Japanese entertainment firm AKS, which runs the renowned female group AKB48, is reviewing the operations of its Shanghai sister unit, SNH48. The company claims to have found contractual violations with SNH48's operators, prompting their attention. AKS did not elaborate further regarding the alleged violations but announced that it is ending its contract with the group.
The producer behind AKB, Yasushi Akimoto, launched the sister group SNH48 in the year 2012. Two members of AKB48 namely Mariya Suzuki and Sae Miyazawa were moved to their Shanghai affiliate. The Shanghai group was quite popular and performed in various theaters.
AKS has removed all the banners and advertisements related to SNH48 from its website. The company has also denied speculations that it is associated to GNZ48, a group based in Guangzhou, and BEJ48 from Beijing. The company revealed that only SNH48 has formed ties with the two.
The ties between SNH48 and the two other groups allegedly breaches the contact they have with AKS.
Meanwhile, SNH48 has denied that they violated any agreement and clarified that they are an independent group. They announced that they would not make any changes to their business operations, denying the allegations that they had violated their contract with AKS.
AKS is said to have publicly reprimanded SNH48 because it did not want to ruin its credibility with KuGuo Music, one of the biggest Chinese digital music providers. AKS recently partnered with the company to expand its opportunities in the Chinese market. AKS also signed an agreement with Zhongcai Group, an investment company, to help open access to potential resources in the country.