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Welcome to Project Asteri
We specialize in crafting top-tier strategies tailored to artists and repertoires, ensuring they achieve optimal results in their endeavors. Whether it's Japanese artists seeking global reach or international artists eyeing expansion in Japan, we serve as a reliable bridge, facilitating increased exposure and growth across borders.
Services
Plan and execute marketing and promotion for artists in the United States, Japan, and Korea.
- Establish initial market presence
- Increase current market presence
- Maximize exposure, opportunities, and sales
Kimitaka Kato
Kimi Kato is the Founder and CEO of Project Asteri, Inc, a boutique music label service company based in Los Angeles, California. Specializing in comprehensive label services, Project Asteri, Inc. assists independent artists and labels in obtaining distribution and exposure in the United States, Japan and Korea. The company is leading a music export project for Japanese artists in collaboration with the Agency of Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. Additionally, Kimi is currently the co-host for the weekly radio show “The Kimi Kato Show”. Prior to establishing Project Asteri Inc., (est. Jan 2020) Kimi was a Board member at Universal Music LLC. in Japan, responsible for managing their International division for almost a decade. (Jan 2007 - Dec 2015) He was also the Managing Director for Virgin Music, a domestic label consisting of 3 labels - Delicious Deli Records, Virgin Records, and Def Jam Recordings (Jan 2008 - June 2016) - managing all areas of A&R, marketing, and promotion to signing, developing, and breaking artists in Japan. He has supported the recording careers of many new and well-established major domestic artists. Kimi also successfully launched international artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Eyed Peas, Carley Rae Jepsen, Hoobastank, Jack Johnson, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sum 41, Taylor Swift, and many more and has worked with many established artists such as Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Mariah Carey, and U2, to name but a few. Subsequently, Kimi joined Avex in 2016 as Corporate Executive, in-line with the launch of Avex International Inc. to build its International businesses overseeing artist signings, content acquisitions, licensing, and distribution in and out of Japan. As Avex’s multi-rights representative in the US, he was responsible for creating business opportunities in Japan for global artists such as Bruno Mars.
Listen to The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah on Apple Podcasts
Aya is a seasoned media professional with over 20 years of experience in journalism, hosting, and event producing.
Experience:
・Hosted popular radio and TV shows for over a decade, captivating audiences with her engaging style.
・Based in Los Angeles, she receives offers from top industry players like Warner Music Japan and Universal Music to cover American rock and Los Angeles culture.
Achievements:
・Her expertise shines through her work, having written liner notes for over 100 albums and interviewed more than 200 artists, including big names like Alicia Keys and Foo Fighters.
Events:
・Her passion extends to event production, having contributed to successful events like the Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival in LA and the Macross World Convention.
With her talent and dedication, she continues to make waves in the media and entertainment industry.
As the project manager at Project Asteri, she is actively engaged in promoting and marketing remarkable Japanese music groups: BAND-MAID, CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPIEPIE, and SiM. She is driving their tremendous success in North America. Through her innovative strategies and deep cultural insights, she is significantly expanding their reach and influence, ensuring these talented artists achieve the recognition they deserve on the international stage.
Michelle grew up in a bilingual household in Tokyo, Japan with a Japanese mother from Kyushu prefecture and a third-generation Japanese American father from Sacramento, California. Growing up, she learned classical piano for 13 years and played the drums for 4 years, which deepened her passion for music. While attending high school, she formed a pop-punk band with her friends and played nonstop shows for 3 years. This included winning the local Battle of the Bands competition against other school bands.After relocating from Tokyo, Japan to Los Angeles, California for college, a newfound purpose emerged. Inspired by her high school rock band days, she became determined in her desire to find and support underappreciated artists deserving of recognition. With this new direction, she embarked on her academic journey, enrolling in the Music Industry Studies program at Cal State University, Northridge.
Soon after graduating, she worked for a music management/record label company called The Penthouse as a Coordinator for 3 years. Alongside CEO Jonnie Forster, they collaborated with Sony Nashville and Empire to assist Country artists such as Willie Jones and RVSHVD. Utilizing her bilingual skills and instrumental background, she hopes to help the clients of Project Asteri and give light to the people of Asia that are looking for opportunities in the United States.
Leslie Cho has more than 25 year of experience in music and contents business for domestic market in Korea as well as Asia/Global markets. While Warner Music and BMG days where she had focused on the marketing and PR for international acts, she started taking care of both domestic and international business in Universal Music days. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Ne-Yo and MIKA were among those breaking artists in Korea whom she and her team worked on. She was also responsible for New Business Mapping for K-pop repertoire Business Development in Asia, Europe and North America since 2010. Working for Universal-Cube JV was the biggest project she took the leadership for overseas license and promotion. Beast and 4Minute are the star acts in the JV label. From 2015, she took the Vice President role of Asian repertoire and Business Development, she led the new business opportunities Korea and other Asian artists across regional and global territories. Dean (a R&B male solo artist), Anggun and SME license deal and promotions for Asia were parts of the major projects in this period.As Managing Director at Craft and Jun in 2018, an indie local Artist Management Company (currently it is EMA company), she built up the overseas business, A&R, marketing & PR, as well as team structure development. Currently, she works as a multi consultant in the industry, dealing mainly with business development for growing independent labels in Korea(including EMA), induction service for Korean market to overseas clients and digital license business advisory with Stealthwrks NY.
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