Much of the work done by these various companies is an interactive process, so much of the basic work that each company does overlaps or interacts with the work that another company may be doing. There is a basic distinction between the Tokyo branches (Zain, Rooms, B-Gram, BMFC) and the Osaka branches (GIZA, J-Disc, Mods House, Red-Way Studio) of The Being Group, but all the companies in The Being Group work and in a sense compete with one another to ensure that they keep making quality products. Some companies like Ading do advertising and A & R work (discovery and promotion of new artists, etc.) for the artists in both Osaka and Tokyo, while also providing the management for artists from GIZA Studio. The nationally released free magazine, "Music Freak" is run by the MRM Company. Internet homepages and i-mode links (this is a special internet service used with cell phones in Japan) for all the artists is handled by the ZET Company. This company also handles endorsement deals for television shows, and acts as a go-between and overseer of all the various production work on commercials and television show projects throughout The Being Group. Sales and distribution of all products created by The Being Group's artists are handled by the J-Disc Company from office branches all over Japan (Tokyo/ Sapporo/ Kita-Kantou/ Nishi-Kantou / Kansai / Osaka / Chuukoku / Fukuoka). And lastly, the copyrights and general managing of the some 80 different companies in The Being Group is all handled by the Treasury Company. There are also several "outside" projects that The Being Group is involved in. The advertising and production of several bands that are actually from other labels like Deen, Field of View, Pamelah, etc. are handled by companies within The Being Group. The Being Group also runs several small independent labels. This outside influence helps give more variety to the products presented by The Being Group, and ensures a freshness and quality to the music. The Being Group website at www.being.co.jp is a total interactive network service that keeps all customers up-to-date about their favorite artists. It is mostly written in Japanese, but there are plans for creating an English site in the future. |