Number_i Atlantic Records signing
Illustration: WhyTrend

On May 18, 2026, Japanese pop trio Number_i announced they had signed with Atlantic Records — the Warner Music Group label that counts Bruno Mars among its roster. The news broke simultaneously across multiple Japanese sports and entertainment outlets and spread rapidly on social media, making it one of the biggest music-industry stories to come out of Japan in years. What makes this deal historically significant is how it was structured.

Number_i did not go through a domestic Japanese major label as an intermediary. Instead, the group — operating independently under management company TOBE since their formation in October 2023 — negotiated directly with one of America's most prestigious labels. That kind of direct access to a top-tier US major is virtually unheard of for a Japanese act.

The groundwork was laid methodically. In February 2026, Number_i signed with WME (William Morris Endeavor), one of the world's largest talent agencies, for international representation. Manager Hideaki Takizawa then spent roughly a year working through negotiations with Atlantic.

This spring, the three members — Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi — visited Atlantic's Los Angeles headquarters in person. Hirano said the group wants to 'stay true to our own style,' while Kishi revealed the label told them: 'We will fully support whatever new challenges you take on.' Jinguji described working with Atlantic's creative team as feeling like 'my brain got bigger — I want to make even better music.'

Number_i's international credibility had been building for some time. They performed at Coachella 2024 on the 88rising Futures stage, and in April 2025 the Grammy Recording Academy included them in its '10 Rising Japanese Pop Groups To Know' feature. At MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025, they won Artist of the Year with over 40 million fan votes.

The Atlantic signing is widely seen as the logical next step in that trajectory.

What to watch next: The group has already begun new music production with Atlantic's team, and Jinguji has signaled a world tour is firmly on the agenda ('Of course, I want to do it'). Grammy aspirations have been mentioned in reporting, and with Atlantic's global infrastructure now behind them, the question is no longer whether Number_i will reach international audiences — but how quickly.