Takahisa Masuda’s Solo Success Surpasses Kimura Takuya
On February 12, NEWS member Takahisa Masuda released his first solo album, Kidoairaku. According to the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking announced on February 18, the album sold 83,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 1.
This achievement is described as a remarkable feat that even surpasses the record of his senior at STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, Takuya Kimura, according to an entertainment writer.
Masuda, who has long been recognized for his vocal talent, is also NEWS’ main vocalist. According to his record label’s website, the album is a collection of everything that embodies his love for singing and music. It includes elements such as a cappella, harmonies, rap, multi-track recording, dance tracks, and covers—showcasing the various vocal and musical expressions he has developed over time.
In Kidoairaku, Masuda covers “Koibumi” by Every Little Thing. The album also features the song “Monogatari,” provided by his longtime acquaintances, GRe4N BOYZ, as well as “Echoes,” created by ☆Taku Takahashi and VERBAL from m-flo alongside Ryohei Yamamoto—offering a diverse range of tracks.
“Typically, CDs are available for purchase in stores a day before the official release date. Since February 11 was a holiday, the shipment may have arrived earlier than usual. As a result, the album debuted on the Oricon Daily Album Ranking on February 10, recording 41,363 copies sold.
At a time when ‘CDs aren’t selling as well as before,’ selling over 40,000 copies on the first day alone is a strong indication of Masuda’s popularity. The album continued to sell well, reaching 83,000 copies in its first week,” the entertainment writer commented.
Looking at the performance of other STARTO ENTERTAINMENT artists’ solo albums last year, Takuya Kimura’s third album, SEE YOU THERE (released in August), sold 55,000 copies in its first week, while former Sexy Zone member Kento Nakajima’s first album, N / bias (released in December), sold 50,490 copies (both figures from Oricon).
“Kimura’s first solo album, Go with the Flow (released in January 2020), sold 127,000 copies in its first week, while his second album, Next Destination (released in January 2022), sold 71,000 copies. However, his third album saw a drop to the 50,000 range.
Even ‘The Great Kimutaku’s’ latest album only reached the 50,000 range, while Masuda managed to surpass that with 80,000 copies.
NEWS’ album JAPANEWS, released in August last year, sold 108,000 copies in its first week, showing that Masuda significantly contributes to the group’s overall sales,” the writer noted.
Coincidentally, on February 12—the same day Kidoairaku was released—KAT-TUN, a group that debuted around the same time as NEWS, announced that they would disband on March 31. On social media, some fans expressed concerns about NEWS’ future, as the group also went through member departures and is currently a three-member unit.
“With Masuda now pursuing solo activities as a singer, some fans have voiced concerns, saying, ‘Recently, Massu has been performing solo a lot, and I can’t help but feel a little uneasy.’
However, on his radio show Masumaru Radio (MBS Radio, December 18, 2024), Masuda mentioned that he decided to produce a solo album because he wanted to do something for NEWS.
Additionally, the album includes the song ‘Oyasuminasai,’ with lyrics written by his fellow NEWS member, Shigeaki Kato, who is also an active novelist. This further emphasizes Masuda’s strong bond with his group,” the writer explained.
As both a member of NEWS and a solo artist, fans eagerly anticipate how Masuda Takahisa will continue to evolve in his career.
