ZERO-A

ZERO-A is a Japanese record label specialising in anime and voice-actor (seiyuu) music, originally launched within Universal Music LLC, the Japanese subsidiary of Universal Music Group. The label grew out of Universal Music Japan's DD Project, an idol and anime division that handled production for the 2012 television anime 'Sengoku Collection'. On 1 December 2012 the anime division was spun off as the ZERO-A label. On 5 February 2014, Universal Music and MTI Ltd. jointly established ZERO-A Inc. (株式会社ZERO-A), with the first release being petit milady's second single 'azurite'. The label expanded with sister imprint zero-A PLUS in September 2015, whose first artist was Kaori Hayano, and a joint label with Teichiku Entertainment called Rockcan Music in August 2016, debuting the unit Pyxis. In October 2017 MTI sold its shares, ending the capital relationship with ZERO-A. On 3 March 2019 the label announced it would suspend activities as of 31 March 2019 and closed its official website. ZERO-A's catalogue includes music releases by artists such as petit milady, Kanno Yuki, Sweety, MaxBoys, Nagatsuma Juri, Heart♡Invader, Uchida Aya, Hanae Natsuki, Yamazaki Erii, Tachibana Rika, Pyxis and BB-voice, as well as theme songs and soundtracks for anime titles including 'Sengoku Collection', 'Absolute Defense Leviathan', 'Kimi no Iru Machi', 'Toaru Hikuushi e no Koiuta', 'Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?', 'Seiken Tsukai no World Break', 'Onsen Yousei Hakone-chan', 'Pan de Peace!', 'Omae wa Mada Gunma wo Shiranai', 'Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria' and 'Gotoubun no Hanayome'. The label also produced video software for some titles and operated a radio programme, 'Maison de Ekoe'. Although the corporate entity ZERO-A Inc. may still exist, the label business is currently suspended.

ZERO-A began as an internal division of Universal Music LLC, the Japanese arm of Universal Music Group. Universal Music Japan entered full-scale anime production with the television anime 'Sengoku Collection', broadcast from April 2012, handled by its idol and anime department 'DD Project'. On 1 December 2012, the anime division was spun off as the ZERO-A label. On 5 February 2014, Universal Music and MTI Ltd. jointly established ZERO-A Inc. (株式会社ZERO-A), with the first release being petit milady's second single 'azurite'. In September 2015, sister label zero-A PLUS was founded, with Kaori Hayano making her major debut as its first artist. In August 2016, a joint label with Teichiku Entertainment named Rockcan Music was established, debuting the unit Pyxis. On 31 October 2017, MTI sold its shares, ending the capital relationship with ZERO-A. On 3 March 2019, the label announced it would suspend activities as of 31 March 2019 and closed its official website. The label's catalogue includes releases by artists such as Kanno Yuki, Sweety, MaxBoys, Nagatsuma Juri, Heart♡Invader, petit milady, Hayano Kaori, Uchida Aya, Hanae Natsuki, Yamazaki Erii, Tachibana Rika, Pyxis and BB-voice, and it handled music for numerous anime series, sometimes also producing video software. It also operated the radio programme 'Maison de Ekoe'.

• 2019

  On 3 March, the label announces suspension of activities as of 31 March and closes its official website.

• 2017

  MTI sells its shares on 31 October, ending the capital relationship with ZERO-A.

• 2016

  Joint label Rockcan Music with Teichiku Entertainment is established on 24 August; Pyxis makes major debut.

• 2015

  Sister label zero-A PLUS is founded on 30 September; Kaori Hayano makes major debut as first artist.

• 2014

  ZERO-A Inc. is established jointly by Universal Music and MTI Ltd. on 5 February; first release is petit milady's 'azurite'.

• 2012

  Universal Music Japan enters full-scale anime production with 'Sengoku Collection' under its DD Project division.

• 2012

  The anime division is spun off as the ZERO-A label on 1 December.

Anime and voice-actor specialist label within a major music group, bridging anime production and music releases.

• petit milady – 'azurite' (2nd single)

• Kaori Hayano major debut (zero-A PLUS)

• Pyxis major debut (Rockcan Music)

• Anime theme songs and soundtracks for titles such as 'Sengoku Collection', 'Gotoubun no Hanayome', 'Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria'

1. 1ZERO-A - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
2. 2ZERO-A - Wikidatawikidata.org