J Storm, Inc. (株式会社ジェイ・ストーム, Kabushikigaisha Jei Sutōm) currently known as Storm Labels is a Japanese music and film company owned by Smile Up, formerly known as Johnny & Associates. It was established on November 12, 2001, initially as a label for the Johnny's group, Arashi, after which it was named.
 | |
| Company type | Private (subsidiary of former Johnny & Associates) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Film |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | , Japan |
| Parent | Smile Up (formerly Johnny & Associates) |
| Subsidiaries | Infinity Records Elov Label (formerly Johnny's Entertainment Record) |
| Website | Storm Labels Official Site |
| J Storm | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Johnny & Associates |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Johnny Kitagawa |
| Distributor(s) |  Sony Music Marketing[1]  Avex Asia  Avex Taiwan SM/Kakao, Sony Korea[note 1] GMM Grammy Universal The Orchard |
| Genre | J-pop |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Location | Tokyo |
Aside from producing and releasing CDs and DVDs, the company also produces films for Johnny's various talents. J Storm also has the same strict policies for portrait rights of its talents with its parent company. Among others, images of their talents are prohibited to appear in websites, though on 28 February 2011, the ban was lifted and loosened the regulations (it is still prohibited in news sites).[2] The ban was lifted completely on 31 January 2018.[3]
The company's releases are currently being distributed by Avex Asia in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Sony Music in Japan, SM Entertainment in South Korea, GMM Grammy in Thailand, and recently, Universal Records in the Philippines,[4] and Sony Music subsidiary The Orchard in the United States.[5]
In the wake of the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal, it was announced in October 2023 that J Storm would be renamed Storm Labels, Inc. (株式会社ストームレーベルズ, Kabushikigaisha Sutōm Rēberuzu) effective January 1, 2024.[6]
Artists
editJ Storm produced Arashi's singles and albums since 2002 with the release of the single, "A Day in Our Life", after being signed under Pony Canyon from their debut in 1999. In 2006, KAT-TUN debuted and began to release under J-One Records, their exclusive record label. It was named J-One for the label's thrust of releasing chart-topping releases. All of their released singles and albums have reached the top of the Oricon charts. They continued to release under J-One until May 2013. In 2007, Hey! Say! JUMP debuted and began to release singles and albums under J Storm. In 2008, another Johnny's group, Tokio, began to release under the J Storm label. In Nov 12, 2021, Naniwa Danshi debuted and began to release singles and albums under J Storm.
Infinity Records
editInfinity Records is Kanjani Eight's independent label.[7]
Elov Label
editJohnny's Entertainment, Inc. (株式会社ジャニーズ・エンタテイメント, Kabushikigaisha Janīzu Entateimento) was established on February 14, 1997, by Johnny & Associates, initially as a label for KinKi Kids.[8] Aside from producing and releasing CDs and DVDs for the groups under it, the label also produced CDs and DVDs for temporary Johnny's units such as J-Friends and Shūji to Akira. Before the establishment of the sister company J Storm, the label produced DVDs for KAT-TUN, Kanjani Eight, and Johnny's Jr. In May 2003, Johnny's Entertainment began investing in the Swedish music publisher Reactive Songs International.[9] The company closed on May 31, 2019, and transferred to J Storm, re-branded as Johnny's Entertainment Record. On January 1, 2024 Johnny's Entertaiment Record Will Be Rebranded As Elov Label.[10]
Films
edit- Pika☆nchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy 「ピカ☆ンチ Life is Hard だけど Happy」 (2002)
- Cosmic Rescue (2003)
- Pika☆☆nchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy 「ピカ☆☆ンチ Life is Hard だから Happy」(2004)
- Fantastipo (2005)
- Hold Up Down 「ホールドアップダウン」 (2006)
- Kiiroi Namida 「黄色い涙」 (2007)
- Otonari 「おと・な・り」 (2008)
- The Seaside Motel 「シーサイドモーテル」 (2010)
- Topknot Pudding 「ちょんまげぷりん」 (2010)
- Eight Ranger 「エイトレンジャー」 (2012)
- It's me, It's me 「俺俺」 (2013)
- Pikanchi Half 「ピカ☆★☆ンチ Life is Hard たぶん Happy」 (2014)
- La La La at Rock Bottom 「味園ユニバース」 (2015)
- Sources:[11][circular reference][12]
Co-productions
edit- Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru 「僕は妹に恋をする」 (2006)
- Eiga Kurosagi 「映画 クロサギ」 (2008)
- Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess 「隠し砦の三悪人 THE LAST PRINCESS」 (2008)
- Hana Yori Dango Final 「花より男子F」 (2008)
- Heaven's Door 「ヘブンズ・ドア」 (2009)
Notable soundtrack releases
edit- Kisarazu Cat's Eye (film) Original Soundtrack
- Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims (film) Original Soundtrack
- Hana Yori Dango (TV series) Original Soundtrack
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Sony Music Marketing, Japanese Wikipedia. Retrieved on August 20, 2010.
- ^ "Johnny's Entertainment lifts artist photo ban on its official website". Tokyohive (6Theory Media; originally from Cyzo Woman). 1 March 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
- ^ "Johnny & Associates lifts ban on online images". aramajapan.com. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ Best NEWS Ever! Universal Records (Philippines)
- ^ Timoteo, Cynthia (28 February 2020). "Out Today by The Orchard: G Herbo, ARASHI & More!". The Daily Rind. The Orchard. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "「ジェイ・ストーム」が来年から「ストームレーベルズ」に社名変更…関連会社の社名変更は４社目" (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ 関ジャニ５大ドームツアー行う！自主レーベル立ち上げも発表 [Kanjani8 to perform 5-dome tour! Announces launch of independent record label]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Digital Inc. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Johnny's establishes record company". Zakzak (in Japanese). May 30, 1997. Archived from the original on July 14, 1997. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ "Music from Sweden sweeps over the Japanese music industry". Opportunity Sweden (in Japanese). ISA Tokyo. March 15, 2004. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ 「嵐のレーベルなのに」「合併？」ジャニーズ・エンタテイメント、J Stormとの関係に困惑広がる. Cyzo Woman (in Japanese). Cyzo inc. June 2, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ J Storm, Japanese Wikipedia. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.
- ^ J Storm Archived 2008-05-01 at the Wayback Machine Official Movie Website. Retrieved on May 28, 2008.