King Records anime business profile: ownership, music, and visual content
King Records is one of Japan's oldest labels and a significant player in anime music, but as a private company it discloses limited financial data.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: King Record Co., Ltd. is a Japanese music and visual-content company founded in 1931 as Kodansha's record department and incorporated in 1951. Its main shareholder is Kodansha, it has capital of JPY 1.3 billion, and it employs about 320 people. The company operates record labels, visual content including animation, venue operations, and licensing. Third-party recruitment data cites revenue of JPY 17.1 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2025, but King Records does not publish audited standalone financials.
What King Records is and who owns it
King Record Co., Ltd. traces its origin to the King Records department inside Kodansha in 1931 and became an independent company in November 1951. It is headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo, and its main shareholder is Kodansha. The company lists capital of JPY 1.3 billion and 320 employees as of April 2026.
The company is not listed, so its full financial statements are not publicly filed. Its corporate profile describes it as a comprehensive entertainment company developing music, films, and other content.
How King Records makes money
King Records reports three main business areas: the record label business, the visual content business, and other services. The record label business covers planning, production, marketing, sales, events, and fan clubs across genres including anime songs, voice-actor songs, idol music, rock, J-POP, enka, jazz, classical, and children's music.
The visual content business plans, produces, advertises, and sells digital and packaged video content, including animation. Other services include venue operation, its own sales platform, and global licensing.
Revenue is not officially disclosed: King Records does not publish audited revenue or profit figures. The JPY 17.1 billion revenue estimate comes from third-party recruitment data and should be treated as an approximation.
Anime and music strategy
King Records' anime strategy centers on releasing music tied to animated properties. The label has historically operated imprints such as Starchild, Evil Line Records, King Amusement Creative, and Heroic Line, many focused on anime and voice-actor talent. Its catalog spans theme songs, soundtracks, and character songs.
The company also owns Polygon Pictures, a 3D animation studio acquired in 2014. That gives King Records a production asset alongside its music and distribution businesses, though the studio's revenue contribution is not broken out.
Subsidiaries and affiliates
King Records lists several related companies: Seven Seas Music, Bellwood Records, King Sekiguchidai Studio, Polygon Pictures, and Dazed. These cover music publishing, recording studios, animation production, and newer content ventures.
The network lets King Records handle parts of the value chain in-house, from recording and mastering to animation production and merchandise-oriented fan platforms.
Competitive position
King Records competes with larger Japanese music groups such as Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Avex, and Nippon Columbia, as well as with anime-focused labels under Bandai Namco Music Live. Its Kodansha ties give it access to manga and light-novel properties that can be adapted into anime.
Without public revenue or profit figures, its market share cannot be precisely measured. The JPY 17.1 billion revenue estimate places it well below the major publicly traded music groups but still material in the anime-music niche.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns King Records?
King Records' main shareholder is Kodansha, the major Japanese publisher. The company is private and not listed on a stock exchange.
What is King Records' revenue?
King Records does not publish audited financials. Third-party recruitment data estimates revenue of JPY 17.1 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2025.
Does King Records produce anime?
King Records plans and produces visual content including animation, and it owns Polygon Pictures, a 3D animation studio. Its core business, however, remains music and video content.
Sources and methodology
- Company profile, King Records. Official profile showing foundation in 1931, incorporation in 1951, JPY 1.3 billion capital, Kodansha as main shareholder, 320 employees, and subsidiaries.
- Company outline, King Records. Description of the record label, visual content, and other services businesses, including anime songs and animation.
- King Records company profile, Mynavi. Third-party recruitment profile estimating revenue of JPY 17.1 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2025 and 315 employees as of January 2026.