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Ex-Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada Launches Company to Propel Japanese Talent in U.S. and Global Markets
In a major move, former Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada has launched Nebula17, a groundbreaking new music company dedicated to propelling forward-thinking Japanese artists into the global mainstream.
Nebula17’s mission is multifaceted, offering services that span label, publishing, management, venture capital, and international strategy. This ambitious endeavor will be centered around a newly built studio house in West Hollywood, California, which will serve as both an office and a creative hub for its songwriters.
The company has already made significant strides by securing record deals with Awich, a prominent voice in Japanese hip-hop who has collaborated with notable figures such as Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and A$AP Ferg. Furthermore, Nebula17 has inked publishing deals with esteemed writer-producer Marcus Munroe, whose credits include work with GENERATIONS and BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE.
Additionally, renowned head engineer Oscar Cornejo (Tyla, Quavo, Rich The Kid) has joined the Nebula17 team to spearhead the studio’s efforts. Moreover, the company is actively developing “multi-platform IP” and preparing a slate of international releases set for later this year.
Nebula17 boasts an impressive array of venture capital funding, having participated in the early-stage financing round for Indify, an online platform designed to connect viral indie artists with strategic investors. The company itself has received backing from a group of strategic investors hailing from the entertainment, culture, and technology sectors. Notable among these backers are Japanese management companies BMSG, ASOBISYSTEM, and And Music. A host of angel investors also join the fray, including serial entrepreneur Paul Bragiel (an early investor in Uber and Unity), co-founders of crypto-centric VC Decima Fund, and executives from gaming and Web3 firm Gumi.
Osada expressed his enthusiasm for this new endeavor, stating that “the world is finally ready to hear these voices, and Nebula17 will be there to amplify them – with the correct A&R strategies, global management expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. Our objective is to establish a brand-new bridge between Japanese culture and the worldwide mainstream – one artist at a time, powered by top US creatives and business leaders.”
Nebula17’s chief architect possesses over two decades of experience working for Avex, both domestically in Japan and in the United States. In his role as CEO at Avex USA, Osada made strategic investments in S10 and founded a publishing joint venture with S10 founder Brandon Silverstein, resulting in major signings such as Harv, Jasper Harris, and GENT!. Additionally, he helped launch the international career of Japanese boy band ONE OR EIGHT.
This new initiative comes at a time when demand for J-pop and other Japanese genres is surging internationally.
Source: www.billboard.com
