The reason why I wonāt do a Most Popular JPop group video
*You can ignore this post, is merely a reply to a youtubeās video reply comment that obviously canāt be post there due to its lenght*
I don't do videos. But I can give you a few tips on how to reasearch this information, according to popularity surveys, concerts attendance, physical sells & total sells listed by Oricon (list that sums up the number of digital sells, streams & physical sells all in one). The reason why I don't include online sells separately, is because there's more than one platform (amazon, iTunes, Recochoku...) & because Johnny's and other companies don't do online platform sells or they don't do all the platforms. Anyway, you can check out each different platform's ranks like iTunes Japan or Recochoku if you're interested. Recochoku trully helps a lot of niche market acts, whom can't perform that well at physical sells or can't afford to release at all physically.
Nikkei Entertainment's (magazine) different ranking surveys are, perhaps, the oldest and most followed indicator:
This year's 2020 Nikkei's Talent Power Ranking for music (both genders included):
https://style.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO61136090T00C20A7000000?ora
Arashi is #1, TOKIO is #6, Kinki Kids is #8, V6 is #24, Kanjani8 is #29. These are the groups that managed to make it to the top 30, based on how general audiences percieve them (not on sells. In other words, what people can recognize from their media presence).Last year's, was still topped by Arashi, followed by Kinki Kids at #9, TOKIO at #11, V6 at #18, Kanjani8 at #24 and DA PUMP closed it at #25 (that's what USA did for them last year).
There's the LINE Popular Male Idol Groups in Japan Survey (2020):
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000002622.000001594.html
This survery divides also by age groups, the overall top 10 is:
Arashi, TOKIO, EXILE, 3JSB, Kanjani8, King & Prince, Kinki Kids at #8 (#7 is BTS, which doesn't count for what we're looking for) & V6 is #10 (Tohoshinki occupies #9).
This is, again, based on what people percieve from media presence (which doesn't equal sells nor concert attendance), that's why TOKIO can manage to be #2 (a lot of TV presence & this year's news have pushed them up) and V6 can enter the top 10 (a lot of TV presence, Okada's acting career & this year's 25th anniversary events that allowed even overseas fans to watch content online).
The top 3 reasons given by males for why they rate this groups (the people who took the survey) are:Ā
Their music's good, the members' personalities & they have an original view of the World. Their singing is good is listed as the 4th most voted reason.
Their music is good, they have an original view of the World & their singing is good are the top 3 reasons. The members' different personalities ranks as the 4th reason.For both genres, 'their lives are good' only rank as the 7th most chosen reason of why they would go for that group.
If we look for the age group's:
Male teenagers go for Arashi, TOKIO, 3JSB (tied with BTS), Hypnosis Mic (group I am not sure whether to count or not, because they're animated) & Kanjani8 tied at #5, V6, EXILE, King & Prince, and #10 doesn't count (again) because it's Big Bang. Arashi takes a 20.6% of the male teenagers that took this survey, btw, which shows the difference with the rest of choices that only have 3.7% and below of supporters.
Female teenagers go for Arashi (again, high rate with 15.0%), Hypnosis Mic, King & Prince at #4 (#3 is BTS),Ensemble Stars (you've guessed it, this is another animated group), Hey! Say! JUMP, Snow Man, Johnny's WEST at #8 tied with SEVENTEEN (who doesn't count), and last spot is for SixTONES.
Males in their twenties chose Arashi, TOKIO, 3JSB, EXILE, Kanjani8, V6 is #8 (6 & 7 are BTS & Big Bang), Hypnosis Mic and King & Prince close the list.
Females in their twenties have a complete different taste exept, right... for Arashi, who are still #1 followed by King & Prince, Kanjani 8, 3JSB at #5 (BTS are at #4), Hypnosis Mic, Snow Man, Hey!Say!JUMP, Uta no Prince-sama (another animated group, and that one's a veteran XD) and SixTONES.
Males in their thirties still choose Arashi & TOKIO for their #1 & #2, but they follow with EXILE, Kinki Kids, 3JSB, Kanjani8, V6 and, because BTS & Big Bang are Ā both a tie (the 1st with V6) King & Prince closes the list (tie with BB). I personally find it revealling that a rookie filled with younger members like King & Prince managed to capture this group's attention.
As for females in their thirties, the names don't variate that much but the order differs after Arashi still tops the list with 19.5%. 3JSB is their second choice, followed by King & Prince, Kinki Kids, Kanjani8, EXILE, and TOKIO falls to #9 with a tie with Big Bang (BTS is #7), however, for them Kisumai is the one group to enter this top 10 at the bottom.
Males in their 40's top 3 are also Arashi, TOKIO & EXILE. 3JSB follow with Kanjani8, Kinki Kids, King & Prince, V6, and this time we've managed to have non local groups BTS & Tohoshinki closing the list (#9 & #10).
Females in this age group have Arashi, 3JSB, King & Prince and EXILE on the first 4 positions, BTS occupies the 5th (doesn't count) followed by Kanjani8, TOKIO & Kinki Kids at #9 (Tohoshinki are #8 & Big Bang closes this list).
We're not done, males in their 50's have the same top 3 males in their 30's & 40's have: Arashi, TOKIO & EXILE. It's followed by Kanjani8, 3JSB, Kinki Kids at #7 (we've bypassed Tohoshinki), V6 & King & Prince closing the list, because #9 are BTS.
Females in this age-group also chose Arashi as top1, but they still prefer EXILE over 3JSB (#2 & #4), TOKIO is the group to follow, King & Prince are #6 (Tohoshinki's 5), Kinki Kids, and V6 falls to #10 since BTS ranks again in the list (#9).
Next are Oricon's different Ranking lists for this year's 2020.Ā
Note that we can only go to the mid-year ranks to get a general view (full year can't be done yet. Also I don't know why they stopped adding the number of sells?).
Total Singles:
https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/special/Special.php?pcd=kgsg2020
Snow Man & SixTONES top this year's list with their joint debut release of Imitation Rain/D.D.
J01 are at #10 with PROTOSTAR (Mugendai),(Have you noticed that, despite of the media coverage & sells they have, they don't appear at any popularity rankings?)
At #14 there are Hey! Say1 JUMP with I am/Muah Muah
Snow Man & SixTONES are #1 with Imitation Rain/D.D.
J01 are at #6 with PROTOSTAR (Mugendai).
Hey! Say! JUMP are at #9 with I am/Muah Muah.
GATTANGOTTON GO! by BOYS AND MEN is at #13 (they also failed to enter any popularity ranking).
MAG!C PRINCE are #18 with Try Again.
Matsuri nine are #19 with Teppen NEW DAYS.
3JSB are #23 with Fuyuzora/White Wings (also at #39 with Movin'on)
EXILE/EXILE THE SECOND are #25 with Ai no Tame ni ~for love... (I remind you the THE SECOND are a sub-unit of the first).
If you're curious what other groups can enter the top 100 that you may have the conception they're also popular or, at least, have a decent big enough fanbase:
Kanjani8 (26), ABC-Z (31), THE RAMPAGE (38, 70), Da-iCE (46), DA PUMP (65), Genin wa Jibun ni Aru (66. They're from Stardust Promotion), Hi Five (82. From Watanabe Ent.), King & Prince (83 & 84. Bet you didn't expect this after how high they ranked at LINE's survey), Lead (86), Kinki Kids (94) & GENERATIONS close the rank at #100.
Johnny's WEST top the list for local boy bands at #4 with W trouble.
Kisumai are at #6, following with To-y2
3JSB at #7 with RAISE THE FLAG would make our top 3.
Sexy Zone's at #9 with POP X STEP.
NEWS are at #12 with STORY (That's already out of the general top10).
Johnny's WEST top the list at #3 with W Trouble.
Kisumai follows at #4 with To-y2.
3JSB are at #8 with RAISE THE FLAG.
Sexy Zone follow at #9 with POP X STEP.
NEWS at #12 with STORY.
Arashi are at #52 with 5x20 with All the Best!!, which could be considered as proof of their power, since this is a release from 2019 but they still managed to chart in the top100 of 2020.
EXILE THE SECOND (now separated from the group, still a sub-unit though) are at #55 with EXILE THE SECOND...
FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE are at #65 with FANTASTIC 9.
Thunder Dragon from SUPER DRAGON (another sub-unit) are at #68 with TRIANGLE.
And that's all.Ā There are no other boy bands, not even sub-units in the rest of the top100.
If we look at the 2019's Physical Singles Year Ranking:
https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2019/
Arashi would top with BRAVE, even though they're #7 of the list. Single stayed 27 weeks on charts (I wonder why Oricon changed the whole showing format & we can't even see that anymore for this year's).
King & Prince don't appear until #12 (it was a female idols dominated year, espcially Aki-P's created idol groups) with Koi-wazurai. And they occupy the next closest entry, #14 with Kimi wo Matteru. They also have Memorial at #82.
Kisumai would make the top 3 for male groups with Kimi wo Daisuki da at #18. They have another single at #32, HANDS UP. At #39 they also have the single Edge of Days.
Kanjani8 are at #24 following with Tomo Yo. They're also at #28 with crystal.
Hey!Say!JUMP are at #26 with FANFARE! And they repeat at #30 with Lucky-Unlucky/Oh1 my darling.
Kinki Kids are at #36 with Aitai, Aitai, Aenai. They repeat at #42 with Hikari no Kehai.
NEWS are at #37 with TOP GUN/Love Story.
Johnny's WEST are at #38 with Big Shot!! At #40 with AME NO CHIHARU and #45 with HOME CHIGI LIST/Kizu-darake no ai.
Sexy Zone are at #41 with Kirin no Ko/Honey Honey.
3JSB managed to enter this top 10 at #53 with Yes we are. They're also at #64 with SCARLET.
V6, BOYS AND MEN, THE RAMPAGE, MAG!C PRINCE, Matsuri nine, FANTASTICS, GENERATIONS, M!LK, ABC-Z & BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE, are the other groups that still managed to enter the top 100 with 1 or 2 singles.
It sucks that I can't find the sell numbers but, judging by the usual first day sells of AKB48G & SakaMichi, I can tell that their sells must've been really low compared with these female idol groups, yet probably enough to be certified gold on the first few weeks/months, at least for the top 3 groups.Ƨ
For the Physical Album sells:
At least we do have Arashi and King & Prince on the overal first 2 top positions.
Arashi's 5X20 album stayed for 70 weeks on charts, while KingPri stayed for 71. Did I mention Oricon also stopped providing detailed information for Johnny's groups and EBIDAN's? Luckyly, we can still see that for 2019.
Kisumai, Hey!Say!JUMP, Sexy Zone, NEWS, KAT-TUN, DA PUMP, THE RAMPAGE & BOYS AND MEN complete the top 10. Notice that I've skipped another animated group and the joing album of BATTLE OF TOKYO ~ENTER THE Jr. EXILE~ album (which had a total of 4 EX TRIBE groups from the lowest steps of the Pyramide). Rather than the double single to debut Johnny's latest groups, this counts more as a special album for promotional purposes (they celebrated a whole show from it).
Nikkei's Concert Mobilization from last year 2019 (2020 still not published):
https://style.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO52911370T01C19A2000000/
Arashi are number 1, with almost 2 Milion attendess in a total of 36 concerts (they've been doing Domes for years now).
They're followed by Sandaime J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE, Kis-My-Ft.2 on 5th Place, Kanjani8 on 7th, Hey!Say!JUMP on 8th, GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE at 10th, NEWS at 12th, Johnny's WEST at 17th, Sexy Zone at 18th, King & Prince at 21st (with 392.000 in 32 shows). Kisumai's numbers drop considerably to 617.000 attendees in just 13 shows, but it still shows their popularity grew from the year after they debuted, mostly thanks to SMAP's support and, specially, Nakai's production of Busaiku, that ended that horrible 3/4 line-up thing Iijima or maybe avex (?) came up with for their debut.
One must consider that groups that could rival Arashi on venues' capacity and attendees, like EXILE or KAT-TUN did considerably less shows (7 & 18, respectively). As for the difference between Arashi and 3JSB, the latest did 1.119.000 attendees with 24 shows, having 12 less shows to fill more Domes and rival for the top position.
Other groups ranked in the top 50 are:
THE RAMPAGE & SixTONES. This last group managed to enter the list at #49 the year before debuting with 198.000 attendees in 22 concerts but, more or less, Kisumai & KAT-TUN also managed to do quite well with their concerts before their official recording debut.Ā
This ranking's article also writes down the sells for that year's released albums or singles preceding the tours for the respective top 10 acts (the list is general, I'm extracting the boy bands), and Arashi had sold 2.119.040 copies of their hits compilation, 5x20 All the BEST!! 1999-2019, while 3JSB had sold 116.268 copies of their album Yes we are. Kisumai would take 2nd place this time, as they sold 337.363 copies of their album Kimi wo Daisukida. Kanjani8 had sold 248.414 copies of crystal. Hey!Say!JUMP sold 264.870 copies of FANFARE! and GENERATIONS sold 43.094 copies of DREAMERS (there's no data out of the top 10 of concerts, so you can try looking for Oricon's 2019 chart for the rest).
Narrowing down from that year's list of groups filling Domes in a top 3 (means those groups may had filled a Dome but fail to enter that Dome's top 3), Arashi is top with 36 times of all 5 existent Domes, followed by 3JSB with 24 of all 5, GENERATIONS with 7 times in 3 different Domes (Sapporo, Nagoya & Fukuoka) & Hey! Say! JUMP also with 7 in 2 Domes (Tokyo & Nagoya), Kanjani8 with 4 times in 2 Domes (Sapporo & Nagoya; they failed to appear at top 3 for Kyocera, which is their home venue!) & Kisumai close the list with 4 times at Tokyo Dome.
https://style.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO52944980U9A201C1000000?ora
Arashi is trully that popular that they even appear ranked #6 at Nikkei's Talent Power Ranking, which evaluates a variety of different sorts of talents (idols, actors, show conductors, etc.).
https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00339/00001/?i_cid=nbpnxr_parent
There's also a list for Johnny's, but that mixes both groups with individual members, so it's a little crazy to follow. Still it shows that Arashi are the top idols in the house, not sure what will happen when the group goes on hiatus.
https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00339/00011/?i_cid=nbpnxr_parent
As you can see (and I said on my OG comment) it is quite hard to elaborate a full top 10 list of which group is trully popular, based on not just the general audience's perception but also on the profit they make from their music and shows.While we have the Popularity Rankings of both Nikkei & LINE showing certain groups on the top 10, we have sometimes a different result in their venues attendance and their overall sells (mostly physical, remember I only took Oricon as a reference).
The only group that remains ALWAYS on top is Arashi. I went for the last 2 years results, but I can say they've been more or less in that position for the last 10 years, at least, only being surpassed once or twice by both 3JSB & EXILE. That is for active groups, of course, otherwise we should take SMAP in consideration (they're still quite popular despite having disbanded).
Both type lists change with every year (I'm leaving the concerts one aside now), and it really reflects which group has either had more news/scandals/tv&other media appearances in one hand, and which group has released music in the other.Ā
Even though they all mostly release music frequently, some groups like V6, EXILE or Kinki Kids have got periods of hiatus or simply of not putting any new music in the market but still stayed alive on TV.
Also, Oricon's charts reflect mostly which groups have a big enough fanbase, even for those groups that failed to chart above the top 50 (which is mostly were the top 10 Japanese male groups are to be found). That's why, despite not appearing at all in the popularity rankings provided by both LINE & Nikkei Ent., we can still see Fortune Ent., EBiDAN, Watanabe ent., even Da-iCE representing avex.
The craziest thing to see from all these charts is that Johnny's still manage to have a certain monopoly inspite of still having a very closed market (not online sells, not much presence in SNS and a very limited newly acquired presence at Youtube), aside from Arashi who got some freeway due to seniority and their special situation (on the verge to enter an indefinite hiatus).
Last but not least, the reason why I insisted on adding the DOME's list is because, despite what we see at the popularity rankings, some groups still cannot fill a DOME (TOKIO, V6) or enough DOMES in one tour (apparent already in the list provided by Nikkei). Also, most tickect sells are done within' fanclub subscription (not only Johnny's) and that narrows a lot the possibility to acquire a ticket but also it makes it hard to tell when a group sells fast, because everything is done by ballot (you subscribe first, pay, then you know if you won & whether you'll get your pre-payment refunded).
Ā In the "worst" occasions, groups that don't manage to fill a venue on the previous demand for a ballot, re-destribute their tickets for other group's fanclub members or official channels (shops, etc.). Those tickets you may find in places like Harajuku, etc. are usually re-sells at a higher price, to speculate with a group's popularity.
Saying all that, aside from Arashi, I'd only venture to say 3JSB & EXILE are still quite strong. Even though EXILE's popularity is fading a lot with the youngest generation (specially the females) and it didn't manage to enter the general Nikkei's list this year, they still hold that recognition and audience that's willing to pay for a Dome concert. They have never needed to retreat to a smaller venue (E-Girls had) and they have to trully fail hard at a first week sales with any of their releases yet.
While TOKIO, V6 & Kinki Kids are widely recognized, the first two groups still fail to do Domes and the last one failed to be chosen by the two lowest generation groups at the LINE survey. Despite still holding the Guiness Record, their sells have decreased for their last releases in comparision with the other groups that managed to be in higher positions at Oricon's charts (They failed to enter any "top 10").
Then, the following groups that could be considered to follow Arashi or Arashi/EXILE/3JSB would be Kisumai, Kanjani8 & King & Prince. In terms of current popularity, Kanjani8 & KingPri still managed to make the top 10 of the LINE overall survey, Kanjani8 also managed to make it into Nikkei's Talent list (2019 too), while Kisumai is non-existent in those lists, they still managed to appear at the concerts & Dome's list with good results, and they also manage to be on the top 10 lists for music sells.Ā
The reason why I put the highlight on types of venues and sells for concerts is to see that not everything is about bulk-buying which does happen for boy bands too (it isn't an exclusive for AKB48 & such).
We've already seen 9 groups, yet, if we consider all the aespects I've said, I'd still cross TOKIO out from the list and V6 would be waiting to see if any other group surpass its sells ranks & concert attendees. The reason why I don't cross out Kinki Kids too is because they had no tour in 2019, so we can't compare numbers for a current situation. However, Kinki Kids are used to be able to sell out Domes, so I can't discard them that easily.
If I had to choose a group to "replace" them, I'd go for Hey! Say! JUMP, who failed to appear into any popularity ranking but still were chosen by two female age-groups (teenagers and Twenties) at LINE's survey, and who do rank at #8 for last year's concert attendees and don't perform badly at music sells.
Then, the group could be closed jointly by Sexy Zone and GENERATIONS. While both groups fail to appear at LINE's survey (not even chosen by any age/gender groups), they aren't mentioned either by Nikkei's; the first group still performs quite well on sells and doesn't do badly on venues (despite they still on Halls & Arena capacity), while the second already fills Domes and doesn't do bad on sells, is still below Sexy Zone on that department.So, an overall top 10 considering everything & the fact this should be mostly about the music and the profit you make by it with general audience's recognition would be:
1.Arashi
2.3JSB
3.EXILE
4.Kinki Kids
5.Kanjani8
6.Hey!Say!JUMP
7.Kis-My-Ft.2
8.King & Prince
9.GENERATIONS
10.Sexy Zone
And I must say it was hard to choose an order from #4 onwards (below) because where a group surpasses on sells, other does on concert attendees or other does on the popularity rankings. I've also considered seniority, because it's undeniable that will add to overall acumulated sells/concert attendees.Ā
Of course, if we considered recognition by the average Japanese citizens, then the list would be the following:
1.Arashi
3.TOKIO
3.EXILE
4.Kinki Kids
5.V6
6.Kanjani8
7.Kis-My-Ft.2 (especially Busaiku)
8.King & Prince
9.Hey! Say! JUMP
10.GENERATIONS
And that's not far from LINE's overall poll, but it is more based on TV presence and other media such as Radio or even Magazines not idol-related (such as Sports). And the reason why I cut Sexy Zone but still left GENE, is because GENE still takes advantadge of the fact Mandy & Alan get a lot of attention for also being members of EXILE.Ā
Did you notice that within' all the groups I've mentioned or listed from sources we have to yet see w-inds? Don't we some of us have the image they're better recognized by general audiences? Didn't they tour recently?
The answer is w-inds still does mid to smaller halls for their venues, they don't perform badly for their first week of sales, and they do have their audience; but like most EBiDAN, avex, Fortune Ent. etc. groups, even when they appear on TV or host their own TV or Radio shows, those are targetted to a very niche audience and lack the general appeal the shows from certain Johnny's groups & EXILE have for a wider range of viewers. And the groups that are able to make use of TV to expand their potential target owe it to Iijima & SMAP, who were the pionners on doing shows that weren't fan-orientated.
And such an essay is one of the reasons why I don't waste my time doing videos.
