Big in Japan? Artists from abroad may find it more difficult to draw a crowd

[Traxan 148]

Wasn't sure if this was more appropriate for general or here. So if I'm wrong, i trust the mods will move it.

 

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/01/28/music/big-japan-artists-abroad-may-find-difficult-draw-crowd/#.WJFTWVMrK1s

There are now just three major record labels left on the planet: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group.

These three companies control as much as 80 percent of the music that is commercially available in the world — and not just in terms of sales. They also, in most cases, control the worldwide rights to the music they sell, which means they also control how that music is managed and promoted.

In the past, when music was only sold via dedicated physical media — records, cassette tapes and compact discs — labels and artists in one part of the world would negotiate and sell rights to localized companies in other territories, thus allowing those companies to distribute, manage and promote that music in accordance with regional demands and tastes.

Japan has been the second biggest music market in the world after the United States for a number of years. The bulk of music that is sold in Japan has always been by domestic artists, but international acts have always been keen to make an impression on Japanese music fans, believing that they can count on a certain high level of continuing support once they break into the market.

However, this situation is changing due to the globalization of the music business. And it’s not just changing with regard to the aforementioned “big three.”

In mid-November, Japan-based Hostess Entertainment, which handles, among other things, foreign independent record labels and artists in Japan and other Asian countries, announced that after Jan. 1 it was not renewing its agreement with U.K.-based Beggars Group, which represents the labels XL, Young Turks, 4AD, Rough Trade and Matador. Beggars’ releases in Japan will now be handled by a company that only distributes music.

Shortly after the announcement, the Japanese independent music news site Public Rhythm published an email interview with an unnamed person from Hostess. The label said that the break with Beggars happened because the latter had “revised its approach to the Japanese market.”

Speaking to The Japan Times, Hostess Entertainment President Andrew Lazonby is more specific.

“Our licensing partnership (with Beggars) has been successful,” Lazonby says, “but their mission is to bring Japan in line with their operations around the world, so no rights managed locally, only CD distribution for a commission. That means promotion strategy and budget control will be managed far away by people who don’t know this market.”

Consequently, Lazonby thinks the artists themselves will suffer.

“But the artists in situations like this don’t seem to be the priority,” he says.

[BrenGun 2261]

Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group.

 

I believe thry are all owned by the same.

would need it check back.

so after all the world is owned by one big label with many big side labels.  

 

 

but well after all its about money.

and there is always a way to pronote yourself. 

but is it saying that aetist in the west will sugfer to promote their shit in Japan? or Japanese overseas?