Universal Music Japan (UMJ), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world-leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in A-Sketch, a leading Japanese music company, that operates as both an artist management business and record label that is home to popular Japanese artists including Saucy Dog, Flumpool, and Ayumu Imazu.

A-Sketch was founded in 2008, as a subsidiary of Amuse, one of Japan's largest artist management companies, in partnership with leading Japanese telecommunications company KDDI. Since its founding, the company has successfully signed and developed artists across a variety of genres including rock, J-pop and Anime-music. The label's catalog includes classic releases from ONE OK ROCK among others. A-Sketch is also home to MASH A&R, one of Japan's leading rock management companies, who manages artists including The Oral Cigarettes FREDERIC and Saucy Dog.

Under the terms of the agreement, Universal Music Japan will acquire the stake in A-Sketch currently owned by Amuse, effective immediately. A-Sketch will operate as a label division within Universal Music Japan, under the continued leadership of Nobuyuki Soma, Representative Director and President, A-Sketch, who will report to Universal Music Japan's President & CEO, Naoshi Fujikura. The acquisition will further bolster Universal Music Japan's in-house artist management capabilities and expand its ability to drive new creative and commercial opportunities for its artists, including launching compelling and innovative experiences for Japanese music fans both domestically, and globally.

In making the announcement, Naoshi Fujikura, President and CEO Universal Music Japan said, "It is our pleasure to welcome A-Sketch, the home of many unique and talented artists, to Universal Music Japan. We look forward to enhancing the value of these artists and delivering their talents to an even wider audience through our extensive global network and passion both domestically and internationally."

Nobuyuki Soma, Representative Director and President, A-Sketch said, "We are very excited to announce that A-Sketch will be joining Universal Music Group, the global leader in the industry. This partnership will provide our artists with significant opportunities for international expansion, and we look forward to finding new synergies across all of our creative endeavors."