Kings Records
King Records is a Japanese entertainment company founded in 1931, producing and distributing music, anime, and film content through wholly-owned affiliates and global streaming and social platforms. It operates as a subsidiary of Kodansha Ltd.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1931
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Kings Records does
King Records is a Japanese comprehensive entertainment company operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kodansha Ltd., one of Japan's largest publishers. The company traces its operating history to January 1931 as the Record Department of Kodansha Ltd. and was formally incorporated as King Record Co., Ltd. in November 1951. It plans, produces, and distributes content across three core verticals — music, anime, and film — and serves both end consumers and business customers (retailers and distributors). As of January 2025, the company reported 313 employees, with its head office at 1-22-12 Otowa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo (relocated in 2023) and a branch office in Osaka.
The company's core products are Music, Anime, and Film content, produced and distributed through in-house and affiliated capabilities. Production is supported by a wholly-owned subsidiary stack that includes Seven Seas Music Co., Ltd. and Bellwood Records (music labels), King Sekiguchidai Studio Co., Ltd. (recording studio, completed 1997) and Edogawabashi Studio (1998), Polygon Pictures Inc. (CGI animation), Dazed Co., Ltd. (entertainment content), and King International Inc. (overseas operations). No proprietary technology stack or platform architecture is disclosed beyond the password-protected B2B catalog system.
King Records generates revenue through one-time licensing and ongoing licensing/royalty streams. Direct-to-consumer reach is achieved via global digital streaming and social platforms (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Weibo) and a dedicated Japanese-language site (kingrecords.co.jp), while the B2B motion is served through the password-protected catalog requiring authentication and inquiry-based access. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are broad consumer personas (music consumers, anime enthusiasts, film audiences) supplemented by B2B retailers and distributors. The company is privately held with no public ticker or disclosed funding rounds.
Kings Records firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kings Records
- Legal name
- KING RECORD Co., Ltd.
- Website
- https://kingrecords.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1931
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- King Records is a Japanese entertainment company founded in 1931, producing and distributing music, anime, and film content through wholly-owned affiliates and global streaming and social platforms. It operates as a subsidiary of Kodansha Ltd.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kings Records industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entertainment Media
- NAICS
- Record Production and Distribution (51225), Music Publishers (512230), Music Publishers (51223), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Recorded Music Retail & D2C Merch Bundles (MPAIAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB), Music Rights Administration & Royalty Processing (Admin, Accounting, Statements) (MPAIAKAD), Royalty Accounting & Payment Services (Statements, Audits, Payee Management) (MPAIABAL)
Keywords
Where Kings Records is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Kings Records business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Music Production and Distribution: Planning, production, and distribution of music content including physical media (CDs, vinyl) and digital distribution across streaming platforms.
- Anime Production and Distribution: Planning and production of anime content with distribution through various channels.
- Film Production and Distribution: Planning, production, and distribution of film content.
- Licensing and Royalties: Licensing of music, anime, and film content to third parties generating ongoing royalty revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Kings Records product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KING RECORDS plans, produces, and distributes entertainment content across three integrated verticals: music (releases across physical formats and digital platforms), anime (with affiliate CGI studio Polygon Pictures Inc.), and film. The company serves business customers (retailers, distributors) through a password-protected B2B catalog and reaches consumers directly through major global streaming and social media platforms.
Product overview
Kings Records is a comprehensive entertainment company operating as a unified platform offering three core product categories: Music, Anime, and Film. The company handles planning, production, and distribution across all three content types. A password-protected catalog system provides access to their catalog contents for authorized users. The company maintains multiple affiliated labels including Seven Seas Music Co., Ltd. and Bellwood Records for music offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Music
- Anime
- Film
- Catalog (B2B)
Companies that use Kings Records
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kings Records technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kings Records partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Seven Seas Music Co., Ltd.coreAffiliate company within the King Records group, specializing in music production and distribution. Part of the integrated entertainment ecosystem.
- Bellwood RecordscoreAffiliate label within the King Records group, contributing to the diverse music catalog and genre coverage.
- King International Inc.coreInternational subsidiary handling overseas operations, licensing, and global distribution of King Records content.
- King Sekiguchidai Studio Co., Ltd.coreProduction studio facility completed in 1997, supporting in-house content production capabilities for music, anime, and film.
- Polygon Pictures Inc.coreAffiliate animation studio specializing in CGI animation, providing anime production capabilities within the King Records group.
- Dazed Co., Ltd.coreAffiliate company within the King Records entertainment group, contributing to the diversified entertainment portfolio.
- Kodansha Ltd.coreOriginal parent company founded in 1909, one of Japan's largest publishers. King Records originated as the Record Department of Kodansha in January 1931 before being established as an independent company in November 1951.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Kings Records competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nippon Columbia: Historic Japanese record label with deep back-catalog, classical and J-pop roster, and integrated music + entertainment operations. Long-established Japanese label of similar vintage and structural profile to King Records.
- Victor Entertainment (JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment): Japanese music label with anime, J-pop, and classical roster, similar heritage to King Records. Comparable mid-size Japanese label with integrated recorded music and entertainment distribution.
- Avex Group: Major Japanese music and entertainment conglomerate with labels, artist management, anime production, and digital distribution. Closest direct competitor to King Records given its integrated music + anime + film vertical structure and Japanese domestic focus.
- Pony Canyon: Japanese music label, anime production, and entertainment distribution company with similar integrated structure spanning music, anime, and film — a directly comparable mid-size Japanese entertainment group.
- Lantis (Bandai Namco): Japanese record label specializing in anime tie-in music, character songs, and animation soundtracks. Directly comparable to King Records' anime music publishing and tie-in business within the Japanese market.
Broad incumbents
- Aniplex: Subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, one of the largest anime production and distribution companies in Japan. Comparable integrated anime + music + film model but operating at significantly larger scale.
- Toei Animation: One of Japan's largest anime studios, comparable to King Records' anime production arm via Polygon Pictures. Operates at larger scale across theatrical, TV, and streaming anime with deep IP catalog.
- Sony Music Entertainment Japan: The dominant Japanese recorded music and music publishing major with global reach. Operates in the same core recorded music and rights administration space as King Records but at substantially greater scale and with full major-label resources.
Others
- Kodansha (parent company): Parent conglomerate and one of Japan's largest publishers. While not a direct competitor, Kodansha's IP pipeline, manga catalog, and content strategy directly feed King Records' anime and music business — the most important adjacent ecosystem participant.
Emerging players
- Polygon Pictures: CGI animation studio already within King Records' group. Comparable in capability to independent Japanese CGI studios like Sanzigen and Orange, and relevant as a peer benchmark for animation production peers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kings Records social profiles
Digital presenceKings Records financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kings Records leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kings Records subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Kings Records funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kings Records M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kings Records
What does Kings Records do?
KING RECORDS plans, produces, and distributes entertainment content across three integrated verticals: music (releases across physical formats and digital platforms), anime (with affiliate CGI studio Polygon Pictures Inc.), and film. The company serves business customers (retailers, distributors) through a password-protected B2B catalog and reaches consumers directly through major global streaming and social media platforms.
Is Kings Records a public or private company?
Kings Records is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Kings Records founded?
Kings Records was founded in 1931. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kings Records based?
Kings Records is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Kings Records make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Music Production and Distribution is the primary driver. The others are anime Production and Distribution, film Production and Distribution and licensing and Royalties.
Who are Kings Records's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nippon Columbia, Victor Entertainment (JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment), Avex Group, Pony Canyon and Lantis (Bandai Namco). Broad incumbents are Aniplex, Toei Animation and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Kodansha (parent company) is listed as an others. Polygon Pictures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Kings Records have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kings Records.
What industry is Kings Records in?
Kings Records's product category is Entertainment Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAAAF, Recorded Music Retail & D2C Merch Bundles, with a secondary code of MPAIABAB, Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing). Its NAICS code is 51225 and its SIC code is 7822.