Chart- toppers: GIRLS' GENERATION (above) and BIGBAND have both hit No.1 recently on Billboard 's Top Albums chart.

whose responsibilities include all of Asia, is a manifestation of the strong desire to have says, "From our point of view, from what the physical product of one's familiar and SKINK actu- music to keep and listen to." we've actually shipped and what we've memorable ... MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT CO.,LTD. ally sold, we've had a pretty good first quarter Shoji breaks down the successes even in Japan." He adds, "For any quarter where we further. "Music video production was par- see a market growing, my reaction is ecstatic." ticularly strong in the first half of 2011, and RIAJ GM Shigeta Shoji offers a number singles bounced back as well." of reasons for the significant turnaround. These sectors are influenced by two genres 2 -1, Ogawa -machi, Kanda, "First, 2010 was a particularly bad year for that experienced a strong surge in late 2010 Chiyoda -ku, , Japan music shipments," he says. "There were and 2011. "This time period saw the return of no million -sellers that year." the Japanese `idols' -major pop stars, particu- TEL : 03- 3292 -2865 FAX : 03- 3292 -2860 However, the Japanese market has been larly AKB48 and -as powerful mar- experiencing a decline that can't just be ex- ket movers," Shoji says. "They, along with http: / /www.shinko- music.co.jp plained by a meager flow of hit albums in one [Korean pop], have invigorated the market." @shinko- music.co.jp rights year. Comparing RIAJ figures for 2009 -10 with Universal Music Japan CEO Kazuhiko 2008 -09, production volume fell 7% (to 127.6 Koike, who agrees that there are new mar- million units) and production value fell 10% ket forces in play, notes the role of the sin- NAT KUSANO YUMI KUSANO (to Y175 billion [$2.2 billion]). So the 2011 re- gle. "The strong sales so far in 2011 were CEO PRESIDENT DIRECTOR bound must be a result of other factors. informed by the performance of physi- Entertainment Japan COO of cal singles of Japanese pop idols such as marketing and distribution Kiyoshi Furu- AKB48 and K -pop acts including Girls' sawa says that the disasters may have para- Generation, Kara, Bigbang and Beast." doxically spurred sales. Indeed, AKB48's album Koko Ni Ita Koto "In terms of the music industry as a () has already sold 502,000 units, whole, physical sales in the Tohoku region, according to SoundScan Japan, since its June where most of the intense damage was, are 8 release. And Kara's single "Jet Coaster Love" showing a larger ratio of increased sales on (UMJ) has sold more than 194,000 copies the same period last year in comparison to since April 6, according to SoundScan Japan. western Japan. We had originally expected The new resilience in the physical mar- To all our friends around the world, sales in eastern Japan to decline, but num- ket is mirrored in longtime music retailers bers are proving to the contrary. Perhaps this like Tower Records Japan. Year -to -date sales Your supports truly given us courage and we cordially extend our deepest appreciation. SONGS OF HOPE JAPANESE RED CROSS OFFERS THANKS FOR BENEFIT ALBUM

Songs forJapan the all -star benefit album March 24. (Tunes then placed it on sale in rushed to market in late March in the wake 23 countries the next day. of Japan's earthquake and tsunami, has The album subsequently went on sale now surpassed sales of 346,000 units, through other digital retailers and at according to Nielsen SoundScan. All pro- physical retail, and reached No. 5 on the ceeds from the album . Open- FPM have gone to the Japa- ing with John Lennon's FUJIPACIFIC MUSIC nese Red Cross. "Imagine," the 36- 45TH ANNIVERSARY SONGS F 0 JAPAN Only 11 days after track album features a

the March 11 disaster, stellar lineup of rock, executives Sony Music pop and country acts. Entertainment, Uni- "The kind thoughts versal Music Entertain- of the people making ment, Warner Music this album and buy- at the heart of music, there is always a song... Group and EMI Music ing this album will,

agreed to work with I believe, give great iTunes on the album. encouragement to the Universal Music people affected by Group International COO Max Hole at the the earthquake and tsunami," Japanese FUJIPACIFIC MUSIC INC. time described the series of conference Red Cross president Tadateru Konoe says. calls among the major -label execs and "On behalf of the Japanese Red Cross and

3 -3 -5, Kita -Aoyama, Minato -ku, Tokyo 107 -0061, JAPAN iTunes, key artists and managers to get the people affected by this disaster, I sin- "clearances and rights and ... everything cerely thank the artists and music compa- www.fujipacific.co.jp /company/english/ www.fpm45.com/ done" for delivery of the disc to iTunes by nies for this generous support."