Universal Music yesterday confirmed that the boss of its Japanese division would now also lead EMI Music Japan, following Universal’s acquisition of the EMI record company business last year.
That means that Universal Music Japan CEO Kazuhiko Koike will replace EMI Music Japan’s longtime chief Hitoshi Namekata, who will instead lead Universal’s strategic marketing, classics and jazz units in the Japanese market.
According to Billboard, as the two Japanese record companies are consolidated, creative and management functions will be based at Universal’s Tokyo HQ, while administration functions will be based at EMI’s former offices in the city.