Episode 45: A Roadmap to Writing Songs for the East Asian Markets

Songwriters seeking to break into lucrative East Asian music markets face unique challenges and opportunities that differ dramatically from Western practices. This deep dive explores the mechanics behind getting your songs cut with artists in Japan, South Korea, and China – three powerhouse territories that consistently rank among the world's top 10 music markets.

The pathway to success requires navigating a specific chain: songwriters connect with publishers in their home country who partner with sub-publishers in Asia, who then pitch to entertainment agencies and record labels. Without these established relationships, Western songwriters face nearly insurmountable barriers to entry. China primarily operates as a "buyout market" where songwriters receive larger upfront payments but minimal backend royalties, while Japan and South Korea function more similarly to Western markets with performance and mechanical royalties flowing back to creators.

When your song is selected for an artist, prepare for translation considerations that maintain your melody while adapting lyrics to fit languages that are typically more syllabically rhythmic than English. This translation process affects song splits, with translators receiving portions of copyright – a standard practice that publishers manage. Production standards must be exceptional, as your instrumental tracks will likely be used in the final release with only vocals being replaced.

The physical music market remains extraordinarily strong in Japan and South Korea, with CDs and DVDs selling in significant numbers. Albums are frequently repackaged in special editions, meaning one placement might appear on multiple products, multiplying mechanical royalties through collection societies that often operate differently from Western PROs.

Success requires thorough research into local culture, song structures, and listener preferences. Though competition is fierce, these markets represent billions of potential listeners and substantial revenue opportunities for songwriters willing to adapt their approach and partner with the right publishers.

Ready to explore these exciting markets? Your next big hit could be waiting in the East.

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