By Tadashi Sudo

JASRAC, an association which manages music copyrights and usage fees, has presented “Howl’s Moving Castle BGM” a JASRAC Grand Prize. JASRAC awards are given every year to the top 3 most used domestic works, and the works are given gold (grand prize), silver, and bronze awards. This year, Anime “Howl’s Moving Castle” which made a big hit in its DVD sales was chosen to be the gold prize winner. Music of “Howl’s Moving Castle BGM” was done by Miyazaki Anime’s favorite Jyo Hisaishi, published from Studio GHIBLI, and produced and sold by Walt Disney Japan.

Last work an Anime music had given the gold prize was “Spritied Away” (2003) and this is the second time for Mr. Hisaishi and studio GHIBLI to receive the award. Also, “Princess Mononoke BGM” has received bronze award in 1999. Other award winning works include “Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY BGM” (2005, bronze) and “Dragon Ball BGM” (2004, silver). In addition, although it was not awarded, “Mobile Suit GUNDAM SEED DESTINY BGM” is ranked in the 10th in the top 10 domestic works this year. It was 6th last year and had also made it to the top 10.

Moreover, International award was given to “Detective Conan BGM” because it collected much copyright usage fees from abroad. “Dective Conan BGM” was placed 2nd last year and it has won the 1st this year for the first time. It has exceeded “Pocket Monster BGM” which reigned in the 1st place for the last five consecutive years. Music was done by Katsuo Oono and was published by Yomiuri TV Enterprise, TMS Entertainment, and Universal Music Publishing. “Detective Conan” is very popular especially in East Asia. Also, it is telecasted at midnight in America which helped it to get much usage fee.

Aside from this, Anime works occupied 9 out of the top 10 works, which was as usual. This reflects the situation of export of Japanese entertainment contents to foreign countries: Anime is the biggest contents to be exported compared to other contents. Major reason for this is because they were used when music/BGM is telecasted. For this reasons, BGM used in anime program for children telecasted repeatedly has a big power.

Top 10 domestic works which received high usage fee from abroad (International award related)

1. Detective Conan BGM
2. Pocket Monster BGM
3. Motto! Oja Majo Doremi BGM
4. Barbapapa Around the World
5. SONIC DRIVE
6. Tottoko HamutaroBGM
7. Bakuten Shoot Beyblade BGM
8. 200% no Jumon
9. ZATOICHI BGM
10. Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka BGM

JASRAC http://www.jasrac.or.jp/ejhp/index.htm

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