The Beatles were the first rock group to perform at Budokan in a series of five shows held between June 30 and July 2, 1966.
Their appearances were met with opposition from those who felt the appearance of a western pop group would defile the martial arts arena.

In July 1973 Japanese television recorded the Santana performance at Budokan.

The Budokan gained worldwide fame when American artists Cheap Trick and Bob Dylan used the arena to record their performances, Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978) and Bob Dylan at Budokan (1979).
The venue is popular for recording live albums because it has good acoustics, is relatively large and Japanese audiences are known for being highly appreciative when appropriate but quiet during performances.
Eric Clapton described the Tokyo audience as "almost overappreciative" in interviews promoting Just One Night (1980), his own live album recorded at the Budokan.

The record for the most Budokan music concerts is held by Eikichi Yazawa, 142 times as of December 19, 2017.

Artists that have released live recordings from the venue include:
The Beatles were the first rock group to perform at Budokan in a series of five shows held between June 30 and July 2, 1966. Their appearances were met with opposition from those who felt the appearance of a western pop group would defile the martial arts arena.
In July 1973 Japanese television recorded the Santana performance at Budokan.
The Budokan gained worldwide fame when American artists Cheap Trick and Bob Dylan used the arena to record their performances, Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978) and Bob Dylan at Budokan (1979). The venue is popular for recording live albums because it has good acoustics, is relatively large and Japanese audiences are known for being highly appreciative when appropriate but quiet during performances. Eric Clapton described the Tokyo audience as "almost overappreciative" in interviews promoting Just One Night (1980), his own live album recorded at the Budokan.
The record for the most Budokan music concerts is held by Eikichi Yazawa, 142 times as of December 19, 2017.
Artists that have released live recordings from the venue include:
Nippon Budokan