BNK48 members with chief executive Jirat Bawornwatana, far left.

Girl group BNK48 hopes to become the latest twist on the Thai artist management model by mimicking Japan’s popular idol culture and enabling the production of massive revenue.

Jirat Bawornwatana, chief executive and executive producer of the BNK48 office, said the latest girl group model is expected to set a new standard for Thailand’s music culture while creating a better image for the idols.

“BNK48 will help build a well-defined image of idols and make Thailand’s entertainment industry more reliable,” he said.

Mr Jirat said the company’s revenue doesn’t come from artist management alone, but also from product merchandise such as CDs, T-shirts, souvenirs, gaming gear, stationery and mobile accessories, as well as ticket sales.

He said social media will be the key channel for artist exposure and audience engagement.

“Growing a fan base from niche audiences to mass markets is our priority,” Mr Jirat said.

The BNK48 office aims to attract at least 10 sponsorship companies this year. BNK48 is the third international sister group of Japan’s AKB48, after Indonesia’s JKT48 and China’s SNH48.

“We would like Thailand to have something new to leverage in the country’s music industry and be competitive among neighbouring countries,” he said.

BNK48 debuted in Thailand last year and has achieved success with over 100,000 fans within a year.