King Records (Japan)
January 1931 marked the birth of King Records as a division within the Japanese publisher Kodansha. The label operated under this parent company for nearly two decades before gaining independence in the 1950s. Its name derived from Kingu magazine, which Kodansha published between 1924 and 1957 before ceasing operations. This early era established the foundation for what would become one of Japan's largest record companies not owned by a multinational entity. The headquarters eventually settled in Bunkyo, Tokyo, anchoring its physical presence in the capital.
King Records later became part of the Otowa Group while maintaining its status as an independent Japanese entity today. The company distributes video games for platforms including PC-88, Famicom, Game Boy Advance, and MSX2 alongside its music catalog. In February 2016, King Records restructured Starchild and renamed it King Amusement Creative to reflect changing market demands. This evolution demonstrates how the label adapted its corporate structure over decades without losing its core identity or ownership status.
Starchild was managed by animation producer Toshimichi Otsuki and specialized exclusively in anime music and film soundtracks. You! Be Cool served as the official sub-label for AKB48 and is currently used by STU48. Venus-B operates as the company's official urban music imprint targeting specific demographic audiences. Evil Line Records emerged as a new division in April 2014 featuring artists like Momoiro Clover Z and Meg. Nexus functions as the label's division dedicated to metal and underground music from Japan and overseas markets. Seven Seas focuses on world music from international artists across many genres.
King Custom began operations in the early 1960s as a special division allowing individuals to release their own works without oversight. The program provided only branding and distribution while leaving creators with full control over their content and promotional efforts. No promotional support came from the label itself under this unique system designed to preserve artistic freedom. Matrix numbers tracked releases including NCS for 7-inch records, NDS for 33 1/3 RPM EPs, and NAS for LPs. This experimental approach supported independent and regional artists until the label discontinued King Custom in the late 1980s.
Notable performers include Stomu Yamashta, Inoran, Kana Uemura, and Takeshi Terauchi who signed with the label during various decades. Morning Musume members Tomomi Itano, Atsuko Maeda, and Yuki Kashiwagi recorded albums under King Records before moving elsewhere. AKB48 remained with You! Be Cool from 2008 until 2023 when they transferred to Universal Music Japan. CHAGE and ASKA stayed with the label between 1985 and 1999 before departing for Toshiba EMI. The pillows recorded from 1994 to 2006 before switching to avex trax. The Gazette performed under King Records from 2005 to 2010 before signing with Sony Music Japan. Two-MIX released material between 1995 and 1998 before joining Warner Music Japan. These transitions highlight how artist rosters shifted over time while maintaining a core identity.
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Common questions
When was King Records founded and under which parent company?
King Records began operations in January 1931 as a division within the Japanese publisher Kodansha. The label remained part of this parent company for nearly two decades before gaining independence in the 1950s.
Where is the headquarters of King Records located today?
The headquarters of King Records settled in Bunkyo, Tokyo, anchoring its physical presence in the capital city. This location serves as the central base for the label's music and video game distribution activities.
What sub-labels does King Records operate to target specific genres?
Starchild specialized exclusively in anime music and film soundtracks while You! Be Cool served as the official sub-label for AKB48 and STU48. Venus-B operates as the urban music imprint, Evil Line Records emerged in April 2014 for artists like Momoiro Clover Z, Nexus handles metal and underground music, and Seven Seas focuses on world music from international artists.
How did King Custom function between the early 1960s and late 1980s?
King Custom began operations in the early 1960s as a special division allowing individuals to release their own works without oversight or promotional support from the label itself. The program provided only branding and distribution using matrix numbers like NCS for 7-inch records until the label discontinued the initiative in the late 1980s.
Which notable performers recorded albums under King Records during various decades?
Notable performers include Stomu Yamashta, Inoran, Kana Uemura, and Takeshi Terauchi who signed with the label during different eras. Morning Musume members Tomomi Itano, Atsuko Maeda, and Yuki Kashiwagi recorded albums there before moving elsewhere, while CHAGE and ASKA stayed between 1985 and 1999.
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9 references cited across the entry
- 1web会社情報
- 2webStarchild Label Restructured as King Amusement CreativeAnime News Network — January 30, 2016
- 6webBOL4 Profile
- 7webMomoland Profile
- 8webBlock B Profile