What the hell happened to J-pop?

[RadioIsOurs 13,876]

There used to be a time when J-pop is considered the 'staple' of the Asian pop market. Big acts like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, Utada Hikaru, SMAP, Akina Nakamori etc. Then it's popularity started going downhill as it's overtaken by K-pop. But the last time I remember hearing about it, there were still big acts like AKB48 and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. It still had an IDENTITY. Recently, I've decided to just check out the year end chart for 2017:

https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/japan-hot-100

...and omg, what happened? What is this? It's like it has never even evolved, and whatever charm or soul it had has been hollowed out. It's now an unrecognisable mess. It's honestly quite sad. I'll be surprised if anyone here actually still catches up with J-pop. 

[River 116,228]

It was just another trend and it ended... now it's more to people who loves the Japanese culture..

[Twitter 14]

J-pop was a staple in Asia but its being put to rest just like electronic bubblegum pop in the US. 

[FRANK1991 3,329]

yeah I used to listen to more J-POP back in middle school

now the only artist I still follow is Namie Amuro, but she is retiring in Sep. this year

I went to her final tour Finally and it was great, I'll miss her.

[RadioIsOurs 13,876]

3 minutes ago, River said:

It was just another trend and it ended... now it's more to people who loves the Japanese culture..

I love Japanese culture! 

But THAT is trite. 

[River 116,228]

3 minutes ago, RadioIsOurs said:

I love Japanese culture! 

But THAT is trite. 

I love it too but except the music, well maybe Anime songs I can like, but I'm not an example, I don't like my own country music lol

eh music is not what is used to, people tend to move on so quickly and then like one day they have this nostalgic memory of a song and they listen to it once.. like once in a while I remember Roly Poly and I listen to it.

[Gonzi 2,800]

tbh idk the difference between j-pop and k-pop but throwback to Gaga forcing this us 

 

[jsn 1,648]

Kyary was never THAT big honestly.  If you look at her sales, they're not very impressive.  She had a good run for a couple of years but it dropped off quickly.  And her popularity in other countries was basically a meme; a lot of overseas fans only knew of 1 or 2 songs.

Anyway, stan Perfume, their new album is coming out in August !

[Flapjack 1,264]

I think because it exists in such a bubble and never really caught up with global trends (not that any music has to) really killed it. Also, as someone who lived there, I literally did not meet a single person who acknowledged its existence, whether they were weebs or natives. 

[Edonis 28,950]

Okay but Perfume is THAT girl group! Mature electronic bops, nice melodies, creative visuals

But yeah, I think the global wow factor has died down for the most part. Maybe mainstream J-Pop is going through a messy music era like the US is right now?

[StarlightSeiya 1,242]

Yea I noticed not a lot of recent J-pop releases sparked my interest. I'll forever stan Perfume and Hikki. They are still pumping out songs. I haven't liked any of Ayu's latest releases(I think Song 4 u was the last one I really liked). 

[Damon 10,904]

I used to be obssesed with this band in my teenage years

[RAMROD 109,304]

J-Pop is fine. It just that Japanese labels are weird and do not sell and do not aeem interested to their property abroad so much. Many of their music videos on YouTube are even geo-locked. And when they did share it, it is just 1-2 minutes from the actual duration of the MVs. So that is the issue with the J-Pop for being less global than K-Pop.

 

[RadioIsOurs 13,876]

2 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

J-Pop is fine. It just that Japanese labels are weird and do not sell and do not aeem interested to their property abroad so much. Many of their music videos on YouTube are even geo-locked. And when they did share it, it is just 1-2 minutes from the actual duration of the MVs. So that is the issue with the J-Pop for being less global than K-Pop.

 

I don't understand, it never hurts to release MVs on youtube. You can't expect people to keep buying CDs to watch music videos!

[RAMROD 109,304]

3 minutes ago, RadioIsOurs said:

I don't understand, it never hurts to release MVs on youtube. You can't expect people to keep buying CDs to watch music videos!

I agree. It is most criticized by many J-Pop fans. I mean, look at Ayumi Hamasaki channel, many of her MVs there are only 2 minutes or so. Like, what even?! We cannot hear the full song that way.

the most popular J-Pop act right now is BABYMETAL because they are not doing the regular J-Pop label tactics. AFAIK they also connects with their abroad fans. And they toured abroad often too!