Photo credit: Warner Music Japan
Warner Music Japan has signed a strategic partnership with LAND. LAND will produce the music entirely in collaboration with several prominent WMG artists.
Warner Music Japan will lead the global rollout across all formats worldwide. Land and WM Japan will also jointly develop global marketing strategies and engage in digital distribution services and media promotion worldwide. According to Warner Music, the rise in popularity of Japanese culture through anime, games, artists and music has helped cement the strategic partnership.
WM Japan and LAND intend to use their combined creative and commercial power to create a new breed of “Japan-born” global hits. The partners’ first release is What Is Love, performed by Aloe Blacc, written primarily by members of End of the World and recorded in Los Angeles under the supervision of LAND’s creative director Naoki Wada. The title will be distributed digitally on June 23rd. Blacc is a Grammy Award-winning artist who has generated more than two billion streams worldwide and typifies the caliber of artists the partnership seeks to collaborate with.
“This partnership aims to create global hits built on the genius of Japanese artists, leveraging the combined creativity and global clout of LAND and Warner Music,” added Kaz Shimada, Chief Operating Officer of WM Japan. “We will put together thoughtful campaigns that amplify artists’ voices and help them connect with fans around the world with a sense of speed.”
“Japan is a cultural behemoth and the second largest music market in the world,” continues Simon Robson, President, International, Recorded Music, WMG. “Our timely partnership with LAND aims to help more great Japanese artists make an impact on the global scene as Japan’s culture continues to become more influential around the world.
The Japanese recorded music industry has been slower to adopt streaming than the rest of the world – but this market is growing fast. The industry saw a 17% increase compared to the previous year in digital sales in 2022 thanks to streaming growth.