AKB48’s music video for “No Way Man” has surpassed 2.5 million views.
The music video features high energy choreography which no doubt showed a new style for AKB48 during a time when the group has slowed down in momentum of popularity when compared to the momentum of Nogizaka46 and Keyakizaka46.
During the first 24-hours of the music video’s release of their 54th single track, “NO WAY MAN” (on October 25th) was viewed 1.39 million times. In 2017, their music video for their 51st single track “Jabaja” achieved 430,000 views on its first day of release, their 52nd single track “Teacher Teacher” music video received 560,000 views, while their last music video, “Sentimental Train” received 960,000 views.
The number of playbacks for “NO WAY MAN” is 150% higher than their previous work.
Management is hoping that the momentum of AKB48 is coming back up but they also acknowledged that the biggest factor of the views is due to members of AKB48 who took part in “Produce48” and also Miyawaki Sakura (20), Yabuki Nako (17) and Honda Hitomi (17) who are now members of the global pop group, IZ*ONE.
Many Japanese fans and also fans all over the world watched the music video due in part of it featuring members who participated in “Produce48”.
The comments featured on the music video for the first day of release was diverse with English, Korean, Chinese and various international languages not seen in previous AKB48 releases.
Also management noticed a change in fan base. The ratio of male fans were always high at their events, but now women are becoming prominent in appearing at concerts and handshake meetings. Also, through exposure of idols in female fashion magazines.
While Miyawai Sakura, Yabuki Nako, and Honda Hitomi will not take part in AKB48G related activities for the next 2.5 years, their is hope that with the members participation in “Produce48”, the three being part of IZ*ONE and exposure to K-Pop fans not familiar with AKB48G music may attract new fans to AKB48G.
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