The Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) has announced the launch of a new music award called MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, with the inaugural event set for May 22, 2025, at the Rohm Theater in Kyoto.
This award will recognize more than 60 categories, led by the six main ones, including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year, for works and artists that were popular between January 29, 2024 and January 26, 2025. Nominees will be automatically selected using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and others. Five nominees will be selected from these nominees by domestic voting members and award winners will be decided among the nominees through a rigorous selection process by domestic and foreign voting members.
Categories include genre-specific ones including J-pop, hip-hop and idol culture, special categories such as dance performances, music videos, Vocaloid culture and DJing, and global categories by region such as Asian countries and Europe. The best work and artist will be revealed at the awards ceremony on May 22.
Voting members consist of approximately 5,000 music industry professionals from a variety of fields including artists, creatives, managers, record managers, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution businesses, marketers, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, overseas music award judges, as well as creatives, promoters and music distribution businesses based overseas. There will also be a category inviting votes from general music listeners.
“After COVID, the way we enjoy entertainment as a whole has changed,” says CEIPA Board President Shunsuke Muramatsu, who believes that with the recent wave of digitization, global success and possibilities are expanding in the music industry . “We've seen the way songs and artists emerge has changed with the growth of the digital landscape and the growing popularity of streaming services. Having witnessed a rapid, borderless connection with the rest of the world, we are now focused on supporting young, talented Japanese creators through an awards show with a global reach.”
The five major Japanese music industry organizations — Recording Industry Association of Japan, Japan Association of Music Enterprises, Federation of Music Producers Japan, Music Publishers Association of Japan and All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference — have gone above and beyond to partner with the global music industry to establish this award, which is based on the idea of ”connecting the world and illuminating the future of music”.
The awards show is said to be an “Asian version of the Grammys,” as Cultural Affairs Agency Commissioner Shunichi Tokura has said in the past. “We saw the awards as a way to increase interest in Japanese music and to get Japanese music heard worldwide,” explains CEIPA board member Tatsuya Nomura. He notes that CEIPA will also focus on promoting the awards outside of Japan. “In addition, we will promote the awards to other Asian countries and the world through terrestrial broadcast stations, live streaming on YouTube, news coverage and more.”
Nomura says the awards will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of foreign artists and give them more attention. “The Japanese music market has traditionally only been economically viable within Japan. I believe it is necessary to change this and cultivate a global mindset among artists. Japanese artists are becoming more and more active overseas, which we will continue to support. At the same time, we aim to establish categories that focus not only on K-POP (which is especially popular in Japan) but also on Western and other Asian music. As a result, there is a possibility that artists from all over the world will be honored at the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN.”
The MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN ceremony on May 22 is also scheduled to be broadcast live on terrestrial television. The event will also be broadcast worldwide via YouTube (excluding certain territories). MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN week will be held from Saturday May 17th to Friday May 23rd and there will be seminars and presentations by people involved in the music industry from Japan and abroad during this period.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 KYOTO
Ceremony Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Venue: ROHM Theater Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Live broadcast on terrestrial TV and global live stream on YouTube scheduled (some territories excluded)
Suitable works and artists
Works and artists popular from January 29, 2024 to January 26, 2025 (regardless of release date, including older works)
Awards: More than 60 categories are 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: Domestic and international albums are eligible.
Artist of the Year: Domestic and international artists are eligible.
New Artist of the Year: Domestic artists are eligible.
Top Global Hit From Japan: Honors homegrown songs that have become hits around the world.
Best Asian Song: Honors Asian songs that have become hits around the world.
Voting process
Nominees will be automatically selected using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and others. Five nominees will be selected from these nominees by domestic voting members and award winners will be decided among the nominees through a rigorous selection process by domestic and foreign voting members.
Voting Members
The voting members will consist of approximately 5,000 artists, creatives, managers, recording managers, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution companies, agents, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, foreign music award judges , as well as creatives, promoters and music distribution businesses based abroad. Award nominees and winners will be selected and honored through a rigorous voting process by these members. There will also be a category with a different selection process.
About CEIPA
Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA)
President: Tatsumi Yoda
Chairman of the Board: Shunsuke Muramatsu (Chairman, The Recording Industry Association of Japan)
Vice Chairman of the Board: Takeo Nakanishi (President, Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Sponsors Conference)
Senior Board Member: Hideichi Kurita (Vice President, Music Publishers Association of Japan)
Board Members: Masatomo Takito (President, Japan Music Business Association), Tatsuya Nomura (President, Japan Music Producers Federation), 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)
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/music-awards-japan-billboard-2025-kyoto-1235807261/