Billboard’s Global Power Players list recognizes the leaders that are driving the success of the music business in countries outside the United States. Shunsuke Muramatsu, Chairman and Representative Director of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), was selected for the first time from the many leaders of the music industry around the world. Billboard JAPAN interviewed Muramatsu in recognition of his selection for the list. He spoke about how he has led the company’s employees in producing hits both inside Japan and overseas by artists such as YOASOBI, Creepy Nuts, and Kenshi Yonezu. He also discussed the challenges and potential of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, an event organized by CEIPA, which he directs as Chair of the Board.

In 2005, you became president of Sony Music Records (now Sony Music Labels). In 2019, you were appointed president of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), and then you became its chairman in 2026. You were selected for the list this year in recognition of your over two decades of producing hit artists. Even recently, artists on your label, like YOASOBI, Creepy Nuts, and Kenshi Yonezu, have been very successful, charting in Japan and overseas.

Thank you. Our company doesn’t just work with music, but has a variety of functions, and I think our successes are the product of our synergy. The business we do at Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) (SMEJ) is extremely wide-ranging. We’re a record company, we manage artists, we plan and create anime and games, we organize events, we operate performance venues…We’re a comprehensive entertainment company like no other, anywhere in the world. Fundamentally, we’re working every day with artists and creators, helping each other reach new heights as we focus our efforts in creating something out of nothing. But starting things from the ground up is exceptionally difficult. Only a limited number of people are involved in that work. Taking something that has already been created and infinitely expanding its potential, though? That’s extremely important, and it’s something many of our staff are involved in. Our company covers both, and, as I keep telling our employees, it’s the repeated implementation of those processes that drives our growth.