This could be interesting for the music-nerds

[clara_maria_home]

or rather: marketing music in Japan-nerds *cough*


facts about japanese music market

nothing really new (for us) - but what was interesting for me is how it is STILL new(s) to the "western" music industry... I had to smile (in a rather bitter way) at the part where he's going about that English should work in Tokyo, but it still would be a good idea to brush up on your Japanese... it's NOT self-evident and that's plain rude (but isn't that true for most languages outside English...?)

I am also surprised that he missed a fact: the dedicatedness (is that a word?) of Japanese fans~ which is unique in way, it is infact possible to create your own niche inside this huge market - but you have to be a "good for & TO the fans" artist

Comments

[barbosa2007.livejournal.com]

I think a large proportion of the Japanese consumer market still remains rather analogue. While people are downloading the latest albums from iTunes, Japanese fans are ordering their physical albums (and reselling them too!) from music stores.

I also think the article neglected to mention the prevalent exposure of artistes on TV. It's also an industry that thrives on charisma and personality, in addition to enjoyable music. So far, the only artist who sells relatively well despite a dearth of TV appearances is Misia. (Well, to the best of my limited knowledge, anyway.)

[clara-maria.livejournal.com]

the analogue part is true~ in parts. a lot of downloads are thru telephone-services and stuff... even the usual iTunes etc. is a growing market...
the marketing for CDs is just much better & bigger elsewhere

I agree if it's about big artists which are selling thousands of CDs~

but the part of the business this guy was talking about is another one:
there is a huge market for niche-musicians~ e.g. the ex-bf of a good friend - he and his band, they are from the UK, did one concert once in Tokyo and gained some kind of stardom from this... for a relatively small group of people - so now they are having regulary concerts in Japan, a few times a year and steady CD-sales - not the BIG-business, but enough to live
they are living in the UK or Berlin, meaning they won't have much exposure on TV or so...