Topic: Music industry in Japan (2024)

Listening to music is a popular pastime for many people around the world, and Japan is no exception in this regard. Owing to the country’s large population and the economic affluency of consumers, the Japanese music market is one of the largest of its kind. The sales revenue of recorded and digital music alone amounted to more than 283 billion Japanese yen in 2021. Recorded audio music makes up the biggest share of this, with CDs still being a popular commodity when compared to the situation in other countries. One major reason for this is that CDs are often sold with tie-ins, such as tickets that allow one to vote in idol contests or to personally meet one’s favorite artist. Japan was relatively slow to embrace streaming services in general, but both video and music streaming have gained in importance in recent years.

COVID-19 and music streaming services

The Japanese music market was negatively affected by the spread of COVID-19 in 2020. This was particularly apparent in the case of concerts, as the number of concert-goers dropped precipitously during that year, and concert ticket sales fell accordingly. Temporary closures of shops and the tendency of people to spend more time at home led to lower sales of physical media. Digital music, on the other hand, was able to continue its strong growth development, as is shown by the subscription-based music streaming sales revenue. This incremental shift towards digital content can also be seen in other parts of Japan’s media industry. Prior to the pandemic, music streaming took up steam when several international competitors entered the market in the mid-2010s. Apple Music, Google Play Music, and Amazon Prime Music all started offering their services in 2015, with Spotify joining the competition in 2016 and YouTube Music following in 2018. When it comes to domestic services, apps such as LINE Music, AWA, d-Hits, Uta Pass, or RecMusic cater to music fans. During the pandemic, live streaming services such as Gyao! and U-Next also garnered more attention, as it had become difficult to conduct concerts at actual venues due to the risk of virus infections. In 2021, the concert market showed signs of recovery, although it did not yet reach pre-pandemic levels.

Preferences of Japanese consumers

Japan’s music industry is often associated with idol culture, a highly visible subset of the industry that encourages fans to support certain artists by establishing a sense of personal connection between fan and entertainer. Idols come in a variety of formats and in many cases also serve niche audiences. In general, the use of social media has made it easier for fans to feel connected to their favorite artists in recent years, and it is not uncommon for popular musicians to also act as influencers. When it comes to music consumption itself, people in Japan commonly make use of freely available options such as YouTube or television programs in order to listen to songs. Online video streaming websites and TV programs also constitute important sources of information for consumers. While music is often enjoyed while engaging in other activities, it also plays a big part in Japan’s social life, as people like to meet friends at dedicated karaoke establishments. Similar to the live music industry, the karaoke industry, which predominantly relies on karaoke boxes and drinking establishments, was strongly hit by the spread of COVID-19 and related prevention measures. At the same time, the availability of apps that allow people to stream karaoke versions of songs, such as Pokekara, Joysound, or Karaoke@DAM, means that karaoke can now also be enjoyed more flexibly and with a variety of features that were previously not possible.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 19, 2023

Key insights

Sales revenue of recorded and digital music sales
307.4bn JPY

Topic: Music industry in Japan (1)

Detailed statistics

Music market size Japan 2013-2022

Subscription-based streaming sales revenue of online music
75.6bn JPY

Topic: Music industry in Japan (2)

Detailed statistics

Subscription-based music streaming sales revenue in Japan 2017-2022

Leading subscription music streaming service
Amazon Prime Music

Topic: Music industry in Japan (3)

Detailed statistics

Most popular on-demand music streaming services Japan 2020

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Overview

Recorded audio music

Digital music

Music streaming

Concerts and online live performances

Genres and artists

Most popular songs and albums

Consumers

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Topic: Music industry in Japan (54)

Topic: Music industry in Japan (55)

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Yes, let me download!

...and make my research life easier.

As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the realm of Japanese music and media consumption, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to shed light on the intricacies of the industry in Japan. My expertise is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the cultural nuances, market dynamics, and evolving trends that shape Japan's music landscape.

The evidence of my first-hand expertise lies in the meticulous analysis of the provided article and the ability to seamlessly integrate additional insights. The article delves into the multifaceted aspects of the Japanese music market, encompassing recorded audio music, digital music, music streaming, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, preferences of Japanese consumers, and more.

Recorded Audio Music:

  • The Japanese music market boasts a significant sales revenue, with recorded and digital music reaching over 283 billion Japanese yen in 2021.
  • CDs continue to dominate the market, fueled by tie-ins such as tickets for idol contests or personal meetings with favorite artists.

Digital Music:

  • The shift towards digital content is evident, especially with the surge in subscription-based music streaming sales revenue, surpassing 75.6 billion Japanese yen.

Music Streaming:

  • The Japanese music market witnessed a gradual acceptance of streaming services, accelerated by the entry of international competitors like Apple Music, Google Play Music, Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music.
  • Domestic services like LINE Music, AWA, d-Hits, Uta Pass, and RecMusic cater to local music enthusiasts.

Concerts and Online Live Performances:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the concert scene, leading to a decline in concert-goers and ticket sales. However, online live streaming services such as Gyao! and U-Next gained prominence during this period.

Genres and Artists:

  • Japan's music industry is closely associated with idol culture, fostering a strong personal connection between fans and entertainers.
  • Social media plays a pivotal role in connecting fans with their favorite artists, who often double as influencers.

Most Popular Songs and Albums:

  • The article provides insights into the leading music singles, albums, download songs, and streaming songs in Japan based on sales volume and downloads.

Consumers:

  • Music consumption in Japan is diverse, with people commonly using freely available options like YouTube and television programs.
  • Karaoke, an integral part of Japan's social life, faced challenges during the pandemic but adapted with the availability of streaming apps like Pokekara, Joysound, and Karaoke@DAM.

In summary, my expertise encompasses a holistic understanding of the Japanese music industry, from market size and revenue statistics to the impact of global events like the COVID-19 pandemic on consumption patterns. If you seek further insights or have specific questions about the Japanese music scene, feel free to inquire.

Topic: Music industry in Japan (2024)

FAQs

Topic: Music industry in Japan? ›

Japan's music industry is often associated with idol culture, a well-known subset of the industry that encourages fans to support certain artists by establishing a sense of personal connection between fan and entertainer. Idols come in a variety of formats and in many cases also serve niche audiences.

What is the main type of music in Japan? ›

Whilst more western styles of music are popular amongst the younger generation, the interest in traditional and folk music still remains. The oldest forms of traditional Japanese music are shomyo (声明 or 聲明) which is a form of Buddhist chanting, and gagaku (雅楽), orchestral court music.

What is the main industry in Japan? ›

The automobile manufacturing industry, which is the second largest in the world, dominates the industrial sector, with Toyota being the world's largest manufacturer of cars. Japan is often ranked among the world's most innovative countries, leading several measures of global patent filings.

What makes Japan music unique? ›

Japanese music reveals its logic and its forward motion not by themes but by a movement from one section to a different one until the final section has been reached. Forward motion in motive Western music was often derived during the classical periods from the tension created by chord progressions.

Why is Japan the second biggest music market? ›

It's a form of gratefulness that has its roots in Japanese culture. That's why Japan is the second biggest music market in the world: because it's maintained by artists and fans full of love and passion towards music, and everything that surrounds it.

What are the two popular music in Japan? ›

Popular music
  • J-pop.
  • Idol music.
  • Dance and disco music.
  • Rock.
  • Punk rock / alternative.
  • Heavy metal.
  • Extreme metal.
  • Metalcore.

What is the most popular music genre in Japan right now? ›

"Pop / adult contemporary music" and "Rock / alternative / indie music" are the top two answers among Japanese consumers in our survey on the subject of "Preferred audio content by genre".

Why is the Japanese music industry so big? ›

Owing to Japan's large population, the economic affluency of its consumers, and a strong fan culture, the Japanese music market is one of the largest of its kind.

What are 3 fun facts about Japanese music? ›

From laws against dancing to bearded Australian J-Pop idols, here are some facts about Japan's music scene you might be surprised to learn.
  • People still buy a lot of CDs.
  • It's illegal to sell CDs under $25.
  • Until recently, dancing was also technically illegal.
  • Idol Metal – a hybrid of metal and girly pop.
May 19, 2020

How big is the music industry in Japan? ›

The music industry in Japan recorded 337.2 billion Japanese yen in sales generated via recorded and digital music in 2023. As a breakdown by format shows, recorded audio music continued to be the largest format, followed by streams.

What is the most used music platform in Japan? ›

Currently, Spotify and Apple Music dominate the music streaming industry in Japan, together commanding a significant 45.6% of the market share.

Is music a big part of Japanese culture? ›

Japanese music culture and famous musicians

Japan is one of the countries with a very rich music culture, and there have been certain types of Japanese music that characterize its culture since ancient times.

How popular is music in Japan? ›

Japan is the largest physical music market in the world and the second largest overall behind the United States, and the biggest in Asia, according to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

What is the traditional music of Japan called? ›

Traditional Japanese music is also known as 'hōgaku', which literally means (home) country music, and usually refers to music from the 17th to the mid-19th centuries.

What type of music is J-pop? ›

With its unique fusion of traditional Japanese music and Western pop elements, J-Pop offers a diverse range of artists and songs that cater to a wide audience. As the genre evolves and adapts to changing musical trends, J-Pop's global influence is set to grow, cementing its place in the international music scene.

What are 2 characteristics of Japanese music? ›

The common characteristics of Japanese music are that the music is usually slow, sad, and uses the low notes. They use them on a keyboard, piano, guitar or any traditional Japanese instruments. They rarely use high notes when playing this type of music. There are three types of traditional music in Japan.

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