| Free-Will | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Hiroshi Tomioka |
| Status | Active |
| Distributor(s) | In Japan:Avex Group, Sony Music Entertainment Japan, King Records, Tokuma Japan Communications, Pony Canyon In Europe:Gan-Shin, CLJ Records, Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Rock, punk, metal |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Location | Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo |
| Official website | f-w-d.co.jp |
Free-Will (フリーウィル) is a Japanese independent record label founded in 1986 by Color vocalist Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka, with branches predominantly in Japan and the United States, as well as previously in Europe.[1] It also continues to co-manage many of its artists after they have signed recording contracts with a major record label. Free-Will along with Extasy Records are credited with helping to spread the visual kei movement.[2] Free-Will also produced the 2001 anime adaptation of the long running manga series Grappler Baki.
Sub-divisions[edit]
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The company operates several sub-divisions, some of them for a single band or purpose only. For example, Firewall Div. solely handles material which is released in collaboration with Sony Music.
Under Sony Music[edit]
- Back Coat – 12012
- Firewall Div. – Dir en grey, Merry
- Lizard – Kagerou
Under King Records[edit]
- PS Company – Kra
- Indie PSC – Born
- S'Cube – Baroque, Eile de Mu, Puppet Mammy, Ruvie, Tokyo Michael, Cooky
Under Tokuma Japan Communications[edit]
- PS Company – D=Out, Screw
Under Avex Group[edit]
- ism – Kannivalism
Bands or solo artists managed directly[edit]
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- Past
- Alice Nine
- Amphibian
- BIS
- Bellzlleb
- Billy & The Sluts
- By-Sexual
- Color
- Decameron
- DECAYS
- Dir En Grey
- Genkaku Allergy
- Gilles de Rais
- Kagrra,
- Kamaitachi
- Lovemania
- Miyavi
- Red Tail Cat
- Rentrer en Soi
- Sea Monkey
- Speed-ID
- SuG
- sukekiyo
- The Gazette
- ViViD
- Vogue
- Youka
Scandal[edit]
On September 14, 2007, the label's founder Hiroshi "Dynamite Tommy" Tomioka was arrested, along with fellow Free-Will official Kazunori Murasaki and Koichi Kaku, a former employee of the Asatsu-DK advertising agency. The trio is accused of defrauding Asatsu-DK of 324 million yen (approximately US$2.8 million) by placing false orders for materials for Dir en grey. Kaku has since confessed to the charges, while Tomioka denied any involvement.[3][4][5]
References[edit]
- ^ "Free-Will Europe Home Page". web.archive.org. 2007-04-04. Archived from the original on 2007-04-04. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ Dejima, Kouji. "Bounce Di(s)ctionary Number 13 – Visual Kei". bounce.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2014-07-27.
- ^ "3 Arrested for Defrauding Ad Company". japantoday.com. 2007-09-15. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ ３億２４００万円詐欺、広告代理店元社員ら逮捕. sankei.co.jp (in Japanese). 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ ＡＤＫから３億円詐取、容疑の元社員ら３人逮捕. nikkei.co.jp (in Japanese). 2007-09-14. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- PS Company website
