Avex Inc.
US$14.58 million) (2021) | |
Owner |
|
---|---|
Number of employees | 1,455 (as of March 31, 2017) |
Subsidiaries | see Subsidiaries |
Website | avex.com |
Avex Inc. (
.Name
AVEX is an
The current name, Avex Group Holdings, Incorporated, was adopted in 2004 as part of reconstruction process after
In 2005, Avex, Incorporated became Avex Entertainment, Incorporated, and stayed on as part of the Group.
History
1988–1999: The early years
Avex was registered June 1, 1973, as Avex D.D. Incorporated (エイベックス・ディー・ディー株式会社, Eibekkusu Di Di Kabushiki Gaisha), although it did not become established until 1988. They began as a CD wholesaler based in Machida, Tokyo.[8] In September 1990, they opened a recording studio and created Avex Trax as 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 to
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 Velfarre.[9]
In 1997, they opened a series of concert halls called "Zepp" with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. In early 1999, they signed an agreement with Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records to handle the companies' Japanese CD releases. Later that year "Avex Mode", an animation company, was established. In December, the company was listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol 7860.[10]
2000–2009: Times of unity and divisiveness
In 2001, Avex opened the "avex artists academy" music school.[11]
In 2002, they released the "
In 2003, they opened a classical music business (named Avex Classics).[13]
In January 2004, they began selling Japanese music CDs in South Korea. In December of that same year, 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.[14]
In 2005, Avex acquired distribution rights for Aozora Records' catalogue including all future Hitomi Yaida releases.[15]
In early 2008, Avex partnered with
Avex Group launched its own
2004: Internal feud: Max Matsuura v. Tom Yoda
In August 2004, a feud between Max Matsuura and co-founder Tom Yoda affected the group.
July 30: In 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 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.[18]
August 2: Matsuura and Chiba announced their resignations in a meeting with employees of Avex.[19][20] 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.[20] As a result, Avex's stocks in the TSE fell by 16 percent that day.[21]
August 3: Due to pressure by employees and artists and to save the company from bankruptcy, Yoda resigned and was replaced by Toshio Kobayashi.[8][22]
2010–present
AGHD is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and Börse München of Germany under the ticker symbol AX8.[23]
More K-pop artists from other agencies continued to sign with Avex such as
On July 21, 2011, it was announced that Avex had paired with Korean management label YG Entertainment to form YGEX.[26]
In 2012, the group began offering limited releases for sale, DRM-free for the first time within Japan on
As a show of modernization, Avex Group moved to Izumi Garden Tower in Roppongi in October 2014. The company was designated to the 36th floor – the former address of DWANGO.
On February 15, 2017, Avex Group discontinued all foreign exports of Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs published under their Avex Pictures label.[28] A spokesperson said the action was taken due to unspecified rights issues.[29]
In 2022, Avex made a renewed attempt to expand into North America. Avex USA Inc. opened in a rented five-bedroom
Operations
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:[33]
Japan
- Avex Entertainment Inc. (エイベックス・エンタテインメント株式会社, eibekkusu entateinmento kabushiki gaisha)
- Avex Broadcasting & Communications Inc. (エイベックス通信放送株式会社, eibekkusu tsūshin hōsō kabushiki gaisha)
- Avex Management Inc. (エイベックス・マネジメント株式会社, eibekkusu manejimento kabushiki gaisha)[34]
- Avex Music PublishingInc. (エイベックス・ミュージック・パブリッシング株式会社, eibekkusu myūjikku paburisshingu kabushiki gaisha) (Formerly Musique Folio Inc. and Prime Direction Inc.)
Other
- Avex International Holding Corporation
- Avex Asia Pte. Ltd.
- Avex Taiwan Inc. – Est. July 1998[33][35]
- Avex USA Inc.
Affiliates
- Memory-Tech Corporation
- RecoChoku Co., Ltd.[36]
- AWA
Music labels
- Avex Casa (house music and electronica)
- Avex Classics (classical music)
- Avex Globe (globe's label; defunct since 2019)
- Avex Ideak (joint venture with KADOMATSU.T; defunct since 1998)
- Avex International (international releases)
- Avex IO[37]
- 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)
- Dive in! Disc[38]
- Gokukara Records (joint venture with
- PopTop
- Blowgrow[41]
- Commmons (joint venture with Ryuichi 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 with Verbal)
- Five-D Plus
- Foxtrot (joint venture with Rams Incorporated)[42][43]
- FRAME (joint venture with Level-5; founded by the latter with Up-Front Works)[44]
- Hach Entertainment (joint venture with NTT SmartConnect)
- Hi-BPM Studio
- HPQ (Visual kei)
- Idol Street (for idol performers, launched October 2, 2010, by Tatsuo Higuchi[45])[46]
- Island Records
- J-Friends Project
- J-More[47]
- Justa Music[48]
- Locomusic (Love-chan's label)
- Love Life Records (Hitomi's label)
- Mad Pray Records (Anna Tsuchiya's label)
- Maximum 10
- MENT RECORDING (joint venture with Johnny & Associates)[49]
- 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 with Taku Takahashi)
- Tank Top Records[50]
- Tearbridge Production[51]
- The Six Dragons
- True Song Music (Dai Nagao's label)
- Velfarre Records
- YGEX (joint label with YG Entertainment)
Entertainment ventures
- Movies
- Artist Management
- Avex Management
- Platinum Productions
- Digital
- Avex Broadcasting and Communications (joint venture with NTT docomo)
- mu-mo.net[54] (Japanese) (own music store of the Group)
- Avex Broadcasting and Communications (joint venture with
- Theater Company
Labels distributed
- releases.)
- Aozora Records, since 2005.
- GMT Records, since 2005.
- Armada Music
- avex-classics , since 2003.
- CAM Entertainment, since 2008.
- Victor Entertainment and Universal Music Japan)
- Danger Crue Records, from 2006 to 2012. (now handled by Sony Music Japan)
- Disney Music Group, from 1999 to present (co-handled with Universal Music Group from 2018 for albums when live converts are handled by Avex).
- Fluxus Entertainment
- Free-Will
- ISM Label (kannivalism's label), since 2006.
- HATS Unlimited (Taro Hakase's label)
- AG Label
- Higashiyakena Soundbuilder (HY's label), since 2000.
- I Scream Records, since 2010. (Japan only)
- Johnny & Associates (Taiwan and Hong Kong only)
- J Storm
- Johnny's Entertainment
- Kontor Records
- Victor Entertainment and BMG Japan/Sony Music Japan)
- Almond Eyes
- Kai-san Factory
- 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.[56]
Promotional projects
- Aoyama Christmas Circus(annual Christmas tree lighting event)
IFPI membership
The Group is a member of the IFPI for Hong Kong and Japan.[57]
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
Festival sponsors include
International partners
- USA – Morgan Rich Corporation[60]/Universal Music Group
- S.M. Entertainment, YG Entertainment, KT Music
- Philippines – Universal Records
- BEC-TERO Music[61]
- China P.R. – China Record (Shanghai) Corporation[62]
See also
- List of artists under the Avex Group
- List of record labels
- D.League
- Sony Music Entertainment Japan (one-time shareholder of Avex)[63]
- Velfarre
References
- ^ "Avex Group - Board Members". Avex. October 31, 2012. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "AXEV INC. (7860)". MarketScreener. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ "エイベックス株式会社". www.avex.co.jp.
- ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Announces 20th Anniversary Tour: See the Dates". PopCrush. March 24, 2017.
- ^ "'PPAP' goes the world: How Pikotaro became a viral smash - The Japan Times". November 4, 2016.
- ^ "Avex Live Creative Confirms Dates for Ultra Japan 2015" (Press release). December 17, 2014.
- ^ "Who was music being made for in 2014? - The Japan Times". December 23, 2014.
- ^ a b ja:エイベックス・グループ Avex Group's article on the Japanese Wikipedia.
- ^ "Avex Group". Avex Group. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "7860:Tokyo Stock Quote - Avex Group Holdings Inc". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ アーティストアカデミー [Artist Academy] (in Japanese). Avex Group. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "コピーコントロールCD" [Copy Control CD] (in Japanese). Avex. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "avex-CLASSICS" (in Japanese). Avex Group. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ Robert Poole (2005). "What Does The Development Of Independent Female Artists Mean For The Japanese Music Industry?" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 29, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Start of Commission Sales of the Aozora Records Catalogue" (PDF) (Press release). Avex Group. September 15, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ a b "Japan Entertainment News". Japan Zone. August 2004. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ Retail stores allbusiness.com [dead link]
- ^ Peter Serafin (September 4, 2004). "Japanese Industry Awaits Avex Fallout". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 3, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Avex Founder Steps Down". Japan Zone. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ a b "Avex in Chaos". Japan Zone. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ Steve McClure (December 28, 2004). "Import-export issues mark J-pop year" (PDF). The Yomiuri Shimbun. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 23, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Takuro Ailing Again". Japan Zone. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ "AX8:Munich Stock Quote - Avex Group Holdings Inc". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Seoul Central District Court dismisses both of SME's injunctions against JYJ". OMona They Didn't. February 17, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Shu-I (シューアイ) - Japan Official Site" (in Japanese). Shu-i.jp. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ Neefa (July 21, 2011). "YG Entertainment and avex announce the creation of 'YGEX'!". 6Theory Media. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "MP3ダウンロード" [MP3 Download] (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Avex pictures enforces export ban on Blu-rays, DVD, and CDs". Arama Japan. February 14, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ^ Japan, Arama! (March 3, 2017). "Avex Pictures releases statement on export ban". ARAMA! JAPAN. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ Barrionuevo, Alexei (October 14, 2022). "Japanese Label Avex Looks to Conquer U.S. Market From New LA Hub". Billboard.
- ^ "Studios". AVEX USA. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ King, Ashley (February 21, 2022). "Avex USA Inks Global Administration Deal with Sony Music Publishing". Digital Music News. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Avex Group - History". Avex Group. March 31, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "avex management". Avex Group. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ "艾迴股份有限公司" [Avex Corporation Ltd]. Avex Group. 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2008.
- ^ 会社概要 | レコチョク [Recochoku Co., Ltd. - Company Profile] (in Japanese). RecoChoku. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "avex io" (in Japanese). avex. 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "dive in! disc - Home" (in Japanese). dive in! disc. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ マーティ・フリードマンが選ぶ!レーベル第1弾リリースはニコニコ動画ユーザーから誕生!! [Marty Friedman chooses! The first release from label born from Nico Nico Douga user!] (in Japanese). Binylrecords. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - MARTY FRIEDMAN Launches Record Label". Roadrunnerrecords.com. October 18, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "blowgrow". blowgrow. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Foxtrot". Foxtrot-music.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Foxtrot (@Foxtrot_Foxtrot) Op Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "FRAME(フレーム)Official Site" (in Japanese). Avex Group. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- Facebook
- ^ "iDOL Street" (in Japanese). Avex Group. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "J-More Official Website" (in Japanese). Avex Group. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "シシド・カフカ、avexの新セクション『JUSTA MUSIC』に移籍決定!女優デビューも!" [Kavka Shishido moving to new Avex sub-label Justa Music! Also debuting as an actress!] (in Japanese). mFound. September 30, 2014. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
- ^ "キスマイ&Snow Man、ジャニーズとエイベックスの新レーベルに所属" (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ "Tank Top Records" (in Japanese). Avex Group. 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "tearbridge records". TearbridgeRecords. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Elephant Picture" (in Japanese). Avex Group. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010.
- ^ "Pix Inc" (in Japanese). Pix Inc. 2008. Archived from the original on August 24, 2008.
- ^ mu-mo.net website [dead link]
- ^ "The Beginning Ayaka". Neowing. September 26, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ Yamaha Music Communications Inc.
- ^ "LINKS - IFPI Member Record Companies". Ifpi.org. September 1, 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "a-nation Charge Go! ウイダーinゼリー musicweek & stadium fes" (in Japanese). A-nation.net. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "a-nation navi (@anation_navi) op Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Our Service". Morganrichonline.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "Welcome to GMMInternational" (in Thai). Grammy International. October 13, 2011. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ^ "上海中唱-首页" [Shanghai sing - Home]. China Record Shanghai Corp. 2004. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
External links
- Avex Inc. at Anime News Network's encyclopedia