UK Project (stylized as UK.PROJECT) is a Japanese

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

and an artist management company which runs various music labels, artist management agencies and concert venues under its umbrella company.

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. In April 1989, the first record under UK Project was released. The company itself, UK Project Co., Ltd. was established in December 1991. UK Project initially signed a contract with Toshiba EMI (currently, Universal EMI R/EMI Records) in 1994 but the contract was dissolved in 1997. 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. 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 and Daizawa Records. Other than these two labels, UK Project continues to actively release records under their other brands, such as the Rice Records and Benten labels. UK.Project also owns and operates a few music venues and restaurants in Tokyo, including Club Que in Tokyo's

Shimokitazawa is a neighborhood in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. It is located in the southwestern corner of the Kitazawa district, hence the name "Shimo-kitazawa" ( ''lower Kitazawa''). Also known as "Shimokita", the neighbourhood is well known for the density o ...

and Zher the Zoo in Tokyo's

Yoyogi is a neighbourhood in the northern part of Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Geography The area encompassed by Yoyogi is typically defined two ways: * Only the five Yoyogi . * The former , corresponding roughly to the area south of Japan National Route ...

. UK Project is based in Daizawa,

Setagaya is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is also the name of a neighborhood and administrative district within the ward. Its official bird is the azure-winged magpie, its flower is the fringed orchid, and its tree is the '' Ze ...

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

. 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 UK Project bands have appeared in major TV programs, as well as major music festivals including

Rock in Japan Festival The Rock in Japan Festival is an annual three-day rock festival A rock festival is an open-air rock concert featuring many different performers, typically spread over two or three days and having a campsite and other amenities and forms of ...

, Countdown Japan and

Fuji Rock Festival is an annual music festival, rock festival held in Naeba Ski Resort, in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The three-day event, organized by Smash (Music promoters), Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians, making it th ...

Labels

* Wonder Release Records (August 1991 - ) * Rice Records * TV-Freak Records (July 1997 - ) * Aaron field (September 1997 - ) * Tinstar Records (1998 - ) * Deckrec (February 1999 - ) * Libra records (May 1999 - ) * Daizawa Records (2001 - ) * Famires Records (2001 - ) * RX-Records (2005 - )

Management agencies

* (2001-) * UKPM Co., Ltd. (formerly ) (2002 -)

Artists

Current

* Alexandros * Asobius * Cettia * Dats * Dip * Fullarmor * Helsinki Lambda Club * Kettles * Lost In Time * Odol * Ogre You Asshole (co-production with OYA) * Paionia * Pelican Fanclub * Polly * Riddle * Ryoji & The Last Chords * Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her * Spicysol * Syrup16g * Totalfat * Tomovsky * Your Gold My Pink * * * * * *

Previous notable artists

* Art-School * Base Ball Bear * Bazra * Bigmama * Boris * Burger Nuds * Condor44 * DMBQ * Flamong Echo * Doe * Going Steady * Hare-brained Unity * Lite * Lostage * Karen *

Kishidan is a Japanese rock band. They have a retro image, wearing Japanese school uniforms in the style of bōsōzoku. The lead singer, Sho Ayanokoji (often styled as "Show Ayanocozey"), was DJ Ozma, until he retired in December 2008. Kishidan annou ...

(氣志團) * Mo'Some Tonebender * Modern Dollz * Nananine * * Pre-school * Pop chocolat * Potshot *

Polysics is a Japanese techno/ electronic band from Tokyo, who dubs its unique style as "technicolor pogo punk". It was named after a brand of synthesizer, the Korg Polysix. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Toky ...

* Scoobie Do * Serial TV Drama * Sparta Locals * The Boom * The Novembers * The Telephones * Thee Michelle Gun Elephant * Tommy and the Bonjaskys (an offshoot of

, led by guitarist Saionji "Long Tall Tommy" Hitomi for one mini album in 2008) *

Unison Square Garden Unison Square Garden (stylized as UNISON SQUARE GARDEN, or USG) is a Japanese Rock band signed to Toy's Factory. The band includes Kosuke Saito (vocals/guitar), Tomoya Tabuchi (bass/backing vocals), and Takao Suzuki (drums/backing vocals). Career ...

Vola and the Oriental Machine Vola and the Oriental Machine (also known as Vola) is a four-member Japanese rock band formed by Number Girl and ex-Zazen Boys drummer Ahito Inazawa in 2005. The group is named after the soccer team Vola F.C., which was also the name of the short ...

* Wrong Scale * Wrecking Crew * Your Song Is Good * * * *

Other activities

Venues

Shimokitazawa Club QUE (born October 1994) Club Que is a fixture in Tokyo's

and is one of the more prominent live venues in the city. The venue hosts a variety of live performances of bands from all genres, although it is more geared towards rock acts. The club also hosts DJ and club events after hours. Club Que has a capacity of 280 people. Zher the Zoo Yoyogi (opened February 2005) Zher the Zoo is located in

in Tokyo's

Shibuya is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in Tokyo, Japan. A major commercial center, Shibuya houses one of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shibuya Station. As of January 1, 2024, Shibuya Ward has an estimated population of 230,60 ...

district. It is a concert venue with a capacity of 280 people and is a bar after hours. (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.

UKFC on the Road

Since 2011, UK Project has held an annual summer event named "UKFC on the Road", which started as a nationwide tour but has since evolved into a two-day

music festival A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...

with current and previous UK Project bands, as well as foreign and affiliated bands. UKFC on the Road 2011 :''Venue/Dates:'' Zepp Sendai (August 11, 2011), Niigata Lots (August 10, 2011), Fukuoka Drum Logos (19 August 2011) :''Artists:'' Bigmama,

Champagne Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...

, The Novembers, The Telephones UKFC on the Road 2012 :''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:''

, Bigmama, The Novembers,

, 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, , Riddle UKFC on the Road 2013 2013 was 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. :''Date:'' August 20, 2013 :''Artists:''

, 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, , Mo’Some Tonebender, The Novembers, Ogre You Asshole,

, The Telephones, ゾンビちゃん :''DJs:'' 片平実 (Getting Better), 庄村聡泰( lexandros, Shun (Totalfat) :''Date:'' August 22, 2013 :''Artists:'' Asobius, Bigmama,

, Kettles, The ★ 米騒動, The Novembers,

, 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 In 2014, UKFC on the Road grew into a massive event with a tour, a two-day festival at Studio Coast and additional performances at the Monster Bash music festival. The event in 2014 also had 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,

, 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 TOonebender, Pee Wee Gaskins (from Indonesia), Polysics, The Telephones, Totalfat, Helsinki Lambda 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,

, 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,

, The Telephones, Totalfat :''DJs:'' Bunta&Kuboty ( Totalfat), DJハヤシ(Polysics), DJノブ (The Telephones) UKFC on the Road 2015 The event in 2015 was smaller than the previous year. It was again held as a two-day event at Studio Coast in Shin Kiba. Instead, the event this year became more of a music festival, with three stages. Two stages located in the main hall had live performances, while a stage in the building foyer had 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, ストレイテナー, Totalfat, The 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 Downy, also known as Lenor in Europe, Taiwan and Japan, is an American brand of fabric softener produced by Procter & Gamble that was introduced in 1960. Brand history Lenor is a brand name of fabric softener and dryer sheets, also produced by ...

, キュウソネコカミ,

Orange Range is a Japanese rock band known for their strong Okinawan identity. Formed in 2001, the band began with Spice Music and later signed with Sony Music Japan's gr8! records division in 2003. The band left gr8! records in 2010 to start their own ...

, 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

. It was established in 1997 by a subsidiary of Space Shower TV. The record store at that time was managed by UK Project. In 2002, Highline Records became a fully owned subsidiary of UK.Project. Notable Highline Record artists were

Bump of Chicken is a Japanese alternative rock group from Sakura, Chiba. The band members are Motoo Fujiwara (Vocalist, vocals, Rhythm guitar, rhythm), Hiroaki Masukawa (guitar), Yoshifumi Naoi (Bass guitar, bass) and Hideo Masu (Drum kit, drums). Since their c ...

, Good Dog Happy Man and Nananine. Highline Record was dissolved in July 2006.