Hulu Japan gives audiences access to footage of 80 music performances from some of the biggest artists in music. Spanning decades and genres, this collection presents a history of music from jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop to electronic. Experience powerful performances from Madonna and Beyoncé, sonic experiments from David Bowie and Radiohead, arena-shaking anthems from Queen and the Rolling Stones and much more.
The role of concert streaming in Japan
In 2020, the pandemic made access to concerts more difficult, raising the question of how live music could reach more people without limitations of time or location. Streaming services quickly found the answer and their popularity has not diminished. Now in 2024, platforms like Hulu Japan are offering foreign expats and Japanese audiences a new way to experience international artists.
Despite Japan’s continued preference for physical CDs, streaming services are becoming increasingly common. However, streaming concerts – both live and pre-recorded – is still relatively new and evolving.
UNext offers a few notable documentaries on major artists like Björk, Amy Winehouse, and Michael Jackson, but finding them can be tricky because stage names usually need to be entered in Japanese katakana.
Netflix features superstars like Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen and the nostalgic documentary The biggest pop night (2024), which chronicles the making of “We Are the World” in 1985, written and recorded by 47 of America’s biggest stars.
Disney+ also features a number of recently released, popular documentaries, such as Billie Eilish’s Happier than ever: a love letter to Los Angeles (2021), Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2024) and The beach boys (2024).
In 2021, Amazon Prime Video introduced the Coda Collection, founded by Yoko Ono, Janie Hendrix and others, allowing US and UK members to stream more than 150 concert films and documentaries. However, this extensive collection is currently not available to Amazon Japan prime members.
Of course, YouTube has thousands of concert recordings, but these are mostly unofficial uploads and are often of low audio and video quality.
Audio platforms like Spotify have made streaming music easy, while video platforms are starting to provide easier access to music videos, concert films, and behind-the-scenes footage.
For many, music festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury are far from reach, but catalogs like Hulu may bring them closer to home.
The first wave of concert images
In October 2024, Hulu Japan released the first 50 concerts in its library, including artists such as Beyoncé, Journey and John Lennon.
Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella performance includes powerful hits like “Crazy in Love,” as she joins dozens of dancers and musicians to take command of the stage in honor of Black cultural history. Journey from 2008 Live in Manila presents over two hours of rock classics, including songs from the album Revelation and fan favorites like “Don’t Stop Believin.” John Lennon’s 1972 One on one concert live in New York captures his final full-length concert, performing timeless songs like “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance” while raising money for people with disabilities.
Other artists include pop icons such as Madonna, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, but also rock bands such as Aerosmith, Linkin Park and Coldplay.
Major artists from the US and Great Britain
From November 2024, viewers will be able to watch ten more performances from major British artists.
Radioheads 2011 The king of limbs: live from the basement takes fans to a stripped-down, intimate show, where songs like ‘Lotus Flower’ and ‘Give Up the Ghost’ build an atmosphere of percussive tension with soft harmonies and ethereal vocals. Blur’s 2012, on the other hand Live in Hyde Park is a huge, jubilant show celebrating the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games.
Other British artists include pop-rock bands Duran Duran and One Direction, singer-songwriters Paul Weller and Rod Stewart, and British rock supergroup Cream.
Another 10 performances from major American artists will be available in December 2024. 2015 by Pharrell Williams Live in London glides through a mix of chart-topping hits like “Happy” and “Lose Yourself to Dance” with choreography from ethnically diverse dancers, while Sheryl Crow’s 2017 Live at the Capitol Theater captures her emotional finale Be myself tour with songs featuring rock, country and blues.
Other American artists include guitarist-composers Jack White, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci.
Concerts that have written music history
Heading into 2025, Hulu Japan will stream concerts that have become deeply entrenched in music history, including some of the most watched broadcasts of the 20th century.
David Bowie’s 1973 Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars bids farewell to Bowie’s theatrical, gender-bending persona, Ziggy Stardust, at the Hammersmith Odeon. The show is packed with futuristic costumes and cosmic hits like ‘Starman’ and ‘Suffragette City’.
The Freddie Mercury tribute concert held at Wembley Stadium in 1992, brought together some of the world’s biggest artists to celebrate Queen’s legendary frontman, Freddie Mercury, while raising awareness of AIDS. Guest artists included Elton John, George Michael, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses.
Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll 1989 held at the PalaEur Arena brought together pioneers Little Richard, James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others to perform hits like “I Feel Good (I Got You)” in an energetic celebration of rock ‘n’ roll.
Current distribution schedule
Image: Hulu Japan
Hulu Japan has entered into a licensing agreement with Qello Japan, a streaming service for official concert films and music documentaries. Click here to watch the latest western music performances available.
Streaming from October 7
- AC/DC: Circus Kroon
- Adele: iTunes Festival: Live in London
- Aerosmith: Rock for the Rising Sun
- Avril Lavigne: Live in Calgary
- Beyoncé: Attend Coachella
- Black Sabbath: The end
- Blackpink: The show
- Bob Marley and the Wailers: Uprising live!
- Bon Jovi: Live in New York
- Bruce Springsteen: Live in Hyde Park
- Celine Dion: A girl in a snow
- Chic: Live at iTunes Festival
- Coldplay: Live in Germany E-Werk 2011
- Daft punk: Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5 system
- David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
- certainly Leppard: And there will be a next time: Live from Detroit
- Diana Krall: Live in Rio
- Earth Wind and Fire: Living in Japan 1990
- Ed Sheeran: Live at iTunes Festival
- Elton John: Live in London 2013 Elton John
- Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70: live at the Royal Albert Hall
- Foo Fighters: Austin city limits
- Green Day: *Awesome as F*k
- Guns N’ Roses: Live from the O2 Arena London
- Jack Johnson: Main Square Festival 2014
- James Brown: Live in Montreux
- Jeff Beck: Live in Tokyo
- Johannes Legend: Live at the iTunes Festival
- John Lennon: One on one concert live in New York
- Travel: Live in Manila
- Justin Timberlake: Live from New York
- Katy Perry: World tour live
- Kendrick Lamar: Living in London 2013
- Kiss: Live at the Nürburgring
- Lady Gaga: Living in London 2013
- Lenny Kravitz: Just let it go: Live
- Linkin Park: Live in New York
- Madonna: Confessions Tour
- Chestnut 5: Living in London 2014
- Metallica: Orion Festival: Tour through the Never
- Norah Jones: Living in London 2012
- Oasis: Live at Wembley Arena 2008
- Paul McCartney: Space within the US
- Paul Simon: Live in New York City
- Queen: Live at the Regenboog ’74
- Rainbow: Lived in Munich 1977
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Bonnaroo Festival
- Ringo Starr and his All Starr band: Ringo at the Ryman
- Sie: Live at the Metro Theater
- The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun: Hyde Park Live
Streaming from November 18
- Blur: Live in Hyde Park
- Cream: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
- Duran Duran: Attend Coachella
- Gary Moore: One night in Dublin
- Iron Virgo: The Book of Souls: Live Chapter
- One direction: Up all night: the live tour
- Paul Weller: Live in Sydney
- Radio head: The king of limbs: live from the basement
- Rod Stewart: Live in Hyde Park
- Sarah Brightman: Hymn in concert
Sstreaming from December 16
- Chicago: Chicago Live on Soundstage
- G3 (Satriani/Vai/Petrucci): Live in Tokyo
- Hall & Oates: Live at the Sydney Entertainment Centre
- Jacket White: Live at iTunes Festival
- Megadeth: One night in Buenos Aires
- Pharrell Williams: Live in London
- Sheryl Crow: Live at the Capitol Theater
- The Doobie Brothers: Live at Wolf Trap
- The doors: Live at The Bowl ’68
- Toto: Live in Amsterdam
Streaming on January 20, 2025
- The Freddie Mercury tribute concert
- Supershow: The last great jam of the ’60s
- Ultra Music Festival Miami 2017
- Change starts within the David Lynch Foundation
- US Fest 1983: Days 1-3
- The Strat Pack: 50 Years of Fender Stratocaster
- Advantage bridge school
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts
- Legends of rock ‘n’ roll
- Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival
These musical performances offer a glimpse into decades of cultural shifts, artistic innovation and musical vocabulary shared regardless of style. With Hulu Japan’s latest catalog, you join a legacy of artists who continue to shape and inspire the music of today.
© Japan Today
