International Musician's approach to Japan

[ResearchKnowledge]

Hello,

2 Quick questions here:

1.) For an artist who is internationally known, do you think it'd benefit his success in Japan if he knew how to speak Japanese. For example, let's say Kanye West (or Justin Timberlake, or any artist established or new) all of a sudden revealed that he can rap/sing in Japanese. Would that get him more fans in Japan, or would that cost him some fans because the reason he was liked in the first place was because he's American, and Japanese really like cool foreign things? Would his implementation of Japanese in his musical career cost him fans because he's no longer a cool representative of Americanism? What do you think?


2.)Would an artist's marketing plan be different in Japan as it would be as opposed to his marketing plan in his native country? For example, an America they might play up his underdog status because people like the Underdog story. In Latin America they might emphasize his faith in God, as Latin America is very catholic. What would be the marketing angle in Japan? His kawaii-ness? And, if he's ugly as hell, than his kakoii-ness? What do you think?


Thanks, I appreciate it.

[IkemenTommy]

I don't know how big you will do in Japan, and I suppose on based on the fact that you are wanting to start here, you will not get pretty far. John Mayer, who speaks some Japanese, had minor success in Japan. I guess speaking it and singing it in your lyrics can be two different things. I can throw in Utada Hikaru as another example of English/Japanese speaking singer doing well in Japan but that is a bad one as she is somewhat Japanese.

Now, if you really want to make it big in Japan, be sure to check out this post about scoring a 7 million dollar music contract. The OP can probably give you some few tips. Whatever happened to that guy anyway.. probably got too big and famous to not hang out here anymore.

[Coligny]

Mireille Mathieu Wuz "big in Japan"(tm) But the Japanese though she was famous in France too (kinda the french version of Celine Dion, between putting a bullet in your head or listening to her i'd take the bullet).

But nowadays... seems like anybody famous go to japan to make quick bucks while trying to hide the local "performances". So I don't think having "wuz famous in japan" will do any good to your resume...

I'd say that knowing few word for interviews will be good to show a picture of ideal son-in-law to some obaachans. But as far as singing in japanese... They already have more than enough inept clowns lining up to do the job.

Your question #2 is kinda strange. You are not creating a new career in Japan, you are making a japanese spec of someone already with a career. Usually to sell here you just have to write "really famous were he lives" and everybody buys it... no ?

[DrP]

My advice -

1) Get famous OUTSIDE of Japan before even considering to come here. Breaking into the Japanese music (anti) value chain is tedious, nasty and just plain impossible for most artists.

2) Language doesnt matter at all. In fact, it may HURT you if you try to be 'too Japanese'.

3) Niches count. If your music fits into a very narrowly defined niche, and you are at the top of that pecking order, you stand to already have at least 200 die hard fans in Japan. Prey on them. Good example is Hazel Adkins, Spacemen 3, BOB LOG III , etc.

Marketing in Japan is completely different. Music is a commodity from end-to-end. The artist role is simply part of the product, NOT THE PRODUCT , as it generally is elsewhere. Here, artists get a meager salary, no royalty rights, or rarely any royalty rights. So, artists don't market themselves - the labels market the product.

On the indie scene, more and more artists follow the similar paths of 'pay-for-play' , self immolation, busking and whatever to hopefully get a 'deal'. There are very few 'deals' unless you are already there.

Like music, however, anywhere - if its GOOD, people will listen. If its SHIT, they wont. Thanks to YT, MySpace, Soundcloud, etc etc - you can put your music (shit or otherwise) in front of alot of people. If its good - you might just get fans. If you are targetting Japanese fans, then get one of them - you'll surely have at least one - like Mel of Flight of the Conchords - to tout for you as an uber fan.

[ResearchKnowledge]

Thanks for this. I'm a little embarrassed to have this on the front page, and don't feel a new member deserves that, but....ah well, thanks for the nice welcome.

I'm sorry for any confusion in the question. Ideally, I wouldn't try to start in Japan, I would already be relatively known in the U.S., and then see what angle of my "personality/character/celebrity" I'd be able to play up or accentuate in order to have max success in Japan.

I think DrP helped in saying that "being too Japanese" would not be a good thing. I guess its just like potential girlfriends who don't want their boyfriend to be too Japanese because it takes away from my outsider uniqueness/appeal.



I'm still curious though, if an artist like Kanye were to suddenly reveal he can speak Japanese would it help his sales in Japan, or hurt it? It might not help a new emerging artist, but if someone so well known and "loved" like Kanye were to do this, would it benefit them?

Also, even if I did speak Japanese pretty fluently, would I be better off acting like a clueless gaijin fool if I'm ever asked to be a guest on a variety show type of thing? Would that make me more likeable to the public? If you were in that position, would you play the fool, or would you have too much self-respect and just speak as much as you've learned?

[Samurai_Jerk]

A clueless gaijin fool who speaks Japanese is your best bet for reaching celebrity status here.

Anyway, your questions seems a bit ridiculous. You're putting the cart WAAAAAAAAAAY before the horse.

[DrP]

I second that - Clueless Gaijin Fool is best bet. Dont want to seem too erudite, informed or otherwise intelligent. Look what plays on JTV and you'll have your best guide. Running around naked in the park also helps. As well the ultimate chart topping effect - record a nameless piece of shit album then commit suicide or die under mysterious circumstances.

Lastly - impersonate a famous foreign artist and sell <your> publishing catalog to 3rd rate yaks in Kansai.

[ResearchKnowledge]

Anyway, your questions seems a bit ridiculous. You're putting the cart WAAAAAAAAAAY before the horse.

True, but time goes by fast, and you never know when things start to pick up, especially if you like to be hands on, like I do myself.

It's interesting how an earlier post says that Japanese artists don't receive royalties or have much control over what they're doing. I can see that by my limited knowledge of Japanese entertainment. If the "machine" is behind all of your movements than you are interchangeable. You have to gain as much knowledge as you can. It doesn't have to reflect in your lyrics or interviews, but you need to know how to play the game, so that the game doesn't play you.

(All things hypothetical considered) I can play the dummy role if need be, but I don't want to be considered a "fake" later on when a taped conversation of me using great Japanese leaks on the internet.

[Taro Toporific]

(All things hypothetical considered) I can play the dummy role if need be, but I don't want to be considered a "fake" later on when a taped conversation of me using great Japanese leaks on the internet.

That's never a problem (Japanese folks are hip to the baka-gaijin sham just like professional wrestling).

Basically, you "could" go ether way.

• Marty Whathisface, a former bass player of some-sort-of-crappy 80's metal/hair band, does a great job on NHK public TV programs acting as a judge/teacher for Japanese amateur music contests using his excellent Japanese speaking abilities and fantastic guitar licks.
• A Canadian engrish teacher who spoke less-than-zero Japanese, formed the "Howling Luichi Band," and he went on for 15 lucrative years in the evil Japanese pay-to-play systembefore returning of Canada with a 6-figure recording contract to play in the Real World.

Either way, your music will be MUCH more important than your Japanese abilities---Having great music abilities ought to be your main concern.

[ResearchKnowledge]

Thanks for all of that. Quality of music SHOULD be the most important thing, but everyone knows that there is a system, and when one is starting at the most they can hope for is getting into the mix without losing all of their soul.

Taro,

Have you done or worked with any musicians in Japan?

[Greji]

[Taro Toporific]

[ResearchKnowledge]

Quick question about promotion in Japan. When I was in Tokyo I remember these big trucks that would ride by blasting the latest pop hit as the album was set to be released. Does this method of promotion work, or is it more of a "get your attention by annoying you" tactic? Are there any other notable differences between promotion in the East and the West?

[Doctor Stop]

Does this method of promotion work, or is it more of a "get your attention by annoying you" tactic?

If you want to annoy people, your first step should be going after a $7,000,000 recording contract.