to keep the group fresh and in the media. Though honestly, sometimes those methods are creepy, and inappropriate. AKBaby really?
H!P has great members too, great music, not all of theirs PV's are fails, and they also have sister groups. But they don't market to their fullest. Again, half of it is because their not popular, which makes it harder to have better PV's and exposure because of money. And half of it is because 85% of the time they don't market their groups at all. When H!P really wants to, they will market, the right way, as seen in MM's latest single. If they did that 100% of the time, maybe they'd have better sales? Who knows.

Third is time. Over time, interest in stuff fades, and popularity falls, that's just how the world, and music industry is.

I really hoped that I helped, and that I didn't sound like I was bashing anyone.
I think the question should have been "Why is AKB more popular than idols" (In general) I don't see the point in picking H!P specifically, since their acts are just normal idol groups now with normal sales. Maybe it's because Morning Musume was the last idol group that was hugely popular before AKB? I want to love AKB, because can have amazing out of this world singles. Great stage songs too. (I love Tadaima Renaichuu) But lately, while PVs remain flawless and amazing, they have been coming out with songs like Give Me Five, Ue Kara Mariko, Chance no Junban, and Gingham Check, which aren't really memorable songs. I don't know why AKiP, or whoever works on their songs, gives them medicore, mainstream idol sounding songs as an a-side. An idol group that sells over 1 million with every single deserves more than that. These songs should have effort put into them. I don't know what's stopping me from loving them like I love H!P, I really hope I find out soon.

-From an H!P fan that listens to AKB casually

^ Maybe it's just me thinking this, but I think he doesn't put out the best songs as A-sides at times (Especially this year. I mean, I LOVE GM5 and Manatsu, but it's not like they're special) is because he doesn't have to. He knows that AKB is already popular, so maybe he thinks that the fans who are already there will just go along with whatever is put out. Maybe he's entrusting all the interest to be in multiple B-sides and PV's, events etc. Maybe he thinks he doesn't need to maintain interest with interesting singles or he's lazy? Haha, I mean, I'd be! Man, I swear, this was the most "marketing/strategy" talk I've had on this forum, maybe even the only. I don't know how people can keep it up! But seriously, if the fall single turns out to be a generic idol pop song... >: (

^I didn't even think of it like that!
AKB is going to sell, no matter what song they come out with, so in theory, he doesn't really have to even try! And wota don't really care either.
He should stop being lazy (If he is being lazy). I've even seen some AKB fans start to complain. Hopefully the fall single sounds better.

About the janken singles... as the result of that competition is of a very uncertain nature it is understandable that he would put a weaker song as the a-side and secure sales with three strong team songs instead. I'd say that Chance no Junban isn't just a weak song... it is crap. This song was relesed in 2010 though, so it is quite old by now.

Ue kara Mariko, still talking janken, got Shinoda Mariko as center which makes it very special for AKB-fans and yet again three good team songs. I prefer the original a-side Hashire Penguin though but to put Mariko-sama as center of such a song would seem strange, thus this change was made.

GIVE ME FIVE! is one of the most memorable songs ever!. The epic moment when they performed it for the first time was... yes epic... and will forever have a special place in our hearts

As for the latest song, Gingham Check, the initial main issue was that everyone expected Heavy Rotation Part 2 because Oshima Yuko got the center position, this made lots of fans disappointed at first. I like this song a lot, happy feelings every time I listen to it

Mainstream songs? Well that is what the idol industry need to appeal to the general public and is, of course, the way to go. H!P tried and tried but Tsunku lost his groove a long time ago. Don't know what will happen now though, maybe he suddenly got it back and, once again, starts to write music that appeals to the general public. As a result, people will start turning their heads and ask who the girls are.
Music will, however, never be the main reason why we decide to follow, and keep supporting, a certain idol group... it is the members that is the key to success and music is one way for us to meet them.

Yes...
xxx48-fans complain alot, it is a part of being a fan. When we don't care anymore we also stop complaining.

@iheartmanochan

Don't ever try to like idols by force... it won't work. Idol fandom needs that special split second moment when that little spark ignites a huge fire and suddenly everything is so obvious and fantastic. It is not up to you when to start loving idols... they choose you

Sheer number effect... is kind of flawed way of seeing things.

If you only look at the number of members that are in the group you will be thinking about chaos and people climbing over each other and such. But there is order and calm.

AKB is devided into four teams... A, K, B and 4 each 16 members. Add the research students to that.

Lets try something... change the name AKB and put H!P in its place...
H!P is devided into four teams... MM, Berryz, C-ute and S/mileage. Add the research students to that.

Is H!P just a sheer number effect? Do the H!P fans think that many of the members in f.ex C-ute are useless filling? Do you have problem learning the names of the members in each group? Do you think that these groups are exactly the same with total lack of uniqueness between them?

Scratch the surface of AKB and you will find gold in abundance, just stand there and see only the senbatsu.

Being a foreigner, the "idol you can meet" concept is something that didn't quite affect me. But I suppose that, just with daily performance at the theatre, the concept is present.

@iheartmanochan
It's true that the real question is about AKB's popularity over others idols group. I picked H!P cause they're the ones i know best, as you said, they once were big. In my mind, they're still the second most important idols group in Japan, tough my view may be outdated.

@hitoyou
Number effect was just a suggestion, gotta admit it may not have been a very good one tough. Thing is, from my point of view, AKB teams can't really be divided, whereas H!P groups are clearly defined. Once again, my way of thinking may be wrong...

Thanks to all for having given your views on the topic, Reading your commments made we want to learn more about the girls, i'll definitly get working on it when i have the time. Now i have the sudden urge to try for the lottery and watch them perform at their theater O_o Far away dream...*sigh*