Discover local artists! Local production and consumption audition: 1st "TSUTAYA ARTIST CONFERENCE" held
2016.02.04
Press Releases
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd.
-Today, the first Best Artist Award will be announced!-
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Masuda Muneaki; hereinafter referred to as "TSUTAYA"), which operates approximately 1,466 TSUTAYA stores nationwide, held the first public final judging session for the "TSUTAYA ARTIST CONFERENCE" (hereinafter referred to as "TAC"), a local entertainment production and consumption project that supports music artists active throughout Japan, at TSUTAYA O-nest on Monday, January 25th. We are pleased to announce that after a rigorous selection process, today, the 4th, Potari has officially been selected as the 1st TAC Best Artist.
A locally produced music audition kicked off in April 2015, sponsored by TSUTAYA. The country is divided into approximately nine areas, and recommended artists from each area are selected. During the selection period, which lasted about a year, the artists and staff worked together to liven up the store, and the top artist chosen in the final selection meeting was given a powerful push at TSUTAYA stores nationwide. We will support artists at TSUTAYA stores through in-store events and display contests. This is a truly local, in-store participation audition program that connects artists with customers, customers with the community, and the community with artists. This will be the first such event.
Potari, who was selected as the best artist at the first TAC, will be receiving various support, mainly from TSUTAYA stores, including in-store events at TSUTAYA stores nationwide and strong promotion of their items.
■ A word from the 1st Best Artist: "Potari"
"We are Potari, a rock band from Aichi Prefecture. In addition to receiving the Best Artist Award, we feel that we have been given the opportunity to be known by people who don't usually come to live houses. I will continue to do my best to create music that will be a source of energy for many people! Thank you for your support. "
■General comments from the judging panel: Hiromichi Suganuma, Director of Music Life Research Institute, Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.
Unlike the typical centrally controlled auditions, this one was launched as a project where customers and store staff from all over the country would select the winners. Although this was the first time the event was being held, it was a wonderful event with a lineup of passionate and unique artists. The winner was "Pottari," but the quality of the other artists was such that we want to continue supporting them in all regions of the country. Also, because the event was a huge success in each region, we would like to continue making it a local production and consumption event that many artists and customers can participate in.
■ Final selection of artists from 9 areas nationwide: Final selection committee: 6 companies in total, including talent agencies and record companies
| region | Artist Name | profile |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hokkaido | EverZOne | Formed in Hokkaido in 2004. EverZOne is an idol group that loves Hokkaido and incorporated the characters "Ezo" into their group name in order to spread the wonders of Hokkaido to the world. With the motto of "making everyone who comes smile," they are actively working mainly in various parts of Hokkaido. |
| 2.Tohoku | Karen | Born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. He taught himself guitar when he was in sixth grade and performed live on the street and in live music venues. Indie debut in April 2015. Their debut and second singles, "Dear" and "OVER," were released nationwide under the production of Masayuki Kinoshita (locofrank). "OVER" was a power play for seven stations in the Tohoku region, including Datefm, Tohoku Broadcasting, and FM Iwate. The music video will be played on heavy rotation as the ending theme for September on IBC Iwate Broadcasting's "Midnight Shuffle." (Affiliation: Turning) |
| 3. Hokuriku | Seattle Standard Cafe' | With the theme of "Music and Smiles from Kanazawa," he has worked on commercials for the Hokuriku Shimbun and Toyama Shimbun newspapers, the theme song for the local J-League team Zweigen Kanazawa, and the promotional song for the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in Kanazawa. The band has been active in collaboration with the local community, including producing "Become the Wind - The Official Support Song for the Kanazawa Marathon" at the request of Kanazawa City in 2015. Affiliated with: Answer Entertainment) |
| 4. Northern Kanto | USAGI (Rabbit) | The pair are singer-songwriter Kazuhiro Ueda, who performs over 200 street shows a year, and sound producer/guitarist Katsuhiko Sugiyama, who has composed numerous songs for artists such as Mika Nakashima and Nogizaka46. Formed in 2013. They steadily gained a fan base through street performances, and went on a nationwide tour to venues including Akasaka BLITZ, Osaka BIG CAT, and NAGOYA CLUB QUATTRO, as well as appearing at the large-scale outdoor festival "Jonetsu Tairiku SPECIAL LIVE" in the summer of 2015. He provided the song "Kimi no Kaze ni Natte" to the soccer team Jubilo Iwata as their 2015 season song. In 2016, they were selected as the seasonal tie-up artist for the second consecutive year. Affiliation: WONDER & CLOCKS |
| 5. Tokyo and the Greater Tokyo Area | Haruka Mirai | Born in Hachioji, Tokyo. In 2015, they performed a total of 143 live shows! In 2016, they are scheduled to perform at the mega circuit event "Dera Rock Festival 2016" to be held in Nagoya in February, and their overwhelming vocal ability and full-throttle live performances are sure to increase their popularity and recognition, especially among young people who love J-rock. Major record companies are also taking notice, and he is truly a talented talent who will lead the next generation of J-Rock. (Independent) |
| 6. Tokai | Potari ★ Best Artist Award Winner | A popular girls band based in Aichi Prefecture. The band was formed and is currently active around current members VO Natsumi Suzuki and GT Eimi Nakanishi. In 2012, he won the grand prize at "TANK! the AUDITION 2012". In the same year, they performed as the opening act at the Laguna Gamagori performance of "TREASURE05X2012," one of the largest outdoor rock festivals in Aichi Prefecture. In September 2015, they released their long-awaited first full album, "Pottari," and embarked on a nationwide tour of 22 locations. The final show was a successful solo concert in Tokyo and Nagoya. They have steadily progressed and expanded their activities nationwide, including winning a prize at "RO69JACK" sponsored by Rockin' On. Affiliation: Sunday Folk Promotion |
| 7. Kansai | Pulse Factory | Formed in July 2011. Not content with just their hometown of Osaka, this Super Rock band has made a name for themselves all over the country. A style that follows the traditional path while incorporating a twist and unique essence. "An unforgettable moment is like an eternity. (Independent) |
| 8. Chugoku and Shikoku | HIROSHIMA FUSION UNITE | With a total of over 9,400,000 views on YouTube, his activities extend beyond music to include events and volunteer work. A revolutionary group that was also featured on "NAVER Matome"! (Independent) |
| 9. Kyushu | Yota Towatari | A singer-songwriter from Fukuoka Prefecture who weaves songs that unleash a sensibility that defies convention, drawing listeners into his own unique world with his one-of-a-kind voice. In 2014, he won a prize at the RO69JACK contest hosted by Rockin' On. In November of the same year, they released their first mini-album, "Prism no Kiten."He presents a new image of a singer-songwriter with an approach that incorporates a solid band sound. (Affiliated with Avex Management) |
TAC was launched as a project to discover and develop artists through the participation of store staff, with the aim of creating a lively music scene where music lovers from all over the country can connect with each other, discover new music, share it, and empathize with it.
In the music industry, where CD sales have been declining year after year, making it difficult to produce national hits, we believe that if we can unearth the many talents that lie dormant in each region of the country, produce them locally, consume them locally, and turn them into national hits, it will also lead to an expansion of new national demand for music. TSUTAYA plans to continue holding TAC once a year. Through auditions, we will support album production and artists in stores across the country, and as a project to promote music from local areas, we aim to promote local production and consumption of entertainment.
Materials related to this matter
Discover local artists! The first "TSUTAYA ARTIST CONFERENCE" audition will be held
Inquiries regarding this matter
TSUTAYA Co., Ltd.
Public Relations Department: Oshita and Noguchi
TEL: 03-6800-4764/FAX: 03-5489-2190
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