Japanese boy group JO1 became the first Japanese artist ever nominated for World Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026. Alongside global stars Ayra Starr, Jackson Wang, and Tyla, three JO1 members made a surprise appearance at the ceremony in Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. From their Jingle Ball debut to upcoming Tokyo Dome shows, JO1's global rise continues.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 3 'Golden Land Arc' has been confirmed for October 2027, announced right after the Season 2 finale. This highly anticipated arc features Macht, the strongest of the Seven Sages of Destruction. We report on Season 2's critical acclaim in Japan and overseas, and the massive fan excitement for what comes next.
RADWIMPS frontman Yojiro Noda reveals his involvement in 5 tracks on Ye's 12th studio album 'BULLY.' Meeting through a mutual friend in Tokyo in October 2024, Noda contributed arrangements and recording — a remarkable crossover between Japanese rock and global hip-hop.
ONE OK ROCK's 'Wherever you are' has charted for 228 weeks on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 — roughly 4.5 years. Originally a deep cut from their 2010 album, the ballad became Japan's most beloved wedding song after a TV commercial boosted its popularity. With 400M+ streams and 536 consecutive weeks in the streaming top 300, it's an extraordinary long-hit story. What's your favorite ONE OK ROCK song?
Vocaloid producer Rusino's 'Loop the Room (feat. Hatsune Miku)' has topped the Billboard Japan Songs chart in the US while entering the top 10 in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Fueled by a viral TikTok looping trend, the track proves Hatsune Miku's global relevance in 2026 and highlights how deeply Vocaloid culture has penetrated international audiences.
Storm Labels, the music arm of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, opened its first official online store on April 1, 2026, with international shipping and support for 5 languages. Over 700 titles from Arashi, SUPER EIGHT, Hey! Say! JUMP and others are available, a shift for overseas fans who previously relied on proxy services.
In 2026, Fujii Kaze and Creepy Nuts play Coachella, YOASOBI and Ado join Lollapalooza, and the first-ever Zipangu festival in LA showcases Ado, HANA, CHANMINA, and 10-FEET. A deep dive into how Japanese music is making its biggest mark yet on the American festival scene.
Japan-born global group XG will perform at 88rising's Head in the Clouds 2026 festival on August 8 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on a bill headlined by KATSEYE. The lineup includes Rich Brian, UMI, and more. We cover ticket details, 88rising's role in elevating Asian artists, and the festival's first-ever Japan edition at Makuhari Messe.
KAT-TUN surprise-released all 312 songs on streaming platforms on their 20th debut anniversary, March 22, 2026. From 'Real Face' to their final album 'Fantasia,' every single and album is now available worldwide — a major milestone in the former Johnny's (STARTO) streaming revolution.
16-time Grammy winner Bruno Mars has signed a global music publishing partnership with Avex Music Group. After selling out seven consecutive Tokyo Dome shows and breaking streaming records in Japan, Mars will move his publishing administration to the Tokyo- and LA-based company once his BMG/Warner Chappell deal expires. With 'The Romantic' debuting at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and 2.1 million Romantic Tour tickets sold in a single day, here's the full story.
Ado debuted her new song 'Ai Ai A' on YouTube's THE FIRST TAKE on March 16, 2026, with a simultaneous surprise digital release. Written by renowned Vocaloid producer Kikuo, the chaotic carnival-like track features backup vocals from Phantom Siita, the idol group Ado herself produces. With a world tour of 500,000+ fans and a sold-out stadium show ahead, Ado continues her global dominance.
BABYMETAL's historic sold-out show at LA's Intuit Dome — the first solo performance by a Japanese artist at the venue — is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on June 17, 2026. Featuring 15 tracks including surprise guest Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox and a spectacular center-stage production. Pre-order details and THE ONE exclusive edition info included.
Music Natalie published an in-depth feature on Yorushika's latest work 'Second Person.' Composer n-buna discusses the creative vision behind a 32-envelope epistolary novel paired with a 22-track digital album, while vocalist suis shares her thoughts via a mail interview. With 4.8 million monthly Spotify listeners worldwide, discover why this literary-musical fusion is captivating fans across the globe.
STARGLOW — RUI, TAIKI, KANON, GOICHI, and ADAM — has debuted as BMSG's third boy group following BE:FIRST and MAZZEL. Born from SKY-HI's audition project THE LAST PIECE, their pre-debut single hit #7 on Billboard Japan Hot 100. With NME naming them one of 2026's Essential Emerging Artists and a 17-city tour ahead, STARGLOW is poised for global impact.
Kim Mijon, the former HYBE casting director who helped discover BTS and TXT, has launched VIBY — an all-Japanese boys group trained in Korea's K-pop system. Their pre-debut with a Crystal Kay cover marks a new model for global artist development.
Before selling out 33 cities worldwide and drawing over 500,000 fans, Ado was a nervous 17-year-old stepping into a recording studio for the first time. Her debut-era cover of EGO-WRAPPIN's jazz classic 'Kuchibashi ni Cherry' has just been released on YouTube — and it reveals the extraordinary talent that was already there before the world knew her name.
SANTOS BRAVOS, HYBE's first Latin boy group, discussed their KAWASAKI remix with Japan-based &TEAM. Explore HYBE's multi-home strategy connecting K-pop, J-pop, and Latin pop across Korea, Japan, the US, and Latin America.
Tokyo rock trio Mrs. GREEN APPLE made history by debuting at No. 13 on the IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025 — becoming the first Japanese act ever to break into the top 15. Their 10th-anniversary best album "10" also landed at No. 10 on the Global Album Chart, with over 1 million physical copies sold. Find out who they are and why the world is listening.
Number_i's "GOD_i" has crossed 100 million cumulative streams on Billboard JAPAN — their fourth song to hit this milestone. Released digitally in January 2025 and hitting No. 1 on debut, the track by member-producer Yuta Kishi now proves it has lasting power. What does this mean for a group that started with no major label and no traditional industry support?
Ado drops her first-ever live-action music video, revealing her face for the first time — and Japan can't stop talking about it. Here's everything international fans need to know about her autobiographical novel "Vivarium," the Billboard JAPAN interview, and what it all means for the anonymous singer who conquered 33 cities worldwide.