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Universal Poaches Spotify’s Head in Japan to Run Digital Strategy in Market

The importance of Japan to the world’s recorded mu..

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The importance of Japan to the world’s recorded music industry requires little explanation: according to IFPI data, it was the second-largest market in the world in 2018 behind the USA, generating $2.87bn for artists and record labels. (The No.3 market, the United Kingdom, was less than half this size, at $1.4bn.)

Industry revenues out of Japan grew 3.4% in 2018, according to IFPI, thanks to streaming revenues bounding up 32.6% to $356.5m. Physical formats still dominate Japan – with 71.5% of the market in 2018 – but streaming is becoming increasingly significant, says IFPI, claiming 12.4%.

Now, one of the leading architects of streaming’s growth in Japan has quit a major digital service in order to join Universal Music Group.

Ichiro
Tamaki has been named as Corporate Executive responsible for Digital
Strategy, data analytics and platform partnerships at Universal Music
Japan, effective February 15.

Tamaki (pictured) joins UMJ from Spotify Japan, which he led as General Manager & President. Tamaki joined Spotify in 2016, when the platform launched in the market.

Prior to Spotify, Tamaki served as VP at Amazon, driving and expanding Amazon’s hardware and Kindle content businesses in Japan.

“Mr. Tamaki’s skills, experience and advanced knowledge will bring us game-changing strategy and help drive UMJ towards the next phase of our rapidly evolving music market in Japan.” Naoshi Fujikura, Universal Music Japan

You can get a sense of Spotify’s current size in Japan from the company’s Spotify Charts data: for example, the Top 200 tracks in Sweden on Tuesday – January 14 – racked up a total of 8.7m plays, according to MBW research; Japan wasn’t too far behind, on 6.2m plays.

As a core member of Universal Music Japan’s executive team, Tamaki will oversee the firm’s Data & Analytics and Platform Partnerships teams, and will be responsible for leading and developing UMJ’s digital and streaming strategy for Japan, working directly with the company’s leadership, international divisions and with its platform partners.

He will be based in Tokyo and report to Naoshi Fujikura, CEO, Universal Music Japan.

Fujikura said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Tamaki to our team. His skills, experience and advanced knowledge will bring us game-changing strategy and help drive UMJ towards the next phase of our rapidly evolving music market in Japan.

“We are committed to delivering the value of music for Japanese music fans and to expanding the universe of opportunities for our artists. We strongly believe that Mr. Tamaki’s leadership will help us ensure and accelerate long-term digital growth, whilst helping our artist talent to reach new audiences around the world.”

Universal Music Japan’s highlights in the past year include its work with King & Prince and back number – who were UMG’s fourth and fifth biggest revenue-generating global artists, respectively, in the first half of 2019.

The company has also enjoyed commercial success with BTS, whose Japanese-language releases it handles in partnership with Big Hit Entertainment. (BTS’s non-Japanese releases go through Sony and The Orchard.)

Speaking exclusively to MBW in 2017, Fujikura explained of UMJ: “Our long-term goal is to become Japan’s leading full-service music entertainment company. We understand our unique local market, and we are taking important steps to evolve our business and embrace new opportunities and challenges. Our core strength has always been our ability to discover artists, help develop their careers and ultimately make ‘hits’.”

Universal’s hire of Tamaki comes after UMG, led by Sir Lucian Grainge, notably poached two senior US-based Spotify execs in the past two years: Dave Rocco (now EVP, Creative at Universal) and Mike Biggane (now EVP, Music Strategies & Tactics).

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Scottish Band, Tom Adamson Band, and Their New Album ‘Old View of the New World’

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If you’re a fan of prog-rock, then you need to know all about Tom Adamson Band! Coming in hot with his latest album, ‘Old View of the New World’, which was released in December of 2022, it’s got tonnes of quality alongside inspiration from Adamson’s homeland of Scotland. A musician who has been practicing his craft for decades, mixed with the sound of prog-rock that is reminiscent of legends such as Deep Purple, you can be sure that this album is one that you cannot afford to miss.

Kicking off ‘Old View of the New World’ is the brilliant ‘Ballyhoo’, a minute and a half mood setter that is already showing a deep prog-rock similarity, delivering a Gilmour-like solo that has your attention straight away. The follow-up track, ‘See the Light’, is the first time we’re introduced to the vocals of Tom Adamson, and he does not disappoint. Suiting the feel of the music and able to build momentum, it’s another brilliant track that demonstrates everything you need to hear in a great prog-rock album, with yet more fantastic solos stealing the show. The following track, ‘Old View of the New World, solidifies the album as a real gem. Jazz influences shine for the first time with a saxophone, playing alongside the fantastic guitar riffs and drums that we’ve become accustomed to.

Moving through the album, tracks such as ‘The Black Dinner’, ‘Just Another Way to Make a Friend’, ‘Waiting for Life to Begin’ and ‘I Am Mean’ showcase everything that we loved about what we’d already heard. Impeccable vocals, fantastic prog-rock music with a unique and refreshing jazz feel that helps the music stand out each and every time. Released in the back end of December last year, this is an album that you cannot afford to miss. An overall brilliant project from a brilliant artist, ‘Old View of the New World’ is waiting for you to dive right into!

Tom Adamson Band’s Bandcamp

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Dive In to ‘Leven the Vale’, the Single and Album by Bank Street Martyrs!

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If you’re a fan of Steely Dan, then you’re going to love this new release from Bank Street Martyrs as they prepare for the release of their new album! Here with their latest single, ‘Leven the Vale’, the track serves as a tribute to their hometown as well as a taster for what’s to come on the album release of the same name. With a sound that casts us back to the glory days of rock music, this is a single that you need to add to your playlist right away!

Kicking ‘Leven the Vale’ off is a drumbeat that’s quickly followed up by the immense talent of lead singer, Joseph Watema, whose delicate yet powerful vocals instantly give the song a calm feel that is welcomed with open arms, while also having you on the edge of your seat. Moving through the track, we see the same fantastic drums and vocals, mixed with fantastic guitar riffs from Andrew Marsland that carry the same feeling perfectly, allowing Watema to take centre stage throughout. With composition done perfectly with music from Marsland, vocals from Watema, and lyrics by Ian Retson all on point, it’s easy to tell that this will be on repeat again and again on so many playlists. Rounded off by a guitar solo and the same brilliant vocals, it only adds to our hope that this will be an album that will exceed each and every expectation.

Released with an accompanying music video, directed by local filmmaker Harvey Smart, it adds another dimension to the track that already has a personal feeling to it, keeping it all local making the homecoming track even more poignant. Released in December, ‘Leven the Vale’ as a single and album are ready to be enjoyed – make sure that you don’t miss out on this!

Bank Street Martyrs’ Facebook

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Same Old Tale are Here with Their Latest Single, ‘Look Down’, as they Prepare for New EP

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On the lookout for some barnstorming rock music that will have you turning the volume up to the max? Look no further than Same Old Tale, an Israeli outfit with an undeniably good sound and a clear command of music and lyrics that will knock you off your feet. Here with their latest single, ‘Look Down’, as the band prepare for the release of their EP, ‘Tales Are Yet to Come’, listeners will get a glimpse of what’s in store from Same Old Tale! Don’t miss out on this.

Written by the lead vocalist, Maor Shem Tov, while he was on active combat duty visiting the Hermon Mountain. The idea came as he watched the people below, thinking about how they’re heading to work, seeing loved ones and living their lives, it dawned on him what he could not afford to lose. Penning lyrics and music that were born from this epiphany, the result is a truly fantastic track for its lyrics and the resonance that it has on anyone who listens and thinks deeply.

‘Look Down’ is a single that shows us what’s to come on ‘Tales Are Yet to Come’, with not only a clear approach in the music, but also in the lyrics, as they come together perfectly to create a track that will have you wanting to be a rockstar with its solos and ass-kicking drums. Shem Tov manages to balance with the music like a pro, as he matches the intensity of the music and elevate it to a whole other level with his vocals and delivery.

A genuinely fantastic rock track, it’ll appeal to a wide spectrum of those who are inspired by rock music, from metal to alt-rock, this is the song for you. ‘Look Down’ is the perfect teaser for what’s to come, promising that there will be more music on the way that follows in the footsteps in terms of quality. Make sure you get to know all about Same Old Tale and their releases, or live to regret it!

Same Old Tale’s Facebook

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Same Old Tale’s YouTube

Same Old Tale’s Linktree

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