Japanese entertainment powerhouse Avex has appointed S10 Entertainment founder Brandon Silverstein as CEO of its newly formed Avex Music Group, consolidating its American music operations under his leadership.
The March 25 announcement revealed that Avex has acquired 100% of S10 Music Publishing and increased its stake in S10 Management, giving Avex the largest share alongside Silverstein and Roc Nation. The deal’s financial terms weren’t disclosed.
As CEO, Silverstein will oversee all Avex Music Group operations while maintaining his leadership at S10 Management and continuing to independently own S10 Records.
“Katsumi Kuroiwa and the entire team at Avex have been exceptional partners to me,” said Silverstein. “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and look forward to this next chapter.”
The appointment follows a successful partnership that began in 2020 when Silverstein and Avex formed S10 Publishing as a joint venture. Their collaboration expanded in May 2024 with Avex’s strategic investment in S10 Entertainment.
This partnership has already yielded significant results, with S10 and Avex dominating 2024’s Mediabase year-end Top 40 radio chart. The companies claimed the #1 (Tate McRae’s “Greedy”), #5 (Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills”), and #16 (Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby”) positions.
Silverstein’s career highlights include recognition on Billboard’s “Power 100” and Forbes’ “30 Under 30” lists. Under his leadership, S10 has generated 22 global #1 hits with over 50 billion streams worldwide.
Avex CEO Katsumi Kuroiwa emphasized the strategic importance of the move: “By entrusting Brandon to lead our U.S. operations, we are positioning Avex as a potent force in the international music landscape.”