Internet users in Japan discovered, to their surprise, that The Kessoku Band, the star band of the popular “Bocchi the Rock!” franchise, has surpassed one million monthly listeners on the streaming platform Spotify. This number far surpasses other popular bands that emerged from anime franchises, cementing Kessoku Band as a musical phenomenon within and outside the anime universe.

In comparison, other popular anime bands have significantly fewer monthly listeners on Spotify:

• Ho-Kago Tea Time from “K-ON!” with 198,000 listeners
• μ's from “Love Live! “School Idol Project” with 154,000 listeners
• Roselia from “BanG Dream!” with 137,000 listeners
• MyGO!!!!! from “BanG Dream!” with 95,000 listeners
• Aqours from “Love Live! Sunshine!!” with 91,000 listeners
• Nijigasaki High School Idol Club from “Love Live!” with 71,000 listeners
• Liela! from "Love Live! Super Star!!" with 54,000 listeners
• Hasunozora School Idol Club from “Love Live!” with 24,000 listeners

“Bocchi the Rock!” is a four-panel Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Aki Hamaji. It was serialized in the seinen manga magazine Manga Time Kirara Max by Houbunsha since December 2017. Anime adaptation, produced by CloverWorksaired from October to December 2022, receiving widespread praise for its animation, writing, voice acting, comedy, characters, music, and depiction of social anxiety.

The story continues Hitori Gotou, an extremely anxious and socially awkward young woman who dreams of becoming a rock musician despite her difficulties. Her life changes when Nijika Ijichi invites her to join his newly formed Kessoku Band, giving her the opportunity to make friends and fulfill her musical dreams.

The combination of a touching and relatable narrative, endearing characters and catchy music made it Kessoku Band a resounding success. The focus on Hitori's struggle with social anxiety and her journey towards self-acceptance and friendship resonated deeply with viewers and listeners. increasing the band's popularity beyond anime and manga.

The remarkable growth in the number of monthly listeners on Spotify reflects not only the success of the series, but also the quality and universal appeal of Kessoku Band's music. Unlike other anime bands, Kessoku Band has managed to gain a large audience, becoming a cultural phenomenon.

Source: Yaraon!