Japan's top idol group�AKB48 has achieved a new personal record, as it was revealed that their�18th single "Beginner" has shipped out over 1 million copies before its release date - thus making "Beginner" their most successful selling single to date.

According to Oricon, if their sales match the pre-release figures, "Beginner" would then reach an illustrious status on par with Utada Hikaru's�"Addicted to you" (1999). A representative from Tower Records' also revealed that the number of pre-release orders has reached almost as much as that of the top Johnny's Entertainment's groups.

If the pre-release numbers transfers to the actual sales, it will be a big achievement for AKB48, particularly because the music industry seems to struggling in selling CDs.

Will "Beginner" be the first million single for this year?



Source: Sports Hochi