New Country Musume auditions (Country・Girls)

[kyuu]

This no result shit is getting really stupid.

I dont see why it's bad to show ambition or don't fall in love with the group.

Because then we'll end up with Koharu part 2 lol.

I mean, I'm getting tired of this no results BS as well, but I mean if they can dodge another bullet like Koha, then great. She was bad for group chemistry, though I do appreciate Koha's contributions. No results doesn't look good though on the outside though, because as previously stated, girls may stop coming out to audition. Also, we know for sure there was at least one candidate genuinely in it for the love of H!P (Cuca lol if she came out for this anyway), so maybe their judges need to step their game up and start screening people better so that less of these fame-hungry people are let in-- if that was really what they were trying to avoid. Reading the last few pages over and the translations though, I didn't really get that as the reason why they picked no one lol ALSO if this is what they wanted to avoid, why on earth fold Rikako into the KSS, she is the epitome of fame-grabby girl imo. But that is another topic for another time.

Koharu was far from being my favourite but honestly her story is one of success. Get someone with her ambition+charisma+a little more talent and that would be a girl I could support. Maybe her relationships withing the group werent the best but they still worked well enough imo. Yes, it's nice when the girls love each other and the group like rightnow or most of the platinium era but iirc that didnt stoped the pre golden era/golden era to be succesful. And there was certanly bad blood there even if now they are good friends. A fame hungry girl with charisma and talent will be good for any group's popularity imo they bring fans and shake things a little

Anyway I wonder if they are going to shelve the project or instead focus in a new group. Maybe they were hoping it will get more buzz and atenttion than it did or maybe the girls who auditioned were truly mediocre beyond hope

[JonCC]

Well at least it got mentioned, I was expecting UFL not to say anything at all.
https://twitter.com/UpFrontLink/status/ ... 5774161923

[Starra]

^^I'm betting it was either that the girls weren't good enough, or that the expectations were too high. Since it's Japan, the latter seems more plausible, but maybe after the last 12th gen audition, some girls that might've auditioned didn't because of the no results or whatever other reason. Or, since the 12th gen auditions are/were going on at the same time as these ones, the more talented/determined girls auditioned for MM。rather than for a new group.

[otaku_blue]

some people (not here but online) are taking the no results of the audition way too seriously.

in comparison, Kpop companies run several different methods of auditions yearly to join.
there are dozens of people who might be talented and have the potential who don't make the cut for various reasons among judges.
even when someone is selected, they spend about 2-10+ years in training before they debut, which is a privilege considering that companies wait about 3-4+ years before debuting a new group.

its a casting call, if the company changes their mind, or cannot satisfy what they were looking for its just simply that.
if girls get the impression that it'll become too hard to join, its their fault for thinking that way, and that's not what HP wants anyway. They look girls who are themselves, as Celedam said, not girls who try to be what the judges want exactly. If they don't participate because of the expectation that the auditions haven't been successful, then they're already failures in my mind.

people in the industry know that they have to go through so many auditions, and jobs before they make it big. Big auditions like Morning Musume are a lucky, and quick easy pathway into making it big (like Koharu was well aware of, a "stepping stone"). passing off auditions, opportunities like this, as being too hard is a very illogical perspective, simply being that its a reality of auditions that there's always a chance they could pass or fail.

if anything, this is just reiterating the "cool hello" image they're trying to establish. that HP is changing itself to produce better quality idols.

[AyuHikaru]

I doubt that it is Tsunku's decision. He's just the creative director, at most. More like celebrity figurehead and part-time consultant. Naoki Yamazaki and his daughter Yukako are still the people in charge.

In fact, if any one person can really be credited with H!P's recent success, it's Yukako Yamazaki.

Can you elaborate on this? It sounds interesting.

[Starra]

^^I think the main problem is that this is right after another audition that had no results. Maybe if they hadn't happened in the same year, people wouldn't be complaining as much.

I dunno, I mean, I personally was just excited for a new unit (even if it would've been in members only). With Berryz closing up shop next year, there's gonna be a pretty big space left. Sure, it's never gonna be filled in the same way, but with one, maybe two, new units later this year/early next year, it'll spice things up a bit and potentially keep people interested in H!P.

(I'll be following H!P until they stop, but I know I'm in a minority here as I've seen so many people come and go over my years in the fandom. Keeping interest is important.)

[JonCC]

I think Berryz Kobo disbanding makes the botched CM auditions even worse.
Ideally, a replacement unit for Berryz Kobo will be put in place before they leave.

CM would have been perfect timing-wise.
They would have had a reasonable indie period so that by the time Berryz Kobo was gone they could already be aiming for major debut.

[otaku_blue]

12ki auditions happened last year. Hopefully, something came out of 12ki this time round, but my guess is that if it were unsuccessful they might've released something by now considering both auditions were running about the same time. Also Tsunku's health is another factor, he might not be up to the challenge of working on creating a new group.

But I feel yah, I'm anticipating a new group too. But I can wait if management doesn't feel the time is right, or can't find the right girls to make a group from.

^
I agree, but there's also the perspective that debuting a new group to an audience who might be upset about losing a 10 year idol group might make it harder for them to transition properly without that added pressure of being recognised as the group who came in after Berryz' "hiatus".

I feel like for sure, we're getting a new group sooner or later, its only August so there's still time for them to announce a group later on in the year and have a new group by 2015 anyway.

I for one, am happy that we're not getting a Country Musume revival, and get to have a new group without the burden of a sad backstory even though I was initially excited for a new unit as well.

[Starra]

Fun fact, Country Musume。never disbanded. The group just "graduated" from H!P when Satoda did. At least according to Wikipedia.

[Celedam]

I doubt that it is Tsunku's decision. He's just the creative director, at most. More like celebrity figurehead and part-time consultant. Naoki Yamazaki and his daughter Yukako are still the people in charge.

In fact, if any one person can really be credited with H!P's recent success, it's Yukako Yamazaki.

Can you elaborate on this? It sounds interesting.

I'm not sure how to answer that. Her father gave her control of H!P a few years ago, so all of the major decisions since then — "Cool Hello" rebranding, international tours, new groups and generations, more advertising, more social media, more focus on female fans, and so on — have probably been hers. We can't know all the details since we don't work at Up-Front, but… *shrug*

We've discussed this before, shortly after it happened:

viewtopic.php?p=10765#p10765