Free-Will
| Free-Will | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Hiroshi Tomioka |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) | In Japan:Avex Group, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Universal Music Group, King Records, Tokuma Japan Communications, Pony Canyon In Europe:Gan-Shin, CLJ Records, Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Rock, punk, metal |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Official Website | free-will.co.jp |
Free-Will is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986 by Color vocalist Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka, with branches predominantly in Japan and the United States, as well as previously in Europe.[1] It manages, among others, several visual kei rock bands and also continues to co-manage many of its artists after they have signed recording contracts with a major record label. Free-Will also produced the 2001 anime adaptation of the long running manga series Grappler Baki.
Contents |
[edit] Sub-divisions
The company operates several sub-divisions, some of them for a single band or purpose only. For example, Firewall Div. solely handles material which is released in collaboration with Sony Music.
[edit] Under Sony Music
- Firewall Div. – Dir en grey, Merry
- Lizard – Kagerou
- PS Company – The Gazette, ViViD
[edit] Under King Records
- PS Company – Kra, formerly managed Miyavi & Kagrra
- Indie PSC – Screw, Born
- S'Cube – Baroque, Eile de Mu, Puppet Mammy, Ruvie, Tokyo Michael, Cooky
[edit] Under Tokuma Japan Communications
- PS Company – Alice Nine
[edit] Under Pony Canyon
- PS Company – Sug
[edit] Under Avex Group
- ism – Kannivalism
[edit] Under Universal Music Group
- Back Coat – 12012
[edit] Bands managed directly
- Past
- Amphibian
- BIS
- Bellzlleb
- Billy & The Sluts
- By-Sexual
- Color
- Decameron
- Dir En Grey
- Genkaku Allergy
- Gilles de Rais
- Kamaitachi
- Lovemania
- Red Tail Cat
- Rentrer en Soi
- Sea Monkey
- Speed-ID
- Vogue
- Youka
[edit] Scandal
On September 14, 2007, the label's founder Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka was arrested, along with fellow Free-Will official Kazunori Murasaki and Koichi Kaku, a former employee of the Asatsu-DK advertising agency. The trio is accused of defrauding the agency of 324 million yen (approximately US$ 2.8 million) by appearing to order the agency to produce music videos, which were then delegated to subcontract firms. Kaku has since confessed to the charges, while Tomioka denied any involvement.[2][3][4]
[edit] References
- ^ "Free-Will Europe Home Page". web.archive.org. 2007-04-04. Archived from the original on 2007-04-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20070404165604/http://www.free-will-europe.com/. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ "3 Arrested for Defrauding Ad Company". japantoday.com. 2007-09-15. http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/418315. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ "３億２４００万円詐欺、広告代理店元社員ら逮捕" (in Japanese). sankei.co.jp. 2007-09-14. http://www.sankei.co.jp/shakai/jiken/070914/jkn070914011.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ "ＡＤＫから３億円詐取、容疑の元社員ら３人逮捕" (in Japanese). nikkei.co.jp. 2007-09-14. http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shakai/20070914AT1G1401C14092007.html. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
