Largest Music Awards in Japan Based on Data From Billboard Japan & More Set for May 2025 in Kyoto

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 Theatre Kyoto.

This award will recognize more than 60 categories, led by the six major ones including Song of the Year and Artist of the Year, for works and artists that have been popular from January 29, 2024 to January 26, 2025. Candidates will be automatically selected using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and more. Five nominees will be selected from these candidates by domestic voting members, and the award winners will be decided from among the nominees through a rigorous selection process by domestic and overseas voting members.

The 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 regions such as Asian countries and Europe. The best work and artist will be revealed at the awards ceremony on May 22.

The voting members consist of around 5,000 music industry professionals from various fields, including artists, creatives, managers, recording directors, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution businesses, dealers, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, judges of overseas music awards, plus creatives, promoters, and music distribution businesses based overseas. There will also be a category inviting votes from general music listeners.

“Post-COVID, the way we enjoy entertainment as a whole has changed,” says CEIPA’s Chair of the Board Shunsuke Muramatsu, who believes that with the recent wave of digitalization, global success and possibilities are expanding within the music industry. “We have seen that the way hit songs and artists emerge has changed with the growth of the digital landscape and the increasing popularity of streaming services. Having witnessed a rapid, borderless connection to 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 organizations in the Japanese music industry — 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 — have transcended boundaries to collaborate with the global music industry to establish this award, which is based on the concept of “connecting with the world and lighting the future of music.”

The awards show is said to be an “Asian version of the Grammy Awards,” as Commissioner Shunichi Tokura of the Agency of Cultural Affairs has said in the past. “We established the awards as a way to increase interest in Japanese music and to have Japanese music heard globally,” Tatsuya Nomura, board member of CEIPA, explains. He notes that CEIPA will also focus on promoting the awards outside of Japan. “Additionally, we will also promote the awards in other Asian countries and the world through terrestrial broadcasting stations, livestreaming on YouTube, news coverage, and more.”

Nomura says the awards will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of overseas artists and bring more attention to them. “The Japanese music market has traditionally been economically viable only within Japan. I believe it is necessary to change this and cultivate a global mindset among artists. Japanese artists are becoming increasingly active abroad, which we will continue to support. At the same time, we aim to establish categories that focus not only on K-POP (which is highly popular in Japan) but also on Western and other Asian music. As a result, there is a possibility that artists from around the world will be honored at MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN.”

The MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN ceremony on May 22 is also set to be broadcast live on terrestrial TV. The event will also be streamed worldwide via YouTube (excluding some regions). MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN week will take place Saturday, May 17 through Friday, May 23, and there will be seminars and showcases by people involved in the music industry from Japan and overseas during this period.

MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 KYOTO

Date of Ceremony: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Venue: ROHM Theatre Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan

Live broadcast on terrestrial TV and global livestream on YouTube scheduled (some regions excluded)

Eligible Works & Artists

Works and artists popular from January 29, 2024 through January 26, 2025 (regardless of release date, including older works)

Awards: More than 60 categories planned including the six major categories

Six major categories: Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Top Global Hit from Japan, Best Song Asia

Awards

Top Global Hit from Japan: Domestic songs that have become hits around the world are eligible.

Best Song Asia: Songs that have become hits around Asia are eligible.

Voting Process

Candidates will be automatically selected using objective metrics linked to data from Billboard Japan and more. Five nominees will be selected from these candidates by domestic voting members, and the award winners will be decided from among the nominees through a rigorous selection process by domestic and overseas voting members.

Voting Members

Voting members will consist of around 5,000 artists, creatives, managers, recording directors, engineers, promoters, music video directors, music distribution businesses, dealers, distributors, music critics, writers, media, music publishers, judges of overseas music awards, plus creatives, promoters, and music distribution businesses based overseas. The nominees and award 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

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

Deputy Chair of the Board: Takeo Nakanishi (President, All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters Conference)

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

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

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 (A.C.P.C.), Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)

This article was originally published by Billboard Japan and appeared on Billboard U.S.