ALBUM
OF
THE
YEAR

Entry Specifications

For each period, all albums that ranked on any of the three Billboard JAPAN Hot Albums indicators (CD Sales, Downloads, or Streaming) are listed.

From the albums listed in each period, those that meet the eligibility requirements for entry works are selected.

After all seven periods have concluded, the albums extracted from each period are combined and ranked by points. Duplicate entries are removed by retaining only the highest point total for each album, and the top 100 works are designated as Entry Works.

※Albums by both domestic and international artists are eligible.

※Eligible albums must contain at least five tracks. Different versions of the same song are not counted as separate tracks.

Aggregation Period

First Voting Period

All Domestic Voting Members are required to vote, while Overseas Voting Members may vote on a voluntary basis.

Each member must vote for 2 to 5 entries from the list of Entry Works.

※Self-selection is permitted, but duplicate selections are not allowed.

Final Voting Period

All Domestic and Overseas Voting Members will participate in the voting.

Each voter will rank up to three works from among the nominees. Points will be allocated as follows. First place 4 points, second place 2 points, third place 1 point.

※Voters may rank up to three works. Ranking fewer than three is permitted.
※Self selection is permitted and duplicate selections are not allowed.

※If multiple songs by the same artist are nominated, the number of nominated works will be increased until five different artists are represented.

Winners

Artists, producers, recording engineers, mixing engineers, mastering engineers, directors, managers, and A&R representatives.