[Corporate Announcement] Notice Regarding Agreement to Establish New Music Streaming Business

2014.10.09 LINE App

Avex Digital (ADG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME), and LINE have agreed to jointly establish a new company with the aim of providing a new subscription-based music streaming service.

 

By capitalizing on the appealing content and experience developing music services possessed by both ADG and SME, as well as the global user base and experience developing and operating smartphone services boasted by LINE, this new company, backed by the managerial resources of all 3 companies, will not only be able to provide opportunities for users to be exposed to new music, but will aspire to further develop and accelerate the expansion of the music industry as a whole by creating all new ways of enjoying music in the smartphone era.

 

Overview of New Company (tentative)

Company Name: LINE MUSIC Corporation (tentative title)

1. Headquarters: 

Shibuya Hikarie 27F, Shibuya 2-21-1,

Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, Japan, 150-8510

Representative: CEO, Jun Masuda (Executive Officer and CSMO of LINE Corporation)

Business description: Music streaming services, etc.

Capital (Capital Reserve): JPY 480,000,000

Established: Late-October 2014 (planned)

 

ADG, SME, and LINE will continue concrete negotiations on the creation of a LINE MUSIC service to be launched on the LINE platform by the aforementioned LINE MUSIC Corporation (tentative). 

 

Future information regarding details on the new company and its services will be provided in the future once they have been decided.

 

Overview of Avex Digital Inc. (As of October 1, 2014) 

Company Name: Avex Digital Inc.

Local: 1-6-1 Roppongi, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan

Representative: President Masato Matsuura and Vice President Ryuhei Chiba

Business description: Planning and production of digital content

Capital: JPY 487,550,000

Founded: October 1, 2004

 

Overview of Sony Music Entertainment (As of October 1, 2014)

Company Name: Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Headquarters: 6-4-5 Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Japan

Representatives: Representative Director & Chairman Masao Morita, Representative Director Naoki Kitagawa

Business description: Planning and Producing Music and Video Content

Capital: JPY 100,000,000

Founded: April 1, 2003 (head company founded March 1968)

 

Overview of LINE (as of October 1, 2014)

Company name: LINE Corporation

Headquarters: 

Shibuya Hikarie 27F, Shibuya 2-21-1,

Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, Japan, 150-8510

Representatives: President Akira Morikawa, COO Takeshi Idezawa

Business description: Internet enterprises and web-based services (LINE, NAVER, livedoor)

Capital: JPY 12,596,000,000

Founded: September 4, 2000