The Biggest Music Awards in Japan Based on Data from Billboard Japan & More Set for May 2025 in Kyoto.

The Japan Culture and Entertainment Promotion Association (CEIPA) has announced the launch of a new music award called MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, with a launch event on May 22, 2025, at the Rohm Theater in Kyoto.

The award will host more than 60 categories, led by six major categories including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year, for popular works and artists from January 29, 2024 to January 26, 2025. Nominees they will be selected automatically. using objective metrics linked to Billboard Japan data and more. Five nominees will be selected from among these nominees by local voting members, and the award winners will be selected from among those selected through a rigorous voting process of local and overseas members.

These categories include specific genre including J-pop, hip-hop and art culture, specific categories such as dances, music videos, Vocaloid culture and DJing, and global categories by regions such as countries of Asia and Europe. The best performer and artist will be revealed at the awards ceremony on May 22.

Voting members include approximately 5,000 music industry professionals from a variety of fields, including artists, producers, managers, record executives, engineers, promoters, music video directors, distribution companies music, sellers, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, overseas music award judges, as well as composers, promoters and overseas music distribution businesses. There will also be a panel inviting votes from the general music audience.

“Post-COVID, the way we enjoy entertainment as a whole has changed,” says CEIPA Board Chairman Shunsuke Muramatsu, who believes that with the latest wave of digitalization, global success and opportunities is increasing within the music industry. “We have seen that the way songs and artists are presented has changed with the growth of the digital format and the increasing popularity of streaming services. As we have seen fast, seamless connectivity around the world, we are now focused on supporting talented young Japanese artists with an award show that has global reach.”

The five major associations in Japan’s music industry – the Japan Recording Industry Association, 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 Promoters Conference – have limits to cooperation. and the global music industry to create this award, based on the idea of ​​”connecting with the world and lighting the future of music.”

The awards show is said to be “the Asian version of the Grammy Awards,” as Commissioner Shunichi Tokura of the Center for Cultural Affairs has said in the past. “We created the awards as a way to increase interest in Japanese music and make Japanese music heard around the world,” Tatsuya Nomura, CEIPA board member, explains. He notes that CEIPA will focus on promoting the awards outside of Japan. “Furthermore, we will also promote the awards to other countries in Asia and the world through global broadcast channels, YouTube broadcasts, media coverage and more.”

Nomura says these awards will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of overseas artists and bring greater attention to them. “The Japanese music market has traditionally been economically successful only within Japan. I believe that it is necessary to change this and develop a global mindset among artists. Japanese artists are becoming more and more active in other countries, which we will continue to support. At the same time, we intend to create stages that focus not only on K-POP (which is very popular in Japan) but also on Western and Asian music. As a result, there is a chance that musicians from all over the world will be honored at the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN. ”

The MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN ceremony on May 22 will also be broadcast live on global TV. The event will be broadcast worldwide via YouTube (excluding other sites). JAPAN MUSIC AWARDS Week will be held from Saturday 17th May to Friday 23rd May, and there will be workshops and exhibitions by people involved in the music industry from Japan and overseas during this period.

MUSICAL WONDER JAPAN 2025 KYOTO

Celebration Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Venue: ROHM Theater Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

Broadcast broadcast on global TV and worldwide on YouTube programmed (other regions not included)

Careers and Eligible Employers

Popular works and artists from January 29, 2024 to January 26, 2025 (regardless of release date, including old works)

Awards: There are more than 60 categories planned including six major categories

Six major categories: Best Song, Best Album, Best Artist, Best New Artist, Best World Song, Best Asian Song

Awards

Song of the Year: Domestic and international songs are eligible.

Album of the Year: Both domestic and international albums are eligible.

Artist of the Year: Local and international artists are eligible.

New Artist of the Year: Local artists are eligible.

Top Global Hits from Japan: Celebrating homegrown hits that have become global hits.

Best Asian Song: Honors Asian songs that have become popular around the world.

How to vote

Nominees will be selected automatically using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and others. Five nominees will be selected from among these nominees by local voting members, and the award winners will be selected from among those selected through a rigorous voting process of local and overseas members.

Voting members

Voting members will include approximately 5,000 artists, producers, directors, record managers, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution companies, marketers, publishers, music critics, writers , media, music publishers, overseas music award judges, as well as composers. , promoters, and music distribution businesses based overseas. Nominees and award winners will be selected and honored through a rigorous voting process by these members. There will also be a group with a different selection process.

About CEIPA

Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA)

President: Tatsumi Yoda

Chairman of the Board: Shunsuke Muramatsu (President, Recording Industry Association of Japan)

Vice Chairman of the Board: Takeo Nakanishi (President, All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters Association)

Senior Board Member: Hideichi Kurita (Vice President, Japan Music Publishers Association)

Board Members: Masatomo Takito (President, Japan Music Producers Association), Tatsuya Nomura (President, The Federation of Music Producers Japan), Yutaka Inaba (President, Japan Music Publishers Association)

CEIPA Members: Japan Association of Music Enterprises (JAME), Federation of Music Producers Japan (FMPJ), Music Publishers Association of Japan (MPA), All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (ACPC), Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ )