Japan Music Marketing - Free Resources and Downloads

Selling and Promoting Your Music in Japan
Japan Music Marketing Resources for foreign record labels, bands and artists

Other Japan Music Marketing Resources:

List of Live Houses (Venues) in Japan - Performing live is the best form of sales promotion. If you have a good marketing (travelling) budget then including a live tour in Japan is recommended. Learn more...

Recording Industry Association of Japan Website - Statistics on the Japan Music Market

Click here to make a pro quality music video just using your MP3 and some still images

Create, download and print your own QR Codes for free at QRickit.com.
QRickits are used to help bring music fans/consumers (and industry people) to your mobile web site, app or mobile shop such as iTunes or your own BigCommerce mobile shop where they can buy your music as well as follow you. Use the widget on the left or visit QRickit.com to make your own QR Codes for free to help people access your content and buy your music on their mobile phones. Click here to create your own Japanese mobile site with QR Code.

Create and manage your own online web shop and mobile shop to sell your music and merchandise around the world. BigCommerce makes it easy to sell online. Click here to try it free! Remember to make a free QR Code to use with your BigCommerce mobile shop.

Indie Music Websites (Japanese)
Below are the top online indie music communities/support networks in Japan.
You can register your band in some of these websites (if you can read/write Japanese).

www.muzie.ne.jp (this is the most popular indie site with almost 26,700 registered members)
www.indiesmusic.com
www.musictower.jp
www.audioleaf.com
www.music-trip.que.ne.jp
mnc.s19.xrea.com
www.music-i.jp

Free Downloads

Get FREE Japanese image buttons for your web page
Right-click (hold-click or CTRL-click) on the web button (image) you want to save to your computer. They say Nihongo (Japanese) in several font styles. You can use them to put in your English or other language web page to link to your Japanese web page. They all have transparent backgrounds. Click here for more Japanese images you can use.

FREE Japanese words and characters (Kanji) in Illustrator outlines and PDF
If you would like free Japanese words and characters (Kanji) to design things like websites, T-shirts, posters, images, etc. click the links below to download the files. The fonts are outlines (graphics) so they can be opened on non-Japanese computer systems. There are English explanations so you know what the characters mean. You can combine characters to make simple phrases. Characters for date (year, month, day) and major city names are included too so you can make your own designs for Japan tour t-shirts or other print/online designs. Click the link below to access image files. There are more Japanese web buttons (gif) there too.

Japanese Words/Characters and Images

*Tip: To copy graphics in a PDF file right-click (hold-click or CTRL-click) on the select tool icon (the arrow or hand) and then choose the snapshot tool (the camera icon). Just zoom your document to the size you want and select the portion of the graphics you want to copy with the snapshot tool. Once copied, you can paste it into any image editing program and modify/save it in your desired format.

Articles about The Music Market in Japan - How to Make it "Big in Japan"

1. Japanese Market Opportunity for Foreign Music - If you are in the business of selling music, do not forget Japan!
2. The Music Business in Japan - Indie Music Culture and Record Companies in Japan
3. Playing Gigs in Japan - Promoting your music at Japanese "Live Houses" and other venues
4. How Much Does It Cost? - The activities and related costs of selling and promoting your music in Japan
5. Useful Tips On Visiting and Doing Business in Japan - Info and advice for visiting and doing business in Japan

Quick Links

Get distribution in Japan

Promotion in Japan

Find a Japanese record label to release your music

Send your demo to Japanese record companies

Do a live tour in Japan

Create a Japanese web + mobile site

Links to Live Houses (Venues) in Japan

See what foreign artists are "Big in Japan"

Current Date and Time in Japan

The Indie Bible: Music Promotion and Marketing Tool