Naoki Osada, former CEO of Japanese entertainment giant Avex’s U.S. division, has launched a new global creative venture, Nebula17.
The company, announced Tuesday, will serve as a “creative ecosystem that integrates label, publishing, management, international strategy and venture capital under one roof,” according to a release. Nebula17 will both develop U.S. talent but also serve as a springboard for Japanese artists looking to break into the U.S. and global markets.
Japanese rapper Awich has begun working with the Nebula17, while writer-producer Marcus Munroe is working with the venture on the publishing side. The company also participated in an early stage funding round for the platform Indify, which aims to connect independent artists with labels.
“There couldn’t be a more perfect time to bring this vision to life. The world is finally ready to hear these voices, and Nebula17 is here to amplify them with [the] right A&R strategies, global management expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit,” Osada said in statement. Osada worked at Avex, one of Japan’s largest music labels, for over two decades before eventually leading its U.S. division, which expanded the company into the market.
“Our goal is to build a new bridge between Japanese culture and the global mainstream – one artist at a time [and] powered by top U.S. creatives and business leaders,” he added.
Osada’s venture is backed by a group of strategic investors, which was lead by Japanese entertainment company Akatsuki Inc. through their director, EVP, CFO and CSO Kazuhiko Ishikura. Additional key backers include J-pop star turned CEO Sky-Hi’s management company BSMG, Asobisystem and Awich’s management And Music. Angel investors include entrepreneur Paul Bragiel, the co-founders of crypto-focused VC Decima Fund and c-suite executives from gaming and Web3 company Gumi.
Nebula17 plans to open a studio home in West Hollywood to act as a hub for songwriting and artist development.