Shunsuke Muramatsu of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) on Taking Japanese Artists Global: Billboard Global Power Players Interview
Categoria: Musica
Muramatsu, chairman and representative director of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), was selected for the first time on the list.
Por Billboard | 18/06/2026
Billboard’s Global Power Players list recognizes the leaders that are driving the success of the music business in countries outside the United States. Shunsuke Muramatsu, Chairman and Representative Director of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), was selected for the first time from the many leaders of the music industry around the world. Billboard JAPAN interviewed Muramatsu in recognition of his selection for the list. He spoke about how he has led the company’s employees in producing hits both inside Japan and overseas by artists such as YOASOBI, Creepy Nuts, and Kenshi Yonezu. He also discussed the challenges and potential of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, an event organized by CEIPA, which he directs as Chair of the Board. Related Billboard’s 2026 Global Power Players Revealed 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Coming to Las Vegas' Sphere Carly Pearce Signs With BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville In 2005, you became president of Sony Music Records (now Sony Music Labels). In 2019, you were appointed president of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), and then you became its chairman in 2026. You were selected for the list this year in recognition of your over two decades of producing hit artists. Even recently, artists on your label, like YOASOBI, Creepy Nuts, and Kenshi Yonezu, have been very successful, charting in Japan and overseas. Thank you. Our company doesn’t just work with music, but has a variety of functions, and I think our successes are the product of our synergy. The business we do at Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) (SMEJ) is extremely wide-ranging. We’re a record company, we manage artists, we plan and create anime and games, we organize events, we operate performance venues…We’re a comprehensive entertainment company like no other, anywhere in the world. Fundamentally, we’re working every day with artists and creators, helping each other reach new heights as we focus our efforts in creating something out of nothing. But starting things from the ground up is exceptionally difficult. Only a limited number of people are involved in that work. Taking something that has already been created and infinitely expanding its potential, though? That’s extremely important, and it’s something many of our staff are involved in. Our company covers both, and, as I keep telling our employees, it’s the repeated implementation of those processes that drives our growth. I read an interview of yours in which you said that when you were director of the publicity section, the company’s president praised you, saying that your team looked like they enjoyed their work. (https://www.rikkyo.ac.jp/closeup/alumni/2022/mknpps000001zf72.html) That’s back when I was in charge of a really tiny label. We could have been shut down at any time, but shrinking back, worrying that “we haven’t produced any hits” or “our sales are struggling,” wouldn’t get us anywhere. Instead, we focused on having fun doing our work and showing true