On February 24th, J-WAVE held its �McDonald�s TOKIO HOT 100 AWARDS� ceremony. The annual awards show, which determines the year�s best song and artists through listeners votes, had selected seven nominees each for five award categories. All songs and artists that placed in the top 100 in 2010 were considered for nomination. From January 9th until February 6th, a total of 18,661 votes were counted to decide this year�s winners.

Seven hundred J-WAVE listeners and several musicians and music execs attended the event and after party at Shinagawa�s Stellar Ball concert hall. Chris Peppler, the host of McDonald�s TOKIO HOT 100 radio show, served as MC, and the rest of the J-WAVE staff as presenters. The winners came to the stage with words of thanks and performed their songs for the audience. J-WAVE�s recommended artists for 2011, Heavenstamp and NIKIIE, also gave a special performance.

The night began with the naming of Filipino pop singer Charice as Best New Artist. Charice, who provided the theme song for J-WAVE�s 2010 winter campaign, is currently touring in Japan, and jumped at the chance to perform at the awards show. �I�m so happy to be accepted and appreciated in Japan. Thank you to all J-WAVE listeners,� expressed the delighted Charice, who then gave a powerful performance of her hit song, �PYRAMID.�

Next, Superfly�s �Wildflower� won the award for Best Song. Superfly had taken a break while recording to receive the award, and exclaimed, �I�m thrilled to receive this wonderful award. When I first heard �Wildflower,� I felt its energy and knew that I wanted to share it with others as soon as possible. To be able to touch so many people with my music, I am truly happy. I want to convey the song�s energy each time I perform it.�

EXILE then took home the award for Best Group. The audience erupted into cheers as the award was announced and EXILE member USA took the stage. �As EXILE is undergoing changes, it�s thanks to all of you that we can continue performing. The thanks I feel toward our fans is what inspires me to put everything I have into my performance. We ask for your continued support,� he said.

Winning the award for Best Male Artist for the third year in a row was Hata Motohiro. Now a regular of the �TOKIO HOT 100 AWARDS,� he exclaimed, �I�m surprised to win for the third year! Since I was busy and couldn�t attend the awards ceremony last year, I came back this year to retrieve my unclaimed item [last year�s award]. I don�t think of myself as the best, but I�m happy to be chosen.�



Finally, the award for Best Female Artist was presented to JUJU, who, when not performing, moonlights as a DJ on J-WAVE�s �RADIPEDIA,� which airs Monday nights from 2:00 to 4:00 AM. The busy artist landed 10 songs on the TOKIO HOT 100 charts last year. She said excitedly, �This is the first time I�ve received such an award, so I don�t really know what to say. Not only do I get to host my own show on J-WAVE, but I get to receive an award as well! This year is turning out better than I expected!� She finished with a performance of her two hit songs from 2010, �HELLO, AGAIN~Mukashi kara aru basho~� and �Kono yoru wo tomete yo.�

A recap of the ceremony will air on J-WAVE�s �McDonald�s TOKIO HOT 100� on Sunday, February 27th from 1:00 to 4:54 PM.

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McDonald's TOKIO HOT 100 AWARDS

Best Song: "Wildflower" / Superfly
Best Male Artist: Hata Motohiro
Best Female Artist: JUJU
Best Group: Exile
Best New Artist: Charice

Heavenstamp
01. Hype
02. Stand by You

CHARICE
01. Pyramid

NIKIEE
01. Shunkashuutou
02. HIDE&SEEK

JUJU
01. HELLO, AGAIN~Mukashi kara aru basho~
02. Kono yoru wo tomete yo

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Source & Photo: Barks