Avex lifts S10 stake to 85%, with deal to reach full ownership
What's the deal? Japanese entertainment company Avex Inc.Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has increased its ownership of S10 EntertainmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the management company founded by Brandon Silverstein, to 85%, with an agreement to reach 100% over time. Avex bought the shares from Silverstein and his partners. Financial terms of the transaction, announced on September 29, were not disclosed.
What changes? Silverstein continues as CEO of both S10 and Avex Music Group (AMG), and remains a board member and equity partner in AMG. He also takes a wider role in Avex GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s global music strategy, working with the board on partnerships across recorded music, publishing, live entertainment, touring, and investments.
Why now? This is Avex's second acquisition of an S10 business. In March 2025, it bought S10's music publishing catalog and an additional stake in the management arm, naming Silverstein CEO of the newly formed AMG. It passed 50% ownership of S10 Entertainment during the fiscal year ended in March.
What each side brings: S10, founded by Silverstein, reported more than 22 global No.1 hits and 50 billion streams at the time of the publishing deal, with repertoire recorded by Justin Bieber, Drake, Tate McRae, Doja Cat, Post Malone, and Rihanna. Roc NationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has been a partner in S10's management business since 2017.
By the numbers: Avex generated approximately $971 million in revenue in its fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, up 11.3% year on year. Its music business segment, which includes AMG, contributed roughly $810 million of that total.
What they're saying: "Bringing S10 into Avex reflects our confidence in Brandon's leadership and our commitment to growing Avex's global music business," said Katsumi Kuroiwa, CEO of Avex Inc. Silverstein called it "an opportunity to build on that work at a greater scale with Avex."
The signal: The move deepens Avex's push beyond Japan, pairing its global platform with a US management operation that has signed Bruno Mars to a publishing administration deal and launched a $100 million catalog acquisition fund. Consolidating S10 under one roof positions Avex to compete for artists and songwriters across markets as it builds out AMG.
Read more: musicbusinessworldwide.com
Image credit: audiomixhouse
