Sony
History
Sony Corporation, commonly known as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Kōnan, Minato, Tokyo. The company operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional electronic products, the largest video game console company, the second largest video game publisher, the second largest record company, as well as one of the most comprehensive media companies, being the largest Japanese media conglomerate by size overtaking the privately held, family-owned Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings, the largest Japanese media conglomerate by revenue.
Sony, originally called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation), was founded in May 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. The company started in a bomb-damaged department store in Tokyo selling radio repair parts. In 1955, after many name changes, the company settled on Sony – a mix of the Latin word "sonus," which is the root of sonic and sound, and the English word "sunny."
Electronics
Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its diversified business includes consumer and professional electronics, gaming, entertainment, and financial services. The company owns the largest music entertainment business in the world, the largest video game console business and one of the largest video game publishing businesses. Also, it is one of the leading manufacturers of electronic products for the consumer and professional markets, and a leading player in the film and television entertainment industry.
Sony's primary electronics businesses include Sony Corporation (Sony Electronics in the U.S.), Sony Semiconductor Solutions (formerly Sony Semiconductor Components), Sony Pictures, Sony Music, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Mobile, and Sony Financial. Sony is among the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders and as of 2013, the fourth-largest television manufacturer in the world, after Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and TCL.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is a multinational video game and digital entertainment company, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products and Services Group of Sony. The company was founded in Tokyo in 1993 and established its American headquarters in San Mateo, California on April 1, 2016. It handles the research and development, production, and sales of both hardware and software for the PlayStation line of handheld and home console video game systems.
SIE is also a developer and publisher of video game titles and is composed of several subsidiaries covering the company's largest markets: North America, Europe and Asia. Since the launch of the original PlayStation console in 1994, the company has been developing the PlayStation lineup of home video game consoles and accessories. Expanding upon North America and other countries, the company soon became Sony's main resource for research and development in video games and interactive entertainment.
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) is an American music corporation owned and operated by Sony Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation. It is one of the "Big Three" record companies, along with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG). Sony Music Entertainment's global corporate headquarters are located in New York City and its international operations are housed in London.
SME is the second largest of the "Big Three" record companies and owns about a 21.5% market share in the United States. The company owns four flagship labels: Columbia Records, RCA Records, Epic Records and Arista Records. Other subsidiaries include Sony Masterworks, Sony Classical, Sony Music Japan, and Sony Music Latin. It also owns distribution rights for the catalog of the legendary Philadelphia International Records.
See Also
Sony Pictures Entertainment PlayStation Brand Sony Mobile Communications