Music Awards Japan
| Music Awards Japan | |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Presented by | Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association |
| First award | 2025 |
| Website | www |
The Music Awards Japan (abbreviated as MAJ), is a music awards by the Japanese music industry to honour musical talents from Asia, Japan and the Western regions. The awards are organized by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) in collaboration with the Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The inaugural award show is set to be hold on May 21 and 22, 2025, at the ROHM Theater, Kyoto.
History
[edit]On October 22, 2024 the Music Awards Japan were officially announced. The awards were introduced to promote Japanese and Asian music on a global stage.[1] The five major music organizations of the Japanese music industry, the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), the Japan Association of Music Enterprises, the Federation of Music Producers Japan, the Music Publishers Association of Japan, and the All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoter's Conference founded the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association which is responsible for the organisation, the marketing and the hosting of the Music Awards Japan.[1][2] One of the backgrounds for the establishment of this award is to strengthen, to change and to open the Japanese music market for a global audience.[2]
On December 2024, the six main categories have been introduced with more categories to be announced in January 2025.[3][4] The inaugural award show is set to be hold on May 21 and 22, 2025 at ROHM Theater in Kyoto.[4] On January 15, 2025, NHK announced to broadcast the second day of the award show, while both days are to be livestreamed globally on YouTube.[5] A showcase titled Matsuri '25: Japanese Music Experience was announced to be held on March 16, 2025, at Peacock Theater, Los Angeles with Ado, Atarashii Gakko! and Yoasobi performing.[6] This is first global showcase to be held prior to the awards to raise awareness of Japanese music artists and the music prize itself.[7]
In the week of the award show the MAJ Music Week is set to be held including concerts, seminars and conferences.[8]
Background
[edit]During a press conference held at Live Entertainment Expo in Tokyo, Tatsuya Nomura, the CEO of the Federation of Music Producers Japan stated that the consumer behavior has changed drastically in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic shifting from physical purchases to digital media. Nomura added that the establishment of an award show similar to the Grammy Awards in the United States might be able to increase the international interest in Japanese music and support the expansion of the domestic music market.[8]
Shunsuke Muramatsu, CEO of the Recording Industry Association of Japan and founding member of CEIPA, further explained that the music industry is on the verge of change which can be observed since 2019. Muramatsu stated that the declining domestic music market is a result of the shrinking population. He noted that opening of the domestic music market for a global audience is neccessary.[8]
Nominations and awarding process
[edit]Based on metrics from Billboard Japan, Oricon, GfK Japan, Luminate, Usen, the Daiichi Kosho Company, the JASRAC and more an automated system selects artists, songs and albums which are eligible to be nominated for an award.[4][5]
From this pool a panel consisting out of persons from the Japanese music industry select five nominations for each category.[2] The winners of most categories are selected by an international jury consisting out of 5.000 people of the international music industry.[9] At the inaugural award ceremony there are two categories where the nominations and winners are select by a public vote on Spotify.[10]
In an interview with Real Sound, Nomura explained the details of the voting process which is held in two rounds. Eligible voting members of the first round of voting are given up to five votes each. It is possible to vote at least once for the own work or a work where the voting member was part of in another function depending on if the work has been selected by the automated system. Only voting members who participated in the first voting round are eligible for voting in the second voting.[11]
Ceremonies
[edit]| Year | Order | Date of ceremony | Host(s) | Venue | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | May 21–22, 2025 | TBA | ROHM Theatre Kyoto | NHK |
Categories
[edit]Main categories
[edit]- Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Artist of the Year[A]
- New Artist of the Year[B]
- Top Global Hit from Japan[C]
- Best Song Asia[D]
Sub categories
[edit] | This section is missing information about The following categories are adapted from the official website of the MAJ which seem to be upper categories. The Japanese-languaged article features more categories without naming a source of information. Detailed categories are available with the announcement of the nominations at the latest point of time.. (February 2025) |
- Japanese Singer Song-writer
- Japanese Alternative
- Japanese Dance Pop
- Japanese Hip Hop
- International Pop
- Anime
- J-Rock
- J-Pop
- Enka/Kayōkyoku
- Japanese R&B/Soul
- Idol Culture
- Vocaloid Culture
- Game Soundtrack
- International Alternative
- International Hip Hop
- Indonesia Pop
- International R&B/Soul
- Classical Album
- Jazz Album
- Music Video
- Collaboration
- Dance Performance
- DJ
- Instrumental
- Revival
Notes
[edit]- ^ Artists who have been nominated for Album of the Year and/or Song of the Year categories are eligible for a nomination in Artist of the Year.[10]
- ^ Artists who meet the criteria according to the release of the Billboard Japan Heatseeksers Songs are ineligible for a nomination in New Artist of the Year category. These criteria are:[10]
- Artists who have ranked in the top-20 in the Japan Hot 100 and/or in the top-10 Japan Hot Albums six months prior the award show
- Artists who have ranked in the top-20 and stayed for at least 4 months (17 weeks) in the Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs six months prior the award show
- ^ The most-successful songs by a Japanese artist based on streaming, downloads and video views. If a Japanese artist has more than one song charted on the global charts, the highest-ranking song will be eligible for nomination.[10]
- ^ Nominations are based on the ranking of the domestic year-end charts, excluding Japanese artists. Songs released by artists from following countries are eligible for a nomination at the inauguaral award show: China (including Hong Kong), Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Yashiro, Chiho (October 22, 2024). "Music Awards Japan launched to promote Asian pop talent". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Largest Music Awards in Japan Based on Data From Billboard Japan & More Set for May 2025 in Kyoto". Billboard. October 21, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ Go, Mayks (December 19, 2024). "The First MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Reveals Six Major Award Categories, Powered By Billboard Japan". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c Hazra, Adriana (January 13, 2025). "Music Awards Japan Reveals Award Categories, Date, Venue for Inaugural Event". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ a b "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN to Broadcast Live on NHK & Globally Stream on YouTube". Billboard. January 15, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ "CEIPA、「MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN」開催の前にLAでAdo、新しい学校のリーダーズ、YOASOBIのライブを開催". Barks.jp (in Japanese). January 29, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ Kuzo, Chie (February 3, 2025). "音楽業界がいま連携することの意味 野村達矢氏・稲葉豊氏に聞く、CEIPA設立や『MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN』開催の狙い". Realsound.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2025., page 2
- ^ a b c Sakamoto, Izumi (January 30, 2024). "「『MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN』を世界進出の名刺代わりに」主催CEIPAがライブ・エンターテイメントEXPOで基調講演". Musicman (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ "Inaugural Music Awards Japan announces more details, top awards". Japan Today. January 10, 2025. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "First MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Categories Revealed, Including Fan-Voted Categories Via Spotify". Billboard. December 17, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
- ^ Chie Kuzo (February 3, 2024). "音楽業界がいま連携することの意味 野村達矢氏・稲葉豊氏に聞く、CEIPA設立や『MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN』開催の狙い". Realsound.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved February 22, 2025.