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Avex Inc.

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Avex Inc.(Japanese:エイベックス kabushiki gaisha,romanized:Eibekkusukabushiki gaisha/əˈvɛks//ˈeɪvɛks/,commonly known asAvexand stylized asavex) is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founderMax Matsuuraand headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.[4]Founded in 1988, the company managesJ-poptalents likeAyumi Hamasaki,TVXQ![5]and internet sensationPikoTaro.[6]It has also shifted into other business domains like anime, video games and live music events, partnering withUltra Music Festival[7]and hosting the annualA-nation.[8]The company is a member of theMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group(MUFG)keiretsu.

Avex Inc.
Native name
エイベックス kabushiki gaisha
Company typePublicKK
Industrial keiretsu
IndustryEntertainment
GenreVarious
FoundedApril 11, 1988;36 years ago(1988-04-11)(as Avex D.D., Inc.)*
Founders
Headquarters
Sumitomo Fudosan Azabu-Juban Building, 1-4-1 Mita,Minato, Tokyo108-0073
,
Japan
Area served
East Asia
Key people
  • Max Matsuura (Chairman)
  • Katsumi Kuroiwa (President and CEO)
  • Shinji Hayashi (CFO)
RevenueIncrease¥46.3 billion (US$421.87 million) (2021)
Increase¥2.6 billion (US$23.69 million) (2021)
Decrease¥1.6 billion (US$14.58 million) (2021)
Owner
Number of employees
1,514[3](as of June 11, 2024)
Subsidiariesseesubsidiaries
Websitewww.avex.co.jpEdit this at Wikidata

Name

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AVEX is anacronymof the English wordsAudioVisualEXpert.[citation needed]Since its foundation, its corporate name was AvexD.D.,Incorporated, and ten years later it was changed to Avex, Incorporated.

The current name, Avex Group Holdings, Incorporated, was adopted in 2004 as part of reconstruction process afterTom Yoda's resignation. Avex Group Holdings, Incorporated was used for the main subsidiaries, while the old name (Avex, Incorporated) was for entertainment components of the Group.

In 2005, Avex, Incorporated became Avex Entertainment, Incorporated, and stayed on as part of the Group.

History

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The Avex Building, finished in 2002 and funded by Sumitomo Life, in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo
The headquarters of the company until 2021
Avex Group logo used from 2000 to 2017

1988–1999: The early years

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Avex was registered June 1, 1973, as Avex D.D. Incorporated(エイベックス・ディー・ディー kabushiki gaisha,Eibekkusu Di Di Kabushiki Gaisha),although it did not become established until 1988. They began as a CD wholesaler based inMachida, Tokyo.[9]In September 1990, they opened a recording studio and createdAvex Traxas a music label. In the same year, they created "Musique Folio Inc.", a music publishing company, which became "Prime Direction Inc."

In 1993, they transferred toAoyama, Tokyoand created a U.S. branch, called "AV Experience America Inc." The year also marked the first of Avex's yearly events. It was held inTokyo Domeunder the name "avex rave '93" and attracted 50,000 attendees. This led to the creation of theCutting Edgelabel.

In 1994, they formed two UK subsidiaries, "Rhythm Republic Limited" and "Avex U.K. Limited". Later that year, they opened a disco, claimed on their website to be "the world's largest scale disco", namedVelfarre.[10]

In 1997, they opened a series of concert halls called "Zepp"withSony Music Entertainment Japan.In early 1999, they signed an agreement withWalt Disney RecordsandHollywood Records(record labels both owned byThe Walt Disney Company) to handle the companies' Japanese CD releases, after WDC had taken a small stake in Avex the previous year. Later that year "Avex Mode", an animation company, was established. In December, the company was listed on the 1st section of theTokyo Stock Exchangeunder theticker symbol7860.[11]

2000–2009: Times of unity and divisiveness

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In 2001, Avex opened the "avex artists academy" music school.[12]

In 2002, they released the "CCCD",a type of copy-protected CD,[13]and opened their building in Aoyama, paid for bySumitomo Lifeand worth 205 billion yen.

In 2003, they opened a classical music business (named Avex Classics).[14]

In January 2004, they began selling Japanese music CDs in South Korea. In December of that same year, PresidentMax Matsuura"spotted" formeridolAmi Suzukiperforming live at the annual festival of their school,Nihon University.He subsequently signed her to the Avex label.[15]

In 2005, Avex acquired distribution rights forAozora Records' catalogue including all futureHitomi Yaidareleases.[16]

In early 2008, Avex partnered withVictor JVCto officially create the labelD-topia Entertainmentas a business partnership between the labels and its founder, Terukado Onishi, with thesales promotionhandled by Victor while the area promotion handled by Avex. As part of the Avex Group's 20th anniversary celebration, a big project occurred with avex trax's "produced by avex trax" artists; the bandGirl Next Door,formed and debuted in September 2008.

Avex Group launched its ownIPTVservice,BeeTV,May 2009 in partnership withNTT DoCoMo.

2004: Internal feud: Max Matsuura v. Tom Yoda

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In August 2004, a feud between Max Matsuura and co-founder Tom Yoda affected the group.[17]It started because of Yoda's ambition to expand Avex into other entertainment-related ventures, especially producingmovies.[18]In addition, he accusedRyuhei Chiba,the company's executive director and president of Avex Inc. (now Avex Planning and Development), of pursuing personal profit from a few big artists.[17]

July 30:In a board meeting, Yoda introduced aresolutioncalling on Chiba to resign because of an allegedconflict of interest.A source says the disagreement arose because Chiba had signed an artist managed by a member of his family. The board backed Yoda's resolution in a 6-1 vote. However, Matsuura — described by insiders as a close ally of Chiba — introduced a second resolution demanding that Yoda step down due to "a difference of opinion in management principles". Matsuura's motion was defeated 5-2. He and Chiba resigned the next day.[19]

August 2:Matsuura and Chiba announced their resignations in a meeting with employees of Avex.[20][21]Chiba denied any fault, while Matsuura complained that Avex had lost its love of music and said he wanted to start over. They had the support of many staff who also said they would quit. More significantly, the label's top star,Ayumi Hamasaki,said she would leave.[21]As a result, Avex's stocks in theTSEfell by 16 percent that day.[22]

August 3:Due to pressure by employees and artists and to save the company from bankruptcy, Yoda resigned and was replaced by Toshio Kobayashi.[9][23]

2010–present

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AGHD is listed at theFrankfurt Stock ExchangeandBörse Münchenof Germany under the ticker symbol AX8.[24]

More K-pop artists from other agencies continued to sign with Avex such asSM Entertainment'sTVXQ(2006),YG Entertainment's2NE1(2010), S-plus Entertainment'sSS501memberKim Hyung Jun(2011),Pledis Entertainment'sAfter School(2011), NH Media'sU-KISS(2011)[25]and Yejeon Media'sShu-I(2011).[26]

On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Avex had paired with Korean management label YG Entertainment to form YGEX.[27]

In 2012, the group began offering limited releases for sale, DRM-free for the first time within Japan onAmazon MP3.[28]Max Matsuura and Toshio Kobayashi, the company's top two individual shareholders, launched their own investment companies to anchor their shares in 2012.[citation needed]

As a show of modernization, Avex Group moved toIzumi Garden TowerinRoppongiin October 2014. The company was designated to the 36th floor – the former address ofDWANGO.

On February 15, 2017, Avex Group discontinued all foreign exports of Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs published under their Avex Pictures label.[29]A spokesperson said the action was taken due to unspecified rights issues.[30]

In 2022, Avex made a renewed attempt to expand into North America. Avex USA Inc. opened in a rented five-bedroomWest Hollywoodhome, headed by Naoki Osada, an Avex veteran with experience in the American music business. Avex leadership gave Osada five years to find success in the U.S.[31]The home has been renovated to include four recording studios.[32]The label has partnered withSony Music Publishingto administer its catalogue outside Japan.[33]

Subsidiaries

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In April 2010, the Avex Group corporation was re-structured to establish Avex Music Publishing Inc. as a consolidated subsidiary, in a corporate spin-off of music publishing division of Avex Group Holdings Inc. Thus the Avex Group became a pure holding company, with a corporate structure as follows:[34]

Domestic

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Avex Entertainment Inc.

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Operating companies
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  • Avex Live Creative Inc.
  • Avex Music Creative Inc.
    • Avex Creative Factory Inc.
  • Avex Alliance & Partners Inc.
  • Avex Music PublishingInc.
  • Avex Classics International Inc.
  • Avex Fan Marketing Inc.
  • Avex Technologies Inc.
    • fuzz, Inc.
  • Avex Management Inc.
  • Avex Healthcare Empower LLC.
  • Avex Clan Inc.
  • Avex Styles Inc.
  • Avex Management Agency Inc.
  • Avex Creator Agency Inc.
    • Virtual Avex Inc.
    • LIVESTAR Inc.
Music labels
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  • Avex Casa (house music and electronica)
  • Avex Classics (classical music)
  • Avex Globe (globe's label; defunct since 2019)
  • Avex Ideak (joint venture withKADOMATSU.T;defunct since 1998)
  • Avex International (international releases)
  • Avex IO[35]
  • Avex Trance (trance music)
  • Avex Rush
  • ZOOM FLICKER
  • Avex Trax(first record label of the group (1990))
  • Avex Tune (dance music)
  • Xgalx
  • B-ME (joint venture with BMSG)
  • Binyl Records (rock music)
  • Blowgrow[39]
  • Commmons(joint venture withRyuichi Sakamoto)
  • Cross-A
  • Cutting Edge (second record label of the Group (1993.12))
  • Dimension Point (Namie Amuro's label)
  • Disc du Soleil
  • Dois Irmaos (Lisa Ono)
  • Espionage Records (joint venture withVerbal)
  • Five-D Plus
  • Foxtrot (joint venture with Rams Incorporated)[40][41]
  • FRAME (joint venture withLevel-5;founded by the latter withUp-Front Works)[42]
  • Hach Entertainment (joint venture withNTT SmartConnect)
  • Hi-BPM Studio
  • HPQ (Visual kei)
  • Idol Street(foridolperformers, launched October 2, 2010, by Tatsuo Higuchi[43])[44]
  • Island Records
  • J-Friends Project
  • J-More[45]
  • Justa Music[46]
  • Locomusic (Love-chan's label)
  • Love Life Records (Hitomi's label)
  • Mad Pray Records (Anna Tsuchiya's label)
  • Maximum 10
  • MENT RECORDING (joint venture withJohnny & Associates)[47]
  • Motorod Records
  • nakedrecords
  • Oorong Records (joint venture with Oorong-sha Group)
  • Rhythm Republic
  • Rhythm Zone(third record label of the Group (1999))
    • Fluctus
    • Riddim Zone
    • Starz by Rhythm Zone
  • Rising Records
  • Sonic Groove
  • Superb Trax
  • Tachytelic Records (joint venture withTaku Takahashi)
  • Tank Top Records[48]
  • Tearbridge Production[49]
  • The Six Dragons
  • True Song Music (Dai Nagao's label)
  • Velfarre Records
  • YGEX(joint label withYG Entertainment)

Avex Pictures Inc.

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  • Avex Animation Labels Inc.
  • Flagship Line Inc.
  • Avex Film Labels Inc.
  • aNCHOR Inc.
  • The Anime Times Company Inc.

Avex AY Factory LLC

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  • Avex Asunaro Company Inc.

Overseas

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  • Avex Asia Pte. Ltd.
    • Avex China Inc.
    • Avex Hong Kong Ltd.
    • Avex Taiwan Inc.
    • Avex Saudi Arabia LLC
  • Avex USA Inc.

Affiliate companies

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  • Memory-Tech Holdings Inc.
  • AWA CO.Ltd
  • HI&max Inc.

Labels distributed

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Promotional projects

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IFPI membership

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The Group is a member of theIFPIfor Hong Kong and Japan.[52]

A-Nation

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Main article:A-Nation

Each year since 2002, Avex has hosted a summer concert tour around Japan, "A-Nation", featuring the company's most successful acts. It is held everyweekendin August in different Japanese cities. Top Avex acts likeAyumi Hamasaki,Kumi Koda,AAA,Ai Otsuka,BIGBANG,BOA,Do As Infinity,Hitomi,TRF,Every Little ThingandTVXQperform to major crowds each year. In 2008,Namie Amuromade her first appearance at A-Nation and performed on all dates that year.[53][54]For the first time in 2012, Kumi Koda did not perform due to her pregnancy.

Festival sponsors includeJoe Weiderand his Weider fitness products,Seven & I Holdings Co.,NTT DoCoMo,Mizuno Corp.,Nissay(through its You May Dream! Project), and others.

International partners

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This is adynamic listand may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help byadding missing itemswithreliable sources.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Avex Group – Board Members".Avex. October 31, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2013.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  2. ^"Avex Inc.: Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | JP3160950006".MarketScreener.RetrievedJuly 27,2024.
  3. ^"Company Overview / Access| | Avex Inc".avex.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
  4. ^"エイベックス kabushiki gaisha".avex.co.jp.
  5. ^"Ayumi Hamasaki Announces 20th Anniversary Tour: See the Dates".PopCrush.March 24, 2017.
  6. ^"'PPAP' goes the world: How Pikotaro became a viral smash – The Japan Times ".November 4, 2016.
  7. ^"Avex Live Creative Confirms Dates for Ultra Japan 2015"(Press release). December 17, 2014.
  8. ^"Who was music being made for in 2014? – The Japan Times".December 23, 2014.
  9. ^abja:エイベックス・グループAvex Group's article on the Japanese Wikipedia.
  10. ^"Avex Group".Avex Group.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  11. ^"7860:Tokyo Stock Quote - Avex Group Holdings Inc".Bloomberg.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  12. ^アーティストアカデミー[Artist Academy] (in Japanese). Avex Group. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2011.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  13. ^"コピーコントロールCD"[Copy Control CD] (in Japanese). Avex. Archived fromthe originalon November 7, 2007.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  14. ^"avex-CLASSICS"(in Japanese). Avex Group. Archived fromthe originalon January 10, 2013.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  15. ^Robert Poole (2005)."What Does The Development Of Independent Female Artists Mean For The Japanese Music Industry?"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 29, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  16. ^"Start of Commission Sales of the Aozora Records Catalogue"(PDF)(Press release). Avex Group. September 15, 2005. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on September 27, 2007.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  17. ^ab"Japan Entertainment News".Japan Zone. August 2004.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  18. ^Retail storesallbusiness[dead link‍]
  19. ^Peter Serafin (September 4, 2004)."Japanese Industry Awaits Avex Fallout".Billboard.Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2008.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  20. ^"Avex Founder Steps Down".Japan Zone.RetrievedJune 1,2019.
  21. ^ab"Avex in Chaos".Japan Zone.RetrievedJune 1,2019.
  22. ^Steve McClure (December 28, 2004)."Import-export issues mark J-pop year"(PDF).The Yomiuri Shimbun.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 23, 2006.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  23. ^"Takuro Ailing Again".Japan Zone.RetrievedJune 1,2019.
  24. ^"AX8:Munich Stock Quote - Avex Group Holdings Inc".Bloomberg.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  25. ^"Seoul Central District Court dismisses both of SME's injunctions against JYJ".OMona They Didn't. February 17, 2011.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  26. ^"Shu-I (シューアイ) - Japan Official Site"(in Japanese). Shu-i.jp. Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2013.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  27. ^Neefa (July 21, 2011)."YG Entertainment and avex announce the creation of 'YGEX'!".6Theory Media.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  28. ^"MP3ダウンロード"[MP3 Download] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Archived fromthe originalon February 18, 2013.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
  29. ^"Avex pictures enforces export ban on Blu-rays, DVD, and CDs".Arama Japan. February 14, 2017.RetrievedMarch 4,2017.
  30. ^Japan, Arama! (March 3, 2017)."Avex Pictures releases statement on export ban".ARAMA! JAPAN.RetrievedJuly 5,2023.
  31. ^Barrionuevo, Alexei (October 14, 2022)."Japanese Label Avex Looks to Conquer U.S. Market From New LA Hub".Billboard.
  32. ^"Studios".AVEX USA.RetrievedJuly 5,2023.
  33. ^King, Ashley (February 21, 2022)."Avex USA Inks Global Administration Deal with Sony Music Publishing".Digital Music News.RetrievedJuly 5,2023.
  34. ^"History of the Avex|Avex Inc".avex.RetrievedJune 11,2024.
  35. ^"avex io"(in Japanese). avex. 2010.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  36. ^"dive in! disc - Home"(in Japanese). dive in! disc.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  37. ^マーティ・フリードマンが tuyển ぶ!レーベル đệ 1 đạn リリースはニコニコ động họa ユーザーから ra đời!![Marty Friedman chooses! The first release from label born from Nico Nico Douga user!] (in Japanese). Binylrecords.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  38. ^"BLABBERMOUTH.NET - MARTY FRIEDMAN Launches Record Label".Roadrunnerrecords. October 18, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  39. ^"blowgrow".blowgrow. Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  40. ^"Foxtrot".Foxtrot-music. Archived fromthe originalon April 25, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  41. ^"Foxtrot (@Foxtrot_Foxtrot) Op Twitter".Twitter.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  42. ^"FRAME(フレーム)Official Site"(in Japanese). Avex Group.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  43. ^Tatsuo HiguchionFacebook
  44. ^"iDOL Street"(in Japanese). Avex Group.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  45. ^"J-More Official Website"(in Japanese). Avex Group.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  46. ^"シシド・カフカ, avex の tân セクション “JUSTA MUSIC” に di tịch quyết định! Con hát デビューも! "[Kavka Shishido moving to new Avex sub-label Justa Music! Also debuting as an actress!] (in Japanese). mFound. September 30, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 30,2014.
  47. ^"キスマイ&Snow Man, ジャニーズとエイベックス の tân レーベルに tương ứng"(in Japanese). Nikkan Sports.RetrievedAugust 24,2022.
  48. ^"Tank Top Records"(in Japanese). Avex Group. 2011.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  49. ^"tearbridge records".TearbridgeRecords.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  50. ^"The Beginning Ayaka".Neowing. September 26, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  51. ^Yamaha Music Communications Inc.
  52. ^"LINKS - IFPI Member Record Companies".Ifpi.org. September 1, 2005.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  53. ^"a-nation Charge Go! ウイダーinゼリー musicweek & stadium fes"(in Japanese). A-nation.net. Archived fromthe originalon September 18, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  54. ^"a-nation navi (@anation_navi) op Twitter".Twitter.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  55. ^"Our Service".Morganrichonline. Archived fromthe originalon March 19, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  56. ^"Welcome to GMMInternational"(in Thai). Grammy International. October 13, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon January 29, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  57. ^"Thượng Hải trung xướng - trang đầu"[Shanghai sing - Home]. China Record Shanghai Corp. 2004. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  58. ^Billboard.Vol. 110. Nielsen Business Media. February 28, 1998. p. 85.ISSN0006-2510.RetrievedDecember 31,2012.
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