Avex Trax

Avex Trax
is a record label owned by Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex Inc. The label was launched in September 1990, and was the first label by the Group.
History
Two years after Max Matsuura began a career distributing studio albums from other countries, he and his two Avex co-founders, Tom Yoda and Ken Suzuki, decided to found their own label. Aiming to compete with more established labels such as Nippon Columbia, Nippon Crown, BMG Victor, Victor Musical Industries, Toshiba-EMI, CBS/Sony, Teichiku Records, King Records, Nippon Phonogram and PolyGram K.K., they created the Avex Trax label.
The first artist to sign to the label was the band TRF, which became a success. This led to Avex Trax becoming a "house of refuge" for artists who either ended contracts with their former labels (e.g. Namie Amuro, Ami Suzuki). It also appealed to artists not content with their current labels (e.g. Gackt).
Formerly distributed by the Nippon Crown label excluding several early releases from 1990 to 1992 which were distributed by , in 1997 it became a self-distributed label together with Cutting Edge, which was formerly distributed by Toshiba-EMI.
Sub-labels
Current
B-ME - joint venture with
Bluestar Records (Since 2019) - formerly a sub-label of Cutting Edge
Love Life Records - Hitomi's private label
motorod (Since 2002) - formerly a sub-label of Cutting Edge
影別苦須 虎津苦須 - Kishidan's vanity label
Defunct
J-Friends Project (1997-2003) - joint venture with Johnny & Associates
Artists
Current
Aina the End (Since 2018)
Shinjiro Atae (Since 2016)
Beverly (Since 2016)
BoA (Since 2001)
Bridear (Since 2019)
(Since 2014)
Che'Nelle (Since 2023)
Chō Tokimeki Sendenbu (Since 2018)
DA-ICE (Since 2020)
Do As Infinity (Since 1999)
(Since 2021)
Every Little Thing (Since 1996)
Exo (Since 2015)
(Since 2020)
Ayumi Hamasaki (Since 1998)
(Since 2016)
(Since 2013)
Chiaki Ito (Since 2018)
Hitomi Kaji (Since 2016)
Kamen Rider Girls (Since 2014)
Keiko (Since 2020)
Ketsumeishi (Since 2012)
(Since 2021)
kolme (Since 2015)
lol (Since 2015)
m.c.A.T (Since 1993)
Mameshiba no Taigun (Since 2020)
(Since 2021)
Michael Fortunati (Since 1995)
(Since 2015)
(Since 2020)
NCT (Since 2018)
Nissy (Since 2014)
(Since 2022)
(Since 2022)
Seiko Oomori (Since 2014)
Ai Otsuka (Since 2003)
Piko Taro (Since 2016)
Red Velvet (Since 2018)
SKE48 (Since 2011)
(Since 2017)
Shuta Sueyoshi (Since 2017)
Super Junior (Since 2011)
(Since 2017)
TRF (Since 1992)
(Since 2019)
Tohoshinki (Since 2011)
Tokyo Girls' Style (Since 2010)
Misako Uno (Since 2007)
Naoya Urata (Since 2017)
(Since 2016)
Takuro Yoshida (since 2009)
(Since 2023)
B-ME
Be First (Since 2021)
Novel Core (Since 2020)
Sky-Hi (Since 2013-2020 at the main label and 2020-present; co-founder)
Bluestar Records
(Since 2019)
Love Life Records
Hitomi (Since 1994-2005 at the main label and 2005-present)
motorod
Nanase Aikawa (Since 1995)
影別苦須 虎津苦須
Kishidan (Since 2009)
Former
AAA (2005-2021; currently on indefinite hiatus. All members except Yukari Goto are still under the label as soloists.)
Sae Ōtsuka (2020-2023; now under Great Romance Records)
Hitomi Shimatani (1999-2021; now under AI.R LAND RECORD/Daiki Sound)
J-Friends Project
J-Friends (1997–2003; now disbanded)
motorod
Dead End (2011–2015; currently on indefinite hiatus)
Janne Da Arc (1991–2007; disbanded in 2019 after 12-year hiatus)
Oblivion Dust (1997–2008; now under Virgin Music/Universal Music Japan)
References
External links
Parent Company website
Record labels owned by Avex Group
Record labels established in 1990
Japanese record labels
1990 establishments in Japan