{
  "id": 4722138,
  "title": "From Bruno Mars & Number_i to The Weeknd: How Live Nation H.I.P.’s Kaori Hayashi Keeps Japan on the Global Touring Map",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/from-bruno-mars-number-i-to-the-weeknd-how-live-nation-h-i-p-s-kaori",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-31T21:38:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/live-nation-hip-kaori-hayashi-japan-interview-1236329321/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kaori Hayashi, Live Nation H.I.P.’s representative, is the sole Japanese woman featured on the prestigious Billboard Global Power Players list. In an interview with Billboard Japan, she spoke about her commitment to bringing renowned artists to the Japanese market and her vision for the country's live music industry. With the acquisition of H.I.P. by Live Nation in April 2025, Hayashi notes the positive outcomes so far, praising the synergy between Live Nation’s global network and H.I.P.’s deep understanding of the Japanese market. Japan, the world’s second-largest music market, prides itself on strong fan loyalty and relationships, which are key to success in the industry. H.I.P. has been instrumental in introducing international artists to Japan since its founding over four decades ago. Looking towards the future, Hayashi highlights the upcoming Bruno Mars dome tour in 2027 and Lady Gaga’s performance in January 2026. A significant milestone for H.I.P. is the collaboration with Don Quijote and Bruno Mars, which demonstrates their commitment to more than just music promotion but also authentic cultural partnerships. Hayashi emphasizes the importance of collaborations between entertainment, culture, and brands, foreseeing an increased focus on these partnerships in the future. For Hayashi, Japan remains a crucial music market with a passionate fan base and a strong culture of supporting artists over the long term. Despite the dominance of domestic artists, success in the live entertainment sector requires patience, commitment, and deep engagement with fans. Live Nation H.I.P. acknowledges the unique aspects of the Japanese market while striving for growth both domestically and internationally. While the live entertainment market shows strong growth prospects, challenges such as limited venue availability and the weak yen present obstacles that H.I.P. aims to address. Looking ahead, Hayashi identifies two main objectives for Live Nation H.I.P.: bringing more overseas artists to Japan for an unforgettable concert experience and expanding Japanese artists and music to a global audience. Hayashi emphasizes the importance of artist development and building long-term relationships to create opportunities for growth in the years to come.",
  "summary": "Billboard Japan interviewed Hayashi in recognition of her selection for the list for the fourth consecutive year.",
  "key_points": [
    "Kaori Hayashi leads Live Nation H.I.P. in Japan's music market",
    "Bruno Mars dome tour planned for 2027, Lady Gaga in January 2026",
    "H.I.P. focuses on artist development and global partnerships"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}