1968 |
- March
-
CBS Sony Records founded in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, pursuant to the joint venture agreement between Sony Corporation and Columbia Broadcasting System Inc. (now CBS Inc.) at a capital of 720 million yen (investment ratio 50:50).
- April
-
Headquarters relocated to Minato-ku, Tokyo.
- August
-
Release of first record.
- December
-
Shizuoka Factory (now Oigawa Production Center) opens in Ooigawa, Shida-gun(now Yaizu City), Shizuoka Prefecture.
|
1969 |
- February
-
Manufacturing of analog discs begins. (First title: Simon & Garfunkel / Graduate Original Soundtrack)
- December
-
Manufacturing of cassette tapes begins
|
1971 |
- July
-
Launches a new record label “EPIC”.
|
1973 |
- August
-
Corporate name changes to CBS Sony Inc.
- August
-
Headquarters relocated to Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
|
1974 |
- August
-
Shizuoka Factory to operate independently as CBS Sony Records Inc.
|
1978 |
- May
-
Release of first pre-recorded video product.
- August
-
Epic Sony Inc. founded as wholly owned subsidiary.
- September
-
Shinanomachi Studios opens in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
|
1981 |
- August
-
SD Department is created to strengthen artist discovery and development.
|
1982 |
- April
-
Manufacturing of compact discs (CDs) begins. (First title: Billy Joel / 52nd Street)
- October
-
Release of first CDs. (Initial release lineup: 50 titles)
|
1983 |
- August
-
Corporate name changes to CBS Sony Group Inc. A&R divisions to operate independently as CBS Sony Inc.
|
1988 |
- January
-
Sony Corporation acquires all stock previously owned by CBS Inc.; becomes a wholly owned subsidiary.
- February
-
Acquires from Sony Corporation all stock for Sony Video Software International, which produces, manufactures and distributes video and karaoke products.
- March
-
Consolidates the four companies, CBS Sony Inc., Epic Sony Inc., CBS Sony Records Inc., and Sony Video Software International.
|
1989 |
- November
-
Manufacturing of laser discs begins.
|
1991 |
- April
-
Corporate name changes to Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
- November
-
Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
|
1992 |
- April
-
Shizuoka Production Center 2 opens(now Shizuoka Production Center) in Yoshida, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture.
- April
-
Launches a new record label “Ki/oon Sony Records.”
- August
-
Release of first MDs. (Initial release lineup: 88 titles)
- November
-
Manufacturing of MiniDiscs (MDs) begins. (First title: Mariah Carey / Emotions)
|
1995 |
- March
-
Launches SMEJ official website “BIGTOP” (now Sony Music Online Japan).
|
1996 |
- June
-
Shizuoka Production Centers certified to ISO 9002, an international standard for quality management systems.
|
1997 |
- February
-
Manufacturing of DVD products begins. (First title: The Secret Service released from Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.)
- April
-
Shizuoka Production Centers certified to ISO14001, an international environmental management standard.
|
1998 |
- July
-
Ibaraki Production Center is completed in Naka-machi, Naka-gun (now Naka City), Ibaraki Prefecture.
- August
-
Changes corporate symbol to “Sony Music Logo Type.”
|
1999 |
- May
-
Manufacturing of Super Audio CDs (SACDs) begins.
- December
-
Launches commercial online distribution of new domestic CD singles. (Service name: bitmusic)
- December
-
Delists from Tokyo Stock Exchange.
|
2000 |
- January
-
Exchanges stock with Sony Corporation to become its wholly owned subsidiary.
- February
-
Introduces corporate executive system (operating officer system).
|
2001 |
- January
-
Sets up a portion of A&R division to operate independently as Defstar Records Inc.
- March
-
SME Nogizaka Building opens with Sony Music Studios Tokyo located on basement floors 1 through 3.
- May
-
Launches “EGSTREET” (now Sony Music Shop), a consolidated Sony Music Group e-commerce site.
- June
-
Launches broadband magazine “MORRICH.”
- June
-
Headquarters relocated to Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (SME Rokubancho Building).
- October
-
A&R divisions are set up independently as Sony Music Japan International Inc., Sony Music Records Inc., Epic Records Japan Inc., Ki/oon Records Inc., and Sony Music Associated Records Inc.
- October
-
The sales division is set up independently as Sony Music Distribution Inc.
- October
-
Manufacturing divisions are set up independently as Sony Music Manufacturing Inc.
|
2002 |
- February
-
Sony Music Group certified to ISO 14001, an international environmental management standard.
- December
-
Launches Chaku-uta, an online distribution service of audio for mobile phones.
|
2003 |
- April
-
SME Records is set up to operate independently.
- April
-
The forerunning Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. is divided into Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (succeeding the corporate name) and Sony Culture Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
|
2005 |
- April
-
Sony Music Network Inc. is founded to develop a new market for music that fully utilizes digital networks.
|
2006 |
- April
-
A&R divisions and subsidiaries of Sony Music Artists Inc. are reorganized and merged to create management companies Hit & Run Inc., SMA Entertainment Inc., SMA Players Inc., Newcome Inc., Music Tabloid Inc, and Village Music Inc. to form the Artist Management Business Group.
- November
-
Releases first Blu-ray disc (BD) titles.
- December
-
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. absorbs Sony Culture Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
|
2008 |
- October
-
BMG Japan, Inc. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
- December
-
Introduces Blu-spec CDs.
|
2009 |
- April
-
Sony Music Artists Inc. absorbs Artist Management Business Group companies (except for Village Music Inc.).
- October
-
Domestic Label Business Division of BMG Japan, Inc. to operate as Ariola Japan Inc. The International Label Business Division of BMG Japan, Inc. is absorbed to become part of Sony Music Japan International Inc.
|
2011 |
- April
-
Sony Music Artists Inc. absorbs Village Music Inc.
|
2012 |
- April
-
As a result of reorganization at Media Business Group, Music on! TV Inc. and Sony Magazines Inc. are merged to become M-ON! Entertainment Inc..
- April
-
Hall Network Inc. creates A&R division and changes its corporate name to Zepp Live Entertainment Inc.
- April
-
Ki/oon Records Inc. changes its corporate name to Ki/oon Music Inc.
- October
-
Sony Music Artists Inc. absorbs Westside Inc.
- December
-
Introduces Blu-spec CD2.
|
2014 |
- April
-
Sony Music Records Inc. absorbs SME Records Inc., Sony Music Associated Records Inc., Epic Records Japan Inc., Defstar Records Inc., Ariola Japan Inc., Ki/oon Music Inc., Sony Music Japan International Inc. and changes its corporate name to Sony Music Labels Inc.
- April
-
Sony Music Distribution (Japan) Inc. absorbs Sony Music Network Inc. and changes its corporate name to Sony Music Marketing Inc.
- June
-
Zepp Live Entertainment Inc. changes its corporate name to Zepp Hall Network Inc.
Zepp Live Inc. is founded.
|
2015 |
- April
-
Sony DADC Japan Inc. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
- April
-
Label Gate Co., Ltd. absorbs Clipgate Inc.
|
2017 |
- April
-
Bancho Inc. changes its corporate name to Quatro A Inc.
|
2018 |
- October
-
CloverWorks Inc. is founded.
|
2019 |
- January
-
Aniplex (Shanghai) Ltd. is founded as a joint venture between Aniplex Inc. and Sony (China) Ltd.
- April
-
Sony Music Communications Inc. absorbs Sony DADC Japan Inc.,JARED Inc., and the part of Marketing Division of Sony Music Marketing Inc. and changes its corporate name to Sony Music Solutions Inc..
- April
-
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. acquires all stock of ALFA MUSIC, INC., to make it a subsidiary.
|
2020 |
- April
-
Sony Music Solutions Inc. absorbed Solasia Inc. and exchanged M-ON! Entertainment Inc.'s shares for a wholly owned subsidiary.
- April
-
Boundary Inc. is founded.
|
2021 |
- April
-
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. absorbed Sony Music Axis Inc..
- April
-
Sony Music Solutions Inc. absorbed Label Gate Co., Ltd..
- April
-
Sony Music Marketing Inc. changes its corporate name to Sony Music Marketing United Inc..
- April
-
room NB Inc. is founded as a wholly owned subsidiary.
- April
-
Jisedai Inc. is founded by spinning off Next Gen Rock R&D from Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (incorporation-type company split).
- August
-
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. acquires all stock of ForwardWorks Corporation, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., to make it a subsidiary.
- November
-
Sony Music Solutions Inc. absorbed M-ON! Entertainment Inc..
|
2022 |
- February
-
Aniplex Inc. acquires all stock of Lasengle Inc., which was the company arising from the spin-off of the video-game business of DELiGHTWORKS Inc., to make it a subsidiary.
- April
-
Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc. transfers functions of some divisions to Sony Music Marketing United Inc. through an absorption-type split. The same day, following the split, Sony Music Labels Inc. merges Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc. by absorption.
|
2023 |
- February
-
Revolve Inc., changes its corporate name to Claynel Inc.
- June
-
Aniplex Inc. acquires Origamix Partners Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary and changes its corporate name to MYRIAGON STUDIO Inc.
|