Pony Canyon
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese company, established on October 1, 1966 http://www.ponycanyon.co.jp/comp/profile.html, which publishes music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...

, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 and VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....

 videos, movies
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...

 and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group
Fujisankei Communications Group
, abbreviated FCG, is a keiretsu in Japan. This media conglomerate was founded by Nobutaka Shikanai. In 1991, it was the fourth-largest media company in the world and the largest one in Japan. In the same year, the company's yearly revenue was $5 billion....

.

History

On October 1, 1966 Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. opened a new record label division, called as Nippon Broadcasting System Service, Inc. in order to produce and market music from Japanese artists. The division formally changed its name in 1970 to Pony, Inc. in order to match the brand names it has been using previously. These were "PONYPak" for 8-track Cassettes from 1967, and "PONY" for cassettes from 1968. At this time in 1970 another Japanese record label Canyon Records Inc. was founded. In 1982, Pony ventured into interactive content by producing personal computer game
Personal computer game
A PC game, also known as a computer game, is a video game played on a personal computer, rather than on a video game console or arcade machine...

 software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....

 under the name "Ponyca". In 1984 the company entered license agreements with major overseas companies, MGM/UA, Vestron Video
Vestron Video
Vestron Video was the main subsidiary of Vestron, Inc., a home video company based in Stamford, Connecticut that was active from 1982 to 1992. It is considered to have been a pioneer in the home video market....

, Walt Disney Home Video and BBC Video, and in 1985, they established offices in New York and London. In 1986, Pony signed licensing agreements with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...

 and in 1989 with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...

 to handle both companies. On October 21, 1987, Pony and Canyon merged their record operations to form Pony Canyon, Inc.

Pony Canyon is a major leader in the music industry in Japan, with its artists regularly at the top of the Japanese charts. Pony Canyon is also responsible for releasing videotaped concerts from its artists as well as many anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 productions. In 1990, Pony Canyon branched out, and opened five subsidiaries outside Japan, one of them is a subsidiary in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

 called Skin which was managed by Jimmy Wee and signed local English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 performers such as Art Fazil, Chris Vadham, The Lizards' Convention, Humpback Oak
Humpback Oak
Humpback Oak was a Singaporean band formed in 1990-1991 and achieved popularity in 1994 with the release of their debut album Pain-Stained Morning...

 and Radio Active. In addition to Singapore, Pony Canyon has also had a subsidiary in Taiwan, and a joint venture in Hong Kong and Singapore, named as Golden Pony and SAMPONY, respectively. Four of five subsidiaries were closed in 1997 due to Asian financial crisis, leaving the Malaysian subsidiary as the only subsidiary to remain in operation. However, the Hong Kong and Korean operations was reestablished as a wholly owned subsidiary, although the Korean operation had a 16% stake of local partner. In 2003, the Hong Kong and Taiwan branch of Pony Canyon, both which was affected by the financial crisis, was acquired by Forward Music.

As a video game producer, Pony Canyon brought the Ultima series from Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...

 and the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons series from Strategic Simulations to the Nintendo Family Computer
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...

. Between 1986 and 1990, they produced remakes of the first four Ultima titles for the MSX 2 and NES platforms. These remakes improved on the original versions with re-written game code and all-new graphics.

Pony Canyon's video game library was generally released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 by FCI
Fujisankei Communications International
Fujisankei Communications International, Inc. is the American arm of the Fujisankei Communications Group , an important Japanese media conglomerate of television and radio channels, magazine, newspaper, record and video game companies. The Fujisankei Communications Group owns about 100 companies,...

, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 sister of the Fujisankei Communications Group
Fujisankei Communications Group
, abbreviated FCG, is a keiretsu in Japan. This media conglomerate was founded by Nobutaka Shikanai. In 1991, it was the fourth-largest media company in the world and the largest one in Japan. In the same year, the company's yearly revenue was $5 billion....

. Pony Canyon never enjoyed as much success as a software producer as it did as a record label, and has long been criticized over the quality of many of its video games. Pony Canyon does not appear to be releasing any more video game titles as it has not released any video games since Virtual View: Nemoto Harumi for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

 in July 2003.

In 2006, the Fuji Television Network, Inc. became the major share-holder of the company.

Pony Canyon is headquartered in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

 with offices in Malaysia and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

. It employs approximately 360 people. Pony Canyon also owns the recording label Flight Master. It also distributes releases from Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...

 record company
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

 Time S.p.A. in many countries worldwide, including in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 and in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

.

Despite associations with Fuji TV, not all of Pony Canyon's TV show and movie library have been broadcast on Fuji TV. Some of their non-Fuji TV catalog includes Doraemon
Doraemon
is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...

 movies.

Artists

Below is a selected list of musical artists signed under the Pony Canyon label.
  • +Plus
  • aiko
    Aiko (singer)
    Aiko is a J-Pop singer-songwriter and vocalist. She studied popular music vocals at the Osaka College of Music, and after graduating in 1996, she became a DJ on FM Osaka...

  • Arashi
    Arashi
    is a Japanese boy band formed under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates, which announced the formation of the group on November 3, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii...

     (moved into J Storm
    J Storm
    is a Japanese music and film company owned by Johnny & Associates. It was established on November 12, 2001, initially as a label for the Johnny's group, Arashi, after which it was named ....

     in 2002)
  • Aya Ueto
    Aya Ueto
    is a Japanese actress, singer, model, tarento, and occasional radio personality. Born in Nerima, Tokyo, Ueto was discovered when she participated in the 7th Japan Bishōjo Contest, where she won the special jury prize...

  • B1A4
    B1A4
    B1A4 is a South Korean quintet boy band. Formed by WM Entertainment in 2011, they made their debut with their release Let's Fly. The band consists of Jinyoung, Baro, Sandeul, CNU and Gongchan...

     (Korean Band)
  • Bananarama
    Bananarama
    Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...

  • Berryz Koubou
    Berryz Koubou
    is an all-girl Japanese pop group within Hello! Project. The original eight members began as Hello! Project Kids and often were back-up dancers for W's music videos...

  • Blood Stain Child
    Blood Stain Child
    Blood Stain Child is a Japanese melodic death metal band from the city of Osaka. The band's musical style combines modern melodic death metal with electro-industrial and trance or as they call it 'hybrid metal trance'...

  • Buono!
    Buono!
    is a Hello! Project unit consisting of three members: Momoko Tsugunaga and Miyabi Natsuyaki from Berryz Koubou, and Airi Suzuki from ℃-ute. The name translates into 'tasty', more specifically when used to imply food possesses a pleasant palate...

     (moved into Zetima
    Zetima
    is a Japanese record label owned by Up-Front Works, a Japanese entertainment management company. The label is handled by Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Outside Japan the label is most famous for releasing music by several participants in Hello! Project, the most famous...

     in 2011)
  • BY-SEXUAL
    By-Sexual
    By-Sexual was a Japanese visual kei punk band from Osaka. They were active from 1988 to 1995, when vocalist Sho left the band and they went on hiatus. In August 1996, the remaining members restarted the group under the name By-Sex with Ryo changing to vocals and guitar...

     (19 90–1995)
  • CHERRYBLOSSOM
    Cherryblossom
    Cherryblossom is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo, who debuted in 2007. Their initial release was the mini-album Riskygirl, which was followed by three singles and then in 2008 by a full album titled GO!...

  • COMA-CHI
  • C-ute (Korea only)
  • D-51
    D-51
    is an Okinawan band which performs Japanese-language pop music. D-51 is group consisting of two men, Yu and Yasu. They are signed under Pony Canyon label. According to its members, the name D-51 came from Japanese National Railways' D51 steam locomotive class....

  • Defspiral
    Defspiral
    Defspiral is a Japanese visual kei rock band composed of most of the former members of the Underneath. When the Underneath disbanded in 2010, most of the group was signed to Avex Mode to perform songs for the Kamen Rider Series...

  • Ensemble Planeta
    Ensemble Planeta
    is a Japanese all female a cappella group. Known for their performance of the works of Bach, Chopin, Schubert and other classical composers and traditional European folk music...

  • Fahrenheit
    Fahrenheit (Taiwanese band)
    Fahrenheit is a Taiwanese boy band who has been active in Asia since 2005. The group debut with four members: Jiro Wang, Calvin Chen, Aaron Yan and Wu Chun. They are managed by Comic International Productions . The group's music is distributed by HIM International Music in Taiwan, by WOW Music in...

  • FLAME
  • Funkist (band)
  • Girl5 (Korean Band)
  • Hanako Oku
    Hanako Oku
    is a pop singer famous in her native Japan for her piano ballads. She rose to fame after performing the end-title track for the Madhouse film The Girl Who Leapt Through Time in 2006...

  • Idoling!!!
  • Jamil
    Jamil
    Jamil is a given name in Arabic and in many other languages. Latin spelling variants include Gamil , Cemil , Djemil and Djamil...

  • Kato Kazuki
  • John Hoon
    Kim Jeong Hoon
    Kim Jeong Hoon , also known in Japan as "John Hoon", is a South Korean singer and actor. He initially rose to fame as a member of Korean duo UN debuting with the single Voice Mail in 2000...

  • Kokia
    Kokia (singer)
    is a Japanese singer-songwriter, who performs under the stage name Kokia . She is best known for her songs and "The Power of Smile." She is also recognised for her numerous contributions to anime/game soundtracks, the most notable being "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto " for the film...

     (1998–1999)
  • Kreva
    Kreva
    Kreva is a township in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus.-History:The Kreva Castle, constructed of brick, was built by the Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania at the borderland of Lithuanian ethnic lands. After his death in 1341, Kreva became the patrimony of his son and successor, Algirdas...

  • Kym Campbell
    Kym Campbell
    Kym Campbell is an Australian singer-songwriter, originally from Seattle, Washington USA. Campbell writes and performs earthy, stripped back music incorporating roots, folk and reggae. Her music draws influences from Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Bob Marley, among other artists.-Personal...

     (Japan)
  • Lead
    Lead (band)
    Lead is a Japanese hip-hop group, under the Record of Pony Canyon/ Flight Master. Their debut was on July 31, 2002 with their single Manatsu no Magic .-Biography:...

  • Leaf Squad
  • LM.C
    LM.C
    LM.C is a Japanese visual kei rock duo playing a mix of electronic rock and pop, which they call "new century electrock".-History:LM.C was founded by Maya, a guitarist for musician Miyavi his support band Ishihara Gundan and a guitarist in his own band The Sinners...

  • Mao Abe
    Mao Abe
    is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She debuted in 2009 with the album Free.- Biography :Abe started learning the piano from age three, and from junior high school she had begun to want to be a singer. She stopped learning the piano in favour of the guitar, wanting to be an acoustic pop...

  • MC Sniper
    MC Sniper
    MC Sniper is a South Korean male rapper. Recording artist and founder of underground hip-hop crew Buddha Baby, MC Sniper is considered a controversial and relatively influential musician in South Korea...

  • Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
    Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch
    is a shōjo manga and anime series created by Michiko Yokote, with artwork by Pink Hanamori. The manga was originally published in the monthly shōjo manga anthology Nakayoshi...

  • Miki Matsubara
    Miki Matsubara
    was a Japanese singer, lyricist and composer from Nishi-ku, Sakai, Japan.She is known mainly as a pop singer by some hit songs like "Mayonaka no door", "Neat na gogo san-ji", "The Winner", among others. During her career, she has released 16 singles, 9 albums. Despite her work being mainly...

     (1979–1986)
  • Mikuni Shimokawa
    Mikuni Shimokawa
    is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter. She is best known for her songs used for anime theme music, particularly the opening and ending themes of the Full Metal Panic! series. In addition to her vocal talents, Shimokawa can also play the piano...

  • Original Love
  • Ricki-Lee Coulter
    Ricki-Lee Coulter
    Ricki-Lee Coulter is an Australian recording artist and television and radio presenter. In 2004, Coulter was placed seventh place on the second season of Australian Idol...

  • Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.
  • Show Lo
  • S/mileage
    S/mileage
    is a Japanese girl group which originally consisted of four former Hello! Pro Egg members. They graduated from Egg status in 2010 and became full time members of Hello! Project. In 2010, they won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist...

  • Sam Roberts
    Sam Roberts
    Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...

  • Sexy Zone
    Sexy Zone
    is a five-member Japanese boy band managed by Johnny & Associates.- Overview :* Announced as a group and had press conference in September 29, 2011. Johnny & Associates's CEO Johnny Kitagawa said, "The group name came from Michael Jackson's sexiness". The members are Nakajima Kento, Kikuchi Fuma,...

  • she
    She (band)
    she is a band formed in 2003 by the artist Lain Trzaska, sometimes credited as shemusic or Pjat Lain. As its main producer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Lain is the only official member of she but he occasionally brings in vocalists to perform....

  • Shizuka Kudo
    Shizuka Kudo
    is a Japanese singer and pop idol born in Hamura, Tokyo. She debuted as member no. 38 of the Onyanko Club in May 1986 and went on to a successful solo career with 11 no.1 hits.-Biography:...

  • SS501
  • SuG
    Sug
    Sug is a Japanese rock band that formed in 2006. They are also part of the visual kei movement of Japan. The band has released two EPs, two full-length studio albums, and several singles. Until 2009, the band was signed to "Indie PSC", a subdivision of PS Company...

  • Taegoon
    Taegoon
    Taegoon is a Korean pop singer and dancer. His first television appearance was on the talent search program Battle Shinhwa in 2005. He reached the final round of the competition and was the last one to leave the group...

  • TiA
    TiA
    TiA is a Japanese singer, famous for her songs "Ryuusei" and "Every Time"...

     (2011-)
  • Tsukiko Amano
    Tsukiko Amano
    is a Japanese singer, famous for singing the ending song, "Chō", for Fatal Frame II. She also sang the theme for Fatal Frame III, "Koe" , and theme and alternate ending song of Fatal Frame IV, Zero no Chōritsu and "Noise".- Biography :...

     (retired)
  • Van Ness Wu
  • Watari Roka Hashiritai
    Watari Roka Hashiritai
    is a Japanese female idol group, and a subgroup of Japanese female idol group AKB48. Under Pony Canyon, the group debuted in January 2009 with the double A-side single "Hatsukoi Dash/Aoi Mirai."-History:...

  • w-inds.
    W-inds.
    W-inds is a Japanese pop boy band that is managed by Vision Factory and has been signed to the Pony Canyon label since 2000. The group consists of the three individuals Ryohei Chiba, Keita Tachibana, and Ryuichi Ogata. They made their formal debut in 2001 and, to date, have released 30 singles...

  • The Wild Magnolias
    The Wild Magnolias
    -History:A group calling itself the Wild Magnolias, participating in the local "Indian masking" traditions and performing New Orleans Mardi Gras music, extends at least back into the 1950s. The group's lead member was called the Big Chief, and at least three Big Chiefs are known to have headed the...

     (one release)
  • Yu Yamada
    Yu Yamada
    is a model, actress, and singer best known from her modeling work with CanCam magazine. Shintaro Yamada is her brother.- Career :Yamada graduated from Okinawa Actors School...

  • Yuki Saito
  • Yukiko Okada
    Yukiko Okada
    was a singer and winner of the talent show, Star Tanjō! in Japan.-Early life:Okada was born on August 22, 1967, the second daughter of the Satō family in the Ichinomiya Hospital and later moved to Nagoya. At elementary school, Okada loved to read books, especially comic books and she was a talented...

  • Zeebra
    Zeebra
    , real name , is a Japanese hip hop artist, who made his first appearance in 1995. Zeebra is a former member of the hip-hop group King Giddra, which also included DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine, and the older brother of fellow hip-hop artist SPHERE of INFLUENCE...

  • Marc van Roon
    Marc van Roon
    Marc van Roon is a Dutch jazz pianist. He combines music performance with his work as a creative facilitator for leaders, groups and organizations in change and learning processes applying the art of improvisation as the main source of inspiration...

     (Japan/South Korea)

Video games

Below is a selected list of video games either developed or published by the Pony Canyon label.
  • Bubble Ghost
    Bubble Ghost
    Bubble Ghost is a French 1987 video game created by Christophe Andreani and published by ERE Informatique.-Gameplay:Bubble Ghost is a 2D arcade game. The player controls the ghost using the computer mouse and makes him blow at a bubble. The objective is to guide a bubble throughout a number of...

  • Dr. Chaos
    Dr. Chaos
    Dr. Chaos is an action-adventure game originally released in Japan for the Family Computer Disk System in by Pony Inc. An English localization was produced for the Nintendo Entertainment System that was released in North America by FCI in ....

  • Jungle Wars 2 – Kodai Mahou Ateimos no Nazo
  • Lunar Pool
    Lunar Pool
    Lunar Pool is a rough simulation of pool combined with aspects of miniature golf, created by Compile for the Nintendo Entertainment System, in which each stage is a differently shaped pool table. The object is to knock each ball into a pocket using a cue ball...

  • Penguin Land
    Penguin Land
    Penguin Land, known as in Japan, is a Sega Master System game and the second game in the Doki Doki Penguin Land series. In this game you play as a Penguin going through a puzzle platformer stage and try to guide your egg around the polar bears, rocks and other hazards to the end of the stage...

  • Super Pitfall
    Super Pitfall
    is a 1986 Japanese video game for the Nintendo Famicom and PC-8801 by Pony Inc. It was released for the Famicom as platformer with seamless scrolling in September 1986. Two months later, the PC8801 version was released with switching screens...

  • Onyanko Town
    Onyanko Town
    is a Japan-exclusive video game for the Family Computer. ROM images of this game are sometimes known as Dog Town or Cat Town. The game has no Japanese text at all; everything is perfectly understandable to an English-speaking Westerner.-Gameplay:...

  • Onita Atsushi FMW
    Onita Atsushi FMW
    is a Super Famicom video game that was released in 1993 to an exclusively Japanese audience.-Summary:This video game is essentially a professional wrestling-style of video game that was remade into more of a "tournament" fighter. Each fight is a "death match" and seven of these must be fought in...

  • Zanac
    Zanac
    is an arcade-style shoot 'em up video game designed by Compile and published in Japan by Pony Canyon and in North America by FCI.It was released for the MSX computer, the Family Computer Disk System, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and for the Virtual Console. It was reworked for the MSX2...

  • Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness
  • Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress
  • Ultima III: Exodus
  • Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Trivia

Pony Canyon holds the copyright to the Original Mario Kart 64 Soundtrack.

See also

  • List of record labels

Star Fox 64 is a project by Pony Canyon and involves the Nintendo musician Koji Kondo

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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