Avex Music Group CEO Brandon Silverstein adds rising hitmaker Kamal Wilson to growing roster

The songwriter behind Kehlani’s “Folded” joins the company’s publishing division as part of its expansion into R&B

Avex Music Group continues building momentum with the signing of songwriter and producer Kamal Wilson, who co-wrote Kehlani’s recent chart-topper “Folded.” The track reached No. 1 on both Rhythmic and Urban radio charts and hit No. 3 on Apple Music.

Wilson’s deal with the Los Angeles-based company marks another addition to a publishing roster that has delivered multiple chart successes in 2025. Since Brandon Silverstein became CEO of Avex Music Group in March following the Japanese entertainment giant’s acquisition of S10 Publishing, the division has placed songs with Drake, Tate McRae, Travis Scott and Rihanna.

Building a Diverse Publishing Catalog Under Silverstein’s Leadership

“Folded” has generated viral attention beyond radio, spawning a vocal challenge across social media that attracted covers from Grammy winners including Brandy and Eric Bellinger. Wilson, an Orange County native who wrote his first song at age 11, developed the track through his creative partnership with Kehlani.

“Kamal represents everything we believe in at Avex — global talent, creativity and cultural impact,” Silverstein said. “His ability to craft timeless records while connecting deeply with artists is exactly the type of energy we want to champion.”

The signing was led by Nevin Sanitsky, Director of A&R, with support from Senior Director of A&R Brennen Bryant. Wilson’s work spans R&B, hip-hop and pop, positioning him to contribute across multiple projects within the company’s portfolio.

Avex Music Group’s publishing arm has secured placements on several high-profile releases this year. Grant Boutin co-wrote Tate McRae’s “Tit for Tat,” “Sports Car” and “Revolving Door,” plus “Lose My Mind” by Don Toliver and Doja Cat for the F1 soundtrack. Producers Elyas and Elkan contributed to Drake’s “What Did I Miss?” and “Nokia,” both of which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Elkan also produced tracks on Travis Scott’s JACKBOYS 2 and Rihanna’s “Friend of Mine.”

From Joint Venture to Full Acquisition

Silverstein founded S10 Publishing in 2020 as a joint venture with Avex. The partnership produced hits including Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills” and Jack Harlow’s “First Class” before Avex acquired the full catalog earlier this year. The parent company, founded in 1988, employs more than 1,500 people worldwide and generated roughly $1 billion in revenue in 2024.

The rebranded Avex Music Group now operates as the international division of the Tokyo-headquartered company, which is known in Japan as the fourth major alongside Sony, Universal and Warner. Avex maintains offices in more than 50 cities and operates training facilities through Avex Youth Studio and Avex Artist Academy, which audition over 10,000 candidates annually.

Recent signings reflect the company’s focus on producer-driven joint ventures. In May, Avex Music Group partnered with producer Elkan on his publishing company Toibox by Elkan, which has signed its first two writers. The company also landed We The Band, Justin Bieber’s backing musicians, who are completing their debut album at Avex Studios in Los Angeles.

Bridging Markets Through Management and Publishing

Management operations under Silverstein include Puerto Rican artist Myke Towers, rapper Big Sean and actress Madison Bailey. Japanese boy band One or Eight became the first J-pop group to reach the U.S. Mediabase Top 40 with “DSTM,” which samples Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music.” The group recently signed with Atlantic Records and is co-managed by S10 and Avex.

Girl group XG, which operates under Avex subsidiary XGALX, made its Coachella debut in April and completed a world tour that drew 400,000 attendees across 18 countries. The seven-member act, which debuted in 2022, represents Avex’s approach to developing Japanese talent with global appeal.

Wilson’s signing reinforces the publishing division’s strategy of working with writers who collaborate closely with artists across genres. His catalog adds R&B depth to a roster that has focused primarily on pop and hip-hop production.

“I’m thrilled to have the global team at Avex behind me as I continue to grow as a songwriter and artist,” Wilson said.

Avex Music Group’s expansion comes during a period when Japanese entertainment companies are investing in Western markets. The company’s partnership structure, which gives equity stakes to key executives like Silverstein, differs from traditional major label acquisitions. Avex maintains the largest share in S10 Management alongside Silverstein and Roc Nation, which has been a partner since S10’s founding in 2017.