The International Label Business Division of BMG Japan, Inc. is absorbed to become part of Sony Music Japan International Inc.Hall Network Inc. creates A&R division and changes its corporate name to Zepp Live Entertainment Inc.BMG Japan, Inc. becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.Delists from Tokyo Stock Exchange.Sony Corporation acquires all stock previously owned by CBS Inc.; becomes a wholly owned subsidiary.Manufacturing of cassette tapes beginsLaunches “EGSTREET” (now Sony Music Shop), a consolidated Sony Music Group e-commerce site.Releases first Blu-ray disc (BD) titles.Headquarters relocated to Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (SME Rokubancho Building).Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. absorbs Sony Culture Entertainment (Japan) Inc.Zepp Live Entertainment Inc. changes its corporate name to Zepp Hall Network Inc.Sony Music Artists Inc. absorbs Village Music Inc.Introduces corporate executive system (operating officer system).Shinanomachi Studios opens in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.Release of first pre-recorded video product.Manufacturing of laser discs begins.Label Gate Co., Ltd. absorbs Clipgate Inc.Shizuoka Production Center 2 opens（now Shizuoka Production Center） in Yoshida, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture.Sony Music Artists Inc. absorbs Westside Inc.Corporate name changes to CBS Sony Inc.SME Records is set up to operate independently.Headquarters relocated to Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.Epic Sony Inc. founded as wholly owned subsidiary.Shizuoka Production Centers certified to ISO 9002, an international standard for quality management systems.The sales division is set up independently as Sony Music Distribution Inc.Consolidates the four companies, CBS Sony Inc., Epic Sony Inc., CBS Sony Records Inc., and Sony Video Software International.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.Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.Launches a new record label “Ki/oon Sony Records.”Sony Music Distribution (Japan) Inc. absorbs Sony Music Network Inc. and changes its corporate name to Sony Music Marketing Inc.SD Department is created to strengthen artist discovery and development. Dive deeper with interactive charts and top stories of SONY CORPORATION.
Rhapsody's platform Powered by Napster provides Sony MusicEntertainment Japan's "mora qualitas" service with a full suite oftechnologies and solutions that includes media streaming anddownload infrastructure, applications, personalization,recommendations, rights management, customer billing and royaltycalculation capabilities.Mora qualitas subscribers can stream FLAC (Free Lossless AudioCodec) files at a standard of 24-bit/96kHz (Hi-Resolution)/16-bit/44.1kHz (CD quality) through a variety of hardware devicesincluding Digital Analog Converters from Sony's entire line ofHi-Res audio equipment.For more information about Powered by Napsterplease visit https://business.napster.com/.SMEJ launched mora qualitas to bring Japanese subscribers abrand new audio experience.
The balancing act gets tougher as the Japanese conglomerate's core growth engines of gaming, imaging products, and music start to sputter. Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. is wholly owned by the Sony Corporation of Japan and independent from the US-based Sony Music Entertainment Inc. which is owned by Sony Corporation Of America. Though little known outside Japan, Sony Financial Holdings is a significant presence in Sony’s home country, offering life insurance, auto insurance and …