{"rewrite":{"id":"r_9133b8751fc746c9b9040206","clusterId":"c_bea839ce83cf491cbdf959ec","slug":"number-i-signs-with-us-label-atlantic-records","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Number_i Signs With US Label Atlantic Records","summary":"Japanese pop group Number_i has signed a contract with Atlantic Records, a US label under Warner Music Group. The announcement was made on May 18, 2026, with the group's members-Sho Hirano, Yuta Kishi, and Yuta Jinguji-commenting on the move. Hirano credited the support of the group's fanbase, iLYs, for making the international step possible. The group expressed a desire to show a new side of themselves through the partnership and mentioned ambitions to collaborate with artists on the label's roster, including Bruno Mars. Number_i formed in 2023 after the three members left the Johnny \u0026 Associates agency (now Smile-Up). The signing marks a significant expansion into the Western music market for the group, which has previously performed at Coachella and set streaming records in Japan.","whyItMatters":"The deal places a Japanese pop group that originated from the post-Johnny's talent ecosystem on a major US label, signaling a rare direct pipeline from the Japanese idol industry to Western mainstream distribution.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe group's members held a press conference in Tokyo on May 18 to announce the deal. Atlantic Records is a Warner Music Group label. The contract covers worldwide distribution outside Japan, with domestic releases remaining under the group's own TOBE label.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"We want to show a new side of ourselves that we haven't been able to express before,\" Hirano said at the conference, according to Nikkan Sports. Kishi added that the group aims to \"deliver music that resonates globally.\" Jinguji mentioned the possibility of collaborating with Atlantic artists, naming Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran as examples.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group formed in October 2023 after the three members left Johnny \u0026 Associates, now Smile-Up. They established their own agency, TOBE, led by former Johnny's president Hideaki Takizawa. Number_i performed at Coachella in April 2024 and again in 2025. Their single \"GOAT\" became the fastest Japanese group song to reach 10 million streams on Spotify Japan, according to Real Sound.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHirano addressed the fanbase directly. \"It is because iLYs supported us that we could take this step,\" he said, as reported by Sponichi Annex. He asked fans not to feel lonely about the group's international push, saying \"we will travel together.\"\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Number_i's Sho Hirano: 'It's because iLYs fans supported me' - the group signs with US label Atlantic Records, aiming for collaborations with Bruno Mars and others.","twitterPost":"Number_i joins Atlantic Records. The group says the deal lets them 'show a new side of ourselves' and thanks fans for the support that got them there.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Japanese pop group Number_i has signed a contract with Atlantic Records, a US label under Warner Music Group. The announcement was made on May 18, 2026, with the group's members-Sho Hirano, Yuta Kishi, and Yuta Jinguji-commenting on the move. Hirano credited the support of the group's fanbase, iLYs, for making the international step possible. The group expressed a desire to show a new side of themselves through the partnership and mentioned ambitions to collaborate with artists on the label's roster, including Bruno Mars. Number_i formed in 2023 after the three members left the Johnny \u0026 Associates agency (now Smile-Up). The signing marks a significant expansion into the Western music market for the group, which has previously performed at Coachella and set streaming records in Japan.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Nikkan Sports via Yahoo News Japan\",\"url\":\"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5609f522d22eee24e593cbb29739deb322bc14e2?source=rss\",\"title\":\"Number_i's Sho Hirano: 'It's because iLYs fans supported me' - Signs with US label\"},{\"source\":\"Nikkan Sports via Yahoo News Japan\",\"url\":\"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7048a26205f6669818cea68f86c333829ee26e47?source=rss\",\"title\":\"Number_i signs with US Atlantic Records: 'We can show a new side of ourselves'\"},{\"source\":\"Nikkan Sports via Yahoo News Japan\",\"url\":\"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/295ed61f06c8511c7c78c827d6a028a910322c46?source=rss\",\"title\":\"Number_i, Signed with US Label, Says 'Personally...' About Chart Awareness\"},{\"source\":\"Sponichi Annex via Yahoo News Japan\",\"url\":\"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d26d18c8e37bccbae3c317aada6af1a8a6ee6820?source=rss\",\"title\":\"Number_i Thanks iLYs for World Debut: 'Don't Feel Lonely,' 'Travel Together,' 'Deepening Bonds'\"},{\"source\":\"Sponichi Annex via Yahoo News Japan\",\"url\":\"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/378eb88c66c6ff1a4fc962c4a35e49add62bdee7?source=rss\",\"title\":\"Number_i signs with US legendary Atlantic Records, says 'someday we want to collaborate' with Bruno Mars and others\"},{\"source\":\"Real Sound via Yahoo News Japan\",\"url\":\"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e6b9e8da0ab46a4df89768b5f4c784a2bb5c86e7?source=rss\",\"title\":\"Only Number_i can surpass Number_i: The awe of continuously rewriting records with a series of 'firsts in history'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":"[]","lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":8862,"outputTokens":1340,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1779827129,"createdAt":"2026-05-18T10:50:21.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-05-18T11:01:13.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-18T11:01:13.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_bea839ce83cf491cbdf959ec","canonicalTitle":"Number＿i平野紫耀「iLYsの皆さんが応援してくれていたからこそ」米レーベルと契約（日刊スポーツ）","representativeArticleId":"a_15e51efca8db48235f644553","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"平野紫耀\",\"神宮寺勇太\",\"岸優太\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"music\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-05-17T19:00:01.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-05-17T20:50:09.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-18T15:52:33.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Yahoo! News Japan (Entertainment)","url":"https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e6b9e8da0ab46a4df89768b5f4c784a2bb5c86e7?source=rss","title":"Number_iを超えられるのは、Number_iだけ　“史上初”を連発　記録を塗り替え続ける凄み（リアルサウンド）"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["平野紫耀","神宮寺勇太","岸優太"],"type":"news","domain":"music","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Number_i signed a contract with Atlantic Records, a US label under Warner Music Group, on May 18, 2026.","The contract covers worldwide distribution outside Japan, while domestic releases remain under the group's own TOBE label.","Number_i formed in October 2023 after members Sho Hirano, Yuta Kishi, and Yuta Jinguji left Johnny \u0026 Associates (now Smile-Up).","The group performed at Coachella in April 2024 and again in 2025.","Their single 'GOAT' became the fastest Japanese group song to reach 10 million streams on Spotify Japan."]}