ArtistDirect News
Veteran Japanese Music Executive Hajime Taniguchi Joins Sandara Parks rePRISM Project
When Sandara Park’s new single album REPRISM dropped on June 20, the spotlight was on the track “Nail,” a fresh composition written and co‑composed by the former 2NE1 member. A week later, ARADNAS—Park’s independent label—announced that veteran Japanese music executive Hajime Taniguchi would step in as an advisor to the rePRISM project.
Taniguchi’s arrival comes as the label prepares to broaden the project with a forthcoming mini‑album, band‑based performances, and promotional activities tailored to the Japanese market. ARADNAS said the executive will “act as an official advisor to the agency and will participate directly in the rePRISM project as it expands.” The partnership is framed as the foundation for a wider collaboration that will eventually encompass all of ARADNAS’s ventures.
The executive’s résumé is extensive. Before joining ARADNAS, Taniguchi held senior positions in international business, strategy, intellectual property, and publishing at Sony Music Japan and Avex. He later served as CEO of Avex Music Publishing, president of the Japan Music Publishers Association, and director of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC). His career has spanned copyright management, global licensing, and the development of publishing infrastructure.
In a statement released by the agency, Taniguchi expressed enthusiasm about Park’s current work. “When I first heard ‘Nail,’ I felt that behind the familiar name there was still a voice that had not been fully revealed,” he said. He added that he was drawn not to Park’s past fame but to the direction of the music she is creating now. He praised her strategy of building a new repertoire and performing live with local Japanese bands, noting that she “does not rest on already achieved accomplishments but steadily builds a new musical portfolio.”
The collaboration signals ARADNAS’s intent to deepen its foothold in Japan. By leveraging Taniguchi’s network of local partners—media outlets, magazines, and creative collaborators—the agency aims to weave Park’s releases more fully into the Japanese music ecosystem. The partnership also reflects a broader trend of K‑pop artists establishing independent labels and pursuing localized strategies to expand their international reach.
For Sandara Park, the rePRISM project marks a new chapter in her solo career. The June 20 single album was her first official release under ARADNAS, and the inclusion of a band‑sound reinterpretation of “Festival” alongside the original track “Nail” demonstrates her continued evolution as a songwriter and performer.
In summary, Hajime Taniguchi has officially joined ARADNAS as an advisor to the rePRISM project, with plans to expand his involvement across the agency’s activities in Japan. The partnership is expected to support the development of a mini‑album, band‑based performances, and localized promotion for Sandara Park’s music in the Japanese market.
Taniguchi’s arrival comes as the label prepares to broaden the project with a forthcoming mini‑album, band‑based performances, and promotional activities tailored to the Japanese market. ARADNAS said the executive will “act as an official advisor to the agency and will participate directly in the rePRISM project as it expands.” The partnership is framed as the foundation for a wider collaboration that will eventually encompass all of ARADNAS’s ventures.
The executive’s résumé is extensive. Before joining ARADNAS, Taniguchi held senior positions in international business, strategy, intellectual property, and publishing at Sony Music Japan and Avex. He later served as CEO of Avex Music Publishing, president of the Japan Music Publishers Association, and director of the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC). His career has spanned copyright management, global licensing, and the development of publishing infrastructure.
In a statement released by the agency, Taniguchi expressed enthusiasm about Park’s current work. “When I first heard ‘Nail,’ I felt that behind the familiar name there was still a voice that had not been fully revealed,” he said. He added that he was drawn not to Park’s past fame but to the direction of the music she is creating now. He praised her strategy of building a new repertoire and performing live with local Japanese bands, noting that she “does not rest on already achieved accomplishments but steadily builds a new musical portfolio.”
The collaboration signals ARADNAS’s intent to deepen its foothold in Japan. By leveraging Taniguchi’s network of local partners—media outlets, magazines, and creative collaborators—the agency aims to weave Park’s releases more fully into the Japanese music ecosystem. The partnership also reflects a broader trend of K‑pop artists establishing independent labels and pursuing localized strategies to expand their international reach.
For Sandara Park, the rePRISM project marks a new chapter in her solo career. The June 20 single album was her first official release under ARADNAS, and the inclusion of a band‑sound reinterpretation of “Festival” alongside the original track “Nail” demonstrates her continued evolution as a songwriter and performer.
In summary, Hajime Taniguchi has officially joined ARADNAS as an advisor to the rePRISM project, with plans to expand his involvement across the agency’s activities in Japan. The partnership is expected to support the development of a mini‑album, band‑based performances, and localized promotion for Sandara Park’s music in the Japanese market.