CM Song Day

What Is CM Song Day?

Every September 7th is "CM Song Day" (CMソングの日, CM Songu no Hi) in Japan. On September 7, 1951, Japan's first advertising jingle — a CM song (CMソング, commercial music song) — was broadcast on radio. The jingle was for Miyako Seisakusho (都製作所), a small metal manufacturing company, and aired on NHK Radio. This modest beginning launched a Japanese tradition of commercial music that would become one of the most creative and culturally significant forms of popular song in the country.

The CM Song as Japanese Pop Culture

Japan's television commercial jingle (CMソング) evolved from its modest 1951 radio beginnings into a sophisticated art form that produced some of Japan's most beloved popular songs. Major recording artists competed to have their music used in national television campaigns; conversely, songs written specifically for commercials achieved chart success and lasting cultural recognition. In Japan, the phrase "CM song" carries associations of catchy melodicism, mass appeal, and a particular kind of nostalgic cultural warmth.

Legendary CM Songs

Japanese CM songs have included original compositions by leading pop songwriters and recordings by major artists. Some jingles — for companies like Suntory, House Foods, and Kirin — have been in continuous use for decades and are recognized by virtually every Japanese adult. The "CM Queen" (CMクイーン) designation for actresses who appeared in many television commercials became a recognized cultural category. The CM song industry also launched the careers of several major recording artists, who first came to public attention through commercial campaigns.

Advertising Music Today

In the streaming era, CM songs continue to play a major role in Japanese popular music. Hit songs are licensed for major national campaigns; conversely, CM placements provide important exposure for emerging artists. The particular Japanese phenomenon of the "image song" (タイアップ, tie-up) — in which a recording artist releases a song specifically timed to a major product campaign or television drama — remains a powerful mechanism for mutual promotion in the Japanese entertainment industry.

Fun Facts

• Longest-running jingle: Some Japanese advertising jingles have been in continuous use for over 50 years — a longevity that reflects the power of musical familiarity in brand building and the Japanese consumer's appreciation for established tradition.
• Kyūpii Mayonnaise: The jingle for Kewpie Mayonnaise — featuring the distinctive "Q-P" musical motif — is one of Japan's most recognized advertising sounds, heard in commercials since the 1950s.