Announcement of the establishment of NINE BY NINE, a joint venture between Sony Music and Universal Music.

Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsuhiro Iwakami; hereinafter referred to as SME) and Universal Music LLC (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takashi Fujikura; hereinafter referred to as UM) have jointly established a joint venture company, NINE BY NINE Inc. (hereinafter referred to as NINE BY NINE), effective April 1, 2026, with the aim of planning and operating music festivals in the Asian region.

Currently, Japanese music is attracting more global attention than ever before, thanks to hits originating from Japanese anime and social media, as well as the success of overseas tours by Japanese artists. With inbound tourism focused on music experiences also thriving, the importance of platforms for showcasing the Japanese music scene to a global audience is increasing. Against this backdrop of changing market conditions, SME and UM have established a new company, NINE BY NINE, to combine the knowledge, expertise, and global networks that both companies have cultivated over many years in the entertainment field, and to jointly host Japanese music festivals, primarily in the Asian region. The first event is scheduled to be held in 2027.