Elite 10 Groups Selected from 404 Works Advance to the Final Stage! Kyoto University of the Arts Announces Nominations for "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Student Creator Encouragement Award
Kyoto University of the Arts, acting as a silver partner for "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026," has announced the 10 nominated works and creators for the "Student Creator Encouragement Award 'STUDENT MUSIC CREATORS CHALLENGE'". Originally planned for 5 groups, the nominations were expanded due to the high quality of entries, with the grand prize winner to be revealed at the Premiere Ceremony on June 13.
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Kyoto University of the Arts (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City; President: Taku Sato) announced the nominated works and creators for the "Student Creator Encouragement Award 'STUDENT MUSIC CREATORS CHALLENGE' in association with Kyoto University of the Arts," which is held as part of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026," one of the largest international music awards in Japan, for which the university serves as a silver partner.
This award was newly established within "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" as a category that shines a spotlight on student creators.
Music production is possible even if you can't play an instrument or read sheet music.
This award was founded with the support of the university, with the aim of spreading the richness and joy of creative activities, "making" music, not just "listening" to it, to as many people as possible.
The creator of the Grand Prize-winning work will be announced at the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Premiere Ceremony.
Songs distributed through TuneCore were entered in this category, with 404 works ultimately being eligible.
For these works, based on the application guidelines, selections were made by the MAJ Executive Committee, Kyoto University of the Arts (Department of Cultural Content Creation, Faculty of Art, Correspondence Education Division, Music Course), TuneCore Japan, and others, and 10 nominated works and their creators were decided.
Initially, the nominations for this award were set at 5 works and 5 creators. However, due to the large number of excellent works received, the selection process resulted in an expansion of the nomination slots to 10 works and 10 creators, in order to more widely celebrate their creativity and potential.
The nominated works and creators are as follows:
Song Title
Creator Name
anna's cradle
brooks
Crush
kohamo
Fight.
HARUTA
ITADAKIMASU (feat. KVGGLV)
OTAKE
Vague
BLOOD BOY
Wanna
NaUTS
哀悩 (Ainō)
mM7th
ガランの心 (Garan no Kokoro)
ゼポナイカ (Zeponaika)
現代風刺歌 (Gendai Fūshika)
岬小次郎 (Misaki Kojiro)
羊水 (Yōsui)
安見ゆうひ (Ami Yūhi)
The nominated works can currently be heard on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vlEjNDGl6Kp6IyBf9YCeE?si=93d1729a074f46c3&pt=db6405bbcdeca243a431a03a71c6b726
Going forward, the winner of the "Student Creator Encouragement Award" will be decided based on the results of the final voting by voting members, and will be announced at the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Premiere Ceremony to be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
The winner will receive 150,000 yen worth of tuition for Kyoto University of the Arts Public Lecture "Geijutsu Gakusha" as a supplementary prize.
## "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Overview
- Date and Time: Saturday, June 13, 2026
- *Holding Week: Friday, June 5, 2026 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
- Venue: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO and others
- Cooperation: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) (planned)
- Sponsorship: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, The Japan Foundation
- Official Website: https://www.musicawardsjapan.com/
## ■About Kyoto University of the Arts, Correspondence Education Division, "Music Course"
Even if you can't play an instrument or read sheet music, you can start making music. Envisioning the future of music, let's create your own unique sound. With the advancement of technology, we are in an era where anyone can freely express music. Therefore, we aim to acquire "musical power" (the ability to connect with society through music).
You will learn about music by repeatedly "creating" with DTM*, experience the history of music, and practically acquire music production techniques and creativity from scratch. Furthermore, you will learn not only to create music but also how to utilize music in society from various perspectives.
*DTM (Desktop Music) refers to the method of producing music using a personal computer.
URL: https://t-lp.kyoto-art.ac.jp/music
## ■About Kyoto University of the Arts
Silver Partner of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026."
With both full-time and correspondence courses, it is one of Japan's largest art universities, with over 23,000 students of various ages from Japan and abroad. With the philosophy of fostering the necessary skills for society through art, it teaches art.
This award was newly established within "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" as a category that shines a spotlight on student creators.
Music production is possible even if you can't play an instrument or read sheet music.
This award was founded with the support of the university, with the aim of spreading the richness and joy of creative activities, "making" music, not just "listening" to it, to as many people as possible.
The creator of the Grand Prize-winning work will be announced at the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Premiere Ceremony.
Songs distributed through TuneCore were entered in this category, with 404 works ultimately being eligible.
For these works, based on the application guidelines, selections were made by the MAJ Executive Committee, Kyoto University of the Arts (Department of Cultural Content Creation, Faculty of Art, Correspondence Education Division, Music Course), TuneCore Japan, and others, and 10 nominated works and their creators were decided.
Initially, the nominations for this award were set at 5 works and 5 creators. However, due to the large number of excellent works received, the selection process resulted in an expansion of the nomination slots to 10 works and 10 creators, in order to more widely celebrate their creativity and potential.
The nominated works and creators are as follows:
Song Title
Creator Name
anna's cradle
brooks
Crush
kohamo
Fight.
HARUTA
ITADAKIMASU (feat. KVGGLV)
OTAKE
Vague
BLOOD BOY
Wanna
NaUTS
哀悩 (Ainō)
mM7th
ガランの心 (Garan no Kokoro)
ゼポナイカ (Zeponaika)
現代風刺歌 (Gendai Fūshika)
岬小次郎 (Misaki Kojiro)
羊水 (Yōsui)
安見ゆうひ (Ami Yūhi)
The nominated works can currently be heard on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5vlEjNDGl6Kp6IyBf9YCeE?si=93d1729a074f46c3&pt=db6405bbcdeca243a431a03a71c6b726
Going forward, the winner of the "Student Creator Encouragement Award" will be decided based on the results of the final voting by voting members, and will be announced at the "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Premiere Ceremony to be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
The winner will receive 150,000 yen worth of tuition for Kyoto University of the Arts Public Lecture "Geijutsu Gakusha" as a supplementary prize.
## "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" Overview
- Date and Time: Saturday, June 13, 2026
- *Holding Week: Friday, June 5, 2026 – Saturday, June 13, 2026
- Venue: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO and others
- Cooperation: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) (planned)
- Sponsorship: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, The Japan Foundation
- Official Website: https://www.musicawardsjapan.com/
## ■About Kyoto University of the Arts, Correspondence Education Division, "Music Course"
Even if you can't play an instrument or read sheet music, you can start making music. Envisioning the future of music, let's create your own unique sound. With the advancement of technology, we are in an era where anyone can freely express music. Therefore, we aim to acquire "musical power" (the ability to connect with society through music).
You will learn about music by repeatedly "creating" with DTM*, experience the history of music, and practically acquire music production techniques and creativity from scratch. Furthermore, you will learn not only to create music but also how to utilize music in society from various perspectives.
*DTM (Desktop Music) refers to the method of producing music using a personal computer.
URL: https://t-lp.kyoto-art.ac.jp/music
## ■About Kyoto University of the Arts
Silver Partner of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026."
With both full-time and correspondence courses, it is one of Japan's largest art universities, with over 23,000 students of various ages from Japan and abroad. With the philosophy of fostering the necessary skills for society through art, it teaches art.