Press Release
For Media Representatives

January 25, 2018
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc.

Stamper Production Equipment Introduced at DADJSony Music Group Ready for End-to-end Vinyl Record
Production
First Releases: Eiichi Ohtaki and Billy Joel

Disc-manufacturing subsidiary Sony DADC Japan (DADJ) is now outfitted with stamper equipment forvinyl record production, as announced today by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (SMEJ). This marks
the first time in 29 years that all steps in analog record production, from cutting masters and making
stampers to pressing records, are comprehensively available within the Sony Music Group in Japan.
Also announced were the first two releases commemorating the return of vinyl record production: Yumede Aetara—Eiichi Ohtaki Song Book III and Billy Joel's 52nd Street. Both releases are scheduled for March
21. Eiichi Ohtaki and Billy Joel are artists who were featured in the world's first commercial CD releases inOctober 1982.
Vinyl has made a worldwide comeback in recent years, led by fans in America. In Japan, record
production volume has grown to ten times the level of its lowest point in 2009.1 Artists themselves request
releasing more of their work on vinyl, as we continue to see renewed interest in this format. By providing
end-to-end production within the Sony Music Group in Japan, we expect to encourage growth in themarket for vinyl records and overall physical music products.
1: Source: Recording Industry Association of Japan http://www.riaj.or.jp/f/e/data/annual/ar_anlg.html

Comment from Michinori Mizuno, Representative Director and CEO of SMEJ
Vinyl record sales in the U.S. have grown to about 30 billion yen.2 The market in Japan has surged inrecent years, but so far remains at about 3 billion yen. The potential is there for the format to continue
thriving in Japan, where physical music products are appreciated.
The Sony Music Group sees vinyl records as a growth area and will unite in further developing the vinyl
related business to ultimately expand the market. The integrated production we now provide paves theway for a larger catalog, and we hope to continue our efforts to spread the beauty of vinyl records to aneven wider audience.
2: "Global Music Report 2017," IFPI http://www.ifpi.org/

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First Titles for Release in the Return to In-house Vinyl Production
Yume de Aetara, Eiichi Ohtaki Song Book III
Release: March 21, 2018
Price: 2,300 yen (plus tax)
Product No.: SRJL-1120
Tracks: Yume de Aetara (5-song LP)
Side One
M-1 Eiichi Ohtaki
M-2 RATS & STAR
M-3 Celia Paul ('87 Mix)
Side Two
M-1 Kiyoe Yoshioka (of Ikimono-gakari)
M-2 Minako Yoshida (Yume de Aetara 2018)
Special site: http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Info/yumedeaetara/(Japanese only)
52nd Street, Billy Joel
Release: March 21, 2018
Price: 3,800 yen (plus tax)
Product No.: SIJP-1000
Tracks: 9-song LP
Side One
1. Big Shot
2. Honesty
3. My Life
4. Zanzibar
Side Two
5. Stiletto
6. Rosalinda's Eyes
7. Half a Mile Away
8. Until the Night
9. 52nd Street
Special site: http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/BillyJoel/(Japanese only)

A Quick Look at Our Vinyl Record Production
Using a cutting lathe at Sony Music Studios Tokyo (managed by group company Sony MusicCommunications), production of cutting masters for vinyl records began in February 2017. In June, a vinylpressing machine was installed at DADJ.

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Cutting lathe for lacquer discs
Grooves are cut into lacquer discs from the vibration of thecutting needle as the music master plays.
(At Sony Music Studios Tokyo)

Plating equipment used in stamper production
Grooved lacquer discs are then metal-plated to create theinverted grooves of the ultra-precise dies called "stampers".
(At the DADJ Oigawa site)

Vinyl pressing machine
Hot, soft vinyl is pressed with the stamper to transfer thegrooves onto the vinyl surface to create a record.4(At the DADJ Oigawa site)

Related News
3: Gearing up for producing and manufacturing of vinyl records: Vinyl pressing machine introduced atSony DADC Japan (June 29, 2017)https://www.sme.co.jp/s/SMEen/pressrelease/detail/NEWS00002

About the Sony Music Group Companies
For details, visit the websites of each company.
• Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (Representative Director CEO: Michinori Mizuno)
4-5 Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo https://www.sme.co.jp/s/SMEen/• Sony DADC Japan Inc. (Representative Director: Koichi Ishihara)
1300-1 Ohata, Yoshida-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka https://www.sme.co.jp/s/SMEen/company/DADJ• Sony Music Communications Inc. (Representative Director: Aiichiro Furukawa)
Midtown Tower 9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo https://www.sme.co.jp/s/SMEen/company/SMC• Sony Music Labels Inc. (Representative Director: Daisuke Katsurada)
4-5 Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo https://www.sme.co.jp/s/SMEen/company/SML
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