Avex Inc has increased its ownership of S10 Entertainment, acquiring 85% of the company from Brandon Silverstein and his partners.
“The transaction further integrates S10 into Avex Music Group and advances Avex’s vision of one global music company,” said a statement. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“S10 is an exceptional management company that is playing a key role in realising our global ambitions,” said Katsumi Kuroiwa, CEO of Avex Inc. “Bringing S10 into Avex reflects our confidence in Brandon’s leadership and our commitment to growing Avex’s global music business. Together, we will bring the full breadth of Avex’s capabilities to artists and creators around the world.”
Silverstein will continue as CEO of S10 and Avex Music Group, a board member and equity partner in Avex Music Group.
Alongside the acquisition, he assumes a broader role in shaping Avex Group’s global music strategy, including developing opportunities and strategic partnerships across recorded music, publishing, live entertainment, touring and investments. Avex drove nearly $1 billion in revenue in its last fiscal year.
Bringing S10 into Avex reflects our confidence in Brandon’s leadership and our commitment to growing Avex’s global music business
Katsumi Kuroiwa
The transaction follows Avex’s March 2025 acquisition of the S10 Music Publishing catalogue, which Silverstein also built. At the time of the publishing acquisition, S10 reported more than 22 global No. 1 hits and 50 billion streams worldwide, with a publishing repertoire that included songs recorded by Justin Bieber, Drake, Tate McRae, Doja Cat, Post Malone and Rihanna, among others.
Since Silverstein became CEO in 2025, Avex Music Group has announced a global publishing administration partnership with Bruno Mars and launched an initial $100 million publishing acquisition initiative.
Avex songwriters’ achievements include Kamal Wilson’s Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for co-writing Kehlani’s Folded.
“S10 began with a belief in exceptional talent and what we could build around it,” said Brandon Silverstein. “I’m proud of what our artists, songwriters and team have accomplished, and grateful to the partners who helped us get here. This next chapter is an opportunity to build on that work at a greater scale with Avex, investing in talent, developing new businesses and creating more opportunities across markets.”
The global platform Avex has built is extraordinary, and together with our teams around the world, I look forward to extending it as one global music company
Brandon Silverstein
Catalogue acquisitions and strategic investments will support the global growth of the company, alongside the signing and development of new talent.
Avex’s label strategy combines continued investment in the global careers of XG and One Or Eight, with the signing and development of artists from the United States and other global markets.
“The ambition is to build a global roster with the creative support, resources and reach to compete at the highest level,” said a statement.
“I’m grateful to Max Matsuura, Katsumi Kuroiwa, Shinji Hayashi and the Avex board for their continued trust and support,” added Silverstein. “The global platform Avex has built is extraordinary, and together with our teams around the world, I look forward to extending it as one global music company.”
In the transaction Silverstein was represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
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