Kioon Music
Kioon Music is a Japanese Sony Music imprint focused on recording and releasing music by Japanese artists.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Kioon Music is a Japanese record-label imprint associated with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The label began in 1992 under the name Kioon Sony Records, establishing a dedicated identity within Sony's Japanese recorded-music business. It adopted the name Kioon Records in 1998, and Kioon Records Inc. was established as a Sony Japan subsidiary in 2001. In 2012, the operation was rebranded Kioon Music. Two years later, Sony Music Records Inc. absorbed Kioon Music and several other Sony Japan subsidiaries, after which Kioon Music continued as an imprint within Sony Music Labels rather than as a separate independent company. The label's catalog and artist roster have covered a broad range of Japanese popular music, including rock, alternative rock, pop, electronic music, hip-hop, dance-oriented releases, and vocal-synth products. Artists associated with the label include L'Arc-en-Ciel, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Kocchi no Kento, Polysics, The Gospellers, Denki Groove, KANA-BOON, Guitar Wolf, Sid, Group Tamashii, Unicorn, Lenny Code Fiction, Kairi Yagi, Tani Yuuki, otoha, Neguse, Hitsujibungaku, Regal Lily, FZMZ, Cody Lee, CVLTE, Awich, Reol, Yutori, and others. Its former roster has included FLOW, Home Made Kazoku, BLUE ENCOUNT, Puffy AmiYumi, Supercar, Chatmonchy, DOES, Nico Touches the Walls, Chara, Negoto, Scenarioart, and PELICAN FANCLUB. Kioon Music has also been connected with several label initiatives and sub-labels, including And Music, FCLS, and Loopa. Earlier associated labels included Haunted Records, Ki/oon Overseas, and Neosite Discs. The Neosite Discs relationship is also reflected in the label's catalog history through releases such as the tenth-anniversary single "I Say Yeah!". In December 2010, the label released Utatane Piko, a Vocaloid product, demonstrating an expansion beyond conventional artist recordings into voice-synthesis software and character-based music technology. Today, Kioon Music is best understood as a Sony-owned Japanese music imprint rather than a standalone listed company. Its identity is built around artist development, recorded-music releases, catalog management, and the distribution and promotion of Japanese acts through Sony Music's corporate infrastructure. Public reference material identifies its historical corporate transitions and associated artists, but does not provide enough information to establish a separate headquarters, current executive roster, financial profile, or independently operated consumer website.
History
Kioon Music's history begins in 1992, when it was launched as Kioon Sony Records within the Japanese operations of Sony's recorded-music business. The initial name linked the label directly to Sony while giving it a distinct identity for developing and marketing artists. In 1998, the label became Kioon Records, a name it used during a period in which its roster and catalog expanded across several areas of Japanese popular music. A further corporate step took place in 2001, when Kioon Records Inc. was established as a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. This structure gave the label a more clearly defined corporate entity while preserving its role as a specialized Sony label. During this era, Kioon-associated artists included major Japanese rock and pop acts as well as performers working in electronic, alternative, dance, and other genres. The label's associated activities also included related imprints and projects such as Neosite Discs, Ki/oon Overseas, Haunted Records, And Music, FCLS, and Loopa. The label demonstrated an interest in formats beyond conventional albums and singles. In December 2010, Kioon Records released Utatane Piko, a Vocaloid product. This release placed the label in the voice-synthesis and character-music field and broadened the range of products connected with its name. Kioon-related catalog history also includes projects linked to Neosite Discs, including the tenth-anniversary single "I Say Yeah!". In 2012, the organization was rebranded Kioon Music. The new name reinforced the label's role as a music-focused identity while maintaining continuity with the Kioon name used since the 1990s. In 2014, Sony Music Records Inc. absorbed Kioon Music together with other Sony Japan subsidiaries. Following that restructuring, Kioon Music ceased to operate as a separately incorporated Sony subsidiary and continued as an imprint within Sony Music Labels. The modern Kioon Music identity therefore represents continuity of a label brand inside a larger Sony corporate system rather than an independent record company. The associated roster has included prominent acts such as L'Arc-en-Ciel, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, The Gospellers, Denki Groove, KANA-BOON, Polysics, Reol, Awich, Hitsujibungaku, Regal Lily, and many others, while numerous former artists have moved on to other labels or ended their association. Available reference material establishes the label's ownership, corporate transitions, artist associations, and product history, but does not identify a separate current executive team, independent financial results, headquarters address, or standalone public listing.
- 2014
Absorbed into Sony Music's reorganized structure
[1]Sony Music Records Inc. absorbs Kioon Music, which thereafter operates as an imprint of Sony Music Labels.
- 2012
Rebranded as Kioon Music
[1]Kioon Records adopts the Kioon Music name.
- 2010
Utatane Piko released
[1]The label releases its own Vocaloid product in December.
- 2001
Kioon Records Inc. established
[1]Kioon Records Inc. is formed as a Sony Japan subsidiary.
- 1998
Name changed to Kioon Records
[1]The label adopts the Kioon Records name.
- 1992
Kioon Sony Records is founded
[1]The label begins as Kioon Sony Records within Sony's Japanese recorded-music business.
Products and positioning
A Sony Music Japan imprint with a broad Japanese artist roster spanning rock, alternative, pop, electronic, hip-hop, and experimental music.
Music releases · 1992
Recorded music catalog
Kioon Music's core business is the release and management of recorded music by Japanese artists. Its historical and current associations span albums, singles, digital releases, videos, and catalog repertoire across rock, alternative, pop, electronic, hip-hop, and other popular-music styles.
Vocaloid product · 2010
Utatane Piko
Utatane Piko is a Vocaloid product released by Kioon Records in December 2010. It represents the label's move into voice-synthesis software and character-centered music products alongside its conventional recorded-music activities.
Brand decisions
2014
Absorption into Sony Music RecordsM&ABackground
Sony Music Japan reorganized several of its subsidiary companies.
Action taken
Sony Music Records Inc. absorbed Kioon Music and other Sony Japan subsidiaries, with the resulting structure associated with Sony Music Labels.
Aftermath
Kioon Music continued as an imprint rather than as a separately incorporated company.
2012
Rebranded as Kioon MusicStrategyBackground
The label had operated under the Kioon Records name since 1998.
Action taken
Sony's label operation adopted the Kioon Music name.
Aftermath
Kioon Music continued as the public-facing label identity before and after the 2014 corporate absorption.
2010
Launch of Utatane PikoProduct launchBackground
Kioon Records expanded beyond standard artist recordings into the Vocaloid market.
Action taken
The label released Utatane Piko in December 2010.
Aftermath
The product became part of Kioon's documented history in voice-synthesis music technology.
1998
Adopted the Kioon Records nameStrategyBackground
The label had operated since 1992 as Kioon Sony Records within Sony's Japanese music business.
Action taken
The operation was renamed Kioon Records.
Aftermath
The Kioon Records identity was used until the later 2012 rebrand.
Recent events
- 2014
Sony Music Records absorbs Kioon Music[1]
M&A
Sony Music Records Inc. absorbs Kioon Music and other Sony Japan subsidiaries. The operation subsequently continues as an imprint of Sony Music Labels.
- 2012
Kioon Records is rebranded as Kioon Music[1]
Other
The label changes its public name from Kioon Records to Kioon Music.
- 2010
Kioon Records releases Utatane Piko[1]
Product launch
The label enters the Vocaloid product space with the release of Utatane Piko in December.
- 2001
Kioon Records Inc. is established[1]
Other
Kioon Records Inc. is formed as a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan's Japanese corporate structure.
- 1998
Kioon Sony Records is renamed Kioon Records[1]
Other
The label adopts the shorter Kioon Records name as its identity within Sony's Japanese music operations.
- 1992
Kioon Sony Records is established as a Sony-affiliated label[1]
Other
The label begins operations under the name Kioon Sony Records.
Sources1 sources
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