UK Music Industry Strengthens Global Pathways with Japan Collaboration

A new phase of UK–Japan music collaboration will take place this April, as artists and industry professionals from across the UK engage with one of the world’s most influential music markets through a programme of showcases, industry exchange and creative development.

The activity builds on a successful pilot earlier this year and forms part of a growing, long-term approach to international music export - one that prioritises sustained relationships and access to global markets.

Powered by the Northern Music Export Office - a pan-regional initiative led by Generator, backed by regional mayors and partners to open up national and global pathways for artists and industry professionals from across the North of England – this April programme is delivered in collaboration with the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development PRS Foundation, supported by European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE), connecting UK talent into wider international markets alongside knowledge sharing with the wider European sector.

By working across shared networks and resources, the programme strengthens the UK’s connection into established European export infrastructure while creating a model that can be scaled across the North, the wider UK and beyond. At its core is a commitment to cultural exchange - building relationships that create long-term opportunity for both UK and international partners.

Japan, the world’s second-largest recorded music market, presents a significant opportunity for UK artists and businesses, with growing demand for new sounds, collaborations and international partnerships.

Building international pathways through collaboration

The April programme will bring together UK artists, managers and industry professionals with Japanese partners through a series of live performances, networking opportunities and structured industry activity.

It builds on an initial phase which saw UK creatives engage directly with the Japanese market through showcases, songwriting sessions and industry meetings - establishing new partnerships and ongoing opportunities, including continued engagement with major Japanese labels and international showcase platforms.

This next phase will see West Yorkshire-based band Adult DVD perform a series of live showcases across Japan, beginning in Osaka on the 8th April at Crossing Sounds UK × Japan in partnership with Greens Corporation alongside an in-store record shop signing and intimate DJ performance at Alffo Records.

The band will then travel to Tokyo to perform twice at Synchronicity Festival ’26 on the 10th & 12th of April, appearing on the CUEW stage alongside leading Japanese and international artists, providing a platform to build new audiences and establish a presence within the Japanese live music scene. They will also appear at Bonjour Records in Tokyo for an in-store signing and DJ set on 11th of April.

Alongside this, UK-based music manager Mike Smith and agent Cils Williams will take part in PRS Foundation’s Sound Bridge programme (9–13 April), delivered in partnership with key Japanese industry stakeholders and supported by EMEE.

The programme brings together meetings, collaborative sessions, showcases and panel discussions, designed to support long-term creative and commercial connections between UK and Japanese artists, producers and industry professionals.

As part of this wider exchange, a Japanese delegation will travel to the UK in May, continuing the development of these relationships and creating further opportunities for collaboration, showcasing and knowledge exchange across both markets.

A shift towards long-term global engagement

This latest activity reflects a broader shift across the UK music industry - recognising the need for consistent, structured international engagement to support sustainable growth.

By combining live performance with targeted industry development, the programme creates opportunities not just for artists, but for the wider ecosystem of managers, agents and producers who play a critical role in building international careers.

Rather than relying on one-off moments, this approach focuses on building sustained international relationships that deliver long-term value for artists, businesses and the wider UK music ecosystem.

Programmes like this are underpinned by organisations such as Generator and PRS Foundation, whose work focuses on building the infrastructure, investment and pathways needed for talent and businesses to compete globally.

As international demand for new music, scenes and perspectives continues to grow, initiatives like this are helping to reshape how global music relationships are built – prioritising collaboration, cultural exchange and long-term value over short-term visibility.

Mick Ross, CEO, Generator said: “For too long, international export has been about short-term visibility rather than long-term value. What we’re building here is different.

This is about creating real access to global markets, building meaningful relationships and making sure artists and industry professionals can develop internationally without having to leave where they’re from.

We’ve established strong, collaborative relationships with partners in Japan, built on trust and a shared ambition to create real, lasting opportunities. That’s what makes this work meaningful and sustainable. Generator, alongside the Northern Music Export Office, is leading this next phase – connecting the North of England into wider UK and international networks.

We’re not just showcasing talent - we’re helping reshape how the UK music industry works on a global stage.”

Becci Scotcher, Senior Grants and Programme Manager at PRS Foundation said: “At PRS Foundation we are committed to opening up meaningful global opportunities for music creators and emerging music industry professionals. We do this through our initiatives such as the International Showcase Fund which enables music creators to take those important first international steps, our role as co-founders of Keychange supporting women and gender diverse music creators and industry professionals across Europe and Canada, our export umbrella brand UK Sounds and via our membership of organisations such as the European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE). Our integral international role enables artists and industry professionals to capitalise on overseas opportunities and build sustainable international careers.

“This new Sound Bridge pilot project for emerging UK-based industry professionals builds on this commitment, creating a focused exchange between the UK and Japan. Sound Bridge enables vital on-the-ground learning, cultural connection, and long-term relationship building, while ensuring that knowledge and insight is shared more widely across the European sector, as demonstrated by UK participants Cils and Mike. By strengthening links with Japan’s world-leading creative industries, we are helping to build a more connected and inclusive global music ecosystem, and we thank EMEE, alongside our partners Generator and CUEW, for their collaboration in making this work possible.”

Mike Smith, Music Manager said: I’m thrilled to have been selected to take part in the export programme this April, and I look forward to building new and lasting international connections.

The opportunity to access new and previously untapped markets is vital for ensuring the long-term sustainability of both my business and those of my clients. Expanding networks beyond the North can be costly and often does not deliver immediate financial returns, making it a challenging but necessary investment. Initiatives like this play a crucial role in removing those barriers, enabling professionals like me to grow our businesses beyond regional limitations. In turn, this also allows me to contribute more meaningfully to our local industry by creating jobs and new opportunities. Operating across time zones also presents a significant advantage: my clients will be able to offer mixing, production, and editing services aligned with UK working hours, effectively saving Japanese producers and labels a full working day. This not only adds substantial value to recording projects in Japan but also provides a consistent pipeline of work for my UK-based clients.

I look forward to getting to better understand the Japanese music market as well as meeting the amazing people of the Japanese music industry.

Koki Takahashi, Founder of CUEW said: CUEW is thrilled to host a large group of British delegates at this year’s CUEW Showcase & Conference to promote deeper cultural ties between the UK and Japan. With the support of Generator, we are excited to organise a mixer that celebrates the partnership between our two countries. We truly hope that this mission serves as a cornerstone for your future endeavors and continued success here in Japan.