Avex USA expands its venture investment fund to $25M

28 June 2022 - Press release

Avex USA, launched in Los Angeles less than a year ago, has already shaken up the music industry with major publishing signings and buzzy hits for its label SELENE. Today, Avex USA, announced that it has expanded its Future of Music Fund, with a $25 million investment. 

Established as a major boutique Avex USA seeks to develop talent and create IP and technology for the global music market, led by its President Naoki Osada and SVP Lucas Thomashow. Avex USA’s three core business pillars encompass Avex USA Publishing, the next-generation record label SELENE, and the music startup investment program Future of Music Investment Fund. Avex USA is housed in the Avex House in West Hollywood, a cutting edge recording studio and creative hub that has hosted artists ranging from Cardi B, James Blake, A$AP Rocky, Normani, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Anitta and more.

So far, Avex USA’s Future of Music Investment Fund has invested in promising cutting edge music tech startups such as Wave, which also attracted investment from Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber, and has hosted virtual streams with Justin Bieber and The Weeknd, the virtual artist record label Spirit Bomb from Strangeloop studios, which designed visuals for The Weeknd’s recent NFT launch, and Endel, which has collaborated with James Blake and Grimes,  and was named as one of Apple’s ‘best apps’ of 2020.

Based on its successful investment track record and Avex USA’s desire to push the boundaries of where music and technology intersect, Avex USA has expanded its investment budget to $25M as well as broadened the scope of its investment music tech startups to early stage startups and digital assets like crypto/NFT that contribute to the future of the music and entertainment ecosystem with a focus on Web 3 / Metaverse / Creators’ Economy. The investment committee consists of Naoki Osada, Avex USA President and music industry veteran, Ryusuke (Ryan) Kamada, SVP of Finance and ex-JP Morgan Investment Banking, and Lucas Thomashow, SVP of Strategy and ex-Google.

Avex USA aims to partner with its portfolio companies to develop new IP / experiences / and revenue channels in music and entertainment, while providing them with strategic support and guidance to tackle Japan’s music market, which is the 2nd largest in the world and where Avex USA’s parent company, Avex, is a leading player in the music/entertainment industry.