Exit Music Publishing Inc.
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJapanese music publisher and former record-label operator known for the Exit Trance and Vocaloid compilation series.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Exit Music Publishing Inc. is a Japanese music publishing and rights-management company whose best-known consumer-facing identity was the Exit Tunes record label. The business began in 2001 as a printing company, then moved into recorded music in 2003 under the name Quake Records. In 2005 it was reorganized and renamed Quake Holdings, establishing the corporate platform through which it developed compilation publishing, label activities, music-related events, animation-linked projects, and artist and writer management. The company's most visible label property was Exit Trance, a Japanese compilation series focused on trance-oriented reinterpretations of anime, dance, video-game, and film music. The series was regularly associated with DJ UTO, and its success supported the development of the harder and more underground-oriented Exit Trance Presents Aerodynamic line. Exit Tunes also became an important outlet for Vocaloid releases. Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku reached number one on the Japanese Oricon weekly album chart in 2010, the first Vocaloid album to achieve that position. Its successor, Exit Tunes Presents Vocalonexus feat. Hatsune Miku, repeated the achievement in January 2011. Pony Canyon acquired the company as a subsidiary in 2009 and made it wholly owned in 2014. The corporate name changed from Quake Holdings to Exit Tunes in 2011, aligning the company more closely with its principal label identity. In July 2019, Pony Canyon absorbed the company's music, animation, and event businesses. The entity was renamed Exit Music Publishing and continued primarily as a music copyright-management and writer-management company. Accordingly, Exit Tunes is best understood both as a historic label identity and as a significant Japanese compilation and Vocaloid publishing imprint, while the current corporate entity operates with a more specialized rights-management role.
History
The company was established in Japan in 2001 as a printing business. Its direction changed in 2003, when it entered the music field under the Quake Records name. In 2005, the business was renamed Quake Holdings, providing a broader corporate identity for its label, publishing, and entertainment activities. During the Quake period, the company developed Exit Trance, a compilation series centered on Japanese trance artists and electronic remixes. Releases commonly reworked material associated with anime, dance music, video games, or films. DJ UTO was closely associated with the series and mixed its volumes. By August 2010, ten volumes had been released. The popularity of the main series also led to Exit Trance Presents Aerodynamic, which pursued a harder and more underground-oriented electronic sound. The company expanded its profile through Vocaloid releases, particularly compilations featuring Hatsune Miku and other Vocaloid-associated music. Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku reached number one on Japan's Oricon weekly album chart in 2010. This was a landmark for Vocaloid music because it was the first album in the category to top the weekly chart. The following compilation, Exit Tunes Presents Vocalonexus feat. Hatsune Miku, achieved the same result in January 2011. Pony Canyon brought the company into its group as a subsidiary in 2009 and later made it wholly owned in 2014. In 2011, Quake Holdings adopted the Exit Tunes name, using the label identity that had become most recognizable to audiences. The company continued to operate across music releases and related entertainment fields, including animation and events. A major structural change took place in July 2019. Pony Canyon absorbed Exit Tunes' music, animation, and event businesses, and the company was renamed Exit Music Publishing. After the reorganization, its principal role became music copyright management and writer management rather than broad label-centered entertainment operations. Exit Tunes therefore remains important as the historic imprint behind the company's trance and Vocaloid catalog, while Exit Music Publishing represents the current rights-management entity.
- 2019
Renamed Exit Music Publishing
[1]Pony Canyon absorbed the music, animation, and event businesses, and the remaining company adopted the Exit Music Publishing name.
- 2014
Becomes wholly owned by Pony Canyon
[1]Pony Canyon completed its move to wholly owned ownership of the company.
- 2011
Renamed Exit Tunes
[1]Quake Holdings adopted the Exit Tunes corporate name.
- 2011
Vocalonexus reaches number one
[1]Exit Tunes Presents Vocalonexus feat. Hatsune Miku topped the Oricon weekly album chart in January.
- 2010
Vocalogenesis reaches number one
[1]Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku became the first Vocaloid album to top Japan's Oricon weekly album chart.
- 2009
Becomes a Pony Canyon subsidiary
[1]Pony Canyon acquired the company as a subsidiary.
- 2005
Renamed Quake Holdings
[1]The company changed its corporate name to Quake Holdings as its music and entertainment activities developed.
- 2003
Entry into music as Quake Records
[1]The company moved into the music sector and adopted the Quake Records identity.
- 2001
Company founded as a printing business
[1]The business was established in Japan, initially operating as a printing company.
Products and positioning
A Japanese specialist music publisher and label platform built around compilation releases, trance remixes, Vocaloid music, and media-linked repertoire. Its historic Exit Tunes identity emphasized accessible electronic reinterpretations and catalog-driven releases, while the post-2019 corporate entity focuses more narrowly on copyright and writer management.
Compilation album series
Exit Trance
A Japanese compilation series built around trance-oriented remixes and reinterpretations. Its releases drew on anime themes, dance music, video-game material, and film music, and were regularly mixed by DJ UTO. The series served as the principal consumer-facing label property associated with the company's Exit Tunes identity. At least ten volumes had been released by August 2010.
Electronic music compilation series
Exit Trance Presents Aerodynamic
A related compilation line introduced after the success of Exit Trance. Aerodynamic was positioned toward a harder and more underground electronic sound than the original series, extending the label's reach into a more specialized trance and dance-music audience.
Vocaloid compilation album · 2010
Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis feat. Hatsune Miku
A Vocaloid compilation centered on Hatsune Miku and released through Exit Tunes. Its number-one position on Japan's Oricon weekly album chart in 2010 made it the first Vocaloid album to achieve that result and established the label as a major commercial outlet for Vocaloid compilations.
Vocaloid compilation album · 2011
Exit Tunes Presents Vocalonexus feat. Hatsune Miku
The follow-up to Vocalogenesis, this Hatsune Miku-related compilation continued Exit Tunes' Vocaloid publishing strategy. It reached number one on Japan's Oricon weekly album chart in January 2011, making it the second Vocaloid album to top the weekly chart.
Brand decisions
2019
Consolidate music, animation, and event operationsStrategyBackground
Pony Canyon reorganized the businesses associated with Exit Tunes.
Action taken
Pony Canyon absorbed the company's music, animation, and event businesses, renamed the entity Exit Music Publishing, and retained it as a music copyright and writer-management company.
Aftermath
The company moved away from its former broad label and entertainment role toward specialized rights and writer management, while the Exit Tunes name remained associated with its historical release catalog.
2014
Pony Canyon completes wholly owned controlM&ABackground
Exit Tunes was operating as a Pony Canyon subsidiary after the 2009 transaction.
Action taken
Pony Canyon made the company wholly owned.
Aftermath
The company remained integrated with Pony Canyon until the later 2019 business reorganization.
2009
Join the Pony Canyon groupM&ABackground
The company had developed from a printing business into a music and entertainment operator with label, publishing, and related activities.
Action taken
Pony Canyon acquired the company as a subsidiary.
Aftermath
The business continued developing its compilation, Vocaloid, animation, and event activities within the Pony Canyon group.
Recent events
- 2019
Exit Tunes is renamed Exit Music Publishing after business absorption[1]
M&A
In July 2019, Pony Canyon absorbed the company's music, animation, and event businesses. The remaining entity was renamed Exit Music Publishing and continued with music copyright and writer-management functions.
- 2019
Pony Canyon absorbs Exit Tunes' music, animation, and event businesses[1]
M&A
Pony Canyon reorganized the Exit Tunes operations in July 2019. The company was renamed Exit Music Publishing Inc. and continued with music copyright and writer management.
- 2014
Pony Canyon makes the company wholly owned[1]
M&A
Pony Canyon completed the move from subsidiary ownership to wholly owned control of the Exit Tunes company.
- 2011
Vocalonexus follows Vocalogenesis to the top of Japan's weekly album chart[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The subsequent Exit Tunes Vocaloid compilation also reached number one on the Oricon weekly album chart in January, extending the label's chart impact.
- 2011
Exit Tunes becomes the company's corporate name[1]
Leadership change · Other
The company formerly known as Quake Holdings adopted the Exit Tunes name, reflecting the prominence of its record-label identity.
- 2011
Exit Tunes Presents Vocalonexus reaches No. 1 on the Oricon weekly album chart[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The follow-up Vocaloid compilation became the second Vocaloid album to top the weekly chart, according to the referenced company history.
- 2010
Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis becomes the first Vocaloid album to top the Oricon weekly chart[1]
Product launch · Other
The Hatsune Miku compilation reached the top position on Japan's Oricon weekly album chart, marking the first number-one weekly album-chart result for a Vocaloid album.
- 2010
Exit Tunes Presents Vocalogenesis reaches No. 1 on the Oricon weekly album chart[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The Vocaloid compilation became the first Vocaloid album to top Japan's Oricon weekly album chart.
- 2009
Pony Canyon takes Exit Music Publishing predecessor into its corporate group[1]
M&A
Pony Canyon made the company behind the Quake and Exit Tunes activities a subsidiary, bringing its music and related entertainment operations into the Pony Canyon group.
- 2009
Pony Canyon takes Exit Music Publishing's predecessor into its corporate group[1]
M&A
The company then operating under the Quake Holdings identity became a subsidiary of Pony Canyon.
Sources2 sources
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