Warner Music Japan (WMJ) and NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan (NBCUJ) have partnered to take advantage of the growing popularity of anime-related music.
Under this partnership, WMJ will undertake the production and promotion of new works by NBCUJ artists and will receive more than 9,000 Work in NBCUJ’s directory. Digital and physical distribution of these titles will begin in early 2025.
NBCUJ will receive ADAWarner Music’s global independent distribution and label services arm will “expand distribution of its catalog and help its artists engage with existing and new fans around the world,” WMJ said in a statement on Thursday (December 12).
ADA entered Japan in 2020 – the world’s second largest music market.
The two companies will work together to develop new opportunities to pair music produced by NBCUJ animations, including potentially having WMJ contracted artists compose songs for the animations, such as opening and closing themes.
The anime music (or anisong) market has become a mainstream part of global culture. This past summer, Spotify It is said that anime music traffic on the platform has surged 395% From 2021.
“The popularity of Japanese anime is exploding at home and abroad, with fans increasingly connecting with it on social media and streaming platforms.”
Takeshi Okada, Warner Music Japan
Market Research Company Report 2023 bright Discover 18% of American Gen Z music listeners discover music through animation. This number rises to twenty two% In Korea, 31% in Indonesia and 39% in Japan.
A report earlier this year Macroview Research The animation market is expected to usher in new developments 9.8% Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2030. US$31.23 billion By 2023, the report said.
However, according to the latest data Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAS), anime music’s share of newly released songs in Japan falls to 15-year low 6.5% 2023.
“The popularity of Japanese anime is exploding at home and abroad, and fans are increasingly connecting with Japanese anime on social media and streaming platforms,” he said Okada TakeshiPresident and CEO of WMJ.
“This provides artists with an opportunity to connect with new fans around the world through the music used in their animation projects. So this partnership not only allows us to help bring NBCUJ’s catalog to the world through our global network , but also provides our artists with the opportunity to further their careers by leveraging animation-related collaborations.
Doyama ShojiNBCUJ CEO and President added, “To resonate deeply with anime fans, the perfect combination of anime and music is crucial. Through this strategic partnership, I believe in the collaboration between NBCUJ’s anime and Warner Music’s repertoire will bring excitement to fans around the world. I’m also excited that NBCUJ artists’ songs will reach even more listeners with the help of Warner Music’s global reach.
The partnership with NBCUJ follows a series of leadership changes at WMJ, including Okada’s appointment as president and CEO in October. He came to the company from universal music groupof Japan EMI record companywhere he serves as Managing Director.
As CEO, Okada succeeds Kobayashi KazuLeading WMJ for ten years.
And this year, PhD. Kenji Kotani Serves as President of WMJ. He serves as chairman of the sports streaming service JapanDAZN.global music business
