TheMusic Awards Japan (abbreviated asMAJ), is a music awards show 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'sMinistry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Theinaugural award show is set to be held on May 21 and 22, 2025, at theRohm Theater,Kyoto.
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, theRecording 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 organization, marketing and 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]
In December 2024, the six main categories were introduced, and more categories were announced in January 2025.[3][4] Theinaugural award show is set to be held on May 21 and 22, 2025, atRohm Theater inKyoto.[4] On January 15, 2025,NHK was announced to broadcast the second day of the award show, while both days are to be livestreamed globally onYouTube.[5] A showcase titled Matsuri '25: Japanese Music Experience was announced to be held on March 16, 2025, atPeacock Theater,Los Angeles withAdo,Atarashii Gakko! andYoasobi 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]
During a press conference held at Live Entertainment Expo inTokyo, Tatsuya Nomura, the CEO of the Federation of Music Producers Japan stated that consumer behavior has changed drastically in Japan during theCOVID-19 pandemic, shifting from physical purchases to digital media. Nomura added that the establishment of an award show similar to theGrammy Awards in theUnited 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 necessary.[8]
From this pool, a panel consisting 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 of 5,000 people from 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 onSpotify.[10]
In an interview withReal 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 their own work or a work that 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 round.[11]
^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]
^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 theBillboard 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 theJapan Hot 100 and/or in the top-10Japan 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 theBillboard Japan Heatseekers Songs six months prior the award show
