MAJ2026 "Karaoke Special Award" Interim Results Announcement: [J-Pop Category] 1st Place: M!LK "Suki Sugite Metsu!" [Enka/Kayokyoku Category] 1st Place: Kaori Mizumori "Osaka Koishizuku" - Final Stage Begins! Rankings May Change Significantly Depending on Singing Counts
USEN & U-NEXT GROUP's XING Inc. and Daiichikosho Co., Ltd. announced the interim results of the "Karaoke Special Award" for "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026." M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!" is currently first in the J-Pop category, and Kaori Mizumori's "Osaka Koishizuku" leads the Enka/Kayokyoku category, with a singing campaign also underway. Rankings may fluctuate significantly in the coming month, drawing attention from music fans.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 14:28 (2h 56m after Collected)
USEN & U-NEXT GROUP's XING Inc. and Daiichikosho Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the two companies") will jointly present the Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND" in the "Co-creation Category" of "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 (hereinafter referred to as MAJ2026).
This time, based on karaoke rankings from March 19 to April 20, 2026, the interim results for the [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category] are announced.
■ Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"
J-Pop Category Interim Results
■ Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"
Enka/Kayokyoku Category Interim Results
The interim announcement revealed a rapidly changing situation. In the [J-Pop Category], M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!" rose from its initial entry position to take first place. Despite both companies' respective 2025 song rankings announced at the end of last year showing this song outside the top 10, it made a remarkable leap to the top.
In the [Enka/Kayokyoku Category], Kimiko 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 currently gaining momentum, closing in on Kaori Mizumori's "Osaka Koishizuku," which leads the category.
The "Karaoke of the Year" selected 30 songs as entry songs for each category from those released in 2025. The Karaoke Special Award will be decided by the actual number of times karaoke users sang the songs on DAM and JOYSOUND.
In conjunction with this, the two companies are conducting a joint singing campaign. Those who sing an entry song and apply will be entered into a lottery to win viewing tickets for MAJ2026. The aim is to promote singing and enhance participant satisfaction.
The true appeal of this award is that the singing of favorite songs by highly passionate fans is directly reflected. With karaoke usage increasing 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 fluctuations will occur in the future.
The two companies will continue to energize MAJ2026 with music fans for the further development of Japan's music culture.
■ MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN is Japan's largest international music award, operated by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), a general incorporated association established by the five major organizations in the domestic music industry* beyond their boundaries. In addition to six main categories such as "Best Song Award" and "Best Artist Award", it establishes over 70 categories by genre and theme to recognize diverse musical works.
*Japan Record Association, Japan Association of Music Enterprises, 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 category 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.
The [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category] will select the definitive karaoke songs for each.
Last year, the first time this award was held, 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)
The number of times songs were sung on DAM and JOYSOUND is aggregated, and the top 30 songs are selected for each category.
◇ Karaoke Special Award
Aggregation Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 31, 2026 (Sun)
The most sung songs on DAM and JOYSOUND are awarded from among the entry songs in each category.
■ Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND Singing Campaign Overview
Implementation Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 20, 2026 (Wed)
Participating Stores: DAM and JOYSOUND equipped stores nationwide
Prizes
This time, based on karaoke rankings from March 19 to April 20, 2026, the interim results for the [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category] are announced.
■ Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"
J-Pop Category Interim Results
■ Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"
Enka/Kayokyoku Category Interim Results
The interim announcement revealed a rapidly changing situation. In the [J-Pop Category], M!LK's "Suki Sugite Metsu!" rose from its initial entry position to take first place. Despite both companies' respective 2025 song rankings announced at the end of last year showing this song outside the top 10, it made a remarkable leap to the top.
In the [Enka/Kayokyoku Category], Kimiko 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 currently gaining momentum, closing in on Kaori Mizumori's "Osaka Koishizuku," which leads the category.
The "Karaoke of the Year" selected 30 songs as entry songs for each category from those released in 2025. The Karaoke Special Award will be decided by the actual number of times karaoke users sang the songs on DAM and JOYSOUND.
In conjunction with this, the two companies are conducting a joint singing campaign. Those who sing an entry song and apply will be entered into a lottery to win viewing tickets for MAJ2026. The aim is to promote singing and enhance participant satisfaction.
The true appeal of this award is that the singing of favorite songs by highly passionate fans is directly reflected. With karaoke usage increasing 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 fluctuations will occur in the future.
The two companies will continue to energize MAJ2026 with music fans for the further development of Japan's music culture.
■ MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN is Japan's largest international music award, operated by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), a general incorporated association established by the five major organizations in the domestic music industry* beyond their boundaries. In addition to six main categories such as "Best Song Award" and "Best Artist Award", it establishes over 70 categories by genre and theme to recognize diverse musical works.
*Japan Record Association, Japan Association of Music Enterprises, 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 category 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.
The [J-Pop Category] and [Enka/Kayokyoku Category] will select the definitive karaoke songs for each.
Last year, the first time this award was held, 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)
The number of times songs were sung on DAM and JOYSOUND is aggregated, and the top 30 songs are selected for each category.
◇ Karaoke Special Award
Aggregation Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 31, 2026 (Sun)
The most sung songs on DAM and JOYSOUND are awarded from among the entry songs in each category.
■ Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND Singing Campaign Overview
Implementation Period: March 19, 2026 (Thu) - May 20, 2026 (Wed)
Participating Stores: DAM and JOYSOUND equipped stores nationwide
Prizes