Japanese pop act Exile and Madonna were among the winners at the 23rd edition of the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) Gold Disc Awards at Tokyo International Forum in the Yurakucho district of Tokyo. The awards, held March 2, celebrate the artists that have sold the most in sales categories that range from singles and downloads to albums and total sales.

The 14-member boy band Exile from Avex Group won the Japan Gold Disc award for artist of the year, the category that is based on combined sales across all platforms.Madonna, on the strength of her "Hard Candy" (Warner Bros) album and digital download single "Miles Away," got the Japan Gold Disc award for international artist of the year. She also won the mastertone of the year award for the same track.
Pop singer Thelma Aoyama featuring SoulJa won the single track of the year (mobile) for "Sobaniirune."
Exile also picked up album of the year for their collection "Ballad Best." In the international category Coldplay snatched album of the year for "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (EMI).

Source: Billboard