EMI Records Japan

EMI Records Japan was a Japanese record-label division operated within Universal Music Japan. It was created on April 1, 2013, after Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI and the subsequent absorption of EMI Music Japan and its internal labels into Universal's Japanese organization. The label therefore represented a transitional structure rather than a newly independent recording company: it carried forward artists and catalogue assets associated with EMI in Japan while Universal reorganized the business under its own sub-label system. The label's formation followed the European Commission's approval of Universal's acquisition of EMI on September 21, 2012. During the transition, Universal Music Japan president Kazuhiko Koike also assumed the chief executive role at EMI Music Japan on January 15, 2013. EMI Records Japan formally became a Universal Music Japan sub-label at the beginning of April. Artists formerly associated with EMI continued to release music through Universal Japan, and some releases initially retained EMI's TOCT catalogue-code family. The business also absorbed or administered repertoire connected with labels such as Nayutawave Records, Eastworld, and Virgin Records Japan. Universal subsequently made further structural changes. From October 2013, the TOCT code was replaced for relevant releases by TYCT for original EMI Records artists and UPCH for artists associated with Nayutawave Records that had been absorbed into the reorganized operation. In February 2014, Universal Music Japan carried out a broad sub-label reorganization. More than half of the EMI Records Japan roster was transferred to Nayutawave Records, which was renamed EMI Records. Other artists previously linked with Eastworld and Virgin Records Japan were moved to a separate label called EMI R. These changes effectively brought the EMI Records Japan configuration to an end approximately one year after its launch. In April 2014, Universal Music Japan announced a partnership structure involving EMI R, Universal International, and Delicious Deli Records under the Virgin Music name. EMI R was subsequently renamed Virgin Records in July 2014. EMI Records Japan is consequently best understood as an interim post-acquisition label identity: it was responsible for mainstream Japanese recorded-music releases during a period of catalog, artist-roster, and organizational integration, but it did not remain a long-term standalone label. Its successor structures continued parts of the EMI-related repertoire under Universal Music Japan.

EMI Records Japan emerged from Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI and the resulting restructuring of EMI's Japanese business. The European Commission approved the acquisition on September 21, 2012. Universal then began reorganizing EMI's labels and operations, including the Japanese company EMI Music Japan. On January 15, 2013, Kazuhiko Koike, who was president of Universal Music Japan, also became chief executive of EMI Music Japan. This placed both organizations under common leadership before their formal integration. On April 1, 2013, EMI Music Japan and its in-house labels were absorbed into Universal Music Japan. EMI Records Japan was created as a sub-label within the Universal organization. It continued to handle releases by artists connected with the former EMI business, allowing the repertoire and artist relationships to continue while the corporate structure changed. The integration also involved repertoire linked to Nayutawave Records, Eastworld, and Virgin Records Japan. Koike reportedly expressed concern that the merger could negatively affect international repertoire and employment, illustrating that the transaction involved operational and workforce consequences as well as a change of ownership. During the initial transition, artists from the former EMI company could continue releasing material through Universal Music Japan while retaining the TOCT catalogue code associated with EMI releases. That coding system was later changed. From October 2013, TYCT was used for releases associated with the original EMI Records artists, while UPCH was used for Nayutawave Records artists absorbed into the reorganized operation. The change reflected the gradual separation and reassignment of catalogues inside Universal Japan. The EMI Records Japan identity lasted only about one year. In February 2014, Universal Music Japan undertook a major sub-label reorganization. More than half of the artists associated with EMI Records Japan were transferred to Nayutawave Records, which was renamed EMI Records. The remaining roster linked with Eastworld and Virgin Records Japan was moved to another sub-label, EMI R. Releases transferred to the new EMI Records unit began using the UPCH catalogue code by June 2014. Universal continued to rationalize the remaining labels. On April 14, 2014, Universal Music Japan announced that EMI R, Universal International, and Delicious Deli Records would participate in a joint partnership under the Virgin Music name, with the distribution of the Universal International EMI label also being incorporated later. In July 2014, EMI R was renamed Virgin Records. These successive changes replaced the short-lived EMI Records Japan structure with new Universal-controlled labels. The brand is therefore a historical transitional label rather than an active standalone company: it served as a bridge between the former EMI Music Japan organization and Universal Music Japan's successor label architecture.

• 2014

  Roster transferred to successor labels

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Music Japan moved more than half of the EMI Records Japan roster to Nayutawave Records, renamed EMI Records, while other artists moved to EMI R.

• 2014

  Virgin Music structure announced

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Music Japan announced a partnership involving EMI R, Universal International, and Delicious Deli Records under Virgin Music.

• 2014

  EMI R becomes Virgin Records

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  EMI R was renamed Virgin Records, further replacing the temporary post-acquisition label structure.

• 2013

  Koike assumes leadership of EMI Music Japan

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Music Japan president Kazuhiko Koike became chief executive of EMI Music Japan before the businesses were formally combined.

• 2013

  EMI Records Japan begins operations

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Universal Music Japan launched EMI Records Japan as a sub-label after absorbing EMI Music Japan and its internal labels.

• 2013

  Catalogue-code transition begins

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  The TOCT catalogue code was replaced by TYCT and UPCH codes for different parts of the reorganized artist and catalogue base.

• 2012

  Regulatory approval for Universal's EMI acquisition

  [1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  The European Commission approved Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI, enabling the subsequent integration of EMI's Japanese operations.

A mainstream Japanese recorded-music label spanning popular music repertoire inherited from EMI and related Universal Japan divisions.

• Albums · 2013

  Recorded-music albums

  EMI Records Japan released and distributed albums by artists carried over from EMI Music Japan and related label operations. These releases formed part of Universal Music Japan's mainstream Japanese catalogue during the short integration period. After the 2014 reorganization, relevant album rights and new releases continued under successor labels including EMI Records and EMI R.

• Singles · 2013

  Singles

  The label handled singles associated with its inherited Japanese artist roster. Release administration occurred within Universal Music Japan, and catalogue identifiers changed during the transition from the former EMI structure to Universal's successor labels. The EMI Records Japan name was later retired as the roster was redistributed.

• Audiovisual releases · 2013

  Music videos

  Music-video releases and related audiovisual content were part of the label's recorded-music activities, although the available reference material does not identify a distinct product line or specific campaign. Such repertoire was associated with the artists and catalogues transferred from EMI Music Japan into Universal Music Japan.

• 2014

  Reorganize the EMI Records Japan rosterStrategy

  Background

  Universal Music Japan conducted a broad sub-label reorganization after the initial post-acquisition integration.

  Action taken

  More than half of the EMI Records Japan artists were transferred to Nayutawave Records, which was renamed EMI Records. Artists associated with Eastworld and Virgin Records Japan were moved to EMI R.

  Aftermath

  EMI Records Japan ceased to function as the operative label identity approximately one year after its launch.

  Source

• 2014

  Move EMI R into the Virgin Music structureStrategy

  Background

  Universal Music Japan continued consolidating its post-EMI sub-labels after the February roster transfers.

  Action taken

  Universal Music Japan announced a joint partnership involving EMI R, Universal International, and Delicious Deli Records under Virgin Music, and later renamed EMI R Virgin Records.

  Aftermath

  The move further replaced EMI-related transitional branding with a Virgin Records structure within Universal Music Japan.

  Source

• 2013

  Integrate EMI Music Japan into Universal Music JapanM&A

  Background

  Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI required the Japanese EMI company and its internal labels to be incorporated into Universal Music Japan.

  Action taken

  Universal Music Japan established EMI Records Japan as a sub-label on April 1, 2013, while continuing to release inherited repertoire through its own distribution organization.

  Aftermath

  The structure was short-lived and was replaced by further label reorganizations in 2014.

  Source

• 2013

  Replace inherited EMI catalogue codingStrategy

  Background

  The former EMI business initially retained the TOCT catalogue code after integration, but Universal Japan began separating catalogue administration across the reorganized labels.

  Action taken

  From October 2013, Universal Japan used TYCT for original EMI Records artists and UPCH for Nayutawave Records artists absorbed into EMI's Japanese operation.

  Aftermath

  The coding change accompanied the later transfer of artists to EMI Records and other Universal-controlled labels.

  Source

• 2014

  Universal Music Japan reorganizes the EMI Records Japan roster[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  A large-scale reorganization moved more than half of the EMI Records Japan artists to Nayutawave Records, which was renamed EMI Records, while other artists moved to EMI R.

• 2014

  Universal Music Japan forms Virgin Music partnership structure[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Universal Music Japan announced that EMI R, Universal International, and Delicious Deli Records would operate through a joint Virgin Music partnership structure.

• 2014

  EMI R is renamed Virgin Records[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The EMI R label identity was renamed Virgin Records, completing another stage in the post-acquisition reorganization of EMI-related operations in Japan.

• 2013

  Universal Music Japan executive takes control of EMI Music Japan[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · M&A

  Universal Music Japan president Kazuhiko Koike assumed the chief executive role at EMI Music Japan ahead of the Japanese integration.

• 2013

  EMI Records Japan is launched within Universal Music Japan[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  On April 1, Universal Music Japan absorbed EMI Music Japan and its internal labels into a new EMI Records Japan sub-label structure.

• 2013

  Universal Japan changes catalogue codes during EMI integration[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The former TOCT catalogue code was phased out and replaced by TYCT for original EMI Records artists and UPCH for artists associated with absorbed Nayutawave Records repertoire.

• 2012

  European Commission approves Universal Music Group's acquisition of EMI[1]EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Regulation

  European regulatory approval cleared the way for Universal Music Group to integrate EMI's businesses, including its Japanese operations.

1. 1EMI Records Japanen.wikipedia.org