[All] Will Johnny's be able to perform at the 2024 Red and White Song Battle? Selection status of STARTO artists

A thorough explanation of the possibility of Johnny's appearing at the 2024 Kohaku Uta Gassen! What is the current status of negotiations between NHK and STARTO ENTERTAINMENT? Check out the trends of popular groups such as Snow Man and SixTONES. With the number of K-POP appearances predicted to decrease, how will the composition of Kohaku change? We consider NHK's strategy to recover viewership and the expectations of fans.

1. Background to the issue of the 2024 Kohaku Uta Gassen and Johnny's appearances

The biggest focus of attention for the 2024 Kohaku Uta Gassen is whether artists belonging to STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates) will be appearing. At last year's Kohaku, the sexual assault scandal involving founder Johnny Kitagawa was revealed, and NHK decided to withhold new invitations to perform from Johnny & Associates artists. As a result, for the first time since 1978, no Johnny & Associates groups appeared, and the viewership rating for Kohaku fell to an all-time low of 31.9%.

In October of this year, NHK announced that it would resume hiring new artists from STARTO, citing progress in victim compensation and measures to prevent recurrence. However, negotiations have remained difficult since then, and there have been many twists and turns before the performers have been finalized.

2. Negotiation history between NHK and STARTO ENTERTAINMENT

In mid-October, NHK made multiple offers to groups affiliated with STARTO ENTERTAINMENT to appear on Kohaku. However, the issue was complicated by the NHK special "The Reality of Johnny Kitagawa's 'Idol Empire'" that aired on October 20th. The special delved into the issue of Johnny Kitagawa's sexual assault, which caused a huge reaction. The special broadcast caused some artists and people involved to reconsider their desire to appear on Kohaku.

Opinion is divided even within NHK, with some believing that "the appearance of Johnny's groups is necessary in order to recover the show's record-low viewer ratings" and others believing that "emphasis should be placed on ethical issues."

3. Groups to watch: Snow Man, SixTONES, King & Prince

Groups that are attracting attention at the 2024 Kohaku include Snow Man, SixTONES, and King & Prince. Snow Man in particular achieved million sales in just three days after its latest album was released, and is considered a trump card for NHK to recover its viewership ratings.

In addition, SUPER EIGHT, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary since their debut, and WEST, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary, are also expected to appear as they are celebrating milestone years. These groups are highly popular not only in Japan but also throughout Asia, and will surely add some glamour to the Kohaku.

4. The impact of the Johnny Kitagawa issue on negotiations

The issue of Johnny Kitagawa has had a serious impact on the relationship between NHK and STARTO. The issues raised in the NHK Special attracted public attention, and many of the artists involved were confronted with facts they had not known about. In such circumstances, there are cases where psychological resistance to appearing on the show has arisen.

The debate over appearing on Kohaku also seems to have divided opinions within STARTO. Some members claim that "we want to restore the agency's image by appearing on a nationally popular program," while others take the position that "it's too early for them to appear as the issue has not been fully resolved."

5. Reduction in the number of K-POP artists performing and changes to the composition of Kohaku

Last year, seven K-pop groups appeared at Kohaku, but this year the number is expected to be significantly reduced. NewJeans, who appeared as a special participant, is not doing so well this year, and it is said that the internal conflict within the HYBE group is affecting them. In addition, the backlash from other Korean agencies for receiving special treatment at Kohaku last year is also thought to be a factor in the decrease in appearances.

As a result, it is highly likely that the composition of the Red and White Song Battle will be reorganized to focus on Japanese artists, making the appearance of artists affiliated with STARTO even more important.

6. NHK's strategy for recovering viewer ratings

Following last year's slump in viewership ratings, NHK is prioritizing recovery in viewership ratings. To that end, it is aiming to attract support from a wide range of generations by using many well-known and popular groups. The use of STARTO artists is likely to be the core of this strategy.

7. Fan and audience reactions: Hopes and fears

While there is hope among fans that "STARTO's artists returning to Kohaku will restore the agency's credibility," there are also strong critical voices that "it is inappropriate for them to appear when past issues remain unresolved." In particular, many viewers have doubts about NHK's ethical stance, and attention is focused on how this will affect Kohaku's image.

8. Performer Announcement Schedule and Past Trends

For the past five years, the announcement of the performers for the Kohaku Uta Gassen has been concentrated in mid-November, and this year it is expected to be announced between November 13th and 17th. After the announcement, there will be a lot of interest in the songs and performances of each group.

9. Summary: What will happen with Kohaku 2024?

It is said that the return of STARTO artists will be the key to the recovery of the viewership ratings for the 2024 Kohaku Uta Gassen. On the other hand, the selection process for Kohaku is attracting more attention than usual due to the reduction in the number of K-POP artists performing and the complex ethical issues. We will be paying close attention to how this year's Kohaku will unfold.

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