AKB48 breaks multiple records again; "Beginner" sells 827,000 copies in its 1st week

Polyrhythm · #1 1st November 2010, 10:07 PM

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Originally Posted by aakun @ JPM forum

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AKB48: Highest first week sales ever for a Female Group with 827k. 5 consecutive 1# singles

Popular Idol group AKB48's 18th Single "Beginner" (10/27 Release) had a total first week sales of 827,000 copies and became the top single of the Weekly Ranking of this week (11/8). Starting from "RIVER" released on October last year, this makes the 5th consecutive 1# Single for AKB48.

with new marketing strategies like tickets for big-scale handshaking events among other bonuses, it beat SPEED's "ALL MY TRUE LOVE" (released on 1998/10) which sold 601k approx. 12 years ago. giving "Begginer" the highest first week ever for female groups.

as for Female artists (including solo artists), Utada Hikaru's "Addicted To You" (1999/11 release) with 1068k, Amuro Namie's "CAN YOU CELEBRATE?" (1997/2 Release) with 828k, and now "Beginner" (827k) in third place also make the top 3 best first week sales in the overall female category.

to line up with top-class releases from the second-half of the 90s (considered as the golden-age of the Music Industry) and also in what comes to this century surpassing Utada's "Can you Keep A Secret?" (2001/2 Release, 784k) it became the highest for this century.

furthermore, since the April release "Ponytail to Shushu" (first week sales of 513k) this makes 3 AKB48 releases with over 500k of opening sales, breaking the 2-streak record Utada, Ayumi Hamasaki, and previously AKB48 held together.

until last week (11/1) comparing the total yearly income of this year with the same period as it was last year there was a 105.6% increase, showing signs of a possible market revival for singles. now with big success of this release, the possibilities look certain. its said that this means the Single Market is coming back to the prosperity.

First week sales (Female groups Category) TOP 5

First Week sales (Female Artists Category) TOP 5

http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/81633/full/

Original source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/81633/full/