In the late 1990s and early 2000s, various Japanese boy idol groups (such as SMAP, Arashi, KAT-TUN, and Hey! Say! JUMP) and girl idol groups (such as Morning Musume, Juice=Juice, OCHA NORMA, and Angerme) began to gain popularity. An “aidoru” (アイドル) or idol is a branded entertainer in Japanese popular culture. Idols and idol groups release music, but many idols and group members are also actors, hosts, models, or other entertainers. The public image of idols is carefully planned, and their behavior in public is highly regulated.
The music of idol singers is often classified as j-pop. Many idol singers succeed more as a group than as individuals. In idol groups, members are often assigned different roles that fans can identify with. Idols and idol groups offer fans a kind of escape from everyday problems.
Hello! Project
The ones behind idol groups are usually large agencies. One of the most well-known is Hello! Project (ハロー！プロジェクト), which is a collective term for female artists and multi-member girl groups under the Up-Front Group label. The project’s flagship group is Morning Musume, founded in 1997. In addition to Morning Musume, well-known bands under Hello! Project include Juice=Juice, OCHA NORMA, and Angerme (アンジュルム). In addition to the successful groups, Hello! Project also has a training group called Hello Pro Kenshuusei.
The Morning Musume idol group
Morning Musume (モーニング娘。) is a j-pop idol group founded in 1997, with a lineup that changes almost annually. Due to its longevity, Morning Musume is one of the most famous idol groups in Finland. The group is known for its constantly changing lineups. New members are auditioned, and members “graduate” from the group when it’s time to move on in their careers or lives. Auditions and graduations have created various styles and dynamics in the group’s music and performances. In total, there have been about fifty members divided into 17 generations.
The group’s music was overseen by singer, songwriter, and producer Tsunku until 2014. The group has sold over 21 million records in Japan. The best-selling single is Love Machine, released in 1999, which sold over 1,600,000 copies.
