Image via RIAJThe Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) released the Statistics and Trends: RIAJ Year Book” report for the Japanese music industry for 2023 on March 29 and the English version of report this month.

Audio sales

According to the report, aggregate revenue generated through music software sales in Japan increased by 10% in 2023 compared to the previous year to total 337.2 billion yen (about $2.178 billion). Total production volume of recorded music (analog music and video on disc) increased 9% to 159.90 million units, and total production value increased 9% to 220.7 billion yen (about 1.425 billion USD). Digital music revenue amounted to 116.5 billion yen (about $752 million), a new record and up 11% year-on-year. 10th consecutive year of increased sales. The total production value of recorded and digital music was 337.2 billion yen (about 2.17 billion USD), an increase of 10%. This is also the second consecutive year this amount has exceeded 300 billion yen (about 1.94 billion USD).

CD sales in Japan increased 7% to 139.095 billion yen (about 881 million USD). Vinyl records increased 45% to 6.267 billion yen (about 40 million USD). Cassettes increased 241% to 212 million yen (about $1.37 million). Music Blu-ray/DVD disc sales amounted to 74.469 billion yen (about 471 million USD), up 10% over the same period last year.

Digital music downloads fell in Japan to 10.224 billion yen (about 65 million USD), down 11% from 2022. Streaming music revenue increased 14% to 105.617 billion yen (about 669 million USD).

Last year saw the release of 465 anime-related CDs, representing about 6.5% of all new Japanese music from 2023.

Prize

Male idol group Snow Man (Black Clover) won the Artist of the Year award for Japanese artists, while The Beatles won the award for Western artists. Mina Okabe (A Condition Called Love) and LE SSERAFIM (sexy Tanaka-san), along with Travis Japan, won New Artist of the Year.

Albums Mr.5 and Peace by King & Prince, KOE by SixTONES, i DO ME by Snow Man and POPMALL by Naniwa Danshi. A Symphonic Celebration-Music from Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli Films album by composer Joe Hisaishi won Classical Album of the Year. The soundtrack to Hiromi's animated film Blue Giant won Jazz Album of the Year. The soundtrack to the animated film The First Slam Dunk won the award for Animated Album of the Year. Ado's album Utattemita won Conceptual Album of the Year.

In the single category, King & Prince's “Life goes on/We are young” won Single of the Year. The top 5 singles include “Social Path (feat. LiSA)/Super Bowl-English ver.-“ by Stray Kids, “Tapestry/W” and “Dangerholic” by Snow Man and “Ohitorisamatengoku” by Nogizaka46.

The video “Snow Man 1st DOME tour 2023 i DO ME” by Snow Man won the Music Video of the Year award. “Idol” by YOASOBI, the opening theme song of the anime Oshi no Ko has a large total of digital downloads YOASOBI's “Idol”, MAN WITH A MISSION×milet's Kizuna no Kiseki from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc and Ado's “Show” are the three songs with the highest number of downloads. Highest digital. Other top streamed songs are “Show” by Ado, “Beautiful Fin” by Spitz, “Que Sera Sera” by Mrs. Green Apple and “Billimillion” by Yuuri

Special awards went to Atarashii Gakkō! (SNS Police), King Gnu (Jujutsu Kaisen) and Vundy (Chainsaw Man, Spy×Family).

The RIAJ publishes an annual report on the Japanese music industry.

Source: RIAJ (link 2), Animation Business Magazine (Tadashi Sudo)