Trusting The Hello! Process

This has been an interesting six months...

October 2007:  Goto Maki suddenly graduates from Hello! Project.  Reasons:  Exhaustion and creative differences with UFA.  Dubious sub-reason:  The arrest of Goto Yuuki "Corleone"  This, along with Iida Kaori's pregnancy also contributes to the unceremonious disappearance of Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai after a fairly promising start.

 

January 2008:  v-u-den announces their coming disbandment this summer.  Reason:  None given.  Dubious sub-reason:  Latest album doesn't break 8,000 copies sold?

February 2008:  The cancellation of Uta Doki! Pop Classics  Reason:  To make room for Berikyuu.  Dubious sub-reason:  Was anyone watching?

March 2008:  Mano Erina graduates from H!P Eggs and more importantly Ongaku Gatas.  Reason: To pursue a solo career and be the best part of Berikyuu!  Dubious sub-reason:  Unsubstantiated rumours of friction within the Gatas.  By the way, I don't buy into that rumour for one second.  There is NO possible way Yossie and Rika would let some kid get away with being a Diva in that group!

 

 April 2008:  The graduation of Mutou Mika from Ongaku Gatas and Hello! Project.  Reason:  To focus on her education.  Dubious sub-reason:  She just wasn't cute or popular.  If this is true, I feel really badly for her.  It doesn't seem as if she got much of a shot beyond the Eggs.  She was merely a glorified backup dancer for Gatas who never (as far as I've seen) got a chance to prove her talent.  Whatever the "real" reason, I am sorry to see Mika go.

 

 April 2008:  The sudden graduation of Kimura Ayaka.  Reason:  To focus on her acting.  Dubious sub-reason:  What has she done lately other than one song per year every winter?  This one hits me the hardest because 1) Ayaka is such a huge part of the history of Hello! Project.  Not because of Coconuts Musume, but of her Surprise English Lessons.  And 2) Unlike Maki, who we now know and always suspected would resurface, this may be the last we hear from Ayaka for a long time.  What bothers me the most is how unceremonious her departure is.  Ayaka deserves SO MUCH better than this! (Friday edit: well this theory already seems to have been proven incorrect, as Ayaka "Nagate" has already signed with a new agency.  Awesome for her!!!  I never said I was related to Nostradamus.)

 

Question:  What do all of these events have in common???

 

Answer:  They all happened to and affected members of the Elder Club.

 

Obviously sales are not what they used to be.  And I've always wondered how UFA can afford to pay all of these artists to be associated with H!P when they seem to be generating limited revenue for the organization.  What I have long suspected is that UFA is beginning to "prune away" the excess baggage, and it is starting with most of the Elders.  But can you really blame them?  Based on current trends, it is obviously the right time for UFA to take a good, hard look at where they are, and where they want to be.  As hard as it is to say goodbye to people they surely care about as human beings.  It simply makes sense for them to evaluate what is going to keep them profitable and contemporary.  After all, nobody wants them to become a "nostalgia" act!

So now we have seen the first of some major changes.  Could the rest of the Elders be far behind???

 

 

Melon Kinen-bi:  As much as I hate to say it, their days must be numbered with H!P.  Their last single and album barely sold a copy.  There has been no tour in 2008, and they are usually good for 2-3 club tours per year.  I don't think they are going to survive the year.

Maeda Yuki:  She is a tremendous talent, but is being promoted to the wrong demographic.  Yuki in H!P is like a "fish on a bicycle".  I think she is going to move on.

 

Inaba Atsuko:  Now that Ayaka is gone, could Atsuko be too far behind?  They both currenly play the same role within Hello! Project, with the exception of her backing vocal work.  I still say I'd rather watch the H!P shows with she and Mari hosting, and instead be talking about the graduation of MC Makoto!!!

Yui and Erika:  I have no clue what they could possibly have in store for these two.  And I'll bet UFA doesn't have a clue either. 

 

This leaves us with...

Matsuura Aya:  She is still one of the best talents currently in Hello! Project, but I could see her eventually pulling a "Gomaki" and bolting for greener pastures.  Whatever she does, I will still adore her!

Ongaku Gatas:  Despite losing two members, I don't think Gatas is falling apart at all.  Mika was underutilized and expendable.  Manoeri, as popular as she is, wasn't the cornerstone of the group.  Si*Na is an unknown commodity, so we have no idea what Nocchi's future is yet.  I'm interested to see what the Gatas' next move is.

 

And then you have...

All of the Momusu graduates:  This is the hardest for me to predict.  How do you tell the likes of Yuko, Nacchi, Kaorin, Nono, Kei-chan, Yaguchi, and Mikitty "see ya later"?  I don't think you do.  And even if I believe that last January was the last we'll hear of the "Elder" concept, it doesn't mean I think UFA will show every last one of them "the door".  Next to Ayaya, Morning Musume "OG" is the best part of the Elders' show, AND was the best part of the ENTIRE Summer 2007 concert!  Could some of them eventually say goodbye?  Yes, but it would be on their own terms.  I have to believe that H!P would always leave an open door for any of them.

 

Now what is working???

 

Berryz Koubou:  Dschinghis Khan is their best selling single...ever!

C-ute:  Namida no Iro...ditto!!!

Morning Musume:  Resonant Blue, Tsunku and Momusu do a retooling of style and BAM!  We have one of their best selling singles in over two years!

Buono!:  Is a resounding success!

 

Koharu Kusumi:  Every single and album sells well!  Great buzz around Milky Way.  Which begs the question...  What do Koharu and Pornography have in common???

 

Nobody claims to be a fan of either one, but they both generate monstrous revenue! 

CK in California