Avex Trax
Encyclopedia
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company
for a group of entertainment
-related subsidiaries based in Japan. The word Avex is actually an acronym
of the English words Audio Visual Expert.
With leading producer's Tetsuya Komuro
's assistance, Avex became Japan's leading dance record company during the nineties, and continues producing and recording some of Japan's most famous pop
singers such as Japan's highest selling solo musician, Ayumi Hamasaki
. The company also provides theme music soundtracks to many anime and a few video games through its subsidiary Avex Mode.
Avex Group is mainly known in Japan because of its flagship music imprint, Avex Trax
, which was founded in 1990. It is one of the top three record labels in Japan since the Komuro period, and is currently the second biggest, behind Sony Music Japan.
, Tokyo.
They opened a recording studio and created Avex Trax
as a music label in September 1990. In the same year, they created "Musique Folio Inc.", a music publishing company, which later became "Prime Direction Inc."
In 1993, they transferred to Aoyama
, Tokyo and created a U.S. branch, called "AV Experience America Inc." The year also marked the first of Avex's yearly events. It was held in Tokyo Dome
under the name "avex rave '93" and attracted 50,000 attendees. This also marked the foundation of the Cutting Edge label.
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", named as Velfarre
.
In 1997, they opened a series of concert halls called "Zepp
" along with Sony Music Entertainment Japan
.
In early 1999, they signed an agreement with Walt Disney Records
and Hollywood Records
to handle both companies' Japanese CD releases. Later that year "Avex Mode", an animation company, was established. In December, still of the same year, the company was listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
under the ticker symbol
7860.
In 2002, they released the "CCCD
", a type of copy-protected CD, and built their building in Aoyama {Sumitomo Life answered the expenses, worth 205 billion yen.}.
In 2003, they opened a classical music business (named as Avex Classics).
In 2004, they began selling Japanese music CDs in South Korea. At the same date, Avex President Max Matsuura
"spotted" former-idol Ami Suzuki
performing live at the annual festival of their school, Nihon University
. He subsequently signed her to the Avex label.
In 2005, Avex acquired distribution rights for Aozora Records
' catalogue including all future Hitomi Yaida
releases.
In early 2008, Avex has partnered with Victor JVC
to officially create the label D-topia Entertainment
as a business partnership between the two labels and its founder, Terukado Onishi, with the sales promotion
handled by Victor while the area promotion handled by Avex. Later that year, as part of the Avex Group's 20th anniversary celebration, the big project is occurring with avex trax's ever "produced by avex trax" artists, the band Girl Next Door
formed and debuted in September 2008.
almost ruined the group. It started because of Yoda's ambition to expand Avex into other entertainment-related ventures, especially producing movies.In addition, he accused Ryuhei Chiba, the company's executive director and also the president of Axev Inc. (now Avex Planning and Development), of pursuing personal profit from a few big artists.
July 30 - On a board meeting, Yoda introduced a resolution
calling on Chiba to resign because of an alleged conflict of interest
. A source says the disagreement arose because Chiba had signed to Axev 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's—then 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.
August 2 - Matsuura and Chiba announced resignation from their respective positions on a meeting with employees of Avex. On the meet, Chiba tearfully denied committing any fault, while Matsuura complained that Avex had lost its love of music and said he wanted to start over.They have the support of many staff who also said they would quit.
More significantly, the label's top star, Ayumi Hamasaki
, also said she's off with the company. As a result, Avex's stocks in the TSE
fell by 16 percent that day.
August 3 - Due to pressure by employees and artists and to save the company from going bankrupt (since the company's stocks plunged),Yoda resigned and was replaced by Toshio Kobayashi.
Japan, released a statement about the renewal of contracts of SM artists BoA
, Tohoshinki, J-Min, Super Junior
, and SHINee
, which are signed to Avex.
AGHD is also currently listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
and Börse München
of Germany
under the ticker symbol AX8.
More K-pop artists from other agencies than SM Entertainment
continued to signed with Avex such as YG Entertainment
's 2NE1
(2010), KeyEast Entertainment's former SS501 member Kim Hyung Jun
(2011), Pledis Entertainment
's After School
(2011), NH Media's U-KISS
(2011) and Yejeon Media
's Shu-I (2011).
On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Avex paired with Korean management label YG Entertainment
to form YGEX Entertainment.
, 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 after Tom 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.
It is held every weekends of August
.
Top Avex acts like Ayumi Hamasaki
, Kumi Koda
, AAA
, Ai Otsuka
, BoA
, Do As Infinity
, Hitomi
, TRF
, Every Little Thing and TVXQ
have performed to major crowds each year. In 2008, Namie Amuro
made her first appearance at a-nation and performed on all dates that year.
Sponsors include Joe Weider
and his Weider fitness products, Seven & I Holdings Co.
, NTT DoCoMo
, Mizuno Corp.
, Nissay (through its You May Dream! Project), and others.
, Sony Music Entertainment Japan
ceded the entire tanned skin cultural world to Avex as competition increases.
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
for a group of entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
-related subsidiaries based in Japan. The word Avex is actually an acronym
Acronym and initialism
Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. These components may be individual letters or parts of words . There is no universal agreement on the precise definition of the various terms , nor on written usage...
of the English words Audio Visual Expert.
With leading producer's Tetsuya Komuro
Tetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
's assistance, Avex became Japan's leading dance record company during the nineties, and continues producing and recording some of Japan's most famous pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singers such as Japan's highest selling solo musician, Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
. The company also provides theme music soundtracks to many anime and a few video games through its subsidiary Avex Mode.
Avex Group is mainly known in Japan because of its flagship music imprint, Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
, which was founded in 1990. It is one of the top three record labels in Japan since the Komuro period, and is currently the second biggest, behind Sony Music Japan.
History
1988-1999: The Early Years
The company was established in 1988 as "Avex D.D., Inc", a CD wholesaler based in MachidaMachida, Tokyo
is a city located in the western part of the greater metropolis of Tokyo, Japan. The city was founded on February 1, 1958.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 424,669 and a population density of 5,928.65 persons per km². The total area is 71.63 km²...
, Tokyo.
They opened a recording studio and created Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
as a music label in September 1990. In the same year, they created "Musique Folio Inc.", a music publishing company, which later became "Prime Direction Inc."
In 1993, they transferred to Aoyama
Aoyama, Tokyo
is a neighborhood of Tokyo, located in the northeastern Minato Ward. During the Edo Period, Aoyama was home to various temples, shrines, and samurai residences. The name Aoyama derived from a samurai named Aoyama Tadanari who served the Tokugawa Shogunate and held his mansion in this area...
, Tokyo and created a U.S. branch, called "AV Experience America Inc." The year also marked the first of Avex's yearly events. It was held in Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
under the name "avex rave '93" and attracted 50,000 attendees. This also marked the foundation of the Cutting Edge label.
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", named as Velfarre
Velfarre
was a disco located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, Japan. Velfarre was the self-professed "largest disco in Asia" with a capacity of 1,500 people, with three floors above ground and three floors below; owned by Komuro Tetsuya and Avex Trax. Velfarre was, and still is, known for Trance,...
.
In 1997, they opened a series of concert halls called "Zepp
Zepp
The Zepp music halls are a group of Japanese music halls covering every area of the country. The Zepp halls play host to many international tours and are a popular stop among Japanese musicians. Each venue takes the Zepp name, along with the city in which it is located...
" along with Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
.
In early 1999, they signed an agreement with Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records is a family music record label owned by the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Records was formed in 1956 as Disneyland Records. Before that time, Disney recordings were licensed out to a variety of other labels such as . It was Walt Disney’s brother Roy O...
and Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
to handle both companies' Japanese CD releases. Later that year "Avex Mode", an animation company, was established. In December, still of the same year, the company was listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
under the ticker symbol
Ticker symbol
A stock symbol or ticker symbol is a short abbreviation used to uniquely identify publicly traded shares of a particular stock on a particular stock market. A stock symbol may consist of letters, numbers or a combination of both. "Ticker symbol" refers to the symbols that were printed on the ticker...
7860.
2000-2009: In Times of Unity and Divisiveness
In 2001, Avex opened "avex artists academy", a music school.In 2002, they released the "CCCD
Copy Control
Copy Control was the generic name of a copy prevention system, used from 2001 until 2006 on several digital audio disc releases by EMI Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment in several regions...
", a type of copy-protected CD, and built their building in Aoyama {Sumitomo Life answered the expenses, worth 205 billion yen.}.
In 2003, they opened a classical music business (named as Avex Classics).
In 2004, they began selling Japanese music CDs in South Korea. At the same date, Avex President Max Matsuura
Max Matsuura
, better known as Max Matsuura, is a record producer and president of one of the largest music labels in Japan, Avex Group. He is known mainly for discovering and developing new artists and converting them into big stars. Ayumi Hamasaki is the most famous example of Matsuura's work...
"spotted" former-idol Ami Suzuki
Ami Suzuki
is a female singer, songwriter, actress and DJ from Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.Having been discovered at the talent TV show Asayan, Suzuki was one of the most popular female singers as an idol in the late 1990s....
performing live at the annual festival of their school, Nihon University
Nihon University
Nihon University is the largest university in Japan. Akiyoshi Yamada, the minister of justice, founded Nihon Law School in October 1889....
. He subsequently signed her to the Avex label.
In 2005, Avex acquired distribution rights for Aozora Records
Aozora Records
' is a Japanese record company owned by .Established May 3 2000 to handle the independent release of Hitomi Yaida's debut maxi CD Howling to the Kansai area of Japan, it was the recipient of a bidding war amongst the larger Recording Companies for distribution rights which was won by...
' catalogue including all future Hitomi Yaida
Hitomi Yaida
born July 28, 1978 in Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan is a Japanese pop/folk rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. She often goes by the nickname Yaiko. Her musical style is often called "heart rock" by her fans. Yaida is an established musical artist in Japan and has also had minor club hits in the United...
releases.
In early 2008, Avex has partnered with Victor JVC
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
to officially create the label D-topia Entertainment
D-topia Entertainment
D-topia Entertainment is a Japanese record label produced by Terukado Ōnishi, officially established in public prior to December 14, 2007. The label is dedicated to promoting girls' entertainment, particularly the music of female singers...
as a business partnership between the two labels and its founder, Terukado Onishi, with the sales promotion
Sales promotion
Sales promotion is one of the four aspects of promotional mix. Media and non-media marketing communication are employed for a pre-determined, limited time to increase consumer demand, stimulate market demand or improve product availability...
handled by Victor while the area promotion handled by Avex. Later that year, as part of the Avex Group's 20th anniversary celebration, the big project is occurring with avex trax's ever "produced by avex trax" artists, the band Girl Next Door
Girl Next Door (band)
Girl Next Door is a Japanese pop musical trio that debuted in 2008 on the Avex Trax label. The band consists of vocalist Chisa, guitarist Yuji Inoue and Daisuke Suzuki on keyboard.-History:...
formed and debuted in September 2008.
2004: Matsuura versus Yoda
In August 2004, a feud between Max Matsuura and co-founder Tom YodaTom Yoda
is a Japanese businessperson.-Profile:Born May 27, 1940 in Chikuma, Nagano-ken, Tatsumi finished high school at Nagano HS in 1959 and Business Administration at Meiji University in 1963....
almost ruined the group. It started because of Yoda's ambition to expand Avex into other entertainment-related ventures, especially producing movies.In addition, he accused Ryuhei Chiba, the company's executive director and also the president of Axev Inc. (now Avex Planning and Development), of pursuing personal profit from a few big artists.
July 30 - On a board meeting, Yoda introduced a resolution
Corporate resolution
A corporate resolution is a corporate action, sometimes in the form of a legal document, that will be voted on or has been voted on at a meeting of the board of directors for a corporation. The resolution could also be in the form of a "corporate action" which has the same binding effect as an...
calling on Chiba to resign because of an alleged conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
. A source says the disagreement arose because Chiba had signed to Axev 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's—then 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.
August 2 - Matsuura and Chiba announced resignation from their respective positions on a meeting with employees of Avex. On the meet, Chiba tearfully denied committing any fault, while Matsuura complained that Avex had lost its love of music and said he wanted to start over.They have the support of many staff who also said they would quit.
More significantly, the label's top star, Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
, also said she's off with the company. As a result, Avex's stocks in the TSE
Tokyo Stock Exchange
The , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
fell by 16 percent that day.
August 3 - Due to pressure by employees and artists and to save the company from going bankrupt (since the company's stocks plunged),Yoda resigned and was replaced by Toshio Kobayashi.
2010-Present: What's More for Avex Group?
On November 24, 2010, Avex Entertainment, as well as SM EntertainmentSM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
Japan, released a statement about the renewal of contracts of SM artists BoA
BoA
Boa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
, Tohoshinki, J-Min, Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
, and SHINee
SHINee
Shinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
, which are signed to Avex.
AGHD is also currently listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is the world's 12th largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is owned and operated by Deutsche Börse, which also owns the European futures exchange Eurex and the clearing company...
and Börse München
Börse München
The Börse München is a stock exchange based in Munich, Germany. Founded in 1830, it currently lists over 6300 securities.-History:The Börse München was officially founded in 1869, but its origins go back to the 1830s, when traders from Munich started meeting regularly to trade securities. It was...
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
under the ticker symbol AX8.
More K-pop artists from other agencies than SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
continued to signed with Avex such as YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment is a record label and talent agency founded by Korean band Seo Taiji & Boys member Yang Hyun Suk and based in Seoul, South Korea. It specializes in producing R&B and hip hop music. YG stands for Yang Goon and are also the initials of the chief executive officer, Yang Hyun Suk...
's 2NE1
2NE1
Both the song and the group became popular online: Fire topped Mnet's online chart and 2NE1 became a popular search term. The group was awarded three Cyworld Digital Music Awards; "Lollipop" and "Fire" both won "Song of the Month" and the group won "Rookie of the Month" for May 2009...
(2010), KeyEast Entertainment's former SS501 member Kim Hyung Jun
Kim Hyung Jun
Kim Hyung Jun was born on 3 August 1987. He is a South Korean entertainer and youngest member of boyband SS501. He debut as a solo artist in March 2011 with mini album My Girl and musical debut in Caffeine.-2005: Debut:...
(2011), Pledis Entertainment
Pledis Entertainment
Pledis Entertainment is a South Korean music label, home to artists like Son Dam Bi, After School, and After School subunit Orange Caramel....
's After School
After School (band)
After School is a South Korean girl group formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2009. They are the first group to debut with a unique admissions and graduation concept in Korea, where members are added or withdrawn in a “natural” manner...
(2011), NH Media's U-KISS
U-Kiss
U-KISS is a South Korean boy band formed by NH Media in 2008. The members of the group are Soohyun, Eli, Kevin, Dongho, Kiseop, Hoon and AJ . Alexander and Kibum became former members, when their contracts were terminated in early 2011,The group has released two full-length albums, five extended...
(2011) and Yejeon Media
Yejeon Media
Yejeon Media & Entertainment , also known as YJ Media/YJ Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company/record label founded in 1996...
's Shu-I (2011).
On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Avex paired with Korean management label YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment is a record label and talent agency founded by Korean band Seo Taiji & Boys member Yang Hyun Suk and based in Seoul, South Korea. It specializes in producing R&B and hip hop music. YG stands for Yang Goon and are also the initials of the chief executive officer, Yang Hyun Suk...
to form YGEX Entertainment.
Changes in corporate name
Since its foundation, its corporate name was Avex D.D.Digital distribution
Online distribution, digital distribution, or electronic software distribution is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, typically by downloading via the internet directly to a consumer's device. Online distribution bypasses conventional physical distribution media,...
, 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 after Tom Yoda
Tom Yoda
is a Japanese businessperson.-Profile:Born May 27, 1940 in Chikuma, Nagano-ken, Tatsumi finished high school at Nagano HS in 1959 and Business Administration at Meiji University in 1963....
'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.
IFPI Membership
The Group is a member of the IFPI for Hong Kong and Japan.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 every weekends of August
August
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
.
Top Avex acts like Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
, Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda
, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
, AAA
AAA (band)
, and also known as Attack All Around, is a Japanese pop band signed to the label Avex Trax which debuted in September 2005. The group originally consisted of five young men and three young women who had all acted in commercials and had been dancers for other Japanese stars, such as Ayumi Hamasaki...
, Ai Otsuka
Ai Otsuka
is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and actress from Suminoe-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. She is a popular artist on the Avex Trax label and is best known for her 2003 hit "Sakuranbo," which stayed in the Top 200 Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for 103 weeks.A piano...
, BoA
BoA
Boa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
, Do As Infinity
Do As Infinity
Do As Infinity is a Japanese pop and rock band that formed in 1999 with three members: vocalist Tomiko Van, guitarist Ryo Owatari, and guitarist and composer Dai Nagao. The band's name is sometimes abbreviated as D.A.I., alluding to the fact that Do As Infinity was named after Dai Nagao...
, Hitomi
Hitomi
better known by her stagename , is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She began her career as model, and after meeting Tetsuya Komuro he began managing her career as a pop singer...
, TRF
TRF (band)
TRF is a Japanese pop/dance group. Its members are rapper DJ Koo, lead vocalist Yu-ki, and dancers Chiharu, Etsu, and Sam.-History:...
, Every Little Thing and TVXQ
TVXQ
TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
have performed to major crowds each year. In 2008, Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
made her first appearance at a-nation and performed on all dates that year.
Sponsors include Joe Weider
Joe Weider
Josef E. "Joe" Weider is co-founder of the International Federation of BodyBuilders along with brother Ben Weider and creator of the Mr. Olympia, the Ms. Olympia, and the now-defunct Masters Olympia bodybuilding contests...
and his Weider fitness products, Seven & I Holdings Co.
Seven & I Holdings Co.
is a diversified retail group headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Founded originally in 1920 as Ito-Yokado, Seven & I is now the fifth largest retailer in the world, with 35,000 stores in approximately 100 countries.-History:...
, NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo
is the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan. The name is officially an abbreviation of the phrase, "do communications over the mobile network", and is also from a compound word dokomo, meaning "everywhere" in Japanese. Docomo provides phone, video phone , i-mode , and mail services...
, Mizuno Corp.
Mizuno Corp.
is a Japanese sports equipment and sportswear company, founded in Osaka in 1906 by Rihachi Mizuno. Today, Mizuno is a global corporation which makes a wide variety of sports equipment and sportswear, for golf, tennis, baseball, volleyball, football, running, rugby, skiing, cycling, judo, table...
, Nissay (through its You May Dream! Project), and others.
Ruling the Japanese pop world
According to CNNCNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
ceded the entire tanned skin cultural world to Avex as competition increases.
Subsidiaries
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:Domestic consolidated subsidiaries
- Avex Entertainment Inc
- Avex Broadcasting & Communications Inc
- Binyl Records Inc
- Avex Management Inc
- Avex Marketing Inc
- Hatch Entertainment Inc
- Muzie Co. Ltd.
- Para TV Inc
- Avex Live Creative Inc
- Avex Planning & Development Inc
- Avex Music Publishing Inc
Foreign consolidated subsidiaries
- Avex International Holdings Ltd - Management and supervision of Avex Hong Kong, Avex Taiwan and Avex China
- Avex Hong Kong Limited (formerly known as Avex Asia - Est. Sept 1996) - renamed in Nov 2008
- Avex Taiwan Inc.Avex TaiwanAvex Taiwan Inc is an entertainment and record label based in Taiwan. It was founded in July 1998 and is a foreign consolidated subsidiary of parent company Avex Group based in Japan...
- Est. July 1998 - Avex China Co Ltd - Est. Nov 2006
- Avex Hawaii Inc
Companies affiliated with Avex
- D-topia EntertainmentD-topia EntertainmentD-topia Entertainment is a Japanese record label produced by Terukado Ōnishi, officially established in public prior to December 14, 2007. The label is dedicated to promoting girls' entertainment, particularly the music of female singers...
- Dwango Co Ltd
- Hall Network Inc (owner of ZeppZeppThe Zepp music halls are a group of Japanese music halls covering every area of the country. The Zepp halls play host to many international tours and are a popular stop among Japanese musicians. Each venue takes the Zepp name, along with the city in which it is located...
) - Label Gate Co Ltd (operator of moraMora (music store)is an online music and video store for the Japanese market. It is integrated into the Japanese version of Sony's SonicStage software. Music is distributed primarily in Sony's ATRAC3 format with OpenMG DRM, though some music is also now offered in Microsoft's Windows Media format and videos are...
) - LDH Inc.
- Memory-Tech Corporation
- Recochoku Co Ltd
Music labels
- Avex Casa (house music and electronica)
- Avex Classics (classical musicClassical musicClassical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
) - Avex Club (compilation albums)
- Avex Globe (globeGlobe (band)Globe is a dance-oriented Japanese pop band, formed in 1995 by producer and songwriter Tetsuya Komuro. Originally consisting of Komuro, Keiko Yamada and Marc Panther, the group's singles consistently hit the charts...
's label) - Avex Ideak
- Avex International (international releases)
- Avex IO
- Avex Trance (trance music)
- Avex TraxAvex Trax, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
(first record label of the Group (1990.09)) - Avex Tune (dance music)
- Bareknuckle
- Binyl Records (rock music)
- Dive in! Disc
- Gokukara Records (joint venture with Marty Friedman)
- PopTop
- Blowgrow
- CommmonsCommmonsis a Japanese record label founded by Ryuichi Sakamoto, an award-winning Japanese musician. Avex Group, Japan's biggest independent record label, is its official parent company.-History:...
(joint venture with Ryuichi SakamotoRyuichi SakamotoAfter working as a session musician with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1977, the trio formed the internationally successful electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978. Known for their seminal influence on electronic music, the group helped pioneer electronic genres such as...
) - Cross-A
- Cutting Edge (second record label of the Group (1993.12))
- D-Force
- Disc du Soleil
- Dois Irmaos (Lisa OnoLisa OnoLisa Ono is a popular Japanese-Brazilian bossa nova singer.- Biography :Lisa Ono was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1962 but moved with her family to Tokyo at the age of 10...
) - Dwango Music Entertainment (sister company of dwango.jp)
- Espionage Records (joint venture with VerbalVerbal (rapper)Verbal is a Japanese third generation Zainichi Korean hip-hop MC, who debuted in 1998 as a member of the J-Pop hip-hop duo m-flo....
) - Five-D Plus
- Foxtrot (joint venture with Rams Incorporated)
- Hach Entertainment (joint venture with NTT SmartConnectNippon Telegraph and Telephone, commonly known as NTT, is a Japanese telecommunications company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Ranked the 31st in Fortune Global 500, NTT is the largest telecommunications company in Asia, and the second-largest in the world in terms of revenue....
) - Hi-BPM Studio
- HPQ (Visual keiVisual Keiis a movement among Japanese musicians, that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, often, but not always, coupled with androgynous aesthetics. Some sources state that visual kei refers to a music genre, or to a sub-genre of Japanese rock, with its...
) - Idol Street (for idol performers, launched October 2, 2010 by Tatsuo Higuchi)
- J-Friends Project
- J-More
- Junk Museum
- Locomusic (Love-chanLove-chanis a fictional female bunny character and singer created by Japanese singer Ai Otsuka. Love was to star in an album originally titled I canChu♥ and a promotional music video from I canChu♥, but the release was changed to a single and titled "Love no Theme" before it was released on April 11, 2007...
's label) - Love Life Records (hitomiHitomibetter known by her stagename , is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She began her career as model, and after meeting Tetsuya Komuro he began managing her career as a pop singer...
's label) - Mad Pray Records (Anna TsuchiyaAnna Tsuchiyais a Japanese singer, lyricist, actress and semi-retired model.Tsuchiya was born to a Japanese mother and an American father of Polish-Irish descent from Buffalo, New York. In her earliest years, she spoke English and Japanese...
's label) - Maximum 10
- Mode '99
- Motorod Records
- nakedrecords
- Oorong Records (joint venture with Oorong-sha Group)
- Rhythm Republic
- Rhythm ZoneRhythm Zoneis a record label in the Avex Records Group which releases all kinds of urban contemporary Japanese music.-History:The label was founded in 1999 by Max Matsuura to address the need for a new urban music label, signing M-Flo as its first artist, then followed by Exile.In 2000, Koda Kumi was signed...
(third record label of the Group (1999))- Fluctus
- Riddim Zone
- Starz by Rhythm Zone
- Rising Records
- Sonic Groove
- Superb Trax
- Tachytelic Records (joint venture with Taku TakahashiTaku Takahashiis a Japanese DJ and record producer, who debuted in 1998 as a member of the group M-Flo. The group rose to prominence in the early 2000s, with hit singles such as "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again." Takahashi was also a member of Avex's 20th anniversary dance music project Ravex, and has...
) - Tank Top Records
- Tearbridge Production
- True Song Music (Dai NagaoDai Nagaois a Japanese composer, musician and producer. He was a member and composer of the popular musical group Do As Infinity from its founding until it disbanded in September 2005, although they have since reformed....
's label) - Velfarre Records
- YGEX (joint label with YG Entertainment)
- Zoom Flicker
Entertainment ventures
- Animation
- Avex Mode
- Television
- Avex and East (joint venture with East Company)
- Movies
- Domestic
- Avex Entertainment
- Foreign
- Elephant Pictures
- PiX Inc.
- Domestic
- Artist Management
- Agape
- Avex Management
- Platinum Productions
- Advertising
- M!dea Incorporated
- Digital
- Avex Broadcasting and Communications (joint venture with NTT docomoNTT DoCoMois the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan. The name is officially an abbreviation of the phrase, "do communications over the mobile network", and is also from a compound word dokomo, meaning "everywhere" in Japanese. Docomo provides phone, video phone , i-mode , and mail services...
) - Avex Marketing (digital marketing and website hosting)
- dwango.jpDWANGOThe Dial-up Wide-Area Network Game Operation, better known by the acronym DWANGO was an early online gaming service based in the United States...
(20% Ownership) - mu-mo.net (Japanese)(own music store of the Group)
- Prismix
- Avex Broadcasting and Communications (joint venture with NTT docomo
- Live Shows
- Avex Live Creative
- VelfarreVelfarrewas a disco located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, Japan. Velfarre was the self-professed "largest disco in Asia" with a capacity of 1,500 people, with three floors above ground and three floors below; owned by Komuro Tetsuya and Avex Trax. Velfarre was, and still is, known for Trance,...
- Magazines
- Beat Freak
- Lounges
- Alux
Labels Distributed
- A stAtion (AyakaAyakais a Japanese female singer formerly signed to Warner Music Japan. Born in Osaka, she moved to Tokyo to pursue a singing career. She married actor Hiro Mizushima on February 22, 2009.-2006:...
's own record label), since 2012. - Aozora RecordsAozora Records' is a Japanese record company owned by .Established May 3 2000 to handle the independent release of Hitomi Yaida's debut maxi CD Howling to the Kansai area of Japan, it was the recipient of a bidding war amongst the larger Recording Companies for distribution rights which was won by...
, since 2005.- GMT RecordsGMT RecordsGMT Records is an imprint or sub-label of Aozora Records. Created in 2004, it focuses on the Japanese representation and promotion of English and Irish indie groups.The first band signings were The Future Kings of Spain and The Veils....
, since 2005.
- GMT Records
- Armada MusicArmada MusicArmada Music is a Dutch record label that specializes in releasing electronic dance music, primarily trance and house, co-founded by Armin van Buuren....
- CAM EntertainmentCAM Entertainmentis a Japanese record label founded by Cyber Agent, the company behind ameba.The initials CAM mean Cyber Agent Music.-Artists:* Maki Ohguro* Miyu Nagase* Maika Sawaki* Sacon* Strawberry Record* Wonder-holic* Eri Yoshida* Mistral...
, since 2008. - D-topia EntertainmentD-topia EntertainmentD-topia Entertainment is a Japanese record label produced by Terukado Ōnishi, officially established in public prior to December 14, 2007. The label is dedicated to promoting girls' entertainment, particularly the music of female singers...
,since 2008. (co-distributed with Victor EntertainmentVictor Entertainmentis a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
and Universal Music Japan) - Danger Crue RecordsDanger Crue RecordsDanger Crue Records is a Japanese independent record label located in Tokyo, Japan...
, since 2006. - Disney Music Group, since 1999.
- Fluxus Entertainment
- Free-Will
- ISM Label (kannivalismKannivalismKannivalism is a Japanese visual kei rock band, that formed in 2001,Cure magazine, Volume 30, March, released Jan 1 206, pg 38 signed to Free-Will, and distributed by Avex Trax...
's label), since 2006.
- ISM Label (kannivalism
- HATS Unlimited (Taro HakaseTaro Hakaseis a Japanese musician who specialises as a violinist.He is best known internationally for playing the violin on Celine Dion's song "To Love You More" which appears on the US edition of her Let's Talk About Love album...
's label)- AG Label
- Higashiyakena Soundbuilder (HY's label), since 2000.
- I Scream RecordsI Scream RecordsI Scream Records is a label founded by Laurens Kusters in 1994 in Brussels, Belgium. The label has an extensive catalogue and is one of the leading punk and hardcore labels in Western Europe.- History :...
, since 2010. (Japan only) - J StormJ Stormis a Japanese music and film company owned by Johnny & Associates. It was established on November 12, 2001, initially as a label for the Johnny's group, Arashi, after which it was named ....
/Johnny's Entertainment (Taiwan and Hong Kong only) - Kontor RecordsKontor RecordsKontor Records is a record label based in Hamburg. It is one of the most successful electronic music labels in Germany. Well-known musicians signed to this label include ATB, Tiësto and Scooter. The head-manager is Jens Thele....
- P-Vine RecordsP-Vine RecordsP-Vine Records is a record label started by Blues Interactions, Inc., a firm in Tokyo, Japan established in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi...
(co-distributed with Victor EntertainmentVictor Entertainmentis a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
and BMG Japan/Sony Music Japan)- Almond Eyes
- Kai-san Factory
- SM EntertainmentSM EntertainmentS.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
, since 2000. (except Girls' GenerationGirls' GenerationGirls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...
and SHINeeSHINeeShinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
) - S2S Pte. Ltd. (Japan only)
- Vamprose, since 2008. (VampsVampsVamps is a Japanese rock band formed in 2008 by Hyde and K.A.Z, and signed to Hyde's record label Vamprose.- History :...
and MonoralMonoralMonoral is a Japanese rock band signed to Sony Music Japan. The band consists of Anis Shimada on lead vocals and guitar and Ali Morizumi on bass and guitar.-Members:...
's label) - VanditVanditVANDIT is an independent record label that was founded in June of 2000 by German DJ Paul van Dyk and continuously releases records in the fields Trance and Techno....
- Yamaha Music Communications Inc.YamahaYamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
, since 2006.- contemodeContemodeContemode, stylized as "contemode", is a Japanese record label founded by Yasutaka Nakata in 2003. The label is based in Shibuya, Tokyo and specializes in a variety of musical styles including electropop, Shibuya-kei, lounge, dance, and hardcore house...
- contemode
Promotional Projects
- A-Nation (annual summer music festival)
- Channel AChannel AChannel A is a Japanese musical variety show produced by Avex and East and Television Kanagawa.-History: started on October 1, 1998 at 10:00 pm as a 54-minute show...
(syndicated TV program from 1998–2009) - Aoyama Christmas Circus (annual Christmas tree lighting event)
International Partners
- USA - Morgan Rich Corporation/Universal Music GroupUniversal Music GroupUniversal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
- South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
- S.M. EntertainmentS.M. EntertainmentS.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
/YG EntertainmentYG EntertainmentYG Entertainment is a record label and talent agency founded by Korean band Seo Taiji & Boys member Yang Hyun Suk and based in Seoul, South Korea. It specializes in producing R&B and hip hop music. YG stands for Yang Goon and are also the initials of the chief executive officer, Yang Hyun Suk... - PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
- Universal RecordsUniversal Records (Philippines)Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group. Since 1992, it became independent.-History:URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc... - ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
- GMM GrammyGMM GrammyGMM Grammy Public Company Limited is the largest media conglomerate entertainment company in Thailand. It claims a 70% share of the Thai entertainment industry. Artists on Grammy include Bird McIntyre and Loso... - Chinese P.R.People's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
- China Record (Shanghai) CorporationChina Record CorporationChina Record Corporation is the Chinese government's oldest and largest record company. CRC's catalog of traditional Chinese ethnic, classical and folk music features over 60,000 releases spanning some 5,000 years of Chinese musical history, and includes the world-renowned Peking operas and a...
Locations
- Japan : Avex Building, 1-30 Minami-AoyamaAoyama, Tokyois a neighborhood of Tokyo, located in the northeastern Minato Ward. During the Edo Period, Aoyama was home to various temples, shrines, and samurai residences. The name Aoyama derived from a samurai named Aoyama Tadanari who served the Tokugawa Shogunate and held his mansion in this area...
3-chome, Minato-kuMinato, Tokyois one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...
, TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
107-8525 - China : Room 302, Tianhai Business Building, Block B, 107 North Street, Dongxi, BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
100007 - Hong Kong : Suite 03, 11th Floor, Exchange Tower, 33 Wang Chiu Road, Kowloon BayKowloon BayKowloon Bay is a bay located at the east of the Kowloon Peninsula and north of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is the eastern portion of Victoria Harbour, between Hung Hom and Lei Yue Mun...
, KowloonKowloonKowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
See also
- List of artists under the Avex Group
- List of record labels
- VelfarreVelfarrewas a disco located in the Roppongi district of Tokyo, Japan. Velfarre was the self-professed "largest disco in Asia" with a capacity of 1,500 people, with three floors above ground and three floors below; owned by Komuro Tetsuya and Avex Trax. Velfarre was, and still is, known for Trance,...
- Sony Music Entertainment JapanSony Music Entertainment Japanis Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
(Avex's former shareholder)