Exciting Interim Results for Karaoke Special Award in MAJ2026 Announced

The anticipation builds as both Excing and Daiichikosho announce the interim results for the Karaoke Special Award, "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND," as part of the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026 (MAJ2026) festivities. This award, part of the co-creation category, highlights the most popular karaoke tracks in both the J-Pop and Enka genres.

From March 19 to April 20, 2026, karaoke rankings were closely monitored, culminating in this exciting interim results announcement. Each category has revealed unexpected developments, with space for significant shifts before the final results are declared.

J-Pop Category

In a surprising turn of events, M!LK's song "Sukisugite Mette!" has rapidly climbed the ranks to take the top position in the J-Pop category. Notably, this song was outside the top ten in both companies' rankings for songs released in 2025; however, it has shown an impressive resurgence. The support and enthusiasm from fans have helped catapult the track to the forefront of the competition.

Enka Category

Meanwhile, in the Enka segment, Kirika Iwamoto's new song, "Sadamebune," which was released in August 2025, is gaining momentum, threatening the reigning favorite, Kaori Mizumori's "Osaka Koishizuku." Iwamoto had previously demonstrated strength with "Taki no Koibumi" in the previous MAJ awards, and her new release is proving to be just as impactful, with fans rallying behind her.

The Karaoke of the Year award was established to recognize sustained excellence among songs released in 2025, with a total of 30 entries in each category. The winners will be determined based on the actual number of times karaoke users performed these songs on both DAM and JOYSOUND platforms. This aspect adds an engaging and competitive edge as fans vote with their voices.

As part of the awards celebration, both companies are conducting a singing campaign that encourages fans to sing the entry songs. Those who participate will have the chance to win tickets to attend the MAJ2026 ceremony through a lottery drawing. The aim is to promote singing activities while enhancing participant satisfaction, turning music enjoyment into an active, rewarding experience.

With a month left until the end of the selection period, the excitement is palpable. Fans can take pride in knowing that their favorite songs are in the mix and can influence final rankings through their participation. What changes will take place in the final weeks? All eyes will be on the charts as the competition heats up.

Both companies are committed to boosting the music culture in Japan by actively involving music fans in this year's MAJ2026, ensuring a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.

About MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026

MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN is administered by the Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA), established by the five major organizations in the Japanese music industry. This is one of Japan's largest international music awards. In addition to the six major categories like “Best Song” and “Best Artist,” the awards include over 70 categories based on different genres and themes, celebrating a wide array of music talent.

Karaoke Special Award "Karaoke of the Year powered by DAM & JOYSOUND"

This award highlights the flourishing music culture through collaboration with various organizations and businesses in the music industry. In the co-creation category, Excing and Daiichikosho partner together for this initiative, recognizing the top karaoke hits from both J-Pop and Enka categories. Last year, the inaugural awards saw Mrs. GREEN APPLE's "Lilac" and Yoshimi Tendo’s "Showa Katagi" take home top honors.

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting competition continues to unfold, and don't forget to join in the karaoke fun to support your favorite songs!