Warner Music Japan Launches Major Push Into Anime Music Through NBCUniversal Partnership
Warner Music Japan (WMJ) has partnered with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan to make a significant entry into the anime music industry. The initiative comes under the leadership of new CEO Takeshi Okada.
Man wearing dark blue suit
Key developments of the partnership include:
- Creation of a dedicated Anime Business Division
- Appointment of industry veterans Koichiro Natsume (former Aniplex head) and Hiroyasu Shinohara (ex-TMS Entertainment) as external advisors
- WMG's ADA will handle physical and digital distribution for over 9,000 NBCUniversal Japan catalog works starting in early 2024
- Warner Music Japan will manage production and promotion for new NBCUniversal Japan releases
The partnership aims to capitalize on anime's growing global popularity, with the global anime market projected to reach $50 billion by 2033, representing a 77% growth. Recent industry developments highlight this trend:
- Virgin Music Group secured a digital distribution deal with Frontier Works
- Spotify partnered with Crunchyroll and launched an anime hub
- Global anime music streams on Spotify increased 395% since 2021
CEO Okada emphasizes the opportunity to showcase Japanese music globally through anime, leveraging social media and streaming platforms to connect artists with new international audiences.
The collaboration aims to expand NBCUniversal Japan's catalog worldwide through Warner Music's global network while creating new opportunities for artists through anime-related collaborations.