Shinning Musume by Shiwasu no Okina, started in 2001 and is still running
AKB48 uses the same group structures and promotion practices (minus the demons and rituals) since 2005
This anime has the futuristic version of the above two.
... and by the way there is a doujinshi some of the live groups' members, but needs a strong stomach to flip even the first couple of pages
Anyway, I thought the inspiration for the live group, as well as its producer's and fangirls' aspirations and fears about the future were on-topic
