UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN LEADING JAPANESE MUSIC COMPANY A-SKETCH
UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN LEADING JAPANESE MUSIC COMPANY A-SKETCH
[L-R: Saucy Dog, Flumpool and Ayumu Imazu]
TOKYO, JAPAN – February 14, 2025 – Universal Music Japan (UMJ), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world-leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in A-Sketch, a leading Japanese music company, that operates as both an artist management business and record label that is home to popular Japanese artists including Saucy Dog, Flumpool, and Ayumu Imazu.
A-Sketch was founded in 2008, as a subsidiary of Amuse, one of Japan’s largest artist management companies, in partnership with leading Japanese telecommunications company KDDI. Since its founding, the company has successfully signed and developed artists across a variety of genres including rock, J-pop and Anime-music. The label’s catalog includes classic releases from ONE OK ROCK among others. A-Sketch is also home to MASH A&R, one of Japan’s leading rock management companies, who manages artists including The Oral Cigarettes FREDERIC and Saucy Dog.
Under the terms of the agreement, Universal Music Japan will acquire the stake in A-Sketch currently owned by Amuse, effective immediately. A-Sketch will operate as a label division within Universal Music Japan, under the continued leadership of Nobuyuki Soma, Representative Director and President, A-Sketch, who will report to Universal Music Japan’s President & CEO, Naoshi Fujikura. The acquisition will further bolster Universal Music Japan’s in-house artist management capabilities and expand its ability to drive new creative and commercial opportunities for its artists, including launching compelling and innovative experiences for Japanese music fans both domestically, and globally.
In making the announcement, Naoshi Fujikura, President and CEO Universal Music Japan said, “It is our pleasure to welcome A-Sketch, the home of many unique and talented artists, to Universal Music Japan. We look forward to enhancing the value of these artists and delivering their talents to an even wider audience through our extensive global network and passion both domestically and internationally.”
Nobuyuki Soma, Representative Director and President, A-Sketch said, “We are very excited to announce that A-Sketch will be joining Universal Music Group, the global leader in the industry. This partnership will provide our artists with significant opportunities for international expansion, and we look forward to finding new synergies across all of our creative endeavors.”
A-Sketch Co. Ltd
Established in 2008 as a joint venture between Amuse Inc. and KDDI Corporation, the company has developed into a leading artist management and record label. Today, A-sketch is involved in the discovery of new artists, production, and management of its artists and songwriters and dedicated to finding success and building fan bases for its artists. The company also manages the copyrights and master recordings of its popular catalog.
About Universal Music Group
At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms, and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information, visit www.universalmusic.com.
