Avex Music Group, the global music division of Tokyo-listed entertainment company Avex, has signed Bruno Mars to a global music publishing administration deal.
The deal gives the Tokyo- and Los Angeles-based company exclusive administration rights over songs Mars writes during the term of the agreement.
According to a press release, the partnership “will commence upon the completion” of his current deal with BMG/Warner Chappell.
KatsumiKuroiwa, CEO of Avex Inc., said: “Bruno Mars is one of the most culturally impactful songwriters of his generation. We are honored to partner with him and support his future works through this global publishing relationship.”
BrandonSilverstein, CEO of Avex Music Group, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Bruno to Avex and look forward to supporting his incredible songs.”
The deal comes as Mars experiences renewed commercial success. His fourth solo album, The Romantic, released February 27 via Atlantic Records, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. This marks his first time opening at the top of that chart.
“Bruno Mars is one of the most culturally impactful songwriters of his generation. We are honored to partner with him and support his future works through this global publishing relationship.”
KatsumiKuroiwa, Avex Inc.
The 16x Grammy winner is also preparing for his first full headline tour in nearly a decade. The Romantic Tour, produced by Live Nation, spans 70 stadium shows across North America and Europe starting April 10 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The run closes October 17 at BC Place in Vancouver. When tickets went on sale, Mars sold 2.1 million in a single day, logging the highest single-day sales figure in Live Nation’s history across North America, Europe, and the UK.
Mars will play six nights at London’s Wembley Stadium in July, four shows each in Toronto, Amsterdam, East Rutherford (NJ) and Los Angeles, and three nights in Paris, Vancouver and Berlin. MGM Resorts International and The Pinky Ring at Bellagio are sponsoring the North American dates. Anderson .Paak joins as DJ Pee .Wee on all dates, reuniting the Silk Sonic duo on the road. Victoria Monét, RAYE, and LeonThomas appear as guests in select markets.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bruno to Avex and look forward to supporting his incredible songs.”
Brandon Silverstein, Avex Music Group
Mars’s previous headline run, the 24K Magic World Tour, launched in 2017 and wrapped in 2018 behind his six-time Grammy-winning album of the same name, released in November 2016.
For Avex Music, the Mars deal comes over a month after it 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 Orchard deal will be music from We The Band, who also serve as Justin Bieber’s longtime backing band.
Avex Music Group employs more than 1,500 people and generates over $1 billion annually.Beyond publishing, the company operates across recorded music, artist management, catalog acquisitions, and live entertainment.
In October, Avex Music established a new office in New York and introduced an east/west coast structure as part of a “sweeping expansion” of its leadership team.
