Exploring the Global Impact of Japanese Game Music with NexTone’s Game Music Academy

As the digital music landscape evolves, NexTone, a prominent figure in music distribution, has embarked on an ambitious project known as the Game Music Academy. This initiative is designed to globalize the appeal of Japanese game music, leveraging the company’s deep roots in metadata management and copyright strategies.

An Overview of NexTone’s Music Distribution Strategy

Tomofumi Tani, along with his colleagues Kai Hasebe and Yuuho Akimoto of NexTone’s Distribution & Marketing Division, alongside U.K. artist Submerse, have shared their insights on the evolution and global potential of Japanese game music. NexTone has been instrumental in delivering music from record labels and game companies to various digital platforms, while integrating effective promotion and marketing strategies.

Since its inception, NexTone has nurtured a close relationship with game companies, recognizing the potent influence of game music. Their realization of its global potential was highlighted by the international traction of music from Persona 3 Reload, spotlighting the genre on global stages such as MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025.

The Vision Behind Game Music Academy

The creation of Game Music Academy was driven by an understanding of music’s historical influence and the unified impact seen in phenomena like the K-pop movement. NexTone envisions creating a similar collective identity for Japanese game music, aiming to present it as a formidable genre in the global music industry.

Global Market Insights and Strategic Metadata Management

With insights into the expansive $912 billion global content market, NexTone is focusing on how Japanese content can compete and thrive internationally, particularly in the gaming sector which dominates Japan’s content exports. The strategy extends to meticulous metadata management, where Hasebe and Akimoto organize music under a consolidated artist name to streamline user experience and enhance content visibility across digital platforms.

This approach not only simplifies user access but also enhances analytical capabilities, allowing NexTone to tailor their offerings to meet diverse platform requirements and user expectations.

International Perception and Future Prospects

Submerse, reflecting on the international appeal of Japanese game music, appreciates the unique blend of Western influences with a distinct Japanese essence, particularly in the music from the 1990s and its evolution in today’s indie game scene. This international perspective underscores the potential for Japanese game music to continue evolving and resonating with global audiences.

The team’s collective effort at NexTone’s Game Music Academy is set to redefine how Japanese game music is perceived and enjoyed around the world, promising exciting developments for artists and audiences alike.