 Logo used since 1997 | |
 Headquarters of SMEJ inRokubanchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo | |
Native name | 株式会社ソニー・ミュージックエンタテインメント |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha Sonī Myūjikku Entateinmento |
| Formerly | CBS/Sony Records Inc. (1968–1983) CBS/Sony Group, Inc. (1983–1991) |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 11 March 1968; 57 years ago (1968-03-11) |
| Headquarters | 4–5Rokubanchō,, Japan |
Area served | Japan |
Key people | Shunsuke Muramatsu (president andCEO) |
| Revenue |  ¥447,2 billion (FY24) |
Number of employees | 5.000 |
| Parent | CBS Records Group (1968–1988) Sony Group Corporation (1968–present) |
| Website | |
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (SMEJ), also known asSony Music Japan, is a Japaneseentertainment company wholly owned bySony Group Corporation. SMEJ's extensive operations encompassrecord labels,music publishing,anime production, and event organization. Founded in 1968 asCBS/Sony, the company operates independently from the United States–basedSony Music Entertainment due to its diversity and strength in the Japanese market. Its prominent subsidiaries include Sony Music Labels, which manages and operates its various record labels; Sony Music Solutions, which provides comprehensive support services like physical distribution, merchandise sales, and event planning; and the animation production company,Aniplex.
The company holds a dominant position in theAnime song market, with its artists providing songs for several series per year. Sony Music Japan has long utilized anime productions as a major platform for its artists, particularly through its subsidiary Aniplex. The establishment of theSacra Music label in 2017 further cemented this focus, dedicated specifically to managing artists prominent in the anisong genre, such asLiSA andAimer. This strategy leverages the global popularity of anime titles to propel Japanese artists to international audiences.
Sony Music does not hold the trademark rights to the Columbia name in Japan; therefore, releases fromColumbia Records (outside of Japan) are issued under the Sony Records label in Japan, though they retain the usage of the "walking eye" logo. The rights to the Columbia name and trademark are instead controlled byNippon Columbia, which served as the licensee for the American Columbia Records until 1968.
WithSony Corporation of America's buyout ofBertelsmann's stake inSony BMG, Sony Music Entertainment Japan stepped in to acquire outstanding shares ofBMG Japan fromSony BMG, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Japan.[1]
The idea for a CBS/Sony joint venture came in 1967 from Harvey Schein, then President of Columbia Records International, who had spent a decade traveling the world building CBS's international company. In 1972, Schein would leave CBS to become the president of Sony Corporation of America.[2]
Sony Music Entertainment Japan was officially incorporated in March 1968[3] as a Tokyo-based 50/50joint venture betweenSony and U.S. conglomerateCBS to distribute the latter's music releases inJapan. The company was incorporated as CBS/Sony Records and with Sony co-founderAkio Morita as president.[4][5][6]
Norio Ohga, who himself was a musician, was part of the management team from the formation of the company and served as president and representative director since April 1970.[7][8] In 1972, when CBS/Sony was generating robust profits, Ohga was named chairman and, at the same time, gained further responsibility and influence within Sony. He would continue to work for the music company one morning a week.[9] In 1980, Toshio Ozawa succeeded Ohga as president.[10]
In 1983, the company was renamed CBS/Sony Group.[3]
In January 1988, after more than a year of negotiations, Sony acquired the CBS Records Group and the 50% of CBS/Sony Group that it did not already own.[11]
In March 1988, four wholly owned subsidiaries were folded into CBS/Sony Group: CBS/Sony Inc., Epic/Sony Records Inc., CBS/Sony Records Inc. and Sony Video Software International.[3][12]
The company was renamed Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Inc.
On November 22, 1991, Sony Music began trading on theTokyo Stock Exchange, initially offered at its 6,800 yen per share subscription price, but fell to 5,700 yen due to no buyers.[13]
Shugo Matsuo was named new president in January 1992, replacing Toshio Ozawa, who was appointed to the post of chairman.[14]
Overall sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1991, were 83.8 billion yen with a pretax profit of 9.2 billion yen.[14]
In June 1996, Ryokichi Kunugi became the new president. Shugo Matsuo was named chairman.[15]
Shigeo Maruyama was appointed to the new post of CEO on October 1, 1997, and replaced Kunugi as president in February 1998.[16]
In August 1998, the logo was changed from the original"Walking Eye" to the current one.
As of 2019, Mizuno Michinori is the official CEO of the company.
In May 2018, SMEJ, through its Sony Creative Products division, acquired a 39% stake in thePeanuts comic strip franchise fromDHX Media.[17]
Sony Music Entertainment announced the launch of its firstvideo game publishing label, Unties, in October 2017. Unties will publishindie games for thePlayStation 4,PlayStation VR,Nintendo Switch, andPC. The name was selected by Sony as representative of helping to "unleash" the power of independent video game development and "unshackle" such developers from the traditional video game publishing process.[18]
Unties' first release wasTiny Metal, a turn-based tactics video game developed by Area 35, for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC. The game was first premiered at PAX West Indie Megabooth.[19] PublishedAzure Reflections, a side-scrolling bullet hell developed by Souvenir Circ., on May 15, 2018, for the PS4.[20] Published Touhou Gensou Wanderers Reloaded, a roguelike rpg developed by Aqua Style, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.[21] PublishedNecrosphere, a platformer developed by Cat Nigiri, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and PSVita.[21][22] PublishedMidnight Sanctuary, a VR/3D Novel game developed by CAVYHOUSE, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.[21][23] Published Tokyo Dark, a visual novel mystery adventure hybrid developed by Cherrymochi, for the PC.[24][21] PublishedChiki-Chiki Boxy Racers, an arcade racing game developed by Pocket, for the Nintendo Switch on August 30, 2018.[25][21] Scheduled to publish onLast Standard, a 3d action game developed by I From Japan, intended for PC.[26][27] Scheduled to publishThe Good Life, a daily-life rpg developed by White Owls Inc., for the PS4 and PC.[28][21] Scheduled to publishMerkava Avalanche, a 3d cavalry warfare action game developed by WinterCrownWorks, for the PC.[29][21] Scheduled to publishOlija, an action adventure game developed by Skeleton Crew Studio, for the PC.[30][21] Scheduled to publishDeemo Reborn, a music rhythm and urban fantasy game developed by Taiwanese studio Rayak, for the PS4 with PSVR support.[27][21] Scheduled to publishGiraffe and Anika, a 3d adventure game developed by Atelier Mimina, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.[31][21] Scheduled to publish 3rd Eye, a 2d horror exploration game, based on the Touhou franchise, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.[32][21] Scheduled to publish Gensokyo Defenders, a tower-defense game developed by Neetpia, for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch.[33][21] In 2019, Unties was dropped from the Sony group and became the new company Phoenixx.
The company's leading role on the Japanese market was increasingly challenged by labels such asAvex (where SMEJ formerly owned 5 percent of shares).[16][34] Net sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997, were down 10% to 103 billion yen, while net income fell 41% to 7.7 billion yen.[34] The market share at that time was less than 18%.[34] In August 1997,Dreams Come True, until that point Sony Music Entertainment Japan's best-selling act, signed a worldwide multi-album deal with competing U.S. labelVirgin Records America.[35]
Since then it was said that SMEJ ceded to Avex's challenge,[36] but SMEJ bounced back and regained leadership from its indie rival until 2012. SMEJ netted 22.4 billion yen for 1H 2012 and 14.3% of the market, second behind Avex (24.95 B yen, 15.9%).[37]
In May 2017, SMEJ, through subsidiary Sony Music Marketing (now Sony Music Solutions), acquired the physical retail and distribution rights to releases of another rival,Warner Music Japan.[38]
On June 11, 2025, SMEJ, via Sony Music Labels acquired the rights to theSpookiz series including its characters from Keyring.[39]
Aniplex Inc. is the SMEJ subsidiary responsible for the production, distribution and licensing ofJapanese animation and related media. Established in September 1995, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Japan in 2001. Aniplex has been involved in various major anime franchises likeFullmetal Alchemist,Puella Magi Madoka Magica, andDemon Slayer. The company also produces stage plays and publishes video games, notably the highly successful mobile gameFate/Grand Order.
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Sony Music Labels Inc. (SML) is the primary subsidiary of SMEJ's music division, tasked with the consolidated management and operation of the company's many record labels and large musical artist roster. SML was established to create a unified strategy across various genres and market segments. Its high-profile imprints include Sony Music Records,Epic Records Japan,Ki/oon Music, andSacra Music.
Sony Music Solutions Inc. (SMS) serves as the comprehensive services and infrastructure arm of SMEJ. Its extensive responsibilities include the manufacturing, packaging, and physical distribution of music and video content for all group labels. Beyond logistics, SMS is the key provider for fan-facing activities, managing concert and live event production, organizing 2.5D musicals and exhibitions, overseeing the planning and sales of merchandise, and operating official fan clubs. The subsidiary also develops various digital and technology-based solutions to support the group's entertainment businesses.
Sony Music Artists Inc. (SMA) is the major talent and artist management agency within the SMEJ group. It handles the careers of numerous Japanese musicians, actors, voice actors, andtarento. SMA provides management, booking, and promotional services, operating as a crucial link between the artists and the recording labels and production houses.
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