The winners of the TOKYO ALTER MUSIC AWARD have been revealed.
Launched by TOKYO ALTER MUSIC in 2024, this award is designed to promote and support alternative music in Japan, assist musicians, revitalize the alternative music scene, and encourage global activities for artists originating from Asia. The award targets musicians involved in alternative activities primarily within Japan, with a selection committee comprised of Jun Hayashi and Takazumi Hosaka from Spincoaster, Yoshitaka Tsushima from origami PRODUCTIONS, Yutaka Takunami from Namy& Inc., and Isamu Matsushima from arne.
The “Best Alter Artists,” which honors the “most active alternative artists of 2024,” includes Lamp, Satoko Shibata, and Hakushi Hasegawa. Lamp achieved significant recognition by selling out all dates of their first North American tour just days after ticket sales began. Satoko Shibata made her presence felt with the release of albums like Your Favorite Things and by engaging in guest performances, songwriting, and writing. Hakushi Hasegawa released their second album, Maho Gakko, in July under the LA label Brainfeeder and is currently on their inaugural tour, HAKUSHI HASEGAWA First Tour 2024: Maho Gakku.
The “Best Alter Asian Artists,” recognizing the “most active Asian artists of 2024,” includes three winners: Taiwan-based indie artist Whyte ?te, Bangkok-based band KIKI, and Philippines-based musician ena mori.
Additionally, the “Best Breakthrough Artists,” recognizing “emerging artists gaining attention in 2024,” includes the three-member band maya ongaku, the Okinawa-based trio HOME, genre-defying musician Kitamura Fuki, the new-generation future soul band luv from the Kansai region, and R&B singer reina. The recipients of the “Best Breakthrough Artists” award will receive support for booking appearances at festivals in Asia, along with travel and accommodation expenses (200,000 yen per artist, totaling 1 million yen for all groups).
In addition, Takashi Noda, the producer of the international showcase festival “Music Lane Festival Okinawa,” who also serves as the director of Music Town Otoichiba and producer at Sakurazaka Theater, received the “Contribution to Asia” award for his significant contributions to market expansion and artist activities in Asia in 2024. The “Best Creative” award, which recognizes producers and creators involved in creative music videos in 2024, went to Kota Noguchi of VIXI, who produced music videos for CHICO CARLITO’s “Yokubari feat. Jin Dogg,” Official HIGE DANDism’s “Same Blue,” and BAD HOP’s “Empire Of The Sun feat. T-Pablow & Zeebra.”
The awards ceremony took place on October 26 (Saturday) at the “MIND TRAVEL” festival held at the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with approximately 70 music industry representatives in attendance. The event featured message videos and audio comments from each of the award winners, and three artists—Whyte ?te, Kitamura Buki, and reina—took the stage.
