Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (SMEJ), also known as Sony Music Japan, is a Japanese entertainment company wholly owned by Sony Group Corporation. SMEJ's extensive operations encompass record labels, music publishing, anime production, and event organization. Founded in 1968 as CBS/Sony, the company operates independently from the United States–based Sony 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 the Anime 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 the Sacra Music label in 2017 further cemented this focus, dedicated specifically to managing artists prominent in the anisong genre, such as LiSA and Aimer. 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 from Columbia Records (outside of Japan) are issued under the Sony Records label in Japan, though it retains the usage of the "walking eye" logo. The rights to the Columbia name and trademark are instead controlled by Nippon Columbia, which served as the licensee for the American Columbia Records until 1968.
With Sony Corporation of America's buyout of Bertelsmann's stake in Sony BMG, Sony Music Entertainment Japan stepped in to acquire outstanding shares of BMG Japan from Sony BMG, making it a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Japan.
History Beginnings as CBS joint venture 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.
Sony Music Entertainment Japan was officially incorporated in March 1968Sony Music Entertainment Japan – History Retrieved September 15, 2010 as a Tokyo-based 50/50 joint venture between Sony and U.S. conglomerate CBS to distribute the latter's music releases in Japan. The company was incorporated as CBS/Sony Records and with Sony co-founder Akio Morita as president.Kimio Kase, Francisco J. Sáez-Martínez, Hernán Riquelme: Transformational CEOs: Leadership and Management Success in Japan. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005, . Page 16.. Sony Music UK, Retrieved on August 6, 2006.CBS/Sony Records is Established in First Round of Capital Deregulation. Sony History. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
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.Press release: Chairman of the Board Norio Ohga Retires as Director of Sony Corporation. Sony Corporation, January 28, 2003. Retrieved September 15, 2010John Nathan: Sony. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2001, . Pages 146–147. 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.John Nathan: Sony. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2001, . Page 147. In 1980, Toshio Ozawa succeeded Ohga as president.The Joy of Creating Something New. Sony History. Accessed September 17, 2010.
In 1983, the company was renamed CBS/Sony Group.
Sony acquires The CBS Records Group in 1988 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.The Acquisition of CBS Records and Columbia Pictures. Sony History. Accessed September 27, 2010.
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.CBS/Sony to Take Over 4 Subsidiaries. Jiji Press Ticker Service, February 12, 1988 The company was renamed Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Inc.
On November 22, 1991, Sony Music began trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, initially offered at its 6,800 yen per share subscription price, but fell to 5,700 yen due to no buyers.
Shugo Matsuo was named new president in January 1992, replacing Toshio Ozawa, who was appointed to the post of chairman.Steve McClure: Sony Music Names Matsuo to Head Label in Japan In: Billboard, February 8, 1992. Page 4. Overall sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1991, were 83.8 billion yen with a pretax profit of 9.2 billion yen. In June 1996, Ryokichi Kunugi became the new president. Shugo Matsuo was named chairman.Attorneys Launch Entertainment-Focused Firm In: Los Angeles Times, May 3, 1996. Accessed September 17, 2010. Shigeo Maruyama was appointed to the new post of CEO on October 1, 1997, and replaced Kunugi as president in February 1998.
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 the Peanuts comic strip franchise from DHX Media.
Video games The company entered the video game industry in 1986 when CBS/Sony Records started making games for the Famicom with Seikima II Akuma no Gyakushū!, and it was followed it in 1987 with the Epic/Sony Records label delivering Famicom games. This is not Sony's first entry into the video game industry, the company previously published games for MSX under the Hit Bit line.
The company expanded in Western publishing in late 1988 when the group founded CSG Imagesoft to localize its titles for the North American market.CSG Imagesoft Enters U.S. Home Video Game Market. PR Newswire, Los Angeles, September 6, 1989 The company was renamed to Sony Imagesoft in 1991, nearly two years after Sony acquired Columbia Pictures, with the Imagesoft division moving to the new Sony Electronic Publishing subsidiary.
During this time, producers seeking out creative talent and nurturing them to help develop new games, a strategy that was later used by Sony Computer Entertainment during its early years. The company churned out hits like Hook and Skyblazer for the SNES. The company also brought Western-developed titles like Solstice to the Japanese market, and the success led a sequel Equinox, which was commissioned by SMEJ for a Western market release by Sony Imagesoft. In 1993, the company released The Seven Colors: Legend of PSY・S City, which marked the debut of video game designer Masaya Matsuura, who go on to develop PaRappa the Rapper.
The company formed Sony Computer Entertainment in 1993, forcing SME Japan to stop publishing Nintendo games under the Epic/Sony Records name, and started publish video games with the SME Japan name. SME Japan however makes games autonomously from SCEI, like Psygnosis later did for SCEE and 989 Studios for SCEA. In 1998, the company signed a deal with Activision to publish games for Western territories, previously its games were localized by Sony Imagesoft, then SCEA/SCEE. In 2000, most of the functions were in the progress of transferring of SCEI, finally phasing it out in 2004 following the release of wordimagesoundplay for PlayStation 2. Also in 2000, the Tenchu IP was sold to Activision.
List of games published and/or licensed YearTitleDeveloperPlatformNotesas CBS/Sony Group1986Seikima II Akuma no Gyakushū!ISCOFamicom1987Seikima II SpecialMSXpublished by Sony Corporation1988Paris-Dakar Rally Special!Famicom1989Kyuukyoku TigerMicronicspublished in North America by American Sammy as Twin CobraCaptain EdGraphic ResearchFamicom Doubutsu Seitai Zukan! Katte ni Shirokuma: Mori o Sukue no Maki!TM Network: Live in Power BowlCBS/Sony GroupTashiro Masashi no Princess ga IppaiSoft VIsionMSXpublished by HAL LaboratoryPachipro DensetsuCoconuts Japanas Epic/Sony Records1987Tokoro-san no Mamoru mo Semeru moHAL LaboratoryFamicom1988Vegas Dreampublished by HAL America in North America1989Flying HeroAicomTashiro Masashi no Princess ga IppaiTOSE1990Soccer BoyKitty GroupGame Boyknown as Soccer Mania in North AmericaSolstice: The Quest for the Staff of DemnosSoftware CreationsFamicomJapanese release1991RoboCopOcean SoftwareGame BoyHakunetsu Pro Yakyuu Ganba LeagueStingSuper Famicomknown as Extra Innings in North AmericaDrakkhenBandit Inc.PC-98Japanese adaptationSharp X68000Jerry BoyGame FreakSuper Famicomknown as Smart Ball in North AmericaDragon's LairMotivetimeFamicomJapanese releaseDragon's Lair: The LegendGame BoyAltered SpaceSoftware CreationsXenon 2: MegablastSystem SacomPC-98Japanese adaptationSharp X68000Hudson HawkSpecial FX SoftwareFamicomJapanese release1992Game BoyRoboCop 2Painting by NumbersHookFamicomGame BoyUkiyoteiSuper FamicomHakunetsu Pro Yakyuu Ganba League '93Sting1993Utopia: The Creation of a NationGremlin GraphicsJapanese releaseSolstice IISoftware Creationsknown as Equinox in the Western marketsHakunetsu Pro Yakyuu Ganba League '94Sting1994Karau OuUkiyoteiknown as Skyblazer in the Western marketsas Sony Music Entertainment Japan1993The Seven Colors: Legend of PSY・S CityVirtual East CorporationMacintosh1994Bakuden Unbalance ZoneKogado StudioMega CDPC Engine CDEastern Mind: The Lost Souls of Tong NouOutSide Director's CompanyMicrosoft WindowsMacintoshGinga no Uo: Ursa Minor BlueAu ga areba Daijobu Ltd.Microsoft WindowsMacintosh1995Kileak: The BloodGenkiPlayStationknown as Kileak: The DNA Imperative in North AmericaChu-TengOutSide Directors CompanyMicrosoft WindowsMacintoshKileak: The Blood 2GenkiPlayStationknown as Epidemic in North AmericaTwo-TenkakuEnergy Corporation1996AirAssaultSingleTracMicrosoft WindowsJapanese releaseTwisted Metaleexy life: East End X YuriCosmo TechnologyPlayStation1997Kowloon's GateZequeNaniwa no Akindo: Futte Nanbo no Saikoro JinseiOeRSTEDLagnacureArt SystemDamDam StompLandAtelier Double1998Denki Groove Jigoku VOpusRitti Ninja Katsugeki TenchuAcquirepublished in Western markets by Activision as Tenchu: Stealth AssassinsIceman: Digital PlaystageSony Music Entertainment (Japan)Kahen Soukou Gunbike: Speed Power GunbikeInti CreatesJingle Cats: Love Para Daisakusen no MakiVantan International Co., Ltd.Microsoft WindowsMacintoshRobots: Video AcademySony Music Entertainment (Japan)PlayStationGangway Monsters1999Click MedicGame FreakRitta Ninja Katsugeki Tenchu: Shinobi-GaisenAcquireMeguri AishiteSony Music Entertainment (Japan)Puffy no P.S. I Love YouItsuka, Kasanariau Ashita e: Shirou-henMBA InternationalItsuka, Kasanariau Ashita e: Sayuri-henYoshimoto Muchicco Daikessen: Minami no Umi no Gorongo ShimaPolygon MagicRittai Ninja Katsugeki Tenchu: Shinobi-HyakusenAcquireFun! Fun! PinguCAPS Inc.2000Lagnacure LegendArt Systempublishing rights sold to Artdink Corporation before releaseRitti Ninja Katsugeki Tenchu 2Acquirepublishing rights sold to Acquire before release; known as Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins in the Western markets by ActivisionKickboySony Music Entertainment (Japan)Microsoft Windows2001Space Venus Starring Morning MusumePlayStation 2Visual Mix Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001Avex2003Over the Monochrome RainbowOpera HouseMotion Gravure Series: Nemoto HarumiSony Music Entertainment (Japan)Motion Gravure Series: Kitagawa TomomiMotion Gravure Series: Mori HirokoMotion Gravure Series: MegumiDice FantasyMicrosoft Windows2004wordimagesoundplayTomatoPlayStation 2
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