34TH JAPAN GOLD DISC AWARD 2020 WINNERS ANNOUNCED
JAPANESE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: ARASHI
– A RECORD-BREAKING 6TH TIME AND THEIR FIRST IN 3 YEARS
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR: QUEEN
– FOR THE THIRD TIME, FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Tokyo, February 26, 2020 – The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) has announced the 61 winners for the 34th annual Japan Gold Disc Award 2020. One of the two most prestigious awards, Japanese Artist of The Year is awarded to Arashi (for the sixth time and their first in three years), and the other, International Artist of The Year to Queen (for the third for the second year in a row).
The full list of the winners can also be found at: https://www.golddisc.jp/
About The Japan Gold Disc Award and the eligibility period:
The Japan Gold Disc Award is the Recording Industry Association of Japan’s annual music awards, established in 1987, to recognise achievements in the music industry.
The winners are decided based on actual sales figures (net quantity basis i.e. the quantity shipped minus the quantity returned) of physical records such as CDs and music DVDs/Blu-rays, and digital download sales figures. The eligibility period for the 34th awards runs between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
About “Artist of The Year”:
Awarded to the highest-grossing artists, based on total net sales of physical records such as CDs and DVDs/Blu-rays and digital downloads during the eligibility period. One winner each for the domestic and international categories.
Artist of The Year (International): Queen
Net sales figures during the eligibility period
Albums: 462,485 copies
Music DVDs/Blu-rays: 102,234 copies
Digital downloads: 602,513 downloads
Comments from the winners:
Brian May:
“Thank you to the RIAJ for once again giving us this very special award. We are proud!!! Domo Arigatou – and Kampai!!! And love to all our wonderful Japanese fans and friends.”
Roger Taylor:
“I’m extremely honoured to receive this award for the second year in a row. To all Queen fans in Japan, we’d like to thank you for supporting us and loving our music throughout many decades. We had a great time with you on our recent tour of Japan as well, and it was definitely a special experience for us all. Look forward to seeing you again soon.”
*Queen took home International Artist of The Year award for the third time for the second year running.