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Asahi Shimbun
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan's music industry seeks to expand abroad beyond CD sales
Mrs. Green Apple wins the Best Japanese Song Artist award in the first Music Awards Japan ceremony at Rohm Theater Kyoto on May 21. (©CEIPA/MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025) A new awards gala was held to spread Japan's pop music to the rest of the world, but the struggling domestic industry may have to ditch its traditional practices to enable expansion. The inaugural ceremonies of Music Awards Japan were held at Rohm Theater Kyoto on May 21 and 22. The red carpet was rolled out for industry officials and artists, including guests from overseas. One stated goal of the awards is to help 'spread the music of Japan and the rest of Asia to other parts of the world and forge global connections.' The award organizers set up a number of categories honoring overseas songs, including 'Best Song Asia,' apparently in hopes of connecting the awards with other Asian nations. Japanese music industry officials are eyeing the global market because of a sense of alarm about what is happening in Japan. 'The domestic market has matured fully and flattened off,' Tatsuya Nomura, chairman of the Music Awards Japan Executive Committee, told The Asahi Shimbun on May 22. 'Now is the time to expand geographical coverage.' Figures of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry show the global recorded music market was worth $29.6 billion (4.3 trillion yen) in 2024, up 1.6-fold from five years earlier. By contrast, the Recording Industry Association of Japan said the production value of 'physical products' and sales of 'digital music' in Japan totaled 328.5 billion yen in 2024, up only 1.1-fold from 2019. Despite the ease of digital streaming to push music beyond national borders, physical media remain dominant in Japan. Popular idol groups affiliated with Smile-Up Inc., formerly Johnny & Associates Inc., have continued to emphasize CD sales. The IFPI figures show that streaming accounted for about 70 percent of the global recorded music market in 2024. However, streaming accounted for slightly more than 30 percent of total music revenue in Japan last year, the RIAJ figures show. CDs and other physical products made up more than 60 percent. There are, however, signs of change. The KinKi Kids and Snow Man idol units previously affiliated with Johnny & Associates embarked on a subscription streaming campaign in spring. Gustav Gyllenhammar, a //global vice president// with music streaming service operator Spotify AB, told The Asahi Shimbun that he believes Japanese artists are now facing lower hurdles to reach out to listeners abroad. Gyllenhammar pointed out, however, that Japanese music industry officials will have to make efforts on every front of the market, including artists and labels, if they wish to obtain more listeners. (This article was written by Shiki Iwasawa and Kenichiro Shino.)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Nominees Showcase Wide Range of Japanese Music: How to Watch the Ceremonies
The inaugural MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN (MAJ) ceremony, the largest music awards in the country, is quickly approaching. Embodying the theme of 'Connecting the world, illuminating the future of music,' the brand-new international music awards will take place on May 21 and 22, 2025 at the ROHM Theatre Kyoto, with the winners of 50 categories to be announced on Day 1, and those of the six main categories and more to be announced and awarded in a ceremony on Day 2. Both days will be streamed globally via YouTube, the awards' global streaming partner. (Some regions excluded.) The Grand Ceremony on the 22nd will feature performances by AI, Hikaru Utada, Awich, Creepy Nuts, CHANMINA, Fujii Kaze, Mrs. GREEN APPLE and YOASOBI, with actor and singer Masaki Suda taking on the role of Master of Ceremony. MAJ is hosted by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), an association jointly established by five major organizations in the Japanese music industry: the Recording Industry Association of Japan, Japan Association of Music Enterprises, the Federation of Music Producers Japan, Music Publishers Association of Japan and All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference. In the wake of the spread of streaming services and the success of Japanese entertainment such as anime, CEIPA was launched for the future growth of the Japanese music industry and will begin full-fledged promotion of entertainment and content from the country on a global scale this year. More from Billboard Saweetie Locks in Debut Australian Tour Dates French Police Recover Bust From Jim Morrison's Grave, 37 Years After It Was Stolen Taylor Swift Premieres 'Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor's Version)' in 'The Handmaid's Tale': Watch The six nominees in the six main categories, chosen by more than 5,000 music professionals including artists and creatives, are as follows: Song of the Year – Recognition for the song with the most outstanding musical creativity and artistry. Rosé & Bruno Mars 'APT.' Creepy Nuts 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' YOASOBI 'Idol' Fujii Kaze 'Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)' Mrs. GREEN APPLE 'Lilac' Album of the Year – Recognition for the album with the most outstanding musical creativity and artistry. Mrs. GREEN APPLE, ANTENNA Kenshi Yonezu, LOST CORNER Fujii Kaze, LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Vaundy, replica Hikaru Utada, SCIENCE FICTION Artist of the Year – Recognition for the artist with the most outstanding musical creativity and artistry. Creepy Nuts Mrs. GREEN APPLE Vaundy YOASOBI Fujii Kaze New Artist of the Year – Recognition for the new artist who demonstrated outstanding musical creativity and artistry. FRUITS ZIPPER Number_i Omoinotake tuki. Kocchi no Kento Top Global Hit From Japan – Recognition for the Japanese song that became a global hit. Lotus Juice/Azumi Takahashi 'It's Going Down Now' XG 'WOKE UP' YOASOBI 'Idol' Fujii Kaze 'Shinunoga E-wa' Miki Matsubara 'Mayonaka no Door – stay with me' Best Song Asia – Recognition for the Asian hit song that was popular across Asian countries. Bernadya 'Satu Bulan' (Indonesia) REGINA SONG 'the cutest pair' (Singapore) aespa 'Supernova' (South Korea) PLAVE 'WAY 4 LUV' (South Korea) JEFF SATUR 'GHOST' (Thailand) Songs and artists that have topped the Billboard Japan charts, as well as songs with the most streams, one of the indicators for a song to be considered a hit in Japan, have been nominated. In particular, the nominees in the Song of the Year category boast some of the highest weekly streams of all time in the country, and are the record-holders for the respective artists. For reference, Kendrick Lamar & SZA's 'Luther,' which has led the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks, has the highest number of weekly streams in the U.S. at approximately 46 million, while Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars' collaborative single 'Die With A Smile' has approximately 31 million. These figures include video views, which are separated in Billboard Japan's total streaming count. Highest Weekly Audio Streams in Japan 'APT.' (12,127,799 streams) 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' (24,945,758 streams, No. 5 on Billboard Japan's all-time list) 'Idol' (25,860,696 streams, No. 2 on Billboard Japan's all-time list) 'Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)' (8,843,750 streams) 'Lilac' (15,713,177 streams) As for the nominees in the Top Global Hit from Japan category, you may have come across the songs on TikTok or other video-shorting platforms even if you don't live in Japan. The nominees in this category were chosen by music industry professionals outside of Japan and include, in order from top to bottom, the battle song from the video game Persona 3 Reload (2024), a rap song released in 2024 by the seven-member group that headlined the Sahara Stage at this year's Coachella, the opener for the anime series, Oshi no Ko, that topped Billboard's Global Excl. US on June 10, 2023 and went on to become Billboard Japan's Song of the Year for that year, a song released in 2020 but became a viral hit in Asian countries after July 2022 and is still being listened to in many countries today, and a so-called 'city pop' tune released in November 1979 that spread worldwide through covers and TikTok. The songs were released in different eras and are from different genres, showing how diverse Japanese music is. Another interesting aspect of this award is that it not only honors Japanese artists and releases, but also includes music from all over the world. The fact that one of the main categories is the award for Best Song Asia indicates that this accolade also provides opportunities to establish global ties. In the section for International Songs, there are seven categories for different genres such as pop, rock, hip-hop/rap and more, which highlight the popular and highly acclaimed music from outside of Japan that is being listened to and loved in the country. The artists themselves can discover the high potential of their music in Japan, which is another way of looking at the nominations in these categories. Tatsuya Nomura, MAJ Executive Committee Chairman, shared his enthusiasm to Billboard Japan before the inaugural event, saying, 'The theme of MAJ is 'Connecting the world, illuminating the future of music,' and I believe the two days will embody that. It'll be the first step of an award that will last five, ten, even 100 years, so I hope you'll witness this historic moment.' Watch the Premiere Ceremony starting May 20 at 10 PM PT / May 21 at 1 AM ET. Meanwhile, the Grand Ceremony, featuring performances by AI, Hikaru Utada, Awich, Creepy Nuts, CHANMINA, Fujii Kaze, Mrs. GREEN APPLE and YOASOBI will stream on May 22 at 3:30 AM PT / 6:30 AM ET. MAJ May 21 Premiere Ceremony: MAJ May 22 Grand Ceremony: Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Announces New Album, ‘Virgin,' With X-Ray Cover Art
After a three and a half year hiatus, Lorde is ready to release her upcoming new album, Virgin, confirming that the album will come out June 27th. The two-time Grammy Award winner announced the title of her fourth studio album Wednesday alongside an image of the record's cover art, which features a blue x-ray image showing a zipper going down a pelvis, a belt buckle and an IUD. More from The Hollywood Reporter Barbra Streisand Announces New Duet Album 'The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two' With a New Label Deal, Kacey Musgraves Faces the Future While Making Peace With Her Past (Exclusive) CEIPA Board Member Tatsuya Nomura on Matsuri'25, J-Pop's Global Rise and Japan's Shift to Streaming Lorde released the image to her Instagram and personal website, where she also promised that the album was '100% written in blood.' Virgin WAS produced by the New Zealand artist and Jim-E Stack, whom she notably collaborated with for the album's first single 'What Was That.' The record includes additional writing credits lended to Fabiana Palladino, Andrew Aged, Buddy Ross, Devonté Hynes and Dan Nigro, who recently won the Grammy for producer of the year and has worked alongside the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan. Chris Gehringer mastered Virgin, while the album was mixed by Spike Stent and Tom Elmhirst. 'What Was That,' Lorde's latest single since her last album Solar Power came out in August 2021, marked her long-awaited solo return. She hasn't been totally dormant though, as she collaborated with Charli xcx last year on a 'Girl, so confusing' remix for Brat. Last Tuesday, the 'Green Light' singer debuted the new track in Washington Square Park with an impromptu fan performance. After inviting her supporters to meet her in the New York City-based park, the mini-concert was seemingly shut down because she didn't have a permit. However, Lorde returned hours later where she debuted 'What Was That' and released its accompanying music video the next day with footage from the event. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lorde Releases Long-Awaited New Single 'What Was That'
Lorde has released her new song, 'What Was That,' the first single from her upcoming fourth studio album. The New Zealand singer-songwriter initially teased the track in her first post on TikTok on April 9. There, she shared a video of herself walking and running around New York City as the lyrics played in the background. 'Since I was 17, I gave you everything / Now we wake from a baby, well baby, what was that?' she sang in the post. Shortly after, the two-time Grammy Award winner announced the official name of the song, 'What Was That.' More from The Hollywood Reporter CEIPA Board Member Tatsuya Nomura on Matsuri'25, J-Pop's Global Rise and Japan's Shift to Streaming Ole Obermann and Rachel Newman Named Co-Heads of Apple Music Terrence Howard Turned Down Marvin Gaye Biopic Because He Didn't Want to Kiss a Man: "I Would Cut My Lips Off" Earlier this week, she debuted 'What Was That' in front of hundreds of fans in Washington Square Park, dancing on a wood platform as the song played on a speaker beside her. Lorde originally told fans to go to the park at 7 p.m., though police shut down the impromptu event as she didn't have a permit. Fans stuck around, and she came out later that night to show off the song. Lorde also prepared her fans for her new era with a voice memo she sent out. There, she thanked her supporters for their 'patience' and teased that 'these are really the last moments where it's just us, which is crazy but so right.' 'I'm so ready. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to say that, but I am,' Lorde wrote. 'I'm so thankful for your patience. I've felt your love, I've felt you right there. This is gonna be crazy, you have no idea.' The news comes after a roughly four year long dry spell for Lorde. Her last album, Solar Power, debuted in August 2021. Despite not releasing her own music in the years since, Lorde notably collaborated with Charli xcx on their 'Girl, so confusing' remix. The track swiftly went viral, and prompted Charli to tap Lorde during her 2025 Coachella set and her September 23 N.Y.C. stop of the Sweat tour. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Asahi Shimbun
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
Reaching for the stars, first Music Awards Japan ceremonies near
Nominees for the inaugural Music Awards Japan are announced during a ceremony in Tokyo on April 17. (Chiho Yashiro) The inaugural Music Awards Japan (MAJ) ceremonies will be held on May 21 and 22, with hopes it will gain the prestige of the U.S. Grammys and propel Japanese artists toward international stardom. MAJ has brought together about 5,000 artists, producers and media experts to recognize prize-winning songs and performers in 62 categories. The event is hosted by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), a general incorporated organization founded by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) and four other groups. CEIPA announced the establishment of the awards in October last year. To ensure transparency in the awards selection process, nominees were chosen through an automated system based on music charts and other data. 'Japanese artists are beginning to exert a powerful presence outside the country and achieve results,' said Tatsuya Nomura, president of the Federation of Music Producers Japan who heads MAJ's executive committee. 'We hope to provide a boost for them.' Organizers intend to stream the awards ceremonies worldwide on YouTube, publish playlists of award-winning songs on music streaming services, and offer other forms of support. Shunsuke Muramatsu, the RIAJ chairman who serves as board chair at CEIPA, hopes MAJ will work as a promotional tool for prize-winning musicians when they make their foray into overseas markets. Japanese artists and their managers say they have nothing to write in their 'curriculum vitae' when they talk to media personnel, promoters and business partners outside Japan, he said. 'It's meaningless if winning an award doesn't serve as some kind of endorsement,' Muramatsu said. 'We want to take time to make the awards worthy of such a status.' The Japan Composer's Association has hosted the large-scale Japan Record Awards (JRA) since 1959. At the end of each year, the winners are announced, and they give performances. During the Showa Era (1926-1989), the general public persuaded the JRA to pick the song of the year, according to music critic Suzie Suzuki. But listeners' preferences have diversified in recent years thanks to music streaming services and other factors, and it has become difficult to pick one song that is acceptable to everyone. To remain influential, music awards must present forward-thinking and novel selections that can indicate what will happen next in the music market, Suzuki added. The MAJ awards cover artists and songs during a one-year period until January. The six main categories are: Song of the Year; Artist of the Year; New Artist of the Year; Album of the Year; Top Global Hit from Japan; and Best Song Asia. Creepy Nuts' 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' and Yoasobi's 'Idol' are among the nominees in the Song of the Year category. (This article was written by Chiho Yashiro and Shiki Iwasawa.)
