Japan Music Marketing Distribution Radio Promotion Japanese Distributor - Japanese Market Opportunity for Foreign Indie Music

Selling and Promoting Your Music in Japan
Japan Music Marketing Resources for foreign record labels, bands and artists

Japanese Market Opportunity for Foreign Record Labels, Bands and Artists

Japan is the 2nd largest music-buying market in the world after the USA and represents about 20% of total worldwide sales. In 2007, over 62 million CD's (physical audio recordings) were imported into Japan representing 23.5% of all CD sales. That means almost 1 out of every 4 CD's sold in Japan was from a foreign artist. If you are in the business of selling music then Japan is one of your major markets and should not be overlooked.

Digital downloads in Japan have increased over 200% in the past 2 years.
Mobile phone downloads account for over 90% of all digital downloads in Japan.

According to the data published by the Recording Industry Association of Japan, about 475 million digital downloads (roughly US$1 billion in value) were made in Japan in 2008. Over 90% of those digital downloads were made from mobile phones. This shows how different the Japanese mobile phone technology and culture is from North America. It also represents a very good revenue opportunity for foreign indies.

As CD sales continue to decline and traditional retail record shops close each year, consumers have to go online to buy your music. Your promotion should direct consumers to your Japanese website where they can buy your music and merchandise directly from you or link to Japanese shops to buy your digital downloads, CD's and other merchandise.

How to make it "Big in Japan" - Step by Step

Try first yourself to find a record company in Japan to distribute/license and pay for selling and promoting your music in Japan by creating a Japanese web page/mobile site (EPK) and using the Japan Music Marketing Resources provided here. Make sure to also read the articles about the music business in Japan.

To do business in Japan the indie way, these are the steps to help you be more effective.

1. Create a Japanese website and/or mobile site (EPK)
2. Get digital and/or traditional distribution in Japan
3. Sales promotion - Advertising, Publicity, Japan Live Tour

*Top Music Japan is an online resource that Japanese music consumers and music industry people (record companies, press, concert promoters, etc.) use to discover talented foreign artists/bands. We recommend that you set up a Japanese web page and mobile site at Top Music Japan. It is an affordable way to create your Japanese EPK (electronic press kit) and provide some promotion in Japan. This is an important step, especially if you are serious about finding a record deal/distributor/licensor in Japan and selling or promoting your music in Japan.

Click here to set up your Japanese web page and mobile site.

Plan for foreign record label, artist, or band entering and doing business in the Japanese music market

Quick Links

Find a distributor or licensing deal in Japan

Send your demo to Japanese record companies

Do a live tour in Japan

Create a FREE Japanese web page & mobile site

Sell your CD and
merch direct to Japan

Get your music or video on Japan Net TV+Radio

Links to Live Houses (Venues) in Japan

About Japan Music Marketing Resources

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