Thu, September 24, 2026: CIC Innovation Jam Vol.1 — The Globalizing Music Industry and the Role of Regional Cities
A new music conference, “CIC Innovation Jam,” is launching at CIC FUKUOKA.
The theme of this first session is “The Globalizing Music Industry and the Role of Regional Cities: Exploring the Connections between MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN's Global Strategy and Regional Music Scenes.”
Japan has the world's second-largest music market after North America. Yet during the shift to streaming, the global market grew by 130% over several years, while Japan reached only 104–105%. Where did this gap come from?
To address this challenge, Japan's six major music industry organizations crossed institutional boundaries to establish CEIPA, the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association. The international music awards MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, first held in Kyoto in 2025, expanded to Tokyo and a total of 78 categories in 2026. MUSIC WAY PROJECT, a co-creation initiative with the Toyota Group, has also begun working toward a more global music industry through activities such as co-writing camps bringing together creators from Japan and overseas.
Our guest will be Inaba Yutaka, President of the Music Publishers Association of Japan, CEIPA board member, and Vice Chair of the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Executive Committee. Why have Japan's six leading music organizations joined forces now? How did they bring in the Toyota Group from outside the industry?
Joining the discussion will be Ishino Harumu, who has researched music media at Kyushu University's School of Design and written extensively on Fukuoka's music scene. Together, we will explore how this national-scale initiative might connect with regional music scenes.
Event overview
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026, 18:30–19:20
Venue: CIC FUKUOKA (ONE FUKUOKA BLDG., 6F)
Admission: Free
Register in advance here
Organizer: Music City Council of Fukuoka
Co-organizer: CIC FUKUOKA
Support: CRJA FUKUOKA / LOVE FM “INDIE FLUX”
Note: Networking will follow the session.
Speaker information
Guest: Inaba Yutaka (Inaba Yutaka)
Board Member, Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA)
Vice Chair, MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN Executive Committee
Executive Vice President, Teichiku Entertainment, Inc.
Chairman, U’S MUSIC Co., Ltd.
Born in Tokyo in 1963; graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kokugakuin University. He has long played a central role in Japan's music publishing and copyright business, working to develop music publishing for the digital and networked age and strengthen copyright protection. In 2025, he received the Medal with Blue Ribbon and a special commendation from the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs. He has led the establishment of CEIPA by six major music industry organizations, the international music awards MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, and MUSIC WAY PROJECT, a co-creation project with the Toyota Group.
Moderator: Nomura Shogo (Nomura Shogo)
Music City Council of Fukuoka
Representative, C.I.T.Y. Inc.
Founder, BOAT music label
Radio director
Broadcast writer
Based in Fukuoka, he works across radio production, video direction, event planning, and label management. His radio credits include J-WAVE's “FLIP SIDE PLANET” and LOVE FM's “INDIE FLUX.”
Speaker: Ishino Harumu (Ishino Harumu)
Creative Planner, NEW GREEN, Lead Creative Center, CyberAgent, Inc.
Graduated from Kyushu University's Graduate School of Design. He researches the relationship between regional music culture and media through fieldwork in Fukuoka's music scene, exploring contemporary communication across music, media, and subculture.
Participating organization: CRJA FUKUOKA
An inter-university music circle formed by university students in Fukuoka. It shares student-selected music charts through local radio stations.
