A tribute concert honoring Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) was broadcast and streamed on WOWOW starting July 13th, 2025, at 5 PM. The concert, titled "MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN A Tribute to YMO - SYMBOL OF MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025-", was held on May 20th, 2025, at the Kyoto International Conference Center Main Hall.
The concert, which preceded the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 ceremony held on May 21st and 22nd, celebrated YMO's innovative impact on the Japanese music scene. It also acknowledged the numerous musicians influenced by the band. YMO was selected as this year's symbolic artists for the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 (MAJ), the country's largest international music awards.
Formed in 1978 by Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Yukihiro Takahashi, YMO revolutionized music production with synthesizers and computers. The concert featured performances by various artists, including Matsutake Hideki, Okamura Yasuyuki, Miu Sakamoto, Yamaguchi Ichiro (Sakanaction), Towa Tei, and Ginger Root. The backing band, Modern Vintage Future, included notable musicians such as Mitsuru Takano, Shohei Amari, and Kazutoki Uehiro. The broadcast and streaming were available on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand, with archive streaming available for 30 days after the initial broadcast.