Sony Music Labels Inc. / Sony Music Group
Artists and Repertoire
I joined Sony Music Marketing Inc. (now Sony Music Solutions), a subsidiary of Sony Music Group, in 2016 and have been working in the music business for six years. When I first joined the company, I worked as a CD sales representative, traveling around Japan, and then later took on the role of promotional marketing. About three years ago, I moved to Sony Music Labels Inc. (SML) and have been working as an A&R ever since.
My primary responsibilities as an A&R involve promoting artists like "Ikimonogakari" and " Hikaru Utada," as well as supporting the creative activities of new artists before their debut. The day-to-day tasks as an A&R include collaborating with artists on music production, devising marketing strategies to promote their music, planning concepts for music videos, and overseeing their actual production. My goal is to explore and execute various methods to create hits. While the role might be seen as glamorous, there are times when I spend hours in conference rooms deciding on album titles. It is a job that requires putting in every effort to achieve success.
Recently, we have taken on new challenges. Fueled by the idea of creating a virtual world where artists, content, and users intersect through technology, we launched a live project called "Revers3:x" using XR*1 technology, where I was involved in developing the concept, booking the artists, and promoting events. As a result, we created a virtual space using the latest volumetric capture technology in Sony's studio, allowing us to deliver a live performance by up-and-coming hip-hop artist KEIJU. This project demonstrated the creation of a new music culture through group synergy, and I genuinely feel the most incredible sense of accomplishment being able to take on the challenge of delivering excitement to the world as a member of the Sony Group.
My father is a big fan of a particular singer-songwriter and profoundly admires the artist’s musicality and powerful message. Influenced by my father, I naturally developed the habit of appreciating songs and trying to sense and understand the messages artists conveyed through their music from a young age. (My father's love for this singer-songwriter is also reflected in my name.)
Although music has been a part of my life since childhood, I was devoted to baseball until high school. I was a catcher for 11 of my 12 years playing the sport. During a game, the catcher's role is to sit in a position that overlooks the entire field, imagine the intentions and emotions of the opponents from their facial expressions and gestures, formulate tactics, and give instructions to teammates. Looking at it from a broader perspective, I feel that the observation skills and communication abilities I cultivated during that time are now playing a significant role in my current A&R job
After entering university, I changed my course and joined a street dance club. As I spent my days practicing with my friends, I found myself immersed in club culture. My interest in and knowledge of various music genres, such as hip-hop, R&B, soul, and funk, deepened during that period.
During my frequent visits to second-hand record shops, I had a life-changing encounter with Bobby Brown's album "REMIXES (Japan Edition)." I casually picked up the album because it was released in 1993, the year I was born. When I opened it, I discovered a flyer for a live performance in Japan just a few months before my birthday, along with a message from the artist himself. At that moment, I felt I had received a "message transcending time and space." Despite the passing of time, the artist's heartfelt emotions remained intact, and the coincidences that led me to stumble upon a copy of the album at a used record shop moved me deeply. This experience catalyzed me to pursue a career in the music industry.
From my foundational experience at the record shop, my goal of becoming the one who delivers such experiences emerged within me. The aforementioned "Revers3:x" was a challenge driven by the desire to deliver timeless messages. The concept of the live performance revolved around an imaginative city epitomizing future youth culture. When video data of prominent artists in the 2020s were played, the messages they conveyed were brought back to life, and the people and the city itself were revitalized in a dazzling new manner.
The 'timeless message' focused on rap music because the essence of words that touch people's hearts can be felt through the expression of rap music. If I can deliver the same excitement that I felt when the emotion of Bobby Brown's thoughts reached me across time through various artists and their works, it would make be happy.
Living in modern society, I often feel that changes are happening rapidly, and I sometimes think that most of the tangible things around us may not exist in 100 years. However, certain things, including music, have the power to be cherished and loved across generations. For example, J. D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," written 100 years ago, is still treasured as a masterpiece by people worldwide. Similarly, the works of Japanese author Kenji Miyazawa consist of nothing but timeless masterpieces that everyone has read at least once. I work with the hope that the pieces I have been involved in will endure for future generations.
If there is anything I could convey to those aspiring to pursue the A&R position at SML, it would be to play around and gain numerous experiences based on your interests. Increase your collection of favorite "moments" and "things" in life. At the same time, be open-minded when it comes to others' favorite "moments," "things," and "ideas." By sharing values with those close to you, you might find that the things you love become someone else's favorites. As an A&R, I've experienced such moments.
Working at SML, the idea of creating something better through diverse people and different perspectives permeates the company. In reality, my colleagues come from various backgrounds and personalities. Rather than negating each other's individuality, we have a great deal of curiosity. Once we find "like-minded people," we accelerate toward pursuing our goals with an energizing force. Our collective passion stimulates each other, enabling us to strive for success as a team, and I look forward to working alongside reliable colleagues in the future.
The title, organization, and duty are the ones at the time of interview.
