TOKYO (CelebrityAccess) — Music rights company Downtown Music has opened a new office in Tokyo and launched Downtown Music Japan.
Based in Tokyo’s tony Roppongi district, Downtown Music Japan will focus on signing and developing Japanese songwriters, artists and producers, marketing and promoting Downtown’s English-catalog to Japanese audiences, and facilitating songwriting royalty collection in the market.
The company has named their International A&R Director Taeko Saito to oversee the new office. Saito, who joined the company in 2015, will also serve as Creative Director of the new division. She will transfer from the company's Los Angeles offices for her new role.
Downtown has also added Rika Yasumoto as Creative Manager. Yasumoto previously served as a manager at Rising Productions, where she worked with Japanese pop star Namie Amuro.
As a part of their Tokyo expansion, Downtown also announced that they have formed a strategic partnership Avex Music Publishing, a division of Japan's largest music company Avex Group.
The company's new Tokyo office is the first Asian expansion for the company, which also maintains offices in Amsterdam, London, New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. – Staff Writers
