The Recording Industry Association of Japan has announced the winners of this year’s edition of The Japan Gold Disc Award. These awards are based on sales from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Arashi took the top prize this year, Artist Of The Year. Check out who else won after the jump!

On April 8, Ayumi Hamasaki is set to release her 16th studio album, “A ONE.” The album will have 11 tracks and come in 3 editions: CD only, CD+DVD, and CD+Blu-ray. There will also be 2 fanclub editions. Both fanclub editions will come with the CD (with a 2015 version of “Tell All” as a bonus truck), a DVD or Blu-ray, a live DVD or Blu-ray (containing footage from her COUNTDOWN LIVE 2014-2015 concert), and a picture frame with 10 pictures. The album will include the 3 songs from her December triple A-side single, “Zutto… / Last minute / Walk.” It will also include the song “The GIFT”, her collaboration with CPop singer JJ Lin that was previously reported on. Ayu recently held a LINE live chat where she revealed clips of the songs on the album. Check them out after the jump along with the album’s tracklist.

Just tonight it’s been announced that well-known pop-rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN are set to release their first physical single in 2 years and 7 months on April 22nd of this year.  The single is titled “Hello, world! / Colony” and will be the first time that the band has chosen to release a Double A-side single in almost 5 years, since “Uchuu Hikoushi e no Tegami / Motorcycle” hit shelves back in October of 2010.

“Hello, world! / Colony” is set to be released in 3 versions, a first for BUMP OF CHICKEN, and both lead tracks have already been confirmed to have tie-ups.  “Hello, world!” is going to be used as the opening theme for the upcoming MBS anime “Kekkai Sensen” (“Blood Blockade Battlefront”) while “Colony” has been confirmed as the theme song for the live action film “Kiseijuu:  The Final Chapter”, both of which are set to hit the screen in April.  Of note, while the band has provided music for animated material in the past, the last time they did so for a normally airing series was for the anime adaptation of popular game “Tales of the Abyss” with their song “Karma” back in 2008, so this is quite the momentous occasion.

Read on below to see exactly what is set to come with each edition of the single, as well as take a listen to “Karma” for old times sake.

This week’s guests were Daichi Miura, 7!!, and GLIM SPANKY.

Daichi Miura – Unlock

7!! – Orange

GLIM SPANKY – Homeroyo

As we reported previously, popular rock band [Alexandros] has recently signed up with major record label Universal Music Japan and are set to release their first single with the new label on March 18th.  The band has now chosen to publish the PVs for both of the A-sides on this upcoming release to their official Youtube channel for their fan’s enjoyment.

The music video for “Wataridori” (included with the Limited Edition A) tells the story of a pair of girls who are going to be broken apart by their impending graduation from high school, imparting the message that their bond is stronger than it first appears and that they shouldn’t be afraid to “take off to the future”.

Meanwhile, the music video for “Dracula La” (included with the Limited Edition B) takes place on a dome-shaped set and tells the comical story of a woman on the inside of the dome and a man on the outside, as well as a special play scene after the normal video’s conclusion.

You’ll find the PVs for both “Wataridori” and “Dracula La”, as well as the track list for the single right after the cut.

As we reported previously, up-and-coming alternative rock band androp will be releasing a new single on March 11th of this year.  Within the past few days, the band have finally chosen to reveal the music video for the release’s lead track, the emotional tear-jerker “Ghost”.

This very simple PV features the band playing the song in a plain white room, interrupted only by the occasional flickering cut to another scene, always in time with the static present in the track’s background.

You’ll find the music video for “Ghost” just below the jump, so please don’t hesitate to give it a watch.

Famous pop-rock band Southern All Stars have spent the past several months gearing up for the release of “Budou”, their first new album in almost a decade.  Now the group has decided to publish the music video for the first of the album’s lead tracks, “Aloe” to their official Youtube channel.  The PV for this disco-influenced song finds singer Kuwata Keisuke in his infamous dandy persona, cutting between various different sets in what might even be called a psychedelic manner.

In the same press release, the band also detailed the final piece of memorabilia that is going to be attached to the Limited Editions of their upcoming album.  Both the Limited A and the Limited B variant of the release will come with a special Bonus DVD which will include live footage from their New Year’s Eve concert.  There will be four songs recorded in total:  “Peace & Hi-lite” and Tokyo VICTORY” (from Kouhaku Uta Gassen), and “Tengoku on the Beach” and “Eikou no Otoko” from the encore following these the first two performances.  In addition, the DVD will also include a special Making Of video for the concert itself courtesy of WOWOW.

Feel free to take a look at the PV for “Aloe” right below the cut, and be sure to keep looking forward to the release of “Budou” at the end of the month.

Hello AramaJapan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Kumamushi come out on top against 2PM and back number. This week Kumamushi is trying to extend their reign against a newcomer. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the physical and digital charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!