ex. NOVA ACOUSTIC、あえて現代の音楽ジャンルで定義するならば、ギターポップ、シティポップ、ピアノポップ、ネオアコースティック、アシッドジャズ、ソフトロック、ノーザンソウル、ブルーアイドソウル、フォーク、ボサノヴァ、ジャパニーズ歌謡曲周辺のポップミュージックが中心になると思うけれども、特定の音楽ジャンルに限ったものでもない。R&Bやダンスミュージックだって洋楽オリエンテッドでメロディがよければOK。
Miobell Records is an independent label launched in November 2016, planned and operated by the music web media "Popsicle Clip.". Despite its modest scale, it provides comprehensive support for artists' activities, encompassing mastering of music works, domestic and international releases, promotion, management, website planning and production, event planning and operation, artist merchandise planning and production, music distribution to subscription services like Apple Music and Spotify, and digital promotion. Releasing several titles annually, it has overcome the challenges of the pandemic to release approximately 40 titles to date (as of April 2025).
The musicians supported by Miobell Records include both full-time and part-time artists. While each artist approaches music differently, what they share is that "music is woven into their daily lives". While some establish a concept before creating their work, the majority of Miobell artists shape melodies that emerge from small daily occurrences and experiences. Consequently, release schedules are irregular: some release annually, while others do so every few years. We strive to support releases based on the artist's own timing – an artist-centric approach where they release when they wish to.
Consequently, our support structures vary considerably. We might prepare a budget and provide end-to-end assistance covering mastering, release, promotion, and live events. We've also been quick to adopt agent contracts, a model only now gaining traction in Japan. Support can take many forms tailored to the artist's situation: solely handling release, promotion, and event production; or assisting only with artist website creation/management and digital promotion for subscription services. We also adapt our approach per project; for instance, assisting only with the release for the first work, then preparing a budget to support from mastering onwards for subsequent releases.
Distribution to overseas record shops began with the two titles released in 2021: Grenfelle and Three Berry Icecream. This was because these works, featuring entirely English lyrics, were created from the outset with the desire to reach a global audience. While the countries carrying these two titles vary by release, they have been stocked by record shops in the USA, UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. Whilst streaming has enabled listeners worldwide to access our music for several years now, we also hope to expand our reach by delivering physical packages to fans and listeners scattered across the globe.
As a volunteer-run music label with limited resources, we cannot always fulfil artists' requests 100%. However, we continually strive to provide the best possible production environment for artists to realise their musical vision. Given our small scale and limited resources, we do not actively recruit artists or seek out new talent. Instead, we take a relaxed approach: through conversations with acquaintances over time, if the timing feels right, we might collaborate.
This has been a lengthy explanation, but we hope Miobel can help expand the circle of enjoyable music and contribute to fulfilling music lives for both artists and fans. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.
Sound Theme: ‘NOVA ACOUSTIC’
‘NOVA ACOUSTIC’ is a keyword and neologism coined by us at Miobel. We've decided to call it that, quite simply. Marking our label's fifth anniversary, we reflected on our activities thus far and organised our thoughts, drawing upon the musical journeys and histories of the artists we support.
We defined it as the sound theme for ‘a collective term for works where artists, influenced by Western music*, incorporate and redefine it with a contemporary sensibility, creating pieces brimming with originality’. *Includes works referencing Japanese music influenced by Western music
We intend to share works we consider 'NOVA ACOUSTIC' – not limited solely to releases from Miobell – through playlists and various other formats going forward. This is a sound theme we perceive as defining Miobell; it is not the theme of any specific artist's work, nor are all Miobell releases 'NOVA ACOUSTIC'. We plan to gradually introduce works we feel embody 'NOVA ACOUSTIC' in the future.
For example, if one were to define NOVA ACOUSTIC within contemporary music genres, it would primarily encompass guitar pop, city pop, piano pop, neo-acoustic, acid jazz, soft rock, Northern soul, blue-eyed soul, folk, bossa nova, and pop music surrounding Japanese kayōkyoku. However, it is not confined to specific genres. Even R&B or dance music is acceptable if it's Western-oriented and has a good melody.