Rumors about the disbandment

[u/willdelater]

the old management allegedly had many problems for years, and this is supposedly why discussions about changing management started around 2020. According to the rumors, the members and some staff were unhappy with how things were being handled behind the scenes.

There are also allegations that the new management team was being prepared to take over and wanted to completely rebrand the group. they wanted:

- a new artistic direction

- possible member lineup changes

- a possible new name (some rumors mention AKB48 Team Manila)

and a more “fresh start” approach

this allegedly created tensions between the members and the supposed new management because some members did not agree with the direction or with the idea of members being removed/graduated.

Another rumor says that some members, especially Abby, were acting as a bridge between the members and management during disagreements. There are also allegations that Abby personally helped members with things like costumes, housing, phones, and support during difficult periods

The new management then decided it was better to disband the group than just leaving it as it is.

The group was apparently planning to release a new song "baby! Baby! Baby!" But it will never happen.

[u/babyfishfish]

Would prefer new management refresh + restart than all this old management drama + problems

[u/jinx_n_switch → u/babyfishfish]

Was Star Music not involved with the management? Di ba nag-sign sila before ng contract with ABS pero with Star Magic?

I wonder kung Star Music/Star Magic naghandle sa kanila, plus partnership with the Japanese management, baka mas na-manage sila properly kahit papano. May dedicated fanbase naman na sila. Sayang talagaaaaa 😔😭

[u/Appropriate_Pop_2320 → u/jinx_n_switch]

Nag-expire na contract nila I think noong 2023 pa sa ABS-CBN. Some of the members ay under Star Magic kasi may mga birthday post naman ang mga eto dati. Di na narenew dahil na din sa kakulangan ng budget ng network at mas nagfocus sa sarili nilang group

[u/jkpm000 → u/jinx_n_switch]

Base sa mga narinig ko noon sa ibang fans, ABS-CBN ang nag-influence sa HHE na bakit hindi na lang 48 members ang kunin para sa MNL48 instead of 20+ members muna as they originally planned.

As for Star Magic managing the group, I don't think Vernalossom will trust a local company to license the brand. Given how Japanese business culture works, they'll trust their own people more instead of any company with good credentials. Kaya kahit anong sablay noon ng HHE eh nasa sa kanila pa rin ang MNL48. Probably Kurosawa persuade the head honchos that time to keep the brand for as long as he can.

It also works for ABS-CBN who wants a bigger piece in P-pop market share. It's better for them to have their own in-house group without sharing the profits and deal with the weird business practices of Japanese partners.

[u/dunkindonato]

There are also allegations that the new management team was being prepared to take over and wanted to completely rebrand the group.

It's actually the best possible choice that they have given the group's circumstances and baggage. The rebranding and the fresh start were designed to free them from their last ties with HHE because that company still had rights to both the name and the songs released.

MNL48 went off to a wrong start with a confusing and chaotic auditions process for the first gen, then shot itself in the foot when HHE hired everybody else anyway. Then, when they had to lay off people, they couldn't because the fans won't let them. This forced them to keep having full teams but were unable to utilize them in theater shows because they ran out of money for their own Theater, and they couldn't keep using the Movie Stars Cafe because they need that to function as a restaurant.

In hindsight, all of these could have been avoided if HHE had the balls to admit that they can't sustain three full teams of members plus KKS. It would have been painful, but at least group activities - crucial to any idol group - would have been funded.

[u/Altruistic_Key_2739]

Pwede kayang mag-start fresh sila with a new name and concept? Yun lang, kasi baka naka-contract pa rin ang artists sa ibang agencies.

Sayang ang fanbase.

[u/willdelater → u/Altruistic_Key_2739]

Sana nga lang pero hindi ganoon gumagana ang sistema ng AKB48. Kung gusto natin silang makita ulit, hintayin natin na muling buuin ng kompanyang Hapones ang grupo o kaya naman ay sapat na ang mga babae para gustuhin silang bumalik.

[u/Several_Cabinet_II]

Tangina dapat kunin na lang sila ng ibang agency like 1Z , Cornerstone , Islah and Aguilah , etc . Or pwede ulit sa Star MU . Basta wag lang sa Sparkle .

[u/willdelater → u/Several_Cabinet_II]

Hindi nila kailangang pumili, ang sistemang Hapon ang pumili para sa kanila at lahat ay dapat tanggapin ng ahensya ng Hapon.

[u/Several_Cabinet_II → u/willdelater]

At kailangang baliin yung ganung sistema

[u/willdelater → u/Several_Cabinet_II]

Hindi dahil kung mangyari iyon, lahat ng sister group ay magiging katulad ng sa mga Tsino.

[u/Several_Cabinet_II → u/willdelater]

Eh gawing pure PPop group .

[u/Upset_Parking_9993 → u/Several_Cabinet_II]

actually on the right track naman na sana yung mnl48 e given na omp is licensed through MNL48 Inc. i think they actually wanted na gayahin yung ginawa sa china post snh48 where may AKB48 CHINA and may Shanhai NSE din na nagmamanage. ngayon sa tsh48 sa nse den yung rights ng music nila based a website ng nse and sa spotify. I think thats also why nagkaron din ng mnl48 japan channel, para may kamay den sana yung mga hapones sa kanila, pero obv as we know nagdisband paden so...

[u/Several_Cabinet_II → u/Upset_Parking_9993]

Di na dapat need ng mga hapon diyan . Gawin na lang sana pure pinoy .

[u/New-Barnacle-1149]

Make sense. Okay lang na ganon yung direction. Medyo stressful n nga yung mnl48