The MAJ 2025 organising committee has sent an official invitation to Tung Duong, who has confirmed his attendance at the awards ceremony, scheduled for May 21–22 at ROHM Theatre Kyoto.
The ceremony will honour Japanese and international artists across 60 award categories and broadcast live on Japan's national television network, NHK.
This marks a significant milestone not only for Tung Duong personally, but also for Vietnamese music on the international stage.
In 2025, marking its 20th anniversary, the Cong hien (Devotion) Music Awards, organised by the Sports & Culture newspaper under the Vietnam News Agency, has partnered with the Japan Music Awards. The event is hosted and operated by Japan’s Culture & Entertainment Industries Promotion Association (CEIPA).
The selection committee for MAJ 2025 comprises over 5,000 professionals in the music industry, including artists, producers, record label executives, critics, journalists, publishers, and international judges. In March this year, the MAJ organisers invited two Vietnamese journalists, including Le Xuan Thanh and Hoang Thu Hang, from the Sports & Culture newspaper under the Vietnam News Agency to participate in the voting for six categories: Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Top Global Hit from Japan, and Best Song Asia.
The evaluation criteria of MAJ 2025 are based on objective data from major charts such as Oricon, Billboard Japan, GfK/NIQ Japan, Luminate, USEN, and JASRAC. Eligible works and artists must have released content between January 29, 2024, and January 26, 2025. Some special categories, such as Best of Listeners' Choice, are determined entirely by public votes via Spotify.
The International Special Award is a category established through the collaboration between CEIPA and music award organisations from six countries: China, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam.
In Viet Nam, MAJ has partnered with the Cong hien Music Awards under the Sports and Culture newspaper. According to the agreement, in 2026, the Cong hien Awards will honour a Japanese artist on stage in Viet Nam.
The MAJ 2025 and Cong hien Music Awards organising committees jointly selected Tung Duong as the first recipient of the International Special Award in recognition of his artistic path and musical vision, which closely aligns with MAJ’s values at this point. His artistic impact, recognition, and numerous accolades also contributed to this decision.
The MAJ 2025 committee also acknowledged the Song of the Year award recently presented to Tung Duong at the Cong hien Music Awards 2025, describing the winning piece as a representative and influential work in Vietnamese mainstream music, selected based on its artistic merit and domestic acclaim.
Tung Duong is known for his perseverance, consistency, and drive to constantly push his limits, a sentiment the singer himself has often shared. Over more than two decades of artistic endeavour, he has proven himself not only as an outstanding vocalist but also as a symbol of creativity, innovation, and influence in Vietnamese music.
Throughout his 20-year career, Tung Duong has continually reinvented himself with each new project and album. He has embraced a variety of genres, from pop, rock, jazz, and world music to contemporary folk. This relentless renewal has kept his work fresh, engaging, and artistically stimulating.
Beyond his performances, Tung Duong is also deeply committed to community initiatives and music education, contributing to greater public appreciation and understanding of music. He serves as a role model for artists who not only shine on stage but also embrace their cultural and social responsibilities.
One of the clearest testaments to his talent and dedication is the impressive list of awards he has garnered throughout his career.
Notably, Tung Duong currently holds the record for the highest number of Cong hien Music Awards, with 14 wins. His repeated recognition in major categories such as Male Singer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Programme of the Year affirms his irreplaceable status in the eyes of critics and the music-loving public.
