Avex Trax (Japanese: エイベックス トラックス, Hepburn: Eibekkusu Torakkusu) 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.[1]
| Avex Trax | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Avex Inc. |
| Founded | September 1990 |
| Founder | Max Matsuura |
| Distributor(s) |
|
| Genre | Various (mostly J-pop and Dance) |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Location | Minato, Tokyo |
| Official website | www |
History
editTwo 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 had left their former labels (e.g. Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, Ami Suzuki).[2][3][4] It also appealed to artists not content with their current labels (e.g. Gackt).[5]
Formerly distributed by the Nippon Crown label, excluding several early releases from 1990 to 1992 which were distributed by Sohbi Corporation,[6] in 1997 Avex became a self-distributed label together with Cutting Edge, which was formerly distributed by Toshiba-EMI.
Sub-labels
editCurrent
edit- B-ME – joint venture with BMSG
- 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
edit- J-Friends Project (1997–2003) – joint venture with Johnny & Associates
Notable artists
editLabels
editB-ME
editBluestar Records
editLove Life Records
editmotorod
edit影別苦須 虎津苦須
editFormer artists
edit- Groups
- Soloists
J-Friends Project
editmotorod
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Avex Group | About Avex Group | History". Avex Inc. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ "なぜ浜崎あゆみは平成で最も売れた女性歌手になったのか...ファンの心を一気につかんだラジオ番組での告白 若さ特有の孤独や不安を､歌に昇華させた". President Online (プレジデントオンライン) (in Japanese). 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ "業界は冷ややか...安室奈美恵"エイベックス移籍"の全舞台裏". 日刊ゲンダイDigital. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ "鈴木亜美のプロフィール・作品情報". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ "Gackt、エイベックスへの移籍を発表". BARKS (in Japanese). 2010-04-17. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ "SOHBI Corporation (Label)". Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- Parent Company website (in Japanese)
- Avex Trax discography at Discogs
- Avex Trax at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
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