Free-Will
| 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 |
| Official website | free-will.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
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
- Back Coat - 12012
- Firewall Div. – Dir en grey, Merry
- Lizard – Kagerou
- PS Company – The Gazette
Under King Records
- PS Company – Kra
- Indie PSC – Born
- S'Cube – Baroque, Eile de Mu, Puppet Mammy, Ruvie, Tokyo Michael, Cooky
Under Tokuma Japan Communications
Under Avex Group
- ism – Kannivalism
Bands or Solo artists managed directly
- 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
- ViViD
- Vogue
- Youka
Scandal
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
- ↑ "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. 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. Retrieved 2007-09-24.