In December 2024, Takeshi Okada was appointed the new President and CEO of Warner Music Japan (WMJ). Previously, as part of Universal Music, he served as the Managing Director of EMI Records, where he played a pivotal role in the release of numerous hits. What does he hope to accomplish at WMJ? Billboard JAPAN spoke with him about global collaborations, WMJ’s comprehensive deal with Yuki Chiba, and his vision for the future.

You’ve been appointed the CEO of WMJ. What kind of potential did you see in the company that led you to accept the position?

Even before joining WMJ, I could tell that Warner Music had “artist-first” in its DNA. Warner Music is home to many artists who are driven by a relentless pursuit of great and quality music. I’ve seen WMJ as a company that could stand by them a

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