Berklee Valencia Partners with CEIPA to Bring Experiential Workshop to Japan’s Music Industry Leaders

Berklee Valencia recently partnered with the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association (CEIPA) to deliver an immersive professional workshop for 30 Japanese music industry leaders, as part of CEIPA’s ongoing initiatives under the CEIPA × TOYOTA GROUP Music Way Project. Led by Emilien Moyon, director of Berklee Valencia’s Global Entertainment and Music Business program, and faculty members Alexandre Perrin and Grace Puluczek, the workshop explored international market development, digital transformation, and artist export through a hands-on, experiential learning approach.

Building Bridges with a Global Music Market in Transition

Japan is the second-largest music market in the world, and it is undergoing a significant shift. Historically supported primarily by physical recorded formats, the industry’s mindset is evolving with the growth of digital distribution and a renewed focus on global engagement. “As digital consumption accelerates and international export becomes a priority, it was essential for Berklee to be part of that conversation,” Moyon said. 

At the heart of this transformation is a growing emphasis on co-creation, an approach that reframes music export not as a one-way transaction but as a collaborative ecosystem. Artists, educational institutions, industry organizations, brands, and audiences across regions actively shape creative and commercial outcomes together, opening new pathways for sustainable international growth. 

The CEIPA partnership included three phases, beginning in May 2025 at the inaugural Music Awards Japan in Kyoto, where Moyon introduced the collaboration during a keynote to more than 200 industry leaders. It continued with virtual sessions led by Berklee Valencia faculty that reached hundreds of professionals nationwide and focused on international marketing, artist development, and global music ecosystems. The initiative concluded in December with an intensive four-day, in-person seminar in Japan, bringing together 30 selected industry professionals for collaborative workshops led by Perrin and Puluczek.

Experiential Learning Across Cultures

Designed to contrast with more traditional, top-down educational models, the sessions emphasized collaboration, applied learning, and peer exchange. Participants worked in teams to develop international strategies for Japanese artists, culminating in the elaboration of professional pitches for well-known festivals, brands, and global collaborations.

The goal was not only to share frameworks, but to create space for experimentation and dialogue. “What stood out was how quickly participants applied new ideas to their own professional contexts,” said Puluczek. 

The sessions concluded with a certificate ceremony recognizing participants’ completion of the program and underscoring Berklee Valencia’s commitment to hands-on, globally focused industry education.

About CEIPA 

CEIPA, established by five major Japanese music industry organizations—the Recording Industry Association of Japan, the Japan Association of Music Enterprises, the Federation of Music Producers Japan, the Music Publishers Association of Japan, and the All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters—CEIPA also organized the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, which took place in Kyoto, Japan, in May 2025. The 2nd MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO.
For additional information about MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, please visit
www.musicawardsjapan.com.

About the CEIPA × TOYOTA GROUP Music Way Project

The market for entertainment content is expanding with lifestyle changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the streaming business, and Japanese culture is capturing international attention. As Japanese content continues to excite people around the world, CEIPA and the Toyota Group will cocreate a pathway for young people who are pioneering the future of Japanese music to drive the fundamental globalization and sustainable growth of Japanese music: the Music Way Project. The Music Way Project will provide opportunities for young talent to thrive and make a greater impact under the slogan “Japanese music drives the world.”