INDEX
Sokabe: “Everyone should have their own independent label.”
-The way you released “Popcorn Ballads” (2017), the next album after “Dance to You,” was to release the album as soon as the announcement was released and people could listen to it immediately via streaming. There were examples overseas, but there were almost no prominent Japanese artists doing this. Being able to take such a challenging move is one of the strengths of running your own label, isn’t it?
Sokabe：I remember at the time we talked about “Why don’t people do it? Sogabe：I remember we talked about “Why don’t people do it? I thought it was very interesting that Kanye West made an album (“The Life Of Pablo” / 2016) solely through streaming, and that he changed the content in the middle of the album. I asked TuneCore Japan if it was possible. I asked TuneCore Japan if they could do that, and they said they could update the songs after release. I also wanted to appeal to the public that “from now on, there is a possibility of releasing works only through distribution.
-In fact, the times have been moving in that direction, and now all of your past works, both solo and Sunny Day, are distributed through TuneCore Japan. Is there a reason why you use TuneCore Japan?
Sokabe： TuneCore Japan came to talk to me in the early days, and I thought it was very nice, so I have been working with them ever since. I don’t know anyone else but TuneCore Japan, but they have always listened to my every wish, and I feel like I’ve had a relationship with them for a long time.
-TuneCore Japan started in 2012 and was one of the pioneers of digital distribution in Japan, wasn’t it? As I mentioned at the beginning, nowadays anyone can release music, and in other words, it is no longer necessary to belong to a label.
Sokabe： We don’t really think of expanding the label by releasing other artists, and we don’t do that much promotion for our own works either. Of course, there are some things I can help with, but I don’t think there is any great advantage to putting out work through ROSE.
Rather, I think it would be better if each artist had his or her own independent label. After all, when you release someone’s work, you have to sign a contract with that person and ROSE, and there are always various restrictions that come into play. Even now, there are some cases where I have to think about what to do with contracts I have signed in the past, but on the other hand, I have to sign a contract with someone else, and it is a hassle to sign a contract on (laughs).
Sokabe: I think it is the most beautiful thing when a person takes care of himself/herself without any contract and makes his/her own sales by him/herself. But there are people who say, “I like ROSE, so I want to publish from ROSE,” so I say, “Well, let’s publish from ROSE.”
-So I said, “Well, let’s put it out.
Sokabe： Yes, some people find out what they can do after releasing on ROSE. Lantern Parade has been a signature artist of ROSE since the beginning, and I love them, but now they are releasing their music on their own, which I think is great.
-I think it’s great that they are releasing music on their own now, and I think it’s great that they are doing it.
Sokabe： I think the current Internet society is getting better and better for individuals because there are more and more systems that cater to individuals, not to companies. But now, with a smartphone, you can do anything, and that’s great.
