Announcing the results of the "#LetMeTalkAboutMyFavoriteArtistNow" submission contest, a collaboration between LINE MUSIC and note!
For about a month starting October 23rd, we collected your overflowing passion for your favorite artists in the "#LetMeTalkAboutMyFavoriteArtistNow" submission contest. During the period (10/23-11/30), we received as many as 2,050 entries! Thank you for submitting so many wonderful works.
Please see here for a list of entries on note.
As a result of the selection process by three judges and the LINE MUSIC editorial department, the winners have been decided as follows.
※The comments for each article are a summary of the judges' reviews.
【Grand Prix】
(3 winners)
1) Is there any point in supporting an unpopular rock band? / Maishiro-san
Overall, this was a highly polished article with a high level of writing. This article, which passionately and single-mindedly talks about a flood of circle, was perfect for the "#LetMeTalkAboutMyFavoriteArtistNow" contest theme. I think it is an article that gives readers the "courage to keep loving the band they support."
2) Me, the Asian Kung-Fu Generation - An apology from a complicated subculture girl - / Shiri Hitomi-san
The writing style is unique to the internet, making it very easy to read, and the content is relatable. The illustrations included are very interesting, and it feels like it could become an internet meme. The message of the article itself, that "it doesn't matter what others say, as long as you like it, that's fine," is wonderful, and I think it's content that young people in particular should read.
3) The internet success grasped by 16-year-old rapper Lil Tecca / YOSHI-san
It was a highly complete music article that explained 16-year-old American rapper Lil Tecca in detail, incorporating video links and more. The topic of "artists who succeeded on the internet" itself captured the flow of the times. YOSHI-san has written other articles about hip-hop in various countries, and we can expect great things from them as a music writer in the future.
【Special Jury Award】
(1 winner)
The only music I like, as someone who loves silence / Tsubota Nekosky-san
※The Special Jury Award was created on the spot because Tsubota Nekosky-san's love for THE YELLOW MONKEY particularly resonated with the judges and was perfect for the theme of this contest. In addition to the same prize as the semi-grand prix, we will present Tsubota Nekosky-san with limited original goods from note!
The writing expression is wonderful, and it is a work with a very high level of completion as an article. Every turn of phrase was clever, such as "a recorder is a hard chikuwa with holes in it" and "a shock like when a teacher introduced the color 'purple' to me." The distance from love songs, expressing that they are neither liked nor disliked but that "love songs are peaceful," was also exquisite.
【Semi-Grand Prix】
(18 winners)
■ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION and Love Songs / by Tsuki no Hito
■1×1= / by Chizuru
■AKB is a stage where girls chasing their dreams look for a place to belong. / by Ai Morimoto
■Sakanaction, being a "minority" at the "top of their lungs" / by Okayu
■Let me talk about Kenji Ozawa's "Arpeggio (Beyond the Magic Tunnel)". / by Naoki Nomiya
■The story of how Official Hige Dandism didn't work for me / by Haruyuki
■My hero, the coolest person in the world #LetMeTalkAboutMyFavoriteArtistNow / by Yuki Tsukahara (Promotion Planning & Production)
■To you at 17, or the weak magic called ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION / by Hirono
■Of the 10 years of Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, which was the best? / by Nunomu
■The camp that Spitz protects with their lives ~Light delivered to every living creature~ / by Mamoru Yuza
■This is Peachful life (Let me talk about Yasuyuki Okamura now.) / by Miu Amami (Ame Mimi Ame)
■Go beyond life-size / by Mica (Mika Hirai)
■Why the world is into BTS right now (5 charms that create BTS's popularity) / by Co.
■Dear Masafumi Goto / by Yuraku Gyokusatei (formerly, Gyaku ni Sato)
■Dear Mr.Children / by Kekede Melon-i
■I want you to understand the goodness of Yura Yura Teikoku / by Ahiru
■4-panel manga SS "Blue Monday" / by Kusogori
■I was on the side of Shinsei Kamattechan. / by Yuki Matsushita
(*Listed in Japanese alphabetical order)
General comments from each judge
■ Mr. Narinori Shiba
We received over 2,000 entries, and my impression is that the overall level was high. In judging, I selected works that maintained a certain objectivity toward music, based on perspectives such as "being able to write articles continuously" and "not being too self-absorbed." Music is something that can just end with "I listened to it and it was fun!" or "It was interesting!", but having a platform where you can vent desires or impulses like "I want to talk about this artist!" beyond that is very significant, and I was very happy to see this contest get so exciting.
■ Ms. Emi Kusano
Every work was of very high quality. In addition to pure love letters to artists, there were also pieces from a marketing perspective and essay-like pieces based on memories, making evaluation difficult. I felt particularly attached to articles that overlapped with songs I had listened to or memories from my middle and high school days. It was also a very fun experience to read articles from perspectives different from my own, such as articles about songs I had never heard before, or articles about songs I knew that were intertwined with discussions about technology. Including everything, I think it was a very lovely judging process.
■ Mr. Sho Yamamoto
Two of the Grand Prix winners and the Special Award article are themed around bands I loved before I started my own band. It was very interesting to see songs I listened to often in the 2000s being rediscovered as music articles, as it gave me a sense of how people encounter music in this day and age. It made me imagine how happy I would be if the music I made in the past were introduced in this way as well.
■ LINE MUSIC Editorial Department
First of all, I am very happy that note has become filled with music articles. And every single article was overflowing with love for music. Overall, many of the articles were written based on the writers' own lives and experiences, which reminded me once again how closely music is intertwined with people. I believe that the thoughts and passion for music will help propel the activities of artists, so I hope we can work together with the writers we selected this time to energize the music scene as a whole.