Avex Partners With The Orchard in Major Music Deal
▼ Summary
– Avex Music Group has partnered with The Orchard for global distribution of its future releases, starting with music from Justin Bieber’s backup band, We the Band.
– Concord Music appointed Andy Serrao as chief creative officer of its Label Group, where he will oversee A&R and marketing for imprints like Fearless Records.
– The National Independent Venue Association of California (NIVA CA) named Joe Rinaldi as its new president to advocate for the state’s independent live music venues.
– Artist Partner Group hired Jos Watkin as VP of A&R & international artist development and promoted Tyler Borland to director of A&R.
– The fan engagement platform Stationhead merged with the event platform Mellomanic, creating an integrated company with new investment and leadership.
A major new partnership is set to reshape the global music distribution landscape. Avex Music Group, the international arm of Japan’s entertainment powerhouse Avex, has entered into a significant agreement with The Orchard for worldwide distribution of all its forthcoming releases. The inaugural project under this new alliance will feature music from We the Band, known for their long-standing role as Justin Bieber’s backing band. This strategic move underscores Avex’s commitment to expanding its global reach with a partner possessing extensive international infrastructure.
Brandon Silverstein, CEO of Avex, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. “Having a distribution partner with a powerful global footprint is critical as we continue to expand Avex’s presence around the world,” he stated. “Brad Navin and his team have built a best-in-class company with expertise in every area to help us grow our artists’ fanbases internationally.”
Brad Navin, CEO of The Orchard, echoed the sentiment, expressing enthusiasm for the partnership. “We’re looking forward to working with Brandon and the entire Avex Music Group team on an amazing schedule of releases. This alliance will ensure that Avex’s diverse and exciting catalog reaches a wider international audience than ever before,” Navin said. Founded in 1988, Avex now operates over 40 labels, employs more than 1,500 people, and reported nearly $1 billion in revenue for 2024 alone.
In other executive news, Concord Music has appointed Andy Serrao as the chief creative officer of its Concord Label Group. Reporting directly to Label Group CEO Tom Becci, Serrao will lead A&R and strategic marketing for owned imprints like Fearless Records, Concord Records, and Rounder Records. His mandate is to broaden Concord’s creative scope. Serrao originally joined Fearless Records after its acquisition by Concord and was promoted to president by founder Bob Becker, working with acts such as Ice Nine Kills and Pierce the Veil.
The live music sector also sees a key leadership change. The National Independent Venue Association of California (NIVA CA) has named Joe Rinaldi as its new president. Rinaldi, the managing partner of San Diego’s Music Box and a national buyer for the large-scale Mission Bayfest, succeeds a previous co-presidency. He has been an advocate for Southern California venues since 2021. “Independent venues are the heartbeat of California’s culture and economy,” Rinaldi remarked. “Our mission is clear: we must unite our 630-plus qualifying venues, promoters, and festivals to become a self-sufficient force for change.”
Artist Partner Group has strengthened its team with two promotions. Jos Watkin joins as Vice President of A&R and International Artist Development, moving from Polydor Records where he worked with artists like Elmiene and Confidence Man. Concurrently, Tyler Borland has been elevated to Director of A&R, having signed and developed talent including Odetari and 6arelyhuman.
Big Loud Records has brought Jamie Younger on board as its new Vice President of Marketing. She will report to SVP/Head of Marketing Brianne Deslippe from the Nashville office. Younger previously oversaw release strategy at Core Records and spent over twelve years at Warner Music Nashville, playing a pivotal role in campaigns for breakout star Bailey Zimmerman. Deslippe highlighted Younger’s “artist-first” approach and her record of delivering culturally impactful campaigns.
Finally, a merger is poised to create a more powerful platform for fan engagement. Stationhead, an interactive live listening app, and Mellomanic, a platform for real-time video music events, have combined under the Stationhead name. The newly unified company, backed by fresh investment from Sterling Partners and Universal Music Group, aims to offer an integrated experience for connecting artists with their audiences. David Rappaport, former head of Mellomanic and ex-COO of Global Touring at AEG Presents, will become CEO of the merged entity. Ryan Star, Stationhead’s co-founder and a recording artist, will assume the role of chief creative officer.
(Source: Variety)