UK Project

UK.PROJECT
ユーケープロジェクト
Founded December, 1991
Status Active
Genre Rock, J-rock
Country of origin Japan
Location Daizawa, Tokyo

UK Project (stylized as UK.PROJECT) is a Japanese independent record label and an artist management company which runs various music labels, artist management agencies and concert venues under its umbrella company.[1]

History

UK. PROJECT was founded in September 1987 with the theme of "discovering unknown ones" and has been operating under this concept ever since. The company is not registered with the Recording Industry Association of Japan, and as such is still regarded as an independent "indie" music company.[2]

In April 1989, the first record under UK.PROJECT was released. The company itself, UK.PROJECT Co., Ltd. was established in December 1991.[2][1]

UK.PROJECT initially signed a contract with Toshiba EMI (currently, UNIVERSAL EMI R/EMI RECORDS) in 1994 but the contract was dissolved in 1997.[2]

UK.PROJECT operates under the model of dividing its artist management arm and its record production arm through the creation of fully owned private limited record labels under the umbrella of UK.PROJECT.[2] Artists signed to UK.PROJECT are usually managed by UK.PROJECT or one of its artist management companies, and/or have their records released under UK.PROJECT or one of its labels, or both.

Some notable UK.PROJECT-owned labels include RX-RECORDS[3] and Daizawa Records.[4] Other than these two labels, UK.PROJECT continues to actively release records under their other labels, such as, RICE RECORDS and BENTEN label among many others.

UK.PROJECT also owns and operates a few music venues and restaurants in Tokyo, including Club QUE in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa and Zher the Zoo in Tokyo's Yoyogi.[5] [6]

UK.PROJECT is based in Daizawa, Setagaya, Tokyo.[2]

In spite of its "indie" label, UK.PROJECT is a prolific music company that has signed many Japanese indie-rock bands which later went on to commercial success. Many of UK.PROJECT bands have appear in major TV programs,[7][8] as well as, major music festivals including Rock in Japan Festival, Countdown Japan, and Fuji Rock Festival.[9][10]

Labels

Management agencies

Artists

Current

Previous notable artists

Other octivities

Venues

Shimokitazawa Club QUE (born October 1994)

Club Que is a fixture in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa and is one of the more prominent live venues in the city. The venue hosts a variety of live performances of bands from all genre, although it is more geared towards Rock acts. In addition, the club also hosts DJ and club events after hours. Club Que has a capacity of 280 people.[11]

Zher the ZOO YOYOGI (born February 2005)

Zher the ZOO is located in Yoyogi in Tokyo's Shibuya district. It is a concert venue with a capacity of 280 people and also serves as a bar after hours.[12]

Fuchi Kuchi (風知空知 Fuuchukuchi) (September 2006 - )

Fuchi Kuchi is a small intimate casual dining restaurant located in Shimokitazawa. It has an indoor eating space, a terrance as well as an event space. As such, it sometimes hosts live acoustic performances.[13]

UKFC on the Road

Since 2011, UK.PROJECT has been holding an annual summer event named UKFC on the Road, which started out as a nationwide tour but has since evolved into a two-day music festival featuring current and previous UK.PROJECT bands, as well as, foreign and affiliated bands.[14][15]

UKFC on the Road 2011[14]

Venue/Dates: Zepp Sendai (August 11, 2011), Niigata LOTS (August 10, 2011), Fukuoka DRUM LOGOS (19 August 2011)

Artists: BIGMAMA / [Champagne] / POLYSICS / THE NOVEMBERS / the telephones

UKFC on the ROAD 2012[16]

Venues/Dates: Osaka BIG CAT (July 25, 2012), Nagoya CLUB DIAMOND HALL (July 26, 2012), Niigata LOTS (August 1, 2012), Sendai RENSA (August 2, 2012), Fukuoka DRUM LOGOS (August 24, 2012)

Artists: [Champagne] /BIGMAMA/THE NOVEMBERSPOLYSICS/the telephones

Venue/Date: Tokyo, Shinkiba STUDIO COAST (August 14, 2012)

Artists: [Champagne] THE NOVEMBERS/BIGMAMA/POLYSICS/LOST IN TIME/the telephones/THE★米騒動/paionia/武藤昭平 with ウエノコウジ/Kinoko Teikoku (きのこ帝国 Kinokoteikoku)/RIDDLE

UKFC on the ROAD 2013[17]

2013 marks the first year the annual tour became a music festival event held at STUDIO COAST in Shin Kiba, Tokyo with live performances and DJ sets.[18]

Date: August 20, 2013

Artists: [Champagne] /BAZRA/BIGMAMA/伊藤文暁/LOST IN TIME/POTSHOT/paionia/RIDDLE/TOTALFAT/つづくバンド/UNISON SQUARE GARDEN/ゾンビちゃん/

DJs: 片平実(Getting Better)/石毛 輝(the telephones)

Date: August 8, 2013

Artists: DAD MOM GOD/dip/DJハヤシ/五十嵐 隆(弾き語り)/killing Boy/Kinoko Teikoku (きのこ帝国 Kinokoteikoku)/MO’SOME TONEBENDER/THE NOVEMBERS/OGRE YOU ASSHOLE/POLYSICS/the telephones/ゾンビちゃん/

DJs: 片平実(Getting Better)/庄村聡泰([Alexandros])/Shun(TOTALFAT)

Date: August 22, 2013

Artists: asobius/BIGMAMA/ [Champagne] /KETTLES/THE★米騒動/THE NOVEMBERSPOLYSICS/静カニ潜ム日々/the telephones/うみのて/ゾンビちゃん/

DJs: 片平実(Getting Better)/Bunta&Kuboty(TOTALFAT)

UKFC on the Road 2014[19]

In 2014, UKFC on the Road grew into a massive event that featured a tour, a 2-day festival at STUDIO COAST, as well as, additional performances at the MONSTER Bash music festival.

The event in 2014 also featured live performances by UK.PROJECT bands past and present, DJ Sets, and foreign bands.

Venue/Date: Osaka BIG CAT (July 15, 2014)

Artists: [Alexandros] / BIGMAMA / TOTALFAT / (Opening Act) DJハヤシ

Venue/Date: Nagoya DIAMOND HALL (July 16, 2014)

Artists: [Alexandros] / the telephones / TOTALFAT / (Opening Act)きのこ帝国

Venue/Date: Sendai RENSA (August 8, 2013)

Artists: BIGMAMA / POLYSICS / the telephones / 【Opening Act】asobius

Venue/Date: Shin Kiba STUDIO COAST (August 20, 2014)

Artists: [Alexandros] /asobius/BIGMAMA/銀杏BOYZ(solo)/松本素生 (GOING UNDER GROUND)/MO'SOME TONEBENDER/Pee Wee Gaskins(from Indonesia)/POLYSICS/the telephones/TOTALFAT/Helsinki Labmda Club/pirukuru/(DJ)片平実(Getting Better)

Venue/Date: Shin Kiba STUDIO COAST (August 21, 2014)

Artists: [Alexandros] /BIGMAMA/勝手にしやがれ/きのこ帝国/MAGUMI AND THE BREATHLESS/ニューロティカ/POLYSICS/the telephones/TOTALFAT/ウソツキ/Cettia/(DJ)片平実(Getting Better)

Event: UKFC on the Road 2014 extra in MONSTER bash

Venue: Kanagawa, Kokueisanukimann no Koen (August 23, 2014)

Artists: asobius/BIGMAMA/MO'SOME TONEBENDER/POLYSICS/the telephones/TOTALFAT/

DJs: Bunta&Kuboty(TOTALFAT)/DJハヤシ(POLYSICS)/DJノブ(the telephones)

UKFC on the Road 2015[20]

The event in 2015 was comparatively smaller than the previous year. It was again held as a 2-day event at STUDIO COAST in Shin Kiba. Instead, the event this year became more of a music festival, featuring 3 stages. Two stages located in the main hall featured live performances, while a stage in the building foyer featured DJ sets. As with past years, current and past UK.PROJECT bands and affiliated bands, as well as a foreign band, performed in the event on both days.

Date: August 18, 2015

Artists: [Alexandros] Marmozets、MO'SOME TONEBENDER、Straightener (band) | ストレイテナー、TOTALFATTHE NOVEMBERS, asobius、Cettia、DATS、LOST IN TIME、PELICAN FANCLUB

DJs: ヒサシ the KID(THE JERRY LEE PHANTOM/THE BEACHES)、片平実(Getting Better)、木下理樹(ART-SCHOOL/killingBoy)、西村道男(Getting Better)、斎藤雄(Getting Better)、しもっきー(a.k.a.自称下北沢の守り神)

Date: August 19, 2015

Artists: BIGMAMA、downy、キュウソネコカミ、ORANGE RANGEPOLYSICS、the telephones, Helsinki Lambda Club、武藤昭平 with ウエノコウジ、odol、polly、SPiCYSOL、ウソツキ

DJs: 片平実(Getting Better)、K(uchuu,)、木下理樹(ART-SCHOOL/killingBoy)、西村道男(Getting Better)、斎藤雄(Getting Better)、しもっきー(a.k.a.自称下北沢の守り神)、タロウサイファイ(avengers in sci-fi)

Highline Record

Highline Record was an indie record store and record label located in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo. It was established in 1997 by a subsidiary of Space Shower TV. The record store at that time was managed by UK.PROJECT.[1]

In 2002, Highline Records became a fully owned subsidiary of UK.PROJECT.[1] Highline Record was dissolved in July, 2006.[21]

Notable Highline Record artists: BUMP OF CHICKEN, Good Dog Happy Man, NANANINE

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "History". ukproject.com. 2013. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Company". ukproject.com. 2013. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  3. "RX-RECORDS Info". musicman-net. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  4. "Daizawa Records Info". musicman-net. 2013. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  5. "Club QUE Info". musicman-net. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  6. "Zher the Zoo YOYOGI Info". musicman-net. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  7. "the telephonesら、5/8放送の『Mステ』に出演". Rockin'On Japan. 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  8. "テレビ朝日ドリームフェスティバル2015". gekirock.com. 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  9. "Countdown Japan 13/14 - Artists". countdownjapan.jp. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  10. "Fuji Rock Festival 2014 - Artists". fujirockfestival.com. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  11. "Club Que Info". tokyo-club.net. 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  12. "Zher the ZOO Info". walkerplus. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  13. "人々が集う、くつろぐ、出会う自由空間|風知空知". shimokitazawa.info. 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  14. 1 2 "UK所属POLYSICS、telephones、BIGMAMAらが合同ツアー". natalie.mu. 2011. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  15. "UKFC on the Road". m-on.press. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  16. "UKFC on the Road 2012". m-on.press. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  17. "UKFC on the Road 2013". m-on.press. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  18. "UKFC on the Road 2013". m-on.press. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  19. "UKFC on the Road 2014". m-on.press. 2014. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  20. "UKFC on the Road 2015". ukproject.com. 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20080824061202/http://www.highline.co.jp/

External links

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