Japanese entertainment giant Avex Inc. has published its financial results for the company’s latest full fiscal year ended March 31, 2026.
Avex Inc.’s Music Business segment, which includes Avex Music Group, generated approximately $810 million in revenues in the 12 months ended March 31, 2026, increasing 6.8% YoY.
The segment also swung to an operating profit of approximately $23 million from a loss of approximately $8 million in the prior fiscal year (ended March 31, 2025).
Live entertainment was the primary growth driver in the latest fiscal year, with live-related revenue increasing 17.4% YoY to approximately $354 million, supported by arena-scale touring activity and expanding international fan engagement.
Avex, often referred to as Japan’s fourth major, was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Tokyo.
XG, one of Avex‘s flagship global acts, completed its first world tour across 35 cities with total attendance exceeding 400,000 fans, concluding with a performance at Tokyo Dome.
The group said it reached approximately 5.91 million monthly Spotify listeners, with approximately 80% of listeners located outside of Japan, according to the company.
XG‘s first full album also ranked within the Billboard 200.
Digital music distribution revenue increased 12.5% YoY to approximately $103 million.
The results, announced on Friday (May 15), also showed the parent company, Tokyo-listed Avex Inc., posted total revenues of approximately $971 million, an increase of 11.3% YoY and what the company says is its highest revenue haul since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Group operating profit improved to approximately $27 million from a loss of approximately $12 million in the prior fiscal year.
Net income attributable to shareholders increased 212.1% YoY to approximately $24 million.
Katsumi Kuroiwa, CEO of Avex Inc, said: “Our FY2025 results reflect meaningful progress as we continue transforming Avex into a more globally integrated entertainment and intellectual property company.”
“We are seeing strong momentum across recorded music, publishing, live entertainment, anime, and international rights management while continuing to strengthen the long-term earnings profile of the company.
“Our strategy remains focused on building world-class artists, creators, and intellectual property with a long-term global perspective.”
“We are seeing strong momentum across recorded music, publishing, live entertainment, anime, and international rights management while continuing to strengthen the long-term earnings profile of the company.”
Katsumi Kuroiwa, avex inc.
ONE OR EIGHT continued its international breakout during the fiscal year as TOKYO DRIFT surpassed 280 million TikTok views and charted across 36 countries and regions, according to the company.
The group signed a global major label agreement with Atlantic Music Group during FY2025.
Avex also announced the debut of VIBY, a five-member Japanese boy group developed through the “Rii.MJ Project” led by executive producer KIM MI JEONG, who the company says is “recognized for discovering members of BTS and Tomorrow X Together.”
The company’s publishing division and creators contributed to releases including the Grammy Award-winning Folded by Kehlani (co-written by Kamal Wilson), Nokia by Drake (Elkan), and multiple releases from Tate McRae including Sports Car, Tit for Tat, and Revolving Door (Grant Boutin).
The company says its publishing division and creators received five ASCAP awards during the fiscal year.
“We are building a modern entertainment company centered around ownership, intellectual property, global artist development, and long-term strategic partnerships.”
Brandon Silverstein, Avex Music Group
Brandon Silverstein, CEO of Avex Music Group, said: “We are building a modern entertainment company centered around ownership, intellectual property, global artist development, and long-term strategic partnerships.
“We believe the future of the industry will be defined by companies capable of operating across culture, rights ownership, worldwide distribution, and international infrastructure at scale.
“Through the combination of global publishing, premium music rights ownership, artist management, recorded music, anime, and strategic partnerships, we believe Avex Music Group is uniquely positioned for long-term global growth.”
Silverstein continued: “Our focus is on creating world-class artists, creators, and content while continuing to build a long-term global rights platform capable of generating sustainable intellectual property and recurring revenue for decades to come.”
Silverstein, who was named CEO of Avex Music Group in March 2025, is also the founder of S10 Entertainment, in which Avex acquired a majority stake during the fiscal year.
In February, AMG entered into a global distribution deal with The Orchard covering territories worldwide, excluding Japan, China, and Korea.
In March, the company signed Bruno Mars to a global music publishing administration deal, giving AMG exclusive administration rights over songs Mars writes during the term of the partnership.
Since the fiscal year close, Avex Music Group has also announced a $100 million catalog acquisition initiative, acquiring the publishing catalog of producer Infamous – including rights associated with Lose Control by Teddy Swims – as its first deal.
The Anime & Visual Content segment saw revenue increase 17.5% YoY to approximately $144 million, while anime revenue alone increased 26.9% YoY, driven primarily by overseas licensing and international streaming demand.
Avex Inc. issued FY2026 operating profit guidance of approximately $40 million, implying expected YoY growth of 47%.Music Business Worldwide
