King Records
King Records is a Japanese independent record company with a broad catalogue spanning popular music, anime and character music, classical and international releases, metal, underground music, and video-related content.
Last updated October 28, 2026
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Overview
King Records is a Japanese record company headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo. The company traces its origins to January 1931, when it was established as a music division of the Japanese publishing house Kodansha. Its name was derived from Kingu, a Kodansha magazine published from 1924 until 1957, rather than from an association with the British monarchy or another similarly named international company. After operating within Kodansha, the record business became independent during the 1950s and later joined the Otowa Group. The company occupies a distinctive position in Japan's recorded-music industry. It is one of the country's larger record companies that is not controlled by a multinational music corporation. Its catalogue and commercial activities cover mainstream Japanese popular music, singer and voice-actor releases, anime and film soundtracks, idol music, rock, metal, underground music, world music, and selected international artists. King Records has also participated in video and game-related publishing, including releases for historical Japanese home-computer and console platforms. Its business therefore extends beyond a single genre or audience, combining conventional record-label operations with specialized imprints and media-linked projects. A major part of the company's identity has been its use of labels tailored to particular musical communities. Starchild became particularly associated with animation music and film-related releases under producer Toshimichi Otsuki. On February 1, 2016, King Records reorganized that operation and renamed it King Amusement Creative. The imprint and its successor have been connected with prominent anime, voice-actor, and character-music performers, including Nana Mizuki, Mamoru Miyano, angela, Yui Horie, Inori Minase, Sumire Uesaka, and other artists. Evil Line Records, established in April 2014, created another specialized home for projects involving artists such as Momoiro Clover Z, Hypnosis Mic, Earphones, and related pop-culture properties. Other divisions broaden the company's reach. Nexus focuses on Japanese and international metal and underground music; Seven Seas is associated with world music from overseas artists; Venus-B serves as an urban-music imprint; and Paddle Wheel Records operates as a King Records division. You! Be Cool was used for AKB48 releases and is now associated with STU48. King Custom, created in the early 1960s, offered individuals a way to issue recordings under King Records branding and distribution while retaining control over their content. It used NCS, NDS, and NAS matrix series and was discontinued in the late 1980s. King Records' roster has included artists from Japanese pop, rock, anime, idol, metal, classical-adjacent, and international markets. Past or present associations include Momoiro Clover Z, AKB48, STU48, Hiroko Moriguchi, Kana Uemura, Takeshi Terauchi, Theatre Brook, Inoran, Lynch., Earthshaker, Mardelas, Light Bringer, and numerous anime and voice-actor performers. The company has also handled or released work connected with overseas acts such as Bolbbalgan4, GFriend, Momoland, Block B, and Park Junyoung. Artist relationships have changed over time, as is typical of the recording industry, with some performers moving to other labels or becoming independent. In the contemporary market, King Records combines physical music releases, digital distribution, label management, catalogue exploitation, audiovisual products, and media-franchise collaborations. Its long history, Japanese ownership structure, genre-specific imprints, and strong presence in anime and character-related music distinguish it from both major multinational labels and narrowly focused independent labels.
History
King Records began in January 1931 as a music division of Kodansha, one of Japan's major publishing companies. The label's name came from Kingu, a Kodansha magazine that ran from 1924 to 1957. This origin gave the record business an early connection to publishing, editorial culture, and mass-market media rather than making it solely a standalone phonographic enterprise. During the 1950s, the operation became independent from Kodansha. It subsequently developed as a Japanese record company with a broad commercial remit and later became part of the Otowa Group. Its ownership history is significant because King Records remained outside the dominant multinational music-company groups that control many large labels in other markets. The company consequently became one of Japan's larger domestically controlled record businesses. King Records expanded across numerous musical fields. Alongside Japanese popular music, it issued works in rock, metal, underground music, world music, and other specialist areas. It also developed relationships with artists from outside Japan and distributed selected labels operated by other companies, including Up-Front Works' Piccolo Town and Rice Music. The company's activities extended into audiovisual and game-related publishing, with releases associated with platforms such as the PC-88, Famicom, Game Boy Advance, and MSX2. Specialized imprints became central to the company's operating model. Starchild was managed by animation producer Toshimichi Otsuki and became strongly identified with anime music and film-related releases. Its catalogue and artist relationships helped establish King Records as a significant participant in Japan's anime and character-music economy. On February 1, 2016, King Records reorganized Starchild and changed its name to King Amusement Creative, preserving the specialization while updating the structure and identity of the division. King Records also established divisions serving more specific audiences. Nexus focused on metal and underground music from Japan and abroad. Seven Seas concentrated on world music by overseas artists across multiple genres. Venus-B served as an urban-music imprint, while Paddle Wheel Records operated as a separate King Records division. You! Be Cool was used as the official sub-label for AKB48 and is currently associated with STU48. Evil Line Records was established in April 2014 and developed a roster and project profile linked to artists and media properties such as Momoiro Clover Z, Hypnosis Mic, Earphones, and other pop-culture acts. An especially distinctive historical initiative was King Custom. Introduced in the early 1960s, it allowed individuals and regional creators to release their own work using King Records' brand and distribution infrastructure without requiring the label to exercise conventional artistic oversight or provide promotional support. Creators retained control over their material while receiving the practical benefits of an established record-company network. Releases were identified through NCS for seven-inch records, NDS for 33⅓ RPM extended-play records, and NAS for LPs. The division continued until the late 1980s and represents an early example of a relatively flexible self-release model within a major domestic label structure. Over successive decades, King Records' roster included Japanese pop performers, rock groups, idol acts, anime singers, voice actors, metal artists, and international performers. Associations have included AKB48, STU48, Momoiro Clover Z, Nana Mizuki, Mamoru Miyano, angela, Yui Horie, Inori Minase, Hiroko Moriguchi, Theatre Brook, Lynch., Earthshaker, and many others. The company has also released or represented work involving artists such as Bolbbalgan4, GFriend, Momoland, Block B, and Park Junyoung. Some relationships later ended as artists moved to other labels or pursued independent careers. Today, King Records operates as an active Japanese record company headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo. Its business combines recordings, physical and digital releases, catalogue management, audiovisual products, specialist imprint operations, media-franchise collaborations, and selected distribution activities. Its historical continuity from a 1931 publishing-house division, domestic ownership, and specialized expertise in anime and adjacent music markets remain central to its identity.
- 2016
Starchild becomes King Amusement Creative
[1]The company reorganized and renamed its Starchild anime-music operation as King Amusement Creative on February 1, 2016.
- 2014
Evil Line Records is established
[1]King Records established Evil Line Records in April 2014 as a new specialist division.
- 1980
King Custom is discontinued
[1]The King Custom division was discontinued in the late 1980s after supporting independent and regional creators for several decades.
- 1960
King Custom is introduced
[1]King Custom began in the early 1960s as a creator-controlled release and distribution service using King Records branding.
- 1950
Operation becomes independent
[1]The record operation became independent during the 1950s after its period as a Kodansha division.
- 1931
Music division founded within Kodansha
[1]King Records traces its origin to January 1931, when it began as a music division of the Japanese publisher Kodansha.
Products and positioning
A Japanese-owned, diversified record company positioned between a broad catalogue label and a network of specialist imprints. King Records is especially notable for anime, voice-actor, character, idol, rock, metal, underground, and international music, while also maintaining a wider popular-music and audiovisual business.
Music recordings · 1931
Recorded music catalogue
King Records' core offering is a large catalogue of Japanese and international recordings issued through the main company and its specialist imprints. The catalogue spans popular music, idol releases, rock, metal, underground music, world music, anime songs, soundtracks, and artist-focused albums and singles. Releases have appeared in physical formats and, in the contemporary market, through digital distribution.
Anime and media music
Anime and character music
Anime, film, character, and voice-actor music is one of King Records' most recognizable areas of specialization. The former Starchild operation, later renamed King Amusement Creative, supported music tied to animation and film projects as well as releases by voice actors and performers whose work crosses music and Japanese popular culture.
Record-label imprint · 2016
King Amusement Creative
King Amusement Creative is the successor to Starchild, the King Records label associated with anime music and film-related releases. Its roster and projects have included anime singers, voice actors, character performers, and related pop-culture properties, including work connected with Nana Mizuki, Mamoru Miyano, angela, Yui Horie, and Inori Minase.
Record-label imprint · 2014
Evil Line Records
Evil Line Records was established in April 2014 as a King Records division oriented toward contemporary pop, idol, hip-hop, and media-franchise projects. Artists and projects associated with the imprint include Momoiro Clover Z, Hypnosis Mic, Earphones, and Meg.
Record-label imprint
Nexus
Nexus is King Records' specialist division for metal and underground music from Japan and other markets. Its associated artists have included Earthshaker, Mardelas, and Light Bringer, giving the company a dedicated channel for heavier and less mainstream genres.
Record-label imprint
Seven Seas
Seven Seas focuses on world music by artists from outside Japan and covers multiple genres. The imprint extends King Records' catalogue beyond domestic Japanese repertoire and supports international releases within the company's broader distribution and label portfolio.
Creator-controlled release service · 1960
King Custom
King Custom was a distinctive historical division that allowed individuals and regional artists to issue their own works with King Records branding and distribution while retaining control over their content. It did not ordinarily provide the label's full promotional or artistic-supervision functions. Its releases used NCS, NDS, and NAS matrix series, and the division ended in the late 1980s.
Controversies
2020
GoHands sues King Records over alleged unpaid anime production costs
GoHands filed a lawsuit against King Records seeking the remaining payments under their production contract and compensation for additional episodes. GoHands alleges that King Records canceled the contract and refused to pay the remaining installments. The dispute concerns alleged unpaid anime production costs.
Brand decisions
2016
Reorganize Starchild as King Amusement CreativeStrategyBackground
Starchild had become closely associated with anime and film music, and King Records reorganized the business as part of its specialist-imprint structure.
Action taken
On February 1, 2016, King Records restructured Starchild and renamed it King Amusement Creative.
Aftermath
The renamed division continued King Records' focus on anime, voice-actor, character, and related media music.
2014
Create Evil Line RecordsStrategyBackground
King Records maintained a portfolio of genre- and audience-specific imprints and sought a dedicated division for contemporary pop-culture and music projects.
Action taken
The company established Evil Line Records in April 2014.
Aftermath
The imprint became associated with artists and projects including Momoiro Clover Z, Hypnosis Mic, Earphones, and Meg.
Recent events
- 2016
Starchild is reorganized as King Amusement Creative[1]
Leadership change · Other
On February 1, 2016, King Records restructured its anime- and film-music operation formerly known as Starchild and renamed it King Amusement Creative.
- 2014
King Records establishes Evil Line Records[1]
Other
King Records created Evil Line Records as a new division in April 2014. The imprint developed a focus on pop-culture-linked projects and artists including Momoiro Clover Z and Meg.
Sources4 sources
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