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Exile (Japanese band)

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EXILE is a large Japanese musical group consisting of 17 members. The group functions as the representative act for LDH, an entertainment and management company. The original six members of EXILE founded LDH in 2003. Since its creation, LDH has debuted various soloists and successful musical groups. EXILE itself has achieved massive commercial success, selling over 15,600,000 albums in total. The group is composed of different roles, including vocalists who sing and performers who focus on dance.

The group's structure relies on a system of generations and auditions to maintain its presence. Members often join through intense competitive processes. For example, the EXILE Performer Battle Audition in 2014 sought new members to begin a fourth chapter. Out of 2,000 applicants, only five individuals were selected to join. These new members included Takanori Iwata, Alan Shirahama, Mandy Sekiguchi, Sekai Yamamoto, and Taiki Sato. This method allows the group to evolve while continuing its long-term performance history.

Members within the group are categorized by their specific talents. Vocalists provide the melodic foundation for the music. For instance, Atsushi and Takahiro have served as lead vocalists at different times. Performers focus on the highly skilled dance elements of the shows. The group has seen many departures and arrivals over the years. In 2006, the vocalist Shun left to pursue a solo career. This led to the recruitment of Takahiro, who joined in September 2006.

The history of EXILE traces back to the career of the group's leader, Hiro. Hiro was previously a member of the pop group Zoo, which disbanded in 1995. In 1999, he formed a new group called J Soul Brothers. This group eventually changed its name to EXILE in 2001. Hiro later revived the J Soul Brothers name in 2007 for a different seven-member group. This lineage shows how the group's roots are tied to the personal journeys of its leaders.

EXILE has reached incredible milestones on the Japanese music charts. Their 2007 studio album, Exile Love, became the highest-selling album in Japan in 2008 with nearly 1.5 million copies sold. Their compilation album, Exile Ballad Best, is even more successful, with over 2 million copies sold. This album achieved the highest first-week sales in Japan during 2008. Additionally, the song "Ti Amo" was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. This means it reached 1,000,000 full-track digital ringtone downloads.

MTV VMAJ 2014 Exile
MTV VMAJ 2014 Exile

Many of the group's achievements are recognized through major industry awards. EXILE has won the Grand Prix Award at the Japan Record Awards multiple times. They won this prestigious award in 2005, 2009, and 2010. They also earned a fourth win later in their career, becoming the first artist to win the award four times. In 2016, the group also won Best Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan. These awards highlight their consistent influence on the music industry.

The group's influence extends into various cultural and technological sectors. Their music has been featured in international video games, such as Street Fighter IV. The song "The Next Door" appeared in the Japanese version, while an English version featured American rapper Flo Rida. EXILE also uses music to connect with society during difficult times. Their song "Rising Sun" was released to support recovery after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. From stadium tours to international performances in Hong Kong and Beijing, EXILE remains a significant cultural force in Asia.

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File:MTV VMAJ 2014 Exile.jpg
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