Japanese singer Kana Nishino (西野カナ), 37, announced on October 1 that she has ended her 18-year contract with Sony Music Artists (SMA) and will now manage her career through a newly established company of her own.
Nishino shared the news in an update on her official website, revealing that her exclusive artist contract with SMA concluded as of October 1. Sony Music’s official site confirmed the split in a separate notice titled “Notice of Termination of Exclusive Contract.” In her statement, Nishino thanked the agency for respecting her feelings and standing by her during the period she spent away from performing, adding that she intends to keep moving forward while “staying true to myself.”
Details about the structure or activities of her new management company have not yet been disclosed. SMA has not issued further public comment beyond confirming the end of the contract.
Who is Kana Nishino?
Kana Nishino (西野カナ) is a Japanese singer-songwriter who debuted in 2008 and became one of the defining voices in Japanese love-ballad pop through the 2010s, with hits including “Darling,” “Motto” and “Secret Love” that drew a large following among young listeners. She spent her entire major-label career with Sony Music Artists. In recent years she had largely stepped back from touring and live performances, a period her own statement references in thanking SMA for its support.
Author’s Comment
Eighteen years with one agency and then — poof — she’s running her own show. In an industry where artists are usually tied to their jimusho like it’s a marriage with no prenup, this is actually a pretty big flex. I’ll say it plainly: going independent in Japan’s entertainment world is still treated like a scandal even when nothing scandalous happened, so watch the tabloids try to read between lines that probably aren’t there. My read? A woman who’s been quietly recalibrating her life for years just decided she’d rather hold her own reins. Good for her. I just hope her new company has better instincts than most of these agencies do.
