Sony Music Group is the umbrella company for Sony’s recorded music and publishing operations outside of Japan.
As such, it houses both Sony Music Entertainment (home to Columbia, Epic, RCA and other labels) as well as the world’s biggest music publishing company, Sony/ATV.
Sony Music Group (SMG) launched on August 1, 2019, and is run by its Chairman, Rob Stringer – who is also CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.
The move brings the company in line with the other majors, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, both of which also house recorded music and publishing entities as Sony’s competitors.
SMG reports directly into Sony Corporation in Tokyo.
When announcing the formation of Sony Music Group in July 2019, Sony Corporation President and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said in a memo obtained by MBW: “I would like for the new Sony Music Group and SMEJ [Sony Music Entertainment Japan] to continue and further strengthen their collaboration in the spirit of One Sony.”
Added Yoshida: “The purpose of this new Group is to further strengthen and solidify Sony’s position as a leader in the music industry and create new value for the company,” adds Yoshida in the memo.
“This unification will help us foster a higher level of collaboration between our recorded music and music publishing businesses, while respecting and maintaining the independence and unique culture of each organization.”Music Business Worldwide