Universal Music and Sony Music Entertainment Establish Joint Venture for Music Festival Business in Asia

Universal Music LLC (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Naoshi Fujikura; hereinafter 'UM') and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Atsuhiro Iwakami; hereinafter 'SME') announced the establishment of NINE BY NINE Inc. (hereinafter 'NINE BY NINE') on April 1, 2026, for the purpose of planning and operating music festival businesses in the Asian region.

Background of Establishment Currently, Japanese music is attracting more attention than ever worldwide, especially in Asia, driven by hits originating from Japanese anime and social media, as well as the success of overseas tours by Japanese artists. With inbound tourism for music experiences also booming, the importance of providing a platform to showcase the Japanese music scene to global audiences is increasing. Against this backdrop of market changes, UM and SME have jointly established NINE BY NINE. Under this new company, both firms will combine their long-cultivated knowledge, know-how, and networks in the entertainment field to jointly host Japanese-originated music festivals in the Asian region.

Overview of the New Company Company Name: NINE BY NINE Inc. Establishment Date: April 1, 2026 Location: Jingumae Tower Building, 1-5-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Representatives: Ichiro Tamaki (President and Representative Director), Hidehiko Otani (Executive Vice President and Representative Director)

Business Activities - Planning and production of music festivals in the Asian region - Support and promotion for the overseas expansion of Japanese artists

Future Outlook NINE BY NINE is planning a series of music festivals in major Asian cities, with the first event scheduled for 2027. By maximizing the resources and global networks of both companies, we will support the long-term success of Japanese music by expanding encounters between local fans and Japanese artists through high-quality live experiences and effective promotions in the Asian region. Furthermore, we will continue to expand partnerships with other companies to strengthen our business foundation.