MAJ2026 "Karaoke Special Award" Interim Results Announcement
XING Inc. and DAIICHIKOSHO CO., LTD. have announced the interim results for the "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND" Special Karaoke Award of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026." M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!" in the J-Pop category and Kumi Iwamoto's "Sadamebune" in the Enka/Kayokyoku category ranked high, and a karaoke singing campaign is currently underway.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 12:09 (37 min after Collected)
XING Inc. and DAIICHIKOSHO CO., LTD. (hereinafter, "the two companies") are jointly presenting the Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND" in the "Co-creation Category" of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026" (hereinafter, "MAJ2026").
We are pleased to announce the interim results for the [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category], based on karaoke rankings from March 19 to April 20, 2026.
■ J-Pop Category
■ Enka/Kayokyoku Category
The interim results showed a rapidly changing situation. In the [J-Pop Category], M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!" rose to first place from its entry position. Despite being outside the top 10 in both companies' year-end 2025 song rankings, it made a rapid ascent to the top.
In the [Enka/Kayokyoku Category], Kumi Iwamoto's new song "Sadamebune" (released August 2025), which showed strength with "Taki no Koiuta" in the same award last year, is rapidly climbing. It is now closing in on Kaori Mizumori's "Osaka Koishizuku," which is currently leading.
The "Karaoke of the Year" selected 30 songs as entries for each category from songs released in 2025. The Karaoke Special Award will be determined by the number of times karaoke users actually sang the songs on DAM and JOYSOUND.
In conjunction with this, the two companies are jointly conducting a singing campaign. Those who sing an entry song and apply will be entered into a lottery to win viewing tickets for MAJ2026. We aim to promote singing and enhance participant satisfaction.
The essence of this award is that the passion of fans singing their favorite songs is directly reflected. With increased karaoke usage during the Golden Week holidays, only one month remains in the selection period for the Karaoke Special Award. Attention is focused on what kind of ranking changes will occur in the future.
The two companies will continue to promote MAJ2026 together with music fans for the further development of Japanese music culture.
■ MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN is the largest international music award in Japan, operated by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), a general incorporated association established by the five major organizations of the domestic music industry* beyond their boundaries. In addition to six main categories such as "Best Song Award" and "Best Artist Award," it has more than 70 categories for each genre and theme, recognizing diverse musical works.
* Japan Record Association, Japan Music Business Association, Japan Music Producers Federation, Japan Music Publishers Association, Concert Promoters Association
■ Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"
In the "Co-creation Category," a special division that celebrates rich music culture through collaboration with various music-related companies and organizations, the two companies jointly develop the Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year" as prize partners.
They will select the definitive karaoke songs for each of the two categories: [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category].
Last year, in its first iteration, Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "Lilac" won in the [J-Pop Category], and Yoshimi Tendo's "Showa Katagi" won in the [Enka/Kayokyoku Category].
[J-Pop Category] Targets the most sung J-Pop songs in karaoke.
[Enka/Kayokyoku Category] Targets the most sung Enka/Kayokyoku songs in karaoke.
Selection Process: ◇ Entry Songs
Aggregation Period: December 1, 2025 (Mon) - January 31, 2026 (Sat)
Eligible Songs: Songs released between January 1, 2025 (Wed) - December 31, 2025 (Wed)
30 top songs from each category are selected by aggregating singing counts on DAM and JOYSOUND.
◇ Karaoke Special Award
Aggregation Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 31, 2026 (Sun)
Awards the most sung song among the entry songs in each category on DAM and JOYSOUND.
■ Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND Singing Campaign Overview
Campaign Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 20, 2026 (Wed)
Participating Stores: DAM and JOYSOUND equipped stores nationwide
Prizes: [Prize A] MAJ2026 1-day viewing tickets (pair) Invitation to Premier Ceremony + Grand Ceremony
10 pairs, 20 people (Total 20 pairs / 40 people from both companies)
[Prize B] MAJ2026 Grand Ceremony viewing tickets (pair) 15 pairs, 30 people
(Total 30 pairs / 60 people from both companies)
*Cam
We are pleased to announce the interim results for the [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category], based on karaoke rankings from March 19 to April 20, 2026.
■ J-Pop Category
■ Enka/Kayokyoku Category
The interim results showed a rapidly changing situation. In the [J-Pop Category], M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!" rose to first place from its entry position. Despite being outside the top 10 in both companies' year-end 2025 song rankings, it made a rapid ascent to the top.
In the [Enka/Kayokyoku Category], Kumi Iwamoto's new song "Sadamebune" (released August 2025), which showed strength with "Taki no Koiuta" in the same award last year, is rapidly climbing. It is now closing in on Kaori Mizumori's "Osaka Koishizuku," which is currently leading.
The "Karaoke of the Year" selected 30 songs as entries for each category from songs released in 2025. The Karaoke Special Award will be determined by the number of times karaoke users actually sang the songs on DAM and JOYSOUND.
In conjunction with this, the two companies are jointly conducting a singing campaign. Those who sing an entry song and apply will be entered into a lottery to win viewing tickets for MAJ2026. We aim to promote singing and enhance participant satisfaction.
The essence of this award is that the passion of fans singing their favorite songs is directly reflected. With increased karaoke usage during the Golden Week holidays, only one month remains in the selection period for the Karaoke Special Award. Attention is focused on what kind of ranking changes will occur in the future.
The two companies will continue to promote MAJ2026 together with music fans for the further development of Japanese music culture.
■ MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN is the largest international music award in Japan, operated by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), a general incorporated association established by the five major organizations of the domestic music industry* beyond their boundaries. In addition to six main categories such as "Best Song Award" and "Best Artist Award," it has more than 70 categories for each genre and theme, recognizing diverse musical works.
* Japan Record Association, Japan Music Business Association, Japan Music Producers Federation, Japan Music Publishers Association, Concert Promoters Association
■ Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"
In the "Co-creation Category," a special division that celebrates rich music culture through collaboration with various music-related companies and organizations, the two companies jointly develop the Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year" as prize partners.
They will select the definitive karaoke songs for each of the two categories: [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category].
Last year, in its first iteration, Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "Lilac" won in the [J-Pop Category], and Yoshimi Tendo's "Showa Katagi" won in the [Enka/Kayokyoku Category].
[J-Pop Category] Targets the most sung J-Pop songs in karaoke.
[Enka/Kayokyoku Category] Targets the most sung Enka/Kayokyoku songs in karaoke.
Selection Process: ◇ Entry Songs
Aggregation Period: December 1, 2025 (Mon) - January 31, 2026 (Sat)
Eligible Songs: Songs released between January 1, 2025 (Wed) - December 31, 2025 (Wed)
30 top songs from each category are selected by aggregating singing counts on DAM and JOYSOUND.
◇ Karaoke Special Award
Aggregation Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 31, 2026 (Sun)
Awards the most sung song among the entry songs in each category on DAM and JOYSOUND.
■ Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND Singing Campaign Overview
Campaign Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 20, 2026 (Wed)
Participating Stores: DAM and JOYSOUND equipped stores nationwide
Prizes: [Prize A] MAJ2026 1-day viewing tickets (pair) Invitation to Premier Ceremony + Grand Ceremony
10 pairs, 20 people (Total 20 pairs / 40 people from both companies)
[Prize B] MAJ2026 Grand Ceremony viewing tickets (pair) 15 pairs, 30 people
(Total 30 pairs / 60 people from both companies)
*Cam