Lights and Shadows of the Nabepro Empire: The Battle for the Japanese Music Industry in 1975

Lights and Shadows of the Nabepro Empire: The Battle for the Japanese Music Industry in 1975

In 1975, Watanabe Productions (NABEPRO) was the dominant force in the Japanese entertainment industry. After a period of postwar turmoil, the Japanese music industry was gradually taking commercial shape, and with the spread of television, the music business was also transforming into a huge industry. At the center of this transformation was NABEPRO.

NABEPRO was more than just an entertainment agency; it had established an integrated system for finding and training new talent, producing records, and securing television appearances. As the phrase "from cradle to grave" symbolizes, talent who belonged to the office remained under the influence of Nabepro from their debut to their retirement. Although this strong management system produced many stars, it was also increasingly criticized for hindering healthy competition in the music industry.

As part of its strategy, NABEPRO strengthened its ties with the TV industry. By acquiring sponsors and bringing in its own programs, the company actively promoted new talent. A typical example was the program "You Can Do It" broadcast on NET TV. This program was intended to promote newcomers, but the ratings were poor and the program was eventually cancelled. This failure was also an event that suggested that NABEPRO's influence was becoming less absolute.

At the same time, a movement was emerging to counter Nabepro. New entertainment production companies, such as HORIPRO, were growing with the aim of becoming the "second Nabepro," and were introducing new stars to the world. However, their presence was still small in the face of the overwhelming influence of Nabepro, and it took time for the power structure of the entertainment industry to change significantly.

Under these circumstances, the issue of monopolies in the music industry also became a point of contention. The system in which record companies and music publishers colluded with TV stations to turn new singers into stars was criticized for its potential to rob music of its diversity. In particular, the phenomenon of the "cozy relationship between TV and the music industry" established by NABEPRO, whereby certain talents and songs were pushed excessively while independent musicians were buried, was seen as a problem.

As NABEPRO's influence continued to grow, there was speculation that the application of the Antimonopoly Law would eventually be considered. The fact that giant entertainment production companies control more than half of the market and have close relationships with TV stations can be a hindrance to normal competition. This growing awareness of the problem later led to structural reform of the entertainment industry.

In 1975, the Japanese music industry revolved around the giant that was NABEPRO. However, its influence was already beginning to wane, and signs of a new era could be felt. The ties between the entertainment and music industries, and the issue of monopoly, would continue to be debated for a long time to come.