Hulu Japan is giving audiences access to footage of 80 music performances from some of the greatest 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 powerhouse performances by Madonna and Beyoncé, sound experimentations by David Bowie and Radiohead, arena-shaking anthems by Queen and the Rolling Stones plus so much more.
The role of concert streaming in Japan
In 2020, the pandemic made concerts harder to access, sparking the question of how live music could reach more people without the limits of time or location. Streaming services quickly found the answer, and their popularity hasn’t waned. Now in 2024, platforms like Hulu Japan provide foreign expats and Japanese audiences a new way to experience international artists.
Despite Japan’s lasting preference for physical CDs, streaming services are becoming more widely used. However, concert streaming — whether live or prerecorded — is still relatively new and evolving.
UNext offers a few notable documentaries on great artists like Björk, Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson, but finding them can be cumbersome, as artist names usually need to be entered in Japanese katakana.
Netflix features superstars like Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen and the nostalgic documentary The Greatest Night in Pop (2024), which captures the making of “We Are the World” in 1985, written and recorded by 47 of America’s biggest stars.
Disney+ also boasts several 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 U.S. and U.K. members to stream over 150 concert films and documentaries. However, this extensive collection is currently unavailable to Amazon Japan prime members.
Of course, YouTube has thousands of concert recordings, but they tend to be unofficial uploads, and are often of low audio and video quality.
Audio platforms like Spotify have made music streaming simple, while video platforms are beginning to offer 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’s may help bring them closer to home.
The first wave of concert footage
In October 2024, Hulu Japan released the first 50 concerts in its library, including artists like Beyoncé, Journey and John Lennon.
Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella performance packs in powerful hits like “Crazy in Love” as she takes command of the stage alongside dozens of dancers and musicians in celebration of black cultural history. Journey’s 2008 Live in Manila brings 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 To One Concert Live in New York captures his final full-length concert, performing timeless songs like “Imagine” and “Give Peace a Chance” while fundraising for people with disabilities.
Other artists include pop icons like Madonna, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, as well as rock bands like Aerosmith, Linkin Park and Coldplay.
Major artists from the U.S. and U.K.
Starting this November (2024), viewers can explore 10 more performances by major U.K. artists.
Radiohead’s 2011 The King of Limbs: Live from the Basement transports fans to a stripped-back, intimate show, where songs like “Lotus Flower” and “Give Up the Ghost” build an atmosphere of percussive tension with soft harmonies and ethereal vocals. In contrast, Blur’s 2012 Live at Hyde Park is a massive, jubilant show for the Olympics closing ceremony in London.
Other U.K. artists include pop-rock bands Duran Duran and One Direction, singer-songwriters Paul Weller and Rod Stewart, and the British rock supergroup, Cream.
In December 2024, another 10 performances by major U.S. artists will be available. Pharrell Williams’s 2015 Live in London glides through a mix of chart toppers like “Happy” and “Lose Yourself to Dance” with choreography by ethnically diverse dancers, while Sheryl Crow’s 2017 Live at The Capitol Theater captures the emotional finale of her Be Myself tour with rock, country and blues-infused songs.
Other U.S. artists include guitarist-composers Jack White, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and John Petrucci.
Concerts that made music history
Heading into 2025, Hulu Japan will stream concerts that have become ingrained in the history of music, 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 in 1992 at Wembley Stadium gathered some of the world’s greatest performers to honor Queen’s legendary frontman, Freddie Mercury, while raising awareness for AIDS. Guest artists included Elton John, George Michael, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses.
Legends of Rock and 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 a high energy celebration of rock ‘n’ roll.
Current distribution schedule
Image: Hulu Japan
Hulu Japan has made a licensing agreement with Qello Japan, a streaming service for official concert films and music documentaries. Click here to view the latest available western music performances.
Streaming from Oct. 7
- AC/DC: Circus Krone
- Adele: iTunes Festival: Live in London
- Aerosmith: Rock for the Rising Sun
- Avril Lavigne: Live in Calgary
- Beyoncé: Live at Coachella
- Black Sabbath: The End
- Blackpink: The Show
- Bob Marley & The Wailers: Uprising Live!
- Bon Jovi: Live in New York
- Bruce Springsteen: Live in Hyde Park
- Céline 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 5ystem
- David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
- Def Leppard: And There Will Be a Next Time: Live From Detroit
- Diana Krall: Live In Rio
- Earth Wind And Fire: Live 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 at Montreux
- Jeff Beck: Live in Tokyo
- John Legend: Live at the iTunes Festival
- John Lennon: One To One Concert Live in New York
- Journey: Live in Manila
- Justin Timberlake: Live from New York
- Katy Perry: World Tour Live
- Kendrick Lamar: Live in London 2013
- Kiss: Live in Nürburgring
- Lady Gaga: Live in London 2013
- Lenny Kravitz: Just Let Go: Live
- Linkin Park: Live in New York
- Madonna: Confessions Tour
- Maroon 5: Live in London 2014
- Metallica: Orion Festival: Tour Through the Never
- Norah Jones: Live in London 2012
- Oasis: Live at Wembley Arena 2008
- Paul McCartney: The Space Within US
- Paul Simon: Live in New York City
- Queen: Live At The Rainbow ’74
- Rainbow: Live in Munich 1977
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: Bonnaroo Festival
- Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band: Ringo at the Ryman
- Sia: Live at The Metro Theater
- The Rolling Stones: Sweet Summer Sun: Hyde Park Live
Streaming from Nov. 18
- Blur: Live at Hyde Park
- Cream: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
- Duran Duran: Live at Coachella
- Gary Moore: One Night in Dublin
- Iron Maiden: The Book of Souls: Live Chapter
- One Direction: Up All Night: The Live Tour
- Paul Weller: Live in Sydney
- Radiohead: The King of Limbs: Live from the Basement
- Rod Stewart: Live at Hyde Park
- Sarah Brightman: Hymn In Concert
Streaming from Dec. 16
- Chicago: Chicago Live at Soundstage
- G3 (Satriani/Vai/Petrucci): Live in Tokyo
- Hall & Oates: Live at The Sydney Entertainment Center
- Jack White: Live at iTunes Festival
- Megadeth: A 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 Jan. 20, 2025
- The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
- Supershow: The Last Great Jam of the ’60s
- Ultra Music Festival Miami 2017
- Change Begins Within David Lynch Foundation
- US Fest 1983: Days 1-3
- The Strat Pack:50 Years of the Fender Stratocaster
- Bridge School Benefit
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts
- Legends of Rock and Roll
- Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival
These music performances offer a glimpse into decades of cultural shifts, artistic innovation and musical vocabulary that is shared regardless of style. With Hulu Japan’s latest catalog, connect with a legacy of artists who continue to shape and inspire the music of today.
© Japan Today