Avex Music Group, the global music division of Japanese entertainment giant Avex, has entered into a distribution deal with The Orchard for all future releases.
The deal covers distribution in territories worldwide, excluding Japan, China, and Korea.
The first new music expected to be released under the deal will be music from We The Band, who also serve as Justin Bieber’s longtime backing band.
According to a press release issued on Thursday (February 5), Japan-headquartered Avex, which was founded in 1988, has “grown into a powerhouse of the global entertainment industry” with more than 1,500 employees, 40+ labels, and 10 offices worldwide.
Avex’s operations span talent management, music publishing, live touring, marketing, distribution, and more. The company generated nearly USD $1 billion in revenue in 2024.
Avex Music Group, meanwhile, is headquartered in Tokyo and Los Angeles, and led by CEO Brandon Silverstein, who oversees the global music group and also serves as a board member and equity partner.
AMG operates across music publishing, recorded music, studio operations, catalog and company acquisitions, as well as artist management through S10 Entertainment.
Silverstein, founder of S10 Entertainment, was named Chief Executive Officer of Avex Music Group (AMG) in March last year.
S10 Publishing was formed by Silverstein in 2020 as a joint venture with Avex. Avex invested in S10 Entertainment in May 2024 and then acquired 100% of the S10 Music Publishing song catalog and an additional stake in Silverstein’s S10 Management in early 2025.
In October 2025, Avex Music Group unveiled its new leadership team and established a New York office, introducing an East/West Coast structure as part of what it called a “sweeping” expansion.
“We’re excited for Avex Music Group’s next chapter as we work alongside The Orchard to grow our business.”
Brandon Silverstein
“As we continue to expand Avex’s presence around the world, having a distribution partner that has a powerful global footprint is critical,” said Silverstein.
“Brad Navin and his team have built a best-in-class company with expertise in every area to help us grow our artists’ fanbases all around the world. We’re excited for Avex Music Group’s next chapter as we work alongside The Orchard to grow our business.”
“Avex is a significant global player and we are delighted to partner with them on their future output.”
Brad Navin, The Orchard
Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard, added: “Avex is a significant global player and we are delighted to partner with them on their future output.
“We’re looking forward to working with Brandon and the entire Avex Music Group team on an amazing schedule of releases for 2026.
“This alliance will ensure that Avex’s diverse and exciting catalog reaches a wider international audience than ever before, leveraging The Orchard’s extensive global distribution network and expertise in local market development.”
Japan’s Avex is also home to Avex Artist Academy, an entertainment school for thousands of future artists, performers and creators in a number of cities across Japan, with a full time scouting team that auditions more than 10,000 candidates annually.Music Business Worldwide
