Avex Inc.
Avex Inc. (Japanese: エイベックス株式会社, romanized: Eibekkusu kabushiki gaisha /əˈvɛks/ /ˈeɪvɛks/, commonly known as Avex and stylized as avex) is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.[3] Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki[4] and internet sensation PikoTaro.[5] It has also shifted into other business domains like anime, video games and live music events, partnering with Ultra Music Festival[6] and hosting the annual A-nation.[7] The company is a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) keiretsu.
Native name
エイベックス株式会社
Various
April 11, 1988 (as Avex D.D., Inc.)*
- Max Matsuura[1]
- Tom Yoda
- Ken Suzuki
- Max Matsuura
(Founder & Chairman) - Katsumi Kuroiwa
(CEO)
- CDs
- DVDs
- CyberAgent (12.10%)
- Toshio Kobayashi (7.48%)
- Max Matsuura (6.76%)
- 3D Investment Partners (5.56%)
- Others (68.1%)[2]
1,455 (as of March 31, 2017)
see Subsidiaries
Name[edit]
AVEX is an acronym of the English words Audio Visual EXpert. Since its foundation, its corporate name was Avex D.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 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.
Operations[edit]
Subsidiaries[edit]
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]