Warner Music Japan Makes Major Move Into Anime Music Through NBCUniversal Partnership
Warner Music Japan is making a significant move into anime music through a new partnership with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan. The initiative includes several key developments:
Man wearing dark blue suit
Key Components of the Partnership:
- 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
- Distribution rights for over 9,000 NBCUniversal Japan catalog works through Warner's ADA platform
- Warner Music Japan will handle production and promotion of new NBCUniversal Japan releases
Market Context:
- Global anime market projected to grow 77% to $50 billion by 2033
- Spotify reports 395% increase in anime music streams since 2021
- Growing competition in the space, with Universal Music's Virgin Music Group partnering with Frontier Works
CEO Takeshi Okada emphasizes this partnership's potential to connect Japanese music with global audiences through anime, leveraging Warner Music's international network while creating new opportunities for artists through anime collaborations.
The move follows similar industry trends, as major music companies increasingly recognize anime's growing global influence and commercial potential in the music streaming landscape.
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