Fans Outraged Over Red and White Rejections Amid NHK’s Alleged Agency Favoritism

Angry fans of rejected idol groups

It’s December. The day of the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen is approaching once again.

When it comes to Kohaku, the selection criteria for performers always sparks controversy. Over the years, there have been veteran singers with no recent hits who continue to perform, while other artists with undeniable success and recognition have passed over. Last year, there was also the issue of former Johnny’s talent (now under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT) being excluded due to the sexual misconduct issues surrounding the agency, which sparked debates about whether the talents should be held responsible.

So, how did the list of performers for this year, announced in November, fare? I spoke with an entertainment journalist from a weekly magazine.

“The biggest point of contention this year was, like last year, the absence of STARTO-affiliated talents. The Kohaku side had prepared two spots, but STARTO requested four, and they couldn’t reach an agreement, so it seems unavoidable.

Another point of controversy is the exclusion of the popular dance and vocal group ‘INI.’ When people hear ‘INI,’ many might think, ‘Who?’ but this group had a million-selling single this year and is incredibly popular.

In fact, only two artists surpassed a million in CD shipments this year: the now-national idol group ‘Snow Man,’ and INI. Based purely on that achievement, their inclusion seemed a given, but they were shockingly excluded. The group shares an agency with the senior group ‘JO1,’ which hasn’t achieved a million in sales, yet they were selected, causing fans to ask, ‘If a million isn’t enough, what more do we need to do!?’”

However, after interviewing music industry experts, it seems this exclusion may not be entirely unreasonable.

 

Upon closer inspection, the selection criteria seem reasonable.

“Although INI sold CDs, that was thanks to their dedicated fanbase. In terms of Spotify subscribers and streaming numbers, JO1 far surpasses them. Additionally, until recently, INI did not even have their own regular show, so in terms of recognition, they are far behind. Looking at Da-iCE, who won the Japan Record Award in 2021 and was only selected this year, it seems the Red and White Song Contest places a lot of importance on recognition.

Moreover, INI, in their fourth year, does not have the same freshness as ME:I, who debuted this year and immediately secured a Red and White appearance. Considering these factors, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that their exclusion is not completely unfair. But if they continue to thrive, they will probably be selected next year,” says a music writer.

In other words, the selection criteria for this year’s Red and White Song Contest seem quite reasonable. However, there is something that stands out. “What’s strange is the number of appearances by HYBE-affiliated groups,” said several sources.

“Every year, the Red and White Song Contest allocates some spots to K-POP groups from Korea. Last year, five groups participated. This year, four were selected, but shockingly, three of them belong to the same label, HYBE,” said another music writer.

The validity of the selection process has raised many questions, according to some.

 

I can still understand ILLIT

“The girl group ‘ILLIT,’ which debuted this year, quickly surpassed 100 million streams of their debut song. They also gained significant popularity in Japan, so I understand their selection.

However, ‘LE SSERAFIM,’ another girl group, is in their third year since debut. While they haven’t seen a drop in popularity, their freshness has faded, and they haven’t had any standout activities in Japan this year. If they were going to choose a girl group, wouldn’t it have been more interesting to select ‘FRUITS ZIPPER,’ a Japanese idol group that has gone viral on social media and is currently experiencing explosive growth?

Also, the male group ‘TOMORROW X TOGETHER,’ who debuted in Japan in 2020, feels a bit late. Looking at their popularity, there are many other groups who are just as popular or even more so, so it’s hard to see a reason to feature them. It might actually make more sense to have ‘INI’ perform instead.” (Interview writer familiar with idol industry affairs)

While conducting a fair selection process for Japanese groups, why did the Kouhaku Red and White Song Festival so blatantly push for HYBE’s influence only when it comes to the Korean groups?

“As any K-POP fan knows, HYBE is the agency that represents the globally popular group ‘BTS.’ While some members are currently on military service and the group is on hiatus, they will all complete their service by 2025. This means they might resume activities as early as next year.

If BTS were to appear at Kouhaku, it would undoubtedly become a huge topic. This push for HYBE could be NHK’s way of sending a love call, saying ‘See you next year.’ Personally, I think the possibility of it happening is low, though.” (TV magazine editor)

Whether unrequited love will be reciprocated or rejected will become clear in a year.

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