HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION

What HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION does

HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION is a privately held Japanese music entertainment company founded on July 19, 1988 and headquartered in Aoyama, Tokyo. It manages a roster of more than 20 Japanese artists spanning rock, indie, and pop — including サカナクション (Sakanaction), GONTITI, KANA-BOON, THE ORAL CIGARETTES, Saucy Dog, The fin., odol, Harukamirai, Rol3ert and others — with full-service support covering music production, publishing management, and artist representation. Group structure includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Kiss Corporation (radio programming, est. 1989) and Greens Corporation (event and concert planning, production, and promotion, est. 1990), with Hip Land Communications previously merged back into the parent in September 2009.

The company's proprietary technology stack centers on the FRIENDSHIP. digital distribution platform, which delivers music to 35 major stores across 187 countries (including Apple Music and Spotify) on a 15% commission / 85% artist share basis, alongside the blockchain-based FRIENDSHIP. DAO collaboration tool launched in March 2023. Owned sub-brands extend the funnel: MASH A&R (artist discovery), SENSA (music media with radio programming on FM Fukuoka, interfm, and ZIP-FM), and pochilu STORE (artist merchandise e-commerce). Revenue is generated across five streams: marketplace commission on distribution sales, professional services for artist management, licensing and publishing royalties, merchandise sales, and event production and promotion.

Name

HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION

Legal name

株式会社ヒップランドミュージックコーポレーション

Website

https://hipland.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION is a Tokyo-based Japanese music entertainment company founded in 1988 that manages 20+ artists, distributes music globally via its FRIENDSHIP. platform, and operates sub-brands for media, merchandise, and Web3 collaboration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist & Music Management Services

NAICS

Music Publishers (512230), Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (51223)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Performance Rights Administration (PRO Affiliation, Cue Sheet/Setlist Processing) (MPAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

White-Label DSP Platforms & Streaming-as-a-Service (MPAIACAN), Neighboring Rights (Master Performance Rights) Administration (MPAIAAAH)

Keywords

• Music distribution services
• Artist management
• Music publishing
• Music merchandise
• Digital music platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Digital Distribution Revenue Share: FRIENDSHIP. platform generates revenue by retaining 15% of digital music sales. Artists receive 85% of sales revenue. The platform distributes to 35 major stores globally including Apple Music and Spotify.
2. Artist Management: Full-service artist management including music production, publishing management, and artist career development. Revenue generated from artist activities under management contracts.
3. Merchandise Sales: Original merchandise planning, production, sales and management for associated artists through pochilu STORE e-commerce platform and various artist-specific online stores.
4. Event Production and Promotion: Event and concert planning, production and promotion through group company Greens Corporation. Manages events like SSR (SHIBUYA SOUND RIVERSE) and FRIENDSHIP. DAO launch events.
5. Publishing Management: Music publishing management for distributed artists, handling rights management and royalty collection for released works.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION is a Japanese music entertainment company that provides end-to-end artist services including music production, publishing management, and artist management for a roster of 20+ Japanese musicians and bands. The company operates the proprietary FRIENDSHIP. digital distribution platform delivering music to 35 stores across 187 countries, the FRIENDSHIP. DAO Web3 collaboration tool, merchandise planning/sales, and event production through subsidiaries.

Product overview

HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION operates a multi-faceted music business platform centered on artist management, digital music distribution, and media services. The core offerings include FRIENDSHIP. (a digital distribution service), FRIENDSHIP. DAO (a Web3 blockchain collaboration tool), SENSA (music media), MASH A&R (artist discovery), and pochilu STORE (merchandise e-commerce), alongside traditional artist management, merchandise planning/production/sales, and event production services. The company manages a roster of 20+ Japanese artists and supports artists through publishing, overseas promotion, live booking, and merchandise manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FRIENDSHIP. Digital distribution service platform for discovering and promoting emerging music talent, distributing to 35 stores across 187 countries worldwide with 85% revenue share to artists.
• SENSA
• pochilu STORE
• MASH A&R

Products and services

• FRIENDSHIP. Digital Distribution Service Proprietary digital distribution service that enables artists to deliver music to 35 major stores (including Apple Music and Spotify) across 187 countries worldwide. Operates with no upfront fees and an 85/15 revenue share in favor of artists. Provides curated artist discovery and additional support for publishing, overseas promotion, live booking, and merchandise production.
• pochilu STORE Online e-commerce merchandise store selling original artist merchandise and goods for managed artists including GONTITI, KANA-BOON, LAMP IN TERREN, odol, saccharin, and others.
• FRIENDSHIP. DAO Web3-era collaboration platform using blockchain technology that enables artists, curators, music industry professionals, media, and listeners to connect globally. Community contributions are tokenized and rewarded, creating a music ecosystem where collaboration, creative output, and community support are tracked and rewarded.
• Artist Management Services Full-service artist management including music production, publishing management, and artist career development for a roster of 20+ Japanese artists across rock, pop, and indie genres including Sakanaction, GONTITI, KANA-BOON, THE ORAL CIGARETTES, odol, Saucy Dog, and others.
• Publishing Management Music publishing management for managed artists, handling rights management and royalty collection for released works.
• Merchandise Department (MD) Service Merchandise planning, production, sales, and management service for associated artists. Handles original merchandise aligned with each artist's worldview, proposes appropriate sales methods, and manages operations for artists including BUMP OF CHICKEN, Sakanaction, KANA-BOON, YOURNESS, odol, THE ORAL CIGARETTES, Saucy Dog, and Enfants.
• MASH A&R Music discovery and artist scouting platform operated by HIP LAND MUSIC supporting artist visibility and industry connections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Music distributed to 187 countries worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• FRIENDSHIP. DAOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2023Web3-era collaboration tool using blockchain technology initiated by HIP LAND MUSIC's FRIENDSHIP. service. Enables artists, curators, and music industry professionals to connect globally without barriers of contracts or taxation. Community contributions are tokenized and rewarded.
• 株式会社キッスコーポレーション (Kiss Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company established May 1989 handling radio program planning and production.
• 株式会社グリーンズコーポレーション (Greens Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup company established November 1990 handling event and concert planning, production, and promotional activities.
• pochilu STOREcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline merchandise store operated by HIP LAND MUSIC for artist goods. Sells merchandise for GONTITI, KANA-BOON, odol, YOURNESS, LAMP IN TERREN, saccharin and other artists.
• SENSAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic news and media platform operated by HIP LAND MUSIC covering artist news, releases, and events.
• MASH A&RmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusic curation and artist discovery service supporting artist visibility and industry connections.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DistroKid: Global digital music distribution platform serving independent artists with upload-to-stores service. Directly comparable to FRIENDSHIP. as a competing distribution platform targeting independent artists worldwide.
• Being Inc. Japanese music label and management group (B'z, ZARD, etc.) with integrated publishing, distribution, and management operations. Comparable vertically integrated Japanese music services operating company.
• TuneCore: Global music distribution and publishing administration service for independent artists. Directly comparable to HIP LAND MUSIC's FRIENDSHIP. distribution and publishing management offerings targeting independent artists.
• Office Augusta: Independent Japanese artist management firm handling acts like Yui, Ikimono-gakari, and Kobukuro. Comparable to HIP LAND MUSIC as a similarly sized indie-focused Japanese management company with full artist services.
• SPACE CRAFT Group: Japanese artist management, label, and live event producer. Comparable to HIP LAND MUSIC's combination of artist management, publishing administration, and event production through Greens Corporation.
• Amuse Inc. Japanese artist management and digital distribution company managing Perfume, ONE OK ROCK, and Babymetal with a similar one-stop artist services model. Directly comparable as a domestic Japanese management + distribution peer with its own artist-facing tech platform.

Regional players

• Toy's Factory: Japanese independent music label and management company with roster of rock and pop artists. Comparable to HIP LAND MUSIC as a similarly positioned Japan-based indie music services company.

Broad incumbents

• Universal Music Japan: Japanese arm of Universal Music Group, a major label with global distribution, roster management, and publishing administration. Broader incumbent in the Japan music market serving overlapping artist and label customers.
• Sony Music Entertainment Japan: Major Japanese music label offering artist management, distribution to major DSPs, publishing, and merchandise services. Overlaps with HIP LAND MUSIC's full-service offering but at major-label scale.
• Avex Group: Major Japanese music conglomerate with label, management, distribution, and live event operations dominating the Japan market. Broader incumbent that overlaps with HIP LAND MUSIC's full-service model but at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hiplandmusic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqTp-NYHvYy96FDldAcPVUA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hiplandmusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/hiplandmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hip-land-music-corp.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HIP LAND MUSIC CORPORATION