Real Sound (website)

Real Sound
Home page of Real Sound in September 2026
Native name
リアルサウンド
Riaru Saundo
Website type
News website
Available inJapanese
Headquarters
Dōgenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo
,
Japan
OwnerBlueprint Inc.
EditorKōichi Kamiya
Websiterealsound.jp
Advertisingyes
Commercialyes
Registrationoptional
LaunchedJuly 22, 2013; 13 years ago (2013-07-22)

Real Sound (Japanese: リアルサウンド, Hepburn: Riaru Saundo) is a Japanese entertainment news website. It was founded in 2013 by Kōichi Kamiya and Cyzo before becoming independent in 2016.

Overview

The website was founded on July 22, 2013, by Cyzo with the help of Kōichi Kamiya, a former editor at the music magazine Rockin'On Japan. He created the website because news articles dominated music information websites, such as Natalie, during the early 2010s, so Real Sound focused on reviews and interviews. He reportedly wanted to "explore the possibilities of a music criticism that had not been pursued on the web," adding that they predict that "the process to update the critical spirit once embodied by music magazines for the internet age" is beginning, citing the rise of bloggers involved in music criticism.

The website's articles were first aggregated on Yahoo! News Japan on October 2, 2013. By October 29, 2013, the website received 10 million views per month. However, views for the website's "review" section performed poorly, with Kamiya citing that few Japanese users actually want album reviews.

Real Sound Movie was launched in August 2015. In 2016, Real Sound became independent following the acquisition of the trademark and operating rights from Cyzo. Real Sound Tech was launched in March 2018. Real Sound Book was launched in September 2019. By January 2025, the website received 100 million page views per month, including content aggregated to Yahoo Japan and Line.

In addition to music, the website also has a dedicated page for movies (Real Sound Movie), books (Real Sound Book), and technology (Real Sound Tech). As of January 2025, Real Sound publishes 80 to 100 articles per day, including news, interviews, and columns.

Real Sound was owned by Blueprint Inc. It is headquartered in Dōgenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo. The current editor-in-chief is Kōichi Kamiya. As of January 2025, the company has 27 employees and 150 to 200 freelance writers.

References

  1. ↑ maskin (July 22, 2013). サイゾー、音楽総合メディア「リアルサウンド」を新たにスタート 【@maskin】 [Cyzo launches new music media outlet "Real Sound" [@maskin]]. TechWave [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 月1億回閲覧「リアルサウンド」編集長が語る、音楽情報サイトの今 [The editor-in-chief of "Real Sound," which receives 100 million views per month, talks about the current state of music information websites.]. Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). January 16, 2025. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Naganawa, Takeshi (November 11, 2013). 音楽どうする会議 第1回「音楽ライターはどうする？」レポート ["What to Do About Music" Conference – Vol. 1: "What About Music Writers?" – Report]. Musicman [ja]. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  4. ↑ maskin (October 30, 2013). 新興メディア「リアルサウンド」が公開3か月で1000万PV達成、音楽メディアNo.1へ向け邁進【@maskin】 [New media outlet "Real Sound" achieves 10 million page views in just three months since its launch, making strides towards becoming the No. 1 music media outlet. [@maskin]]. TechWave [ja] (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ ASCII.jp：『マーベルアイアンマン VR』をMARVEL好きインフルエンサーたちがプレイする特別ムービーを公開！ [ASCII.jp: Special video released featuring Marvel-loving influencers playing "Marvel's Iron Man VR"!]. ASCII.jp (in Japanese). July 15, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ "COMPANY INFORMATION". blueprint (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ Real Soundとは [What is Real Sound?]. Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved September 26, 2026.