Avex Inc. facts for kids
Logo used since 2017
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Headquarters in Minato, Tokyo
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Native name
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エイベックス株式会社
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Formerly
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Avex D.D. Inc. (1988–1998) Avex Inc. (1998–2004) Avex Group Holdings, Inc. (2004–2017) |
| Public KK Industrial keiretsu |
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| Traded as | |
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Genre | Various |
| Founded | April 11, 1988 (as Avex D.D., Inc.)* |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters |
Sumitomo Fudosan Azabu-Juban Building, 1-4-1 Mita, Minato, Tokyo 108-0073
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Japan
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Area served
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East Asia |
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Key people
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| Revenue |  ¥46.3 billion (US$421.87 million) (2021) |
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Operating income
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¥2.6 billion (US$23.69 million) (2021) |
 ¥1.6 billion (US$14.58 million) (2021) |
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| Owner |
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Number of employees
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1,514 (as of June 11, 2024[update]) |
| Subsidiaries | see subsidiaries |
Avex Inc. (pronounced "AY-vex") is a major Japanese entertainment company. It was started by Max Matsuura and is based in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, Avex helps manage famous J-pop artists like Ayumi Hamasaki and TVXQ!. They also work with internet stars such as PikoTaro.
Avex has grown to include other areas like anime, video games, and live music events. They partner with big festivals like Ultra Music Festival. Avex also hosts their own yearly event called A-nation. The company is part of a large business group known as the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG).
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name AVEX is a short way of saying Audio Visual EXpert. When the company first started, its name was Avex D.D., Incorporated. Ten years later, it changed to Avex, Incorporated.
In 2004, the company changed its name again to Avex Group Holdings, Incorporated. This was part of a big change in how the company was organized. The new name was used for the main parts of the company. The older name, Avex, Incorporated, was kept for the entertainment parts of the group. In 2005, Avex, Incorporated became Avex Entertainment, Incorporated.
Avex's Journey: A Look at Its History
The Early Years (1988–1999)
Avex officially started in 1988 as Avex D.D. Incorporated. They began by selling CDs in Machida, Tokyo. In 1990, they opened a recording studio. They also created their first music label, Avex Trax. In the same year, they started a music publishing company called "Musique Folio Inc."
In 1993, Avex moved its offices to Aoyama, Tokyo. They also opened a branch in the U.S. called "AV Experience America Inc." That year, Avex held its first big yearly event. It was called "avex rave '93" and took place in Tokyo Dome. About 50,000 people attended. This event led to the creation of the Cutting Edge music label.
In 1994, Avex started two companies in the UK. Later that year, they opened a large disco called Velfarre.
By 1997, Avex partnered with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Together, they opened a series of concert halls called "Zepp". In 1999, Avex made a deal with Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records. This allowed Avex to handle Disney's CD releases in Japan. Later that year, "Avex Mode," an animation company, was created. In December 1999, Avex became listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Growing and Changing (2000–2009)
In 2001, Avex opened the "avex artists academy," a music school. In 2002, they released "CCCDs," which were CDs with copy protection. They also opened their new building in Aoyama.
In 2003, Avex started a classical music business called Avex Classics. In 2004, they began selling Japanese music CDs in South Korea. That same year, Avex signed former idol Ami Suzuki to their label.
In 2005, Avex gained the rights to distribute music from Aozora Records. This included all future songs by Hitomi Yaida.
In 2008, Avex worked with Victor JVC to create the label D-topia Entertainment. This was a business partnership for music sales and promotion. As part of Avex Group's 20th anniversary, they launched the band Girl Next Door in September 2008.
In May 2009, Avex Group launched its own online video service, BeeTV. They did this in partnership with NTT DoCoMo.
Changes in Leadership (2004)
In August 2004, there was a disagreement between Max Matsuura and co-founder Tom Yoda. This led to some big changes within the company.
On July 30, Yoda suggested that another executive, Ryuhei Chiba, should resign. Yoda believed there was a conflict of interest. The company's board agreed with Yoda. However, Max Matsuura, who was close to Chiba, then suggested that Yoda should step down. Matsuura's idea was not supported by the board. The next day, Matsuura and Chiba resigned.
On August 2, Matsuura and Chiba announced their resignations to Avex employees. Matsuura said that Avex had lost its passion for music. Many staff members supported them and said they would also quit. Most importantly, Ayumi Hamasaki, one of the label's biggest stars, said she would leave. Because of this, Avex's stock price on the TSE dropped significantly.
On August 3, due to pressure from employees and artists, Yoda resigned. Toshio Kobayashi took his place as president. This helped to stabilize the company.
Modern Era (2010–Present)
Avex Group Holdings is listed on stock exchanges in Germany.
More K-pop artists from other companies began to sign with Avex. These included SM Entertainment's TVXQ (in 2006) and YG Entertainment's 2NE1 (in 2010). Other groups like SS501 member Kim Hyung Jun, After School, U-KISS, and Shu-I also joined.
On July 21, 2011, Avex announced a partnership with Korean company YG Entertainment. They formed a joint label called YGEX.
In 2012, Avex started offering some of its music for sale without copy protection in Japan. Max Matsuura and Toshio Kobayashi, who owned a lot of shares in the company, started their own investment companies in 2012.
To show its modern approach, Avex Group moved its headquarters to Izumi Garden Tower in Roppongi in October 2014.
On February 15, 2017, Avex Group stopped exporting Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs from their Avex Pictures label to other countries. A company spokesperson said this was due to issues with rights.
Growing in North America: Avex Music Group
In 2022, Avex made a new effort to expand into North America. Avex USA Inc. opened in West Hollywood. It was led by Naoki Osada, an experienced Avex employee. Avex gave Osada five years to make the company successful in the U.S. The office was set up with four recording studios. The label also partnered with Sony Music Publishing to manage its music outside Japan.
In March 2025, Avex bought the song catalog of S10 Publishing. The company also invested more in S10 Management. At the same time, Avex USA became part of a new company called Avex Music Group (AMG). Brandon Silverstein was named the chief executive officer of AMG. He also became a partner in the company and joined its board of directors.
Avex Companies and Labels
In April 2010, Avex Group changed its structure. It created Avex Music Publishing Inc. as a separate company. This made Avex Group a "pure holding company," meaning it mainly owns other companies.
Companies in Japan
Avex Entertainment Inc.
Avex Music Creative Inc.
Music Labels
- Avex Casa (house music and electronica)
- Avex Classics (classical music)
- Avex International (international releases)
- Avex Trance (trance music)
- Avex Trax (the group's first record label, started in 1990)
- Avex Tune (dance music)
- Xgalx
- B-ME (a joint company with BMSG)
- Binyl Records (rock music)
- Blowgrow
- Commmons (a joint company with Ryuichi Sakamoto)
- Cutting Edge (the group's second record label, started in 1993)
- Dimension Point (Namie Amuro's label)
- Dois Irmaos (Lisa Ono)
- Espionage Records (a joint company with Verbal)
- Five-D Plus
- Foxtrot (a joint company with Rams Incorporated)
- FRAME (a joint company with Level-5)
- Hach Entertainment (a joint company with NTT SmartConnect)
- Hi-BPM Studio
- HPQ (Visual kei)
- Idol Street (for idol performers, launched in 2010)
- Island Records
- J-More
- Justa Music
- Locomusic (Love-chan's label)
- Love Life Records (Hitomi's label)
- Mad Pray Records (Anna Tsuchiya's label)
- Maximum 10
- MENT RECORDING (a joint company with Johnny & Associates)
- Motorod Records
- nakedrecords
- Oorong Records (a joint company with Oorong-sha Group)
- Rhythm Republic
- Rhythm Zone (the group's third record label, started in 1999)
- Rising Records
- Sonic Groove
- Superb Trax
- Tachytelic Records (a joint company with Taku Takahashi)
- Tank Top Records
- Tearbridge Production
- The Six Dragons
- True Song Music (Dai Nagao's label)
- Velfarre Records
- YGEX (a joint label with YG Entertainment)
Other Companies
- Avex Live Creative Inc.
- Avex Creative Factory Inc.
- Avex Alliance & Partners Inc.
- Avex Music Publishing Inc.
- Avex Classics International Inc.
- Avex Fan Marketing Inc.
- Avex Technologies Inc.
- Avex Management Inc.
- Avex Healthcare Empower LLC.
- Avex Clan Inc.
- Avex Styles Inc.
- Avex Management Agency Inc.
- Avex Creator Agency Inc.
Avex Pictures Inc.
- Avex Animation Labels Inc.
- Flagship Line Inc.
- Avex Film Labels Inc.
- aNCHOR Inc.
- The Anime Times Company Inc.
Avex AY Factory LLC
- Avex Asunaro Company Inc.
Companies Overseas
- Avex Asia Pte. Ltd.
- Avex China Inc.
- Avex Hong Kong Ltd.
- Avex Taiwan Inc.
- Avex Saudi Arabia LLC
- Avex Music Group
Partner Companies
- Memory-Tech Holdings Inc.
- AWA CO.Ltd
- HI&max Inc.
Music Labels Avex Distributes
Avex helps distribute music for many other labels, including:
- A stAtion (Ayaka's own record label), since 2012.
- AKS Co., Ltd. (AKB48's agency), since 2006 (Avex handles their DVD releases).
- Aozora Records, since 2005.
- Armada Music
- avex-classics, since 2003.
- CAM Entertainment, since 2008.
- D-topia Entertainment, since 2008 (co-distributed with Victor Entertainment and Universal Music Japan).
- Disney Music Group, since 1999.
- Fluxus Entertainment
- Free-Will
- HATS Unlimited (Taro Hakase's label).
- Higashiyakena Soundbuilder (HY's label), since 2000.
- I Scream Records, since 2010 (Japan only).
- Johnny & Associates (Taiwan and Hong Kong only).
- Kontor Records
- P-Vine Records (co-distributed with Victor Entertainment and Sony Music Japan).
- SM Entertainment, since 2000.
- S2S Pte. Ltd. (Japan only).
- Toy's Factory (Taiwan only, since 2012).
- Vamprose, since 2008 (Vamps and Monoral's label).
- Vandit
- Yamaha Music Communications Inc., since 2006.
Special Events
- Aoyama Christmas Circus (an annual Christmas tree lighting event).
A-Nation Concert Tour
Each year since 2002, Avex has put on a summer concert tour called "A-Nation." This tour travels around Japan and features the company's most popular artists. It happens every weekend in August in different Japanese cities.
Big Avex artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, Kumi Koda, AAA, Ai Otsuka, BIGBANG, BOA, Do As Infinity, Hitomi, TRF, Every Little Thing, and TVXQ perform for huge crowds. In 2008, Namie Amuro performed at A-Nation for the first time.
Many companies sponsor the festival, including Joe Weider fitness products, Seven & I Holdings Co., NTT DoCoMo, Mizuno Corp., and Nissay.
International Connections
Avex works with partners around the world:
- USA – Morgan Rich Corporation/Universal Music Group
- South Korea – S.M. Entertainment, YG Entertainment, KT Music
- Philippines – Universal Records
- Thailand – BEC-TERO Music
- China P.R. – China Record (Shanghai) Corporation
See also
In Spanish: Avex para niños
- List of artists under the Avex Group
- List of record labels
- D.League
- Sony Music Entertainment Japan
- Velfarre
