Reposted
Spotify Swims Upstream In CD-Obsessed Japan
Jordan Passman, Contributor
I just got back from a trip to Japan, and by far one of the most surprising and exciting cultural discoveries was the refreshing respect for music. From the jazz clubs in Kyoto to the massive Tower Records store in Shibuya (occupying nine floors), music, and the business behind it, is thriving.
Coincidentally, I happened to be there during the Spotify roll out, a first-time major streaming player in a nation where CDs reign supreme. A spokesperson from Spotify explained to me that while CD sales are significant, they have "have been falling gradually over recent years, as well as being centered around a relatively small pool of artists." Music fans will pay up to $30 for an album (the "premium" albums are accompanied by posters, toys, calendars, etc.), and streaming has massive potential for growth.
According to the Japan Times, “As the CD goes virtually extinct and digital downloads thrive everywhere else, they account for about 80% of Japanese sales.”
The music market in Japan is actually the second-largest music market globally, with close to three billion in sales per year.
Local musicians dominate CD sales, according to Ichiro Asatsuma, Chairman of Fujipacific Music Inc., one of Japan’s leading music publishers for over 50 years. He explained that the market is “85-90% Japanese artists and the remaining 10-15% is for international artists, including classical music.”
Spotify is optimistic about their presence in Japan. "We expect Spotify and music streaming in general to have a positive impact on the industry and also music fans, who’ll have instant access to so many more artists, and vice versa," says a Spotify spokesperson. "We’re the biggest driver of growth for the music industry globally, while introducing music fans to a far greater diversity of artists and genres. Crucially, Japanese artists will get exposure to our 100 million music fans around the world."
Jordan Passman, Contributor
I just got back from a trip to Japan, and by far one of the most surprising and exciting cultural discoveries was the refreshing respect for music. From the jazz clubs in Kyoto to the massive Tower Records store in Shibuya (occupying nine floors), music, and the business behind it, is thriving.
Coincidentally, I happened to be there during the Spotify roll out, a first-time major streaming player in a nation where CDs reign supreme. A spokesperson from Spotify explained to me that while CD sales are significant, they have "have been falling gradually over recent years, as well as being centered around a relatively small pool of artists." Music fans will pay up to $30 for an album (the "premium" albums are accompanied by posters, toys, calendars, etc.), and streaming has massive potential for growth.
According to the Japan Times, “As the CD goes virtually extinct and digital downloads thrive everywhere else, they account for about 80% of Japanese sales.”
The music market in Japan is actually the second-largest music market globally, with close to three billion in sales per year.
Local musicians dominate CD sales, according to Ichiro Asatsuma, Chairman of Fujipacific Music Inc., one of Japan’s leading music publishers for over 50 years. He explained that the market is “85-90% Japanese artists and the remaining 10-15% is for international artists, including classical music.”
Spotify is optimistic about their presence in Japan. "We expect Spotify and music streaming in general to have a positive impact on the industry and also music fans, who’ll have instant access to so many more artists, and vice versa," says a Spotify spokesperson. "We’re the biggest driver of growth for the music industry globally, while introducing music fans to a far greater diversity of artists and genres. Crucially, Japanese artists will get exposure to our 100 million music fans around the world."