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Evangelion is #4 in Japanese Music Royalties in Last 30 Years
posted on by Egan Loo
The Japanese Society for the Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) marked its 30th anniversary on Monday by ranking the top music tracks in royalties from 1982 to 2011. Shiro Sagisu's background music for the Evangelion anime franchise placed #4 among Japanese music that earned the most royalties during the last three decades in Japan. JASRAC credits about 80% of the royalties from DVD and other video sales, although it also earned money from pachinko parlor machines. It took in the most royalties among all Japanese music in 2010, and was #2 in 2008.
"Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis," Yoko Takahashi's opening theme song for the Neon Genesis Evangelion television series, ranked #14 by itself. JASRAC also credits DVD sales and pachinko parlor machines for its success, which led to it being the top track in royalties last year.
The next anime music on the chart is Shinji Miyazaki's Pocket Monsters (Pokémon) background music at #18. The BGM earned royalties not only in Japan, but also from its use in television airings throughout the world. As a result, it won the International Award from JASRAC in 2004 and still ranked in top 5 in overseas royalties in 2010.
Shunsuke Kikuchi's background music for the Dragon Ball Z television anime came in at #24. The 2003 DVD boxes and other video releases contributed to the total, and it was the #2 music in overall royalties in 2004 and the #2 music in international royalties in 2010.
Shigeaki Saegusa's Mobile Suit Z Gundam background music capped off the top 30, thanks to the 2001 DVD box and the various games that have used the soundtrack.
The top royalty-earning Japanese track of the last three decades was the 2003 SMAP single "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana."
Source: Sports Nippon
