JOYSOUND

What JOYSOUND does

JOYSOUND is a Japanese karaoke brand operated by XING INC. (株式会社エクシング), providing karaoke systems, online karaoke services, and music search/ranking platforms to both karaoke venue operators (B2B) and individual consumers (B2C) in Japan. Its product portfolio spans commercial karaoke hardware (flagship JOYSOUND X1 released 2023, plus legacy MAX GO/MAX2/MAX models), home karaoke software on Steam (160,000+ songs with 700 added monthly), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, browser, and smartphone apps, plus member services (うたスキ / UtaSuki), connected karaoke experiences (X PARK), and live content viewing (みるハコ / MiruHaco).

The platform's underlying technology combines a proprietary karaoke sound engine (X-Leben II) featuring recordings by Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra musicians, an AI-powered singing scoring system (分析採点AI+) trained on approximately 6 million data points combined with professional voice coach evaluation, and music content licensed through JASRAC and NexTone rights organizations. The ecosystem also includes a developer SDK enabling third-party apps to integrate JOYSOUND's karaoke scoring functionality.

Revenue is generated across four streams: hardware sales/rentals of karaoke machines to venue operators (X1, MAX GO, MAX2, MAX), software licenses for home karaoke across gaming and mobile platforms, music licensing/royalty arrangements, and member services (うたスキ) with potential subscription-based monetization. Pricing for venue hardware is quote-based and undisclosed; consumer apps follow a freemium model with basic scoring features free daily. Distribution leverages channel partnerships with karaoke venues nationwide, e-commerce storefronts on Steam/Switch/PlayStation, and self-serve PLG channels including web browser (Sound Cafe), smartphone apps, and a dedicated streaming platform (JOYSOUND for STREAMER).

Name

JOYSOUND

Legal name

XING INC. (株式会社エクシング)

Website

https://joysound.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JOYSOUND is the karaoke brand of XING INC., providing commercial karaoke machines, home karaoke software, AI-powered singing scoring, and connected entertainment services to karaoke venue operators and consumers across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Karaoke Equipment and Services

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Amusement Arcades (71312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Coin-Operated Entertainment (Pinball, Crane/Claw, Jukebox, Darts/Billiards) (MPAEAJAF)

Keywords

• Commercial karaoke machines
• Home karaoke software
• Music licensing services
• Karaoke scoring technology
• Online karaoke entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Karaoke Machine Sales/Rental to Businesses: JOYSOUND sells and rents karaoke machines and systems (X1, MAX GO, MAX2, MAX) to karaoke venue operators. Revenue generated through one-time hardware purchases or ongoing rental/lease arrangements.
2. Home Karaoke Product Licenses: Home karaoke products sold through platforms including Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, browsers, and smartphone apps. Revenue from software licenses and subscriptions for home use.
3. Music Content Licensing: Revenue from music licensing through JASRAC (License 6577872189Y45122) and NexTone (ID000000853) for copyright clearance of songs in their catalog.
4. Membership Services (うたスキ): Uta Suki member service providing personalized features including song history, favorites, song requests, scoring competitions, and video sharing. Potential subscription-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

JOYSOUND manufactures and sells commercial karaoke machines (the X1, MAX GO, MAX2 and MAX series) to karaoke-box operators and on-trade venues, ships home-use karaoke software for Steam, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, distributes mobile karaoke and music-discovery apps, and runs online karaoke entertainment services including the X PARK platform and the UtaSuki (うたスキ) membership community. The offering is unified by the JOYSOUND song catalog and the proprietary analytical scoring (採点) system.

Product overview

JOYSOUND is a comprehensive karaoke ecosystem consisting of hardware karaoke machines (JOYSOUND X1 as the latest 2023 flagship, along with legacy models MAX GO 2019, MAX2 2017, and MAX 2015), mobile apps (分析採点JOYSOUND for scoring, キョクナビ for remote control), member services (うたスキ with video sharing and music post features), and online platforms (X PARK for connected entertainment). The product portfolio includes dedicated karaoke room equipment, home karaoke software for Steam and Nintendo Switch, professional scoring systems (分析採点AI＋), competition features (全国採点グランプリ), live content viewing (みるハコ), and children's content (JOYKIDS). The ecosystem is supported by music licensing from JASRAC and NexTone, and integrates with RecTV for official music video streaming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JOYSOUND X1: Latest karaoke machine model released in 2023 with X PARK features, analysis scoring AI, and entertainment connectivity
• JOYSOUND MAX GO
• JOYSOUND MAX2
• JOYSOUND MAX
• 分析採点JOYSOUND
• うたスキ
• X PARK
• みるハコ
• JOYKIDS
• サビカラ
• 全国採点グランプリ

Products and services

• JOYSOUND X1 karaoke machine

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 160,000 songs available on Steam platform with 700 new songs added monthly
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• XING INC (株式会社エクシング)coreOthersParent company. XING INC is the parent corporation of JOYSOUND brand, providing corporate infrastructure and resources. JOYSOUND is a brand under XING INC.
• JASRAC (日本音楽著作権協会)coreTechnology or IntegrationMusic copyright licensing organization. JOYSOUND holds JASRAC license numbers 6577872189Y45122, 6577872188Y38026, 6577872187Y31015 for music content rights.
• NexTonecoreTechnology or IntegrationMusic rights management organization. JOYSOUND holds NexTone license IDs 000000853, 000000844, 000000849 for music content licensing.
• Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated for X-Leben II karaoke sound engine. Orchestra musicians performed recordings for the proprietary live sound source, with piano, guitar, drums and other instruments added for enhanced realism.
• Recochoku (レコチョク)coreTechnology or IntegrationMusic distribution and services provider. Provides official music video content for JOYSOUND's みるハコ (Miruhaco) feature through RecTV Powered by Recochoku service.
• Apple MusicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJOYSOUND participates as Apple Music curator, featuring curated content and song recommendations on the Apple Music platform.
• LINE YahoominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for HYBE JAPAN AUDITION 2026 allowing entry submissions through LINE platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• JANKEN (Japan Karaoke Entertainment / Big Echo): JANKEN operates Big Echo, the largest karaoke venue chain in Japan, and historically aligns with DAM hardware. A broad incumbent competing for the same Japanese karaoke demand pool through venue operations rather than machine manufacturing.
• YAMAHA (Music / Karaoke business): YAMAHA has historical karaoke machine expertise and broader music/audio hardware presence. As a broader music technology incumbent, YAMAHA could re-enter the karaoke machine category and represents an adjacent peer with overlapping technology assets.

Direct peers

• DAM (Daiichikosho): DAM is the dominant Japanese karaoke machine and content provider, operating as JOYSOUND's primary domestic competitor across B2B venue machines, song catalog, and consumer-facing scoring products. Same business model, same customer base, same product category.
• StarMaker: StarMaker is a mobile karaoke and singing competition app with a global user base. Competes directly with JOYSOUND's home karaoke apps and Analysis Scoring JOYSOUND mobile product on smartphone-based singing.
• Smule: Smule's Sing! karaoke app is a global mobile-first karaoke platform with social/UGC features. Directly comparable to JOYSOUND's mobile apps and STREAMER product, competing for the home/karaoke-on-smartphone use case.

Others

• Apple Music: Apple Music is a music streaming service that JOYSOUND already partners with as a curator. Adjacent/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but represents the broader shift of music consumption toward streaming that could erode dedicated karaoke demand.

Regional players

• Uta Hiroba (Karaoke no Uta Hiroba): Uta Hiroba is a Japanese karaoke venue chain competing for the same consumer out-of-home singing occasions. Operates in the same Japan-only market and would be a candidate B2B venue partner for JOYSOUND hardware.
• Pasela Resorts: Pasela Resorts operates a chain of upscale karaoke and entertainment venues across Japan. Competes for end-user karaoke demand in the same Japanese market and is a potential B2B machine customer for JOYSOUND.
• T-JOY: T-JOY is a Japanese karaoke venue operator competing in the same domestic out-of-home karaoke market. Comparable consumer target (groups, families, casual singers) and is in JOYSOUND's potential venue customer universe.

Emerging players

• Yokee: Yokee is a mobile karaoke app letting users sing and share recordings, similar to JOYSOUND's smartphone scoring app. Smaller scale than Smule/StarMaker but represents the same free/UGC karaoke segment JOYSOUND competes in for home users.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JOYSOUND_PR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/joysoundchannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/JOYSOUND.fanpage
• Instagraminstagram.com/joysound_pr
• TikToktiktok.com/@joysound_pr

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JOYSOUND