40-544: Aniplex, Inc. (株式会社アニプレックス, Kabushiki-gaisha Anipurekkusu ) is a Japanese entertainment company founded in September 1995 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan , a subsidiary of the Sony Group . The company focuses on planning, producing, and distributing anime series, both its own and those based on licensed intellectual properties (IPs). It also engages in related multimedia initiatives. Aniplex's operations include
80-527: A 3d action game developed by I From Japan, intended for PC. Scheduled to publish The Good Life , a daily-life rpg developed by White Owls Inc., for the PS4 and PC. Scheduled to publish Merkava Avalanche , a 3d cavalry warfare action game developed by WinterCrownWorks, for the PC. Scheduled to publish Olija , an action adventure game developed by Skeleton Crew Studio, for the PC. Scheduled to publish Deemo Reborn ,
120-501: 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 1968 as a Tokyo-based 50/50 joint venture between Sony and U.S. conglomerate CBS to distribute
160-510: A Thing ", " I'm Real ", " Play ", and " Ain't it Funny ". With her second album, Lopez became the first female solo artist, under the record company, to reach the number one spot on the Billboard 200 . The 2002 remix album J TO THA L-O! The Remixes , which served as a follow-up to Lopez's sophomore effort, was the first remix album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200, and became
200-830: A fraction of the $ 80 million deal Carey had previously signed with Virgin Records ; Virgin later rescinded that deal after poor sales. That same month, it was announced that R&B group Jodeci had signed to the label and planned to release their first studio album in 20 years. Wondaland Records, singer Janelle Monáe 's imprint, entered into a joint venture with Epic in 2015. Acts on Wondaland include Jidenna , St. Beauty , Deep Cotton and Roman GianArthur . In 2016, Jennifer Lopez returned to Sony Music, six years after leaving in favor of Island Def Jam and Capitol Records . Lopez's multi-album deal reunited her with Reid, whom she signed with at Island Def Jam in 2010. In January 2017, 21 Savage signed to Epic. On May 11, 2017, it
240-554: A joint venture between SPEJ and SMEJ, it inherited Sony Music Group video productions, excluding SMEJ artists' music videos, in January 1998. Aniplex held their first Aniplex Online Fest on July 4–5, 2020, to celebrate its anime projects, panels with staff and cast members, and musical performances. Sally Amaki of 22/7 (Nanabun no Nijūni) served as emcee for the English version, streaming worldwide on YouTube . A Chinese podcast
280-462: A music rhythm and urban fantasy game developed by Taiwanese studio Rayak, for the PS4 with PSVR support. Scheduled to publish Giraffe and Anika , a 3d adventure game developed by Atelier Mimina, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC. Scheduled to publish 3rd Eye, a 2d horror exploration game, based on the Touhou franchise, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Scheduled to publish Gensokyo Defenders,
320-533: A platformer developed by Cat Nigiri, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, and PSVita. Published Midnight Sanctuary , a VR/3D Novel game developed by CAVYHOUSE, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC. Published Tokyo Dark, a visual novel mystery adventure hybrid developed by Cherrymochi, for the PC. Published Chiki-Chiki Boxy Racers, an arcade racing game developed by Pocket, for the Nintendo Switch on August 30, 2018. Scheduled to publish on Last Standard ,
360-735: A result of signings to the new UK CBS affiliate formed after the acquisition of Oriole Records (UK) in August 1964. Epic was involved in a notable "trade" of artists. Graham Nash was signed to Epic because of his membership in The Hollies. When the newly formed Crosby, Stills & Nash wanted to sign with Atlantic Records , Ahmet Ertegun worked out a deal with Clive Davis whereby Richie Furay 's new band Poco (having signed with Atlantic due to Furay's contract from being in Buffalo Springfield ) would sign with Epic. During
400-591: A tower-defense game developed by Neetpia, for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch. 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 as Avex (where SMEJ formerly owned 5 percent of shares). 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. The market share at that time
440-564: A wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It was prominent in the early to mid 1990s producing and licensing music for animated series such as Roujin Z from acclaimed Japanese comic artist Katsuhiro Otomo and Capcom 's Street Fighter animated series. Until March 2007, Sony Music Japan also had its own North American sublabel, Tofu Records . Releases of Sony Music Japan now appear on Columbia Records and/or Epic Records in North America . Sony does not have
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#1732780434599480-649: Is a Japanese music arm for Sony . Founded in 1968 as CBS/Sony , SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Group Corporation and is operating independently from the United States–based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry. Its subsidiaries include the Japanese animation production enterprise, Aniplex , which was established in September 1995 as a joint-venture between Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan , but which in 2001 became
520-553: Is based in Shanghai . It co-owns Crunchyroll, LLC with its sister company, Sony Pictures , which operates a direct-to-consumer (DTC) anime streaming service with 120 million registered users as of 2022. Having been established in September 1995 as a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan under the name SPE Music Publishing, the company received capital investment from Sony Music Entertainment Japan in January 1997, changing its name to SPE Visual Works. After becoming
560-765: The Berlin Philharmonic , Charles Rosen , the Juilliard String Quartet , Antal Doráti conducting the Hague Philharmonic, and George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra . By 1960, Epic became better known for signing newer, fledgling acts. By the end of the 1960s, Epic earned its first gold records and had evolved into a formidable hit-making force in rock and roll , R&B and country music . Among its many acts, it included Roy Hamilton , Bobby Vinton ,
600-1031: The 1960s, Epic oversaw the smaller subsidiary CBS labels including Okeh Records and Date Records . In 1968, Epic recordings began being distributed in the UK by CBS after the distribution deal with EMI expired that year; Epic itself launched in England around 1971. Sony Corporation bought CBS Records in 1987, and the company was renamed Sony Music in 1991. It began splitting European operations into two separate labels, Epic and Columbia, in 1992, and in 1997, Sony Music Australia and New Zealand followed suit. In 2004, Sony merged with music distributor BMG , bringing Arista Records , Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records , Jive Records , RCA Records , and Zomba Group of Companies to one parent company known as Sony BMG Music Entertainment . In 2008, Sony bought out BMG for $ 1.2 billion, bringing all affiliated labels together as Sony Music Entertainment International, SMEI. The merger
640-420: The 6 (as part of WORK Group ), which was a critical and commercial success, going-on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. Lopez's sophomore album, J.Lo (2001), experienced similar—if not greater—success, initially selling over 8 million copies worldwide, and gaining multi-platinum status under Epic Records. The record spawned several international and domestic hits, including " Love Don't Cost
680-546: The American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony . The label was founded predominantly as a jazz and classical music label in 1953, but later expanded its scope to include a more diverse range of genres, including pop , R&B , rock , and hip hop . Epic Records was launched in 1953 by the Columbia Records unit of CBS , for the purpose of marketing jazz , pop , and classical music that did not fit
720-673: The British Columbia Graphophone Company (an EMI subsidiary), so the licensee for the British Columbia Graphophone Company was actually Toshiba Musical Industries . 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. The idea for
760-773: The Dave Clark Five , the Hollies , Tammy Wynette , Donovan , the Yardbirds , Lulu , July , Helen Shapiro , Cliff Richard , and Jeff Beck . Several of the British artists on the Epic roster during the 1960s were the result of CBS's Epic/ Okeh units' 1962 international distribution deal with EMI ; Epic recordings were issued via this arrangement by EMI on the Columbia label. Other British artists appearing on Epic were
800-464: The Fray , Modest Mouse , Matisyahu and Sean Kingston . However, she delayed the scheduled release of Shakira 's album She Wolf by insisting that the album contain another song – " Give It Up to Me " featuring Lil Wayne and uncredited Timbaland . This delay probably caused She Wolf to perform less well in the market. Epic staff members described Ghost as "abrasive" and a "loose cannon". She
840-642: The development and distribution of theatrical films , video games , and merchandise associated with its media franchises . It releases home media , produces original soundtracks , and organizes events such as musicals , stage performances, and live promotions. The company also manages copyrights and licensing agreements. Through Aniplex Online , its e-commerce platform, the company sells products directly to consumers. Aniplex operates globally but has two regional headquarters: Aniplex America based in Santa Monica , California , US, while Aniplex China
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#1732780434599880-458: The fourth best selling remix album of all time, behind albums by Michael Jackson (fellow Epic Records artist), Madonna and The Beatles . Furthermore, in the second week at number-one for the remix album, Lopez's remixed single Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix) (with Ja Rule ), was also number one, making Lopez the only artist in history to have a number one remix album and single in the same week. Lopez's third studio album, released in late 2002,
920-715: The imprint Vested In Culture through Epic Records. A year later, she was named president of Epic. In November 2014, Mosley Music Group created a joint venture with Sony Music- with marketing, publicity, distribution and overall label services provided by Epic. The joint venture was created due to Timbaland 's previous co-collaboration with Reid on Michael Jackson's posthumous album, Xscape . Previously operated by Interscope , most of MMG's roster moved to Epic. In 2015, Def Jam Recordings parted ways with Mariah Carey and Carey reunited with Reid at Epic. She had worked with Reid at Def Jam under The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004. Carey's deals with both Def Jam and Epic were at
960-464: The latter's music releases in Japan . The company was incorporated as CBS/Sony Records and with Sony co-founder Akio Morita as president. 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. In 1972, when CBS/Sony was generating robust profits, Ohga was named chairman and at
1000-528: The launch of its first video game publishing label, Unties, in October 2017. Unties will publish indie games for the PlayStation 4 , PlayStation VR , Nintendo Switch , and PC . 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. Unties' first release
1040-401: The market, second behind Avex (24.95 B yen, 15.9%). 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 . Epic Records Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment , a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America ,
1080-665: The same time gained further responsibility and influence within Sony. He would continue to work for the music company one morning a week. In 1980, Toshio Ozawa succeeded Ohga as president. In 1983, the company was renamed CBS/Sony Group. 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. 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. The company
1120-704: The show. In February 2012, Epic Records signed experimental hip-hop/punk rap trio, Death Grips , under the recommendation of, then executive vice president of marketing, Angelica Cob-Baehler . They released their, arguably, most commercially successful album The Money Store (album) in April 2012. They were later dropped from the label following conflict due to cancelling a tour to work on their next album, No Love Deep Web , and releasing it for legal download on Peer-to-peer connection site, BitTorrent , to bypass Epic Records' desire to release it in 2013. In 2013, Sylvia Rhone , former president of Universal Motown , launched
1160-470: The theme of its more mainstream Columbia Records label. Initial classical music releases were from Philips Records which distributed Columbia product in Europe. Pop talent on co-owned Okeh Records were transferred to Epic which made Okeh a rhythm and blues label. Epic's bright-yellow, black, and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. This has included such notables as
1200-661: The trademark rights to the Columbia name in Japan, so releases under Columbia Records from another country appears on Sony Records in Japan, but retains the usage of the "walking eye" logo. The Columbia name and trademark is controlled by Nippon Columbia , which was, in fact, the licensee for the American Columbia Records up until 1968, even though relations were officially severed as far back as World War II . Nippon Columbia also does not have direct relations with
1240-437: Was Tiny 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. Published Azure Reflections , a side-scrolling bullet hell developed by Souvenir Circ., on May 15, 2018, for the PS4. Published Touhou Gensou Wanderers Reloaded, a roguelike rpg developed by Aqua Style, for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Published Necrosphere ,
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1280-787: Was also a success, titled This is me... Then ; the record sold 6 million copies worldwide and peaked at the second spot of the Billboard 200. Lopez's first full-length Spanish debut, Como Ama Una Mujer , became the first Spanish-language debut album to enter the top 10 of the Billboard 200, and has sold 1 million copies worldwide. This was Lopez's final studio album under Epic Records before her move to Island Def Jam and Capitol Records ; she released her first greatest hits compilation, Dance Again... The Hits , gaining critical success. In February 2009, Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer appointed singer-songwriter Amanda Ghost as president of Epic. Ghost, who had successfully promoted James Blunt to Grammy Award-winning status,
1320-479: Was an unconventional and controversial choice for president because she had no corporate executive experience. She was expected to reverse the trend of declining sales at Epic by promoting the label's newer and mid-tier artists such as Augustana . Stringer also merged Epic and Columbia to form the Columbia/Epic Label Group in 2009, with himself as acting chairman. Ghost scored hit records for
1360-609: Was announced that Reid would exit as the label's CEO. Following his exit, it was reported that Reid had been accused of sexual harassment by multiple Epic employees. On April 23, 2019, it was announced that Rhone had been appointed as Chair and CEO of the label. In April 2023, Sony Music UK announced the relaunch of Epic Records UK as one of their frontline labels, with former publishing executive Sarah Lockhart appointed as president. Unlike sister label Columbia, Epic has gone through five different logos. Some logos were temporarily revived for period reissues. The years shown below list
1400-562: 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 . Sony Music Entertainment announced
1440-657: Was approved by the European Union in 2009. Epic Soundtrax was founded as a film soundtrack label in 1992. It was central to Epic's 1990s success, with 11 soundtrack releases cumulatively selling more than 40 million records over a three-year period. Notable releases included soundtrack albums for Honeymoon in Vegas , Singles , Sleepless in Seattle , Forrest Gump , Philadelphia , and Judgment Night . In 1999, Jennifer Lopez released her debut album On
1480-410: Was available on Bilibili . Aniplex has been involved in the production and distribution of the following anime series. Sony Music Entertainment Japan Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. ( 株式会社ソニー・ミュージックエンタテインメント , Kabushiki gaisha Sonī Myūjikku Entateinmento ) , often abbreviated as SMEJ or simply SME , and also known as Sony Music Japan for short (stylized as SonyMusic ),
1520-472: Was fired in October 2010, with Stringer apologizing for his mistake: "I owe the people at Epic..." In July 2011, L.A. Reid became the CEO of Epic Records, signing artists such as TLC , Toni Braxton , Cher Lloyd , Avril Lavigne , Outkast , Future , Yo Gotti , Ciara , Meghan Trainor , DJ Khaled , and Travis Scott . Epic also signed the winners of The X Factor during the seasons that Reid appeared on
1560-473: Was less than 18%. 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. label Virgin Records America . Since then it was said that SMEJ ceded to Avex's challenge, 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
1600-408: Was renamed Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Inc. Shugo Matsuo was named new president in January 1992, replacing Toshio Ozawa, who was appointed to the post of chairman. 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. Shigeo Maruyama
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