Number_i Join the First Artist Lineup for 'THE MUSIC DAY 2026' — Atlantic Records Deal Accelerates Their Global Push
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
The first wave of artists for NTV's summer music special 'THE MUSIC DAY 2026' (airing July 4) has been announced, and Number_i appear alongside M!LK, HANA, SixTONES and others. Coming on the heels of their Atlantic Records signing announced in May, 2026 is shaping up as a year in which the trio run major domestic TV exposure and global expansion in parallel.
Number_i are Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji and Yuta Kishi. '3XL,' released in January, spread through social platforms and international listeners before arriving as an EP in April. Since the Atlantic signing, the group have visited the label's L.A. offices and are reported to be working on new music in the U.S. for release later this year.
A Japanese group signing directly with a major U.S. label illustrates how J-pop's global strategy is shifting from 'exporting finished songs' to 'localizing the production and promotion pipeline itself.' Working with U.S.-based teams accelerates connections to the local scene on both the sound and marketing fronts.
In practical terms, an international label deal raises core questions: who holds the masters, how domestic and international release windows are organized, how promotion budgets are shared, and how touring ties in. The phase ahead will test the group's ability to serve their home fandom and overseas markets simultaneously.
Also Watch: 'INZM'
'INZM' pushes Number_i's more aggressive side and shows the width of the group's creative range. Watched alongside '3XL,' it sketches the direction of an act designing itself for global audiences.
ZEN Editorial View: Stacking the country's biggest TV showcase and U.S.-based production into the same year is the front line of J-pop's global playbook. Designing a different face for each stage of exposure is a discipline that applies at any scale.
Sources: Natalie / The Hollywood Reporter / Billboard
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