"A Shaky Empire: The End of Nabepro's Dominance and the Turning Point in the Music Industry."

"A Shaky Empire: The End of Nabepro's Dominance and the Turning Point in the Music Industry."

In 1975, the Japanese music industry was dominated by Watanabe Productions (NABEPRO). NABEPRO had established a "cradle-to-grave" system, managing everything from the discovery of new talent to training, record production, and securing TV appearances. However, as symbolized by the failure of the TV program "You Can Do It," the influence of NABEPRO was beginning to wane.

Meanwhile, emerging production companies such as HORIPRO grew and competition in the music industry increased. However, due to the cozy relationship between record companies and TV stations, some talent and songs were pushed excessively, and the phenomenon of independent musicians being buried was seen as problematic. It was speculated that NABEPRO's monopolistic influence would eventually be subject to the Antimonopoly Law, leading to calls for structural reform of the entertainment industry.

In 1975, the music industry revolved around NABEPRO, but signs of a new era were beginning to emerge. The issue of ties and monopolies between the entertainment and music industries would continue to be debated.