Produce 48


Produce 48 is a 2018 reality competition show on Mnet. It was a large-scale project in which the public "produces" a girl group by voting for members out of a pool of 96 contestants from South Korea and Japan, as well as voting for the group's concept, name and debut single. The show was a collaboration between the Mnet series Produce 101 and the J-pop idol group AKB48. The winning 12 contestants, with no nationality caps, as voted only by Korean viewers, would promote as a group for two and a half years. The program itself is primarily in Korean, however staff and trainer instructions are translated onsite by interpreters. The show announced the final 12 members who made it into, as well as the official name of the group Iz*One during the finale on August 31, 2018.
Produced by AKATV for Mnet, the show premiered on June 15, 2018, and concluded on August 31, 2018, with 12 episodes. It was directed by Ahn Joon-young, who also directed the first two seasons of Produce 101.

Concept and format

Produce 48 brought together 96 girls from idol groups and entertainment companies in Japan and South Korea to form a 12-person Korean-Japanese group that would promote for two and a half years. Formed as a collaboration between Mnet and Yasushi Akimoto, the project planned to adopt the AKB48's concept of "idols you can meet and greet" and be able to perform in a designated theatre. Members of the group are able to promote under their own agencies concurrently, as the show, and the groups' promotions thereafter, are recorded in batches.
The show started with 96 contestants, who were initially grouped into several classes. Episodic competitions were featured in which girls performed in teams on various songs, and were voted by the studio audience, with the winning teams receiving a number of bonus votes to apply to their overall vote count. The viewer-submitted votes were then applied and the girls were ranked, with certain episodes being elimination rounds to reduce the remaining number of contestants.
Of the 96 contestants, 57 of them were from South Korean idol groups and companies, and the other 39 were from Japanese idol groups, consisting of current members of AKB48 and their sister groups. The final 12 were selected regardless of nationality.

Promotions and broadcast

The concept for Produce 48 was revealed at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Japan on November 29, 2017, following a joint performance by AKB48 and South Korean artists Weki Meki, Chungha, Pristin, Idol School, and Fromis 9. In February 2018, Mnet stated that it would not use the speculated format of having 48 girls from South Korea and 48 girls from Japan competing separately, or that six members of each country would be selected.
The first teaser for the show was released on April 11, 2018.
On April 22, the series' theme song "Nekkoya " was recorded by the contestants of the show with HKT48's Sakura Miyawaki as center. The winners of the previous series, I.O.I and Wanna One, made appearances at the recording. Produce 48's contestants performed the theme song on Episode 570 of M Countdown in May 2018.
The show premiered on June 15, 2018, on Mnet in South Korea and Mnet Japan. It is also being broadcast in Japan on BS Sky PerfecTV. CJ E&M is also live streaming the series on their TVing Global service. The series was broadcast on tvN Asia in Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar where it premiered on June 21, 2018.

Staff members

The series was presented by Lee Seung-gi. Other artists featured as cast members:
One-day Dance Judge: Kahi
One-day Healing Mentor: Bora

Contestants

Color key
members Iz*One
eliminated in the final episode
eliminated in the third elimination
eliminated in the second elimination
eliminated in the first elimination
withdrawn from the show

Episodes

Ranking

The top 12 contestants chosen through popularity online voting at Produce 101's homepage and audience's live voting, shown at the end of each episode. This ranking determined the 12 trainees who will form the unit girl group.
The top 12 contestants as posted on the Mnet official website after each of the major voting periods.
No.Ep. 1Ep. 2Ep. 3Ep. 5Ep. 8Ep. 9Ep. 11Ep. 12
1Jang Won-youngLee Ga-eunLee Ga-eunLee Ga-eunJang Won-youngMiho MiyazakiSakura MiyawakiJang Won-young
2Sakura MiyawakiAhn Yu-jinAhn Yu-jinAhn Yu-jinNako YabukiSakura MiyawakiMiho MiyazakiSakura Miyawaki
3Jo Ru-riKwon Eun-biSakura MiyawakiJang Won-youngKang Hye-wonKang Hye-wonLee Chae-yeonJo Yu-ri
4Choi Ye-naJang Won-youngJang Won-youngSakura MiyawakiAhn Yu-jinMiyu TakeuchiKang Hye-wonChoi Ye-na
5Ahn Yu-jinSakura MiyawakiKwon Eun-biKwon Eun-biKwon Eun-biLee Ga-eunLee Ga-eunAhn Yu-jin
6Nako YabukiChoi Ye-naMoe GotoMoe GotoKim Min-juMiu ShitaoMiyu TakeuchiNako Yabuki
7Kwon Eun-biWang Yi-renChoi Ye-naNako YabukiSakura MiyawakiNako YabukiJang Won-youngKwon Eun-bi
8Kang Hye-wonMoe GotoMiyu TakeuchiWang Yi-renLee Ga-eunJang Won-youngMiru ShiromaKang Hye-won
9Hitomi HondaNoe YamadaWang Yi-renChoi Ye-naHan Cho-wonHitomi HondaNako YabukiHitomi Honda
10Kim Chae-wonLee Chae-yeonLee Chae-yeonLee Chae-yeonJo Yu-riAhn Yu-jinMiu ShitaoKim Chae-won
11Kim Min-juMiyu TakeuchiNoe YamadaMiyu TakeuchiHuh Yun-jinKwon Eun-biHitomi HondaKim Min-joo
12Lee Chae-yeonJurina MatsuiJurina MatsuiHitomi HondaHitomi HondaLee Chae-yeonKwon Eun-biLee Chae-yeon

Result

The finale was held on August 31, 2018, and was broadcast live. Lee Seung-gi announced the unit girl group name, Iz*One.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

Ratings

In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • Note that the show airs on a cable channel, which plays part in its slower uptake and relatively small audience share when compared to programs broadcast on public networks such as KBS, SBS, MBC or EBS.
  • NR rating means "not reported". The rating is low.

    Aftermath

  • IZ*ONE released their debut EP Color*Iz on October 29, 2018. Since then, they have released one studio album, two mini albums and three Japanese singles.
  • Other 48 Group members returned to their respective groups and continued with releasing singles and music videos, including "No Way Man" and "Wakariyasukute Gomen".
  • Some trainees returned to their original groups or set to debut in rookie groups by their respective agencies:
  • * Stone Music's Jang Gyu-ri returned as a member of Fromis 9 for their first single album From.9 on October 10, 2018.
  • * FNC's Park Hae-yoon debuted in girl group Cherry Bullet on January 21, 2019.
  • * Music Works's Yoon Hae-sol debuted in girl group Aqua on November 16, 2018. The group is said to have quietly disbanded.
  • * FENT's Kim Do-ah debuted in Flavor, the first sub-unit of girl group FANATICS, on November 26, 2018, and the full group on August 6, 2019.
  • * Yuehua's Kim Si-hyeon and Wang Yi-ren debuted in girl group Everglow on March 18, 2019.
  • * Woollim's Kim So-hee & Kim Su-yun, and AKB48's Juri Takahashi debuted in girl group Rocket Punch on August 7, 2019.
  • * MND17's Lee Chae-jeong has signed with Hunus Entertainment and joined girl group Elris, in an announcement on February 12, 2020.
  • *Individual trainee Park Jinny joined Vine Entertainment and debuted in girl group Secret Number on May 19, 2020.
  • *RBW's Na Goeun and Park Jieun will debut in girl group PURPLE K!SS in 2020.
  • Some trainees debuted as soloists:
  • * ZB Label's Alex Christine released a solo single as AleXa, Bomb on October 21, 2019.
  • * AKB48's Miyu Takeuchi released a solo single, My Type on October 22, 2019 under Mystic Entertainment.
  • Some trainees left their agencies/joined new agencies:
  • * NMB48's Azusa Uemura graduated on December 3, 2018 and began her career as a YouTuber.
  • * AKB48's Miyu Takeuchi graduated on December 25, 2018. She then signed a contract with Mystic Entertainment.
  • * AKB48's Juri Takahashi graduated from the group on May 2, 2019. She then signed a contract with Woollim Entertainment and debuted in Rocket Punch.
  • * AKB48's Mako Kojima graduated on May 12, 2019.
  • * NGT48's Rena Hasegawa graduated on May 19, 2019. She then signed a contract with Crocodile and began her career as a voice actress.
  • * AKB48's Ikumi Nakano graduated on May 30, 2019.
  • * NMB48's Kokoro Naiki graduated on August 11, 2019.
  • * AKB48's Moe Goto graduated on August 13, 2019.
  • * SKE48's Jurina Matsui announced her graduation on February 7, 2020.
  • * HKT48's Amane Tsukiashi graduated in March 2020.
  • * Hwang So-yeon and Kang Da-min left Wellmade Yedang, then Hwang signed a contract with M&H Entertainment while Kang is now under Starship Entertainment.
  • * Ko Yu-jin left Blockberry Creative, then she signed a contract with 8D Creative before leaving in Spring 2020.
  • * Son Eun-chae left Million Market and signed with A Team Entertainment.
  • * Lee Yu-jeong, Yoon Eun-bin, Kim Da-yeon, Hong Ye-ji and Kim Yu-bin left CNC Entertainment, then signed with Stardium Entertainment.
  • * Shin Su-hyun left FAVE Entertainment. She then signed with Sublime Artist Agency.
  • * Cho Ah-yeong left FNC Entertainment. She then signed a contract with UPVOTE Entertainment.
  • * Kim Da-hye left Banana Culture.
  • * Yu Min-young left HOW Entertainment. Then she signed a contract with 8D Creative.
  • *Lee Ka-eun left Pledis Entertainment. and then released her final single under Pledis, Remember You on July 12, 2019. Lee then signed a contract with High Entertainment.
  • * Kim Minseo was not announced in How Entertainment's new girl group, so it is speculated that she has left the agency.
  • AKB48's Minami Sato was promoted from Kenkyusei to team A on September 12, 2019.
  • AKB48's Erii Chiba participated in the Mnet reality TV show "UHSN".

    Vote manipulation investigation

Following allegations of electoral fraud on the final episode of Produce X 101, 272 viewers filed a lawsuit against Mnet. On August 20, 2019, a search warrant was issued on CJ E&M offices and a text voting company by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. During their first search, the police uncovered voice recordings of the staff members discussing vote manipulation on the previous seasons of the show, resulting in them extending their investigation to all four seasons of the Produce 101 series and Idol School. On November 6, 2019, producers Ahn Joon-young and Kim Yong-bum were arrested. During questioning, Ahn admitted to having manipulated the rankings for Produce 48 and Produce X 101. Police also found that Ahn had been using services from adult entertainment establishments in Gangnam paid for by various talent agencies approximately 40 times beginning from the second half of 2018, estimating to. On November 7, 2019, the police revealed that the final rankings of the top 20 trainees during Produce 48 and Produce X 101 had already been predetermined by the producers before the final performances were recorded and broadcast.