Six categories announced for the “TOKYO ALTER MUSIC AWARD ’25,” honoring alternative and independent music artists and individuals.
a r n e Co., Ltd. Press Release: October 20, 2025 The “TOKYO ALTER MUSIC AWARD ’25,” honoring alternative and independent music artists and individuals, announces six categories. The winning artists will be invited to Tokyu Kabukicho Tower for an announcement. The five artists selected as Best Breakthrough Artists will each receive 200,000 yen in support, for a total of 1 million yen.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-f6b7efc35d19c25560eba5edc531786f-1920×1080.png
https://www.instagram.com/tokyoaltermusic/ Award Overview Announcement Date: October 18, 2025, 12:00 PM Presentation Venue: Tokyu Kabukicho Tower Sponsors: BIG UP!, FRIENDSHIP., NexTone, SPACE SHOWER FUGA, The Orchard Japan (titles omitted, A to Z) TOKYO ALTER MUSIC AWARD consists of the following 6 categories 1. Best Alter Artists Awarding the three most active alternative artists of 2025 2. Best Alter Asian Artists Awarding the three most active Asian artists of 2025 3. Best Breakthrough Artists Awarded to five breakthrough artists who began to attract attention in 2025 4. Contribution to Asia Award individuals who have made significant contributions to market expansion and artist success in Asia in 2025. 5. Best Creative Awarded to producers and creators who have worked on creative music videos in 2025 6. Best Production Award individuals who have made outstanding contributions to production in 2025 This year’s winners
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-db4ffe426ec866814d877ec066dbb96e-1920×1080.png 2025 Winner Best Alter Artists Ichiko Aoba betcover!! Billyrrom Best Alter Asian Artists Andr (Taiwan) Galdive (Indonesia) pami (Thailand) Best Breakthrough Artists ASOUND HUGEN REJAY Rol3ert S.A.R.
Contribution to Asia Masako Masuda Best Creative Kohei Yonaha Best Production Kenichi Koga Details of award-winning artists and people Best Alter Artists
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-cd37af1307a86a0e5dfcbc0859374624-2000×2000.jpg Ichiko Aoba Born in 1990. Musician. Representative of the independent record label, Hermine. Since their debut in 2010, they have released eight original albums. They have received high praise both at home and abroad for their delicate classical guitar-based sound, dreamy vocals, and poetic worldview. They began performing overseas in earnest in 2021, appearing at numerous international music festivals. January 2025 marks the 15th anniversary of their debut, and in February they will release their first new album in nearly four years, “Luminescent Creatures.” They will embark on their career-best world tour, the “Luminescent Creatures World Tour,” with over 50 shows across five continents: Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. In May 2025, she published her first essay, “Seisha-tachi.” She also serves as a DJ on odd-numbered Wednesdays on FM Kyoto’s FLAG RADIO, and is active in a variety of fields, including TV narration, composing music for commercials and films, and performing at art festivals. https://www.instagram.com/ichikoaoba/
https://x.com/ichikoaoba
https://img.youtube.com/vi/y6-9IhH1Owo/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6-9IhH1Owo
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-007f8208b71bca848cfa6ef08f689b38-2001×2000.jpg betcover!! A rock band led by Jiro Yanase, originally from Chofu City, Tokyo. https://www.instagram.com/betcover_official/ https://img.youtube.com/vi/7dlYy8p3XH4/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dlYy8p3XH4
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-d2830994d4bc27dacd5e9725bcaa3529-2001×2000.jpg Billyrrom With members with diverse roots in soul, funk, and rock, they create next-generation pop music. Their annual solo concerts are always sold out. They have been featured in various media outlets as a notable artist worldwide, including being selected for “Fender NEXT,” which selects 25 artists from over 1,000 worldwide, China Streaming, NetEase Cloud Music’s 2024 New Artist Award “New Voices of the Year Recommendation,” and Spotify’s “RADAR: Early Noise 2025.” Nine of their music videos have reached over one million views on YouTube, ranking in the top 10 on viral charts in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, and appearing on playlists in nine Asian countries. In 2024, they will perform at festivals across Japan, including FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, and also at large festivals overseas in Taiwan. In 2025, they will embark on a solo tour promoting their first album, “WiND,” performing in six cities in Japan and a sold-out show at THE WALL in Taipei, as well as performing in Korea, Xiamen, and Shanghai. Starting in February 2026, they will embark on their first Asian tour, visiting seven cities: Osaka, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Taipei, so keep an eye out for their future live performances. https://www.instagram.com/billyrrom/ https://x.com/billyrrom https://img.youtube.com/vi/Eb8R58_RI2w/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb8R58_RI2w
Best Alter Asian Artists
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-bd2e730bc1dc034bba5c096d7c35765b-2699×2700.jpg Andr (from Taiwan) Andr, a rising Taiwanese artist, is known for his unique alternative sound, blending indie pop, alternative R&B, and indie rock. Using guitar as his primary instrument and sampling everyday sounds, he has gradually developed his own unique style. He combines bedroom beats with creative arrangements and his soulful vocals to create captivating soundscapes. In 2023, Andr attracted attention with his debut single “Night Lotion 融,” which was selected for Spotify’s “Best of Radar 2023” program. In early 2024, he collaborated with Thai synth-pop singer mindfreakkk to release “Swapping Socks,” a song about cross-border friendship. It was featured on popular playlists across Asia, demonstrating the potential for regional growth. His EP, “Hidden Card 藏招,” released in June of the same year, was nominated for Best New Artist at the 15th Golden Indie Music Awards, Taiwan’s indie music awards. He also performed at SXSW Sydney and was interviewed by Rolling Stone. In October of the same year, she released her debut album, “shhh, it’s under my bed,” which was nominated for “Album of the Year” and “Best New Artist” by multiple Chinese-speaking music media outlets. In 2025, with this album in hand, she made a full-scale entry into the overseas market. She was again selected for Spotify Radar and Apple Music’s “UP NEXT” and performed at SXSW Austin. She is steadily expanding her global presence, bringing her unique music to international audiences. https://img.youtube.com/vi/Og6KPbksCYM/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og6KPbksCYM
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-f9222fffb1cc496d105b43304a969ac9-3900×3900.jpg Galdive (from Indonesia) Galdive is an Indonesian duo that creates dreamy, genre-defying soundscapes. Their music, a blend of indie pop, electronic and vintage elements, transports listeners to a world of inner depth and tranquility, freeing them from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Each release carves out a sonic space for emotional expression and healing for each individual soul.
https://img.youtube.com/vi/2CreHq9qqzM/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CreHq9qqzM
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-3f2cd2b735ca2775ab8ebb51b23fa072-3900×3900.jpg pami (from Thailand) Pami is an up-and-coming bedroom pop and indie singer-songwriter hailing from Thailand’s vibrant island of Phuket. Debuting on the Juicey label in 2024, Pami captivated listeners with a prolific year, releasing a six-track EP and three singles. Her relentless creative output and emotive music quickly garnered acclaim and established her as a unique presence in the independent scene both domestically and internationally. Inspired by personal life
experiences, Pami weaves melancholic yet relatable stories into her music, creating intimate soundscapes that listeners can find comfort and connection in. Her talent for elevating melodies has established her as a noteworthy artist who resonates with fans worldwide. In 2024, pami embarked on an Asia tour, performing in Korea, Japan, and mainland China. This has enabled her to connect with diverse audiences, further enrich her artistry, and bring new inspiration. With more releases on the way, pami’s work is just getting started. https://www.instagram.com/pamigax/
https://img.youtube.com/vi/1sd1p1vOeLI/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sd1p1vOeLI
Best Breakthrough Artists
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-a40239b70bbb337fe6ddbc332c028ab5-2000×2001.jpg ASOUND Formed during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. ASOUND performs in an “original style” that transcends genres, including Reggae, R&B, and Jazz. This four-member band is led by ARIWA, a talented singer who studied abroad in New York; keyboardist Couta, who has performed with numerous bands; bassist Soma, who graduated from a music college and also works on trackmaking; and talented drummer Manaw, who has performed overseas. In recent years, the band has been performing live as a five-piece, with Okinawa’s Kannon Price on support guitar. They actively perform live throughout the country, primarily in Tokyo and Kanagawa. They have also performed at major festivals such as “FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL,” “Yokohama Reggae Festival The Final,” and “RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2023.” https://www.instagram.com/asound_official_/ https://img.youtube.com/vi/8YNxlF_DsSA/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YNxlF_DsSA
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-df77610b748bb5168519036688f5b22e-2001×2001.jpg HUGEN Starts in 2024. This music project is centered around TP (vocals/pc), hamachi (percussion), Shunpei Kutsuma (bass), and Kenta Tanizaki (sax). They create alternative music centered around electronic music, incorporating elements of ethnic music and folk songs. One of TP’s defining features is their lyrics, which
unpretentiously sing about familiar emotions and scenes—connections, love, kindness. In just their second year since formation, they performed at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL ’25 “ROOKIE A GO-GO.” He also collaborated with Terao Saho on the theme song for the NHK Educational TV drama “Kikakenakatta Ano Koto.” Based in Shimokitazawa Spread, he is actively engaged in live performances and production.
https://www.instagram.com/hugen_tpsound/
https://img.youtube.com/vi/D2OI_QTDQlk/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2OI_QTDQlk
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-624d347a415d65dc55ad39e4ec7e03cc-2001×2001.jpg REJAY A 19-year-old from Niseko, Hokkaido. Influenced by his Australian father, he grew up listening to a wide variety of music. He began writing lyrics and composing music at the age of 13, and while uploading cover videos to YouTube, his voice was discovered by JQ of Nulbarich, who produced him. He began working with JQ. He possesses a unique voice that combines both darkness and clarity.
https://www.instagram.com/rejay_rejay/
https://img.youtube.com/vi/7Gs7MW88qYg/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gs7MW88qYg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-d2c796cd8d61f23d36eff18641aea38f-3900×3900.jpg Rol3ert Japanese singer-songwriter. Born in 2005, he was born in the United States and raised in Japan from the age of two. He launched his career in January 2025 with “meaning.” His follow-up, “HOPE,” released in April, reached the top 20 on the J-WAVE TOKIO HOT 100, and his June release, “Nerd,” was featured on playlists around the world, including Indonesia, Japan, the United States, Taiwan, and Korea. In July, he held his first solo concert, “Rol3ert 1st live “3mpty”,” at SPACE ODD in Daikanyama, Tokyo. The stage performance, comprised only of piano and vocals, impressed viewers with the strength of his vocals and expressiveness, marking a solid first step as an artist. This summer, he performed at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL ’25 and SWEET LOVE SHOWER 2025. At just 20 years old, he is garnering attention as a new talent from Japan venturing into the global music scene.
https://www.instagram.com/rol3ertmusic/ https://x.com/rol3ertmusic https://img.youtube.com/vi/E19vRHzhBEs/sddefault.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E19vRHzhBEs
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-4d1d35beba0094bdb0a48b5066a53b90-3900×3900.jpg S.A.R. S.A.R. is an alternative crew consisting of santa, Attie, Imu Sam, Eno, may_chang, and Taro. The current lineup began full-scale activities in 2022. While based on soul, R&B, hip-hop, and jazz, the band has a wide range of musical styles that reflect each member’s roots, and they personally create all of their productions, including not only their music but also their videos and artwork.
https://www.instagram.com/s.a.r.official/
https://img.youtube.com/vi/KKtZsgIJSsA/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKtZsgIJSsA
Contribution to Asia
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-4a0cff85444982722d8c5943d5d67fcc-2001×2000.jpg 増田雅子 （The Orchard Japan / Vice President）
ソニーミュージックグループ入社後、レーベルにて雑誌、ラジオの国内プロモーション業務やアーティストのA＆R・ディレクター業務に従事。 その後、新規事業の立ち上げなどを経て、現在はThe Orchard
Japanにて音楽配信を軸に海外オフィスと連携し、アーティストの海外進出をサポート。
https://www.instagram.com/theorchardjapan
Best Creative
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-a74e17f53f93f0c59a744506aab6a1a2-2001×2000.jpg
Kohei Yonaha 1992年生まれ、沖縄県出身の映像監督／フォトグラファー。大学在学中にインディーズバンドのライブ映像を撮り始め、独学でミュージックビデオやドキュメンタリーなどを制作する。現在も沖縄を拠点にし、音楽に関わる映像や写真の制作を中心に活動中。 https://www.instagram.com/kohepi/
https://img.youtube.com/vi/Xo13fpoTIlw/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo13fpoTIlw
https://img.youtube.com/vi/B1d45EdiA5k/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1d45EdiA5k
https://img.youtube.com/vi/SVHuJmut-U8/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVHuJmut-U8
Best Production
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-60b8614c959fcf55cd61ae3c4c77ee8d-2001×2001.jpg 古賀健一 福岡県出身 2005年青葉台スタジオに入社。 2013年4月、青葉台スタジオとエンジニア契約。
2014年6月フリーランスとなり、上野にダビング可能なスタジオをオープン。 2019年 Xylomania Studio LLCを設立。2020年 Dolby Atmos 9.1.4ch のスタジオに改修。空間オーディオのMixからDolby Atoms でのLive 生配信も成功させる。 https://www.instagram.com/kogaken1207/
https://x.com/kogaken1207
授賞式当日の様子
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-c50359980d753c8800581d093cd6a5b6-1800×2700.jpg
司会を務めた菅野結以 授賞式にはご招待した音楽関係者約60名が出席。モデル／ラジオパーソナリティの菅野結以さんが司会を務め、各受賞者からのメッセージビデオや音声コメントをお届けしたほか、直接会場にお越しいただいたアーティストさまにご登壇いただきました。 （Photo by toshimura)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-12c6a8334d86d3ed9d58af469b461e39-3900×2600.jpg 発表の模様
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-020bbc7c085e0de4a80047a971448d47-1800×2700.jpg Rol3ert （ Best Breakthrough Artists）
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-9d59c83c026218bb5fa01858170ddf59-3900×2600.jpg 会場：歌舞伎町タワー
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-d4e8a1261f433f6ec49fbbaca500d08f-3900×2600.jpg 増田雅子 （Contribution to Asia） TOKYO ALTER MUSIC AWARDの目的 •
日本国内におけるオルタナティブミュージックの普及促進 • 才能あるミュージシャンへの包括的支援 •
アジアを起点としたグローバルな音楽活動の支援 Best Breakthrough Artists支援内容
本アワードは、エマージングなアーティスト（Best Breakthrough Artists）に以下のサポートを提供します • アジア圏の音楽フェスティバルへの出演機会の創出協力 • 渡航費および滞在費の支援（各アーティスト20万円 全組合計100万円分） ※ 本年度のスポンサーであるBIG UP! ・FRIENDSHIP.・NexTone・SPACE SHOWER FUGA・The Orchard Japanからの協賛金が充てられています
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/60173/12/60173-12-2aeb83cededacd18a4d6b35907705531-1075×479.png BIG UP! ・FRIENDSHIP.・NexTone・SPACE SHOWER FUGA・The Orchard Japan （敬称略・A to Z） 受賞者の選考方法に関しまして
対象アーティスト：国籍年齢不問、主に日本国内でオルタナティブな活動を行うミュージシャン
選考委員：林潤（株式会社Spincoaster）・保坂隆純（株式会社Spincoaster）・対馬芳昭（origami
PRODUCTIONS）・高波由多加（Namy& Inc.）・松島功（株式会社arne） TOKYO ALTER MUSIC について TOKYO ALTER
MUSICは日本国内におけるオルタナティブミュージックの普及と支援、ミュージシャンのサポート、オルタナティブミュージックシーンの活性化、およびアーティストのアジアを起点としたグローバルでの活動を支援することを目的とした団体 メンバー • 林潤（株式会社Spincoaster） • 対馬芳昭（origami PRODUCTIONS） •
高波由多加（Namy& Inc.） • 松島功（株式会社arne） SNS Instagram：
https://www.instagram.com/tokyoaltermusic
受賞者プレイリスト：https://tokyoaltermusic.lnk.to/2025 まとめサイト：
https://tokyoaltermusic.lnk.to/Award
