Naoki Osada, former CEO of Avex USA, has launched Nebula17, a new company that will house a label, publishing, management, international strategy, and venture capital arms.<\/p>\n
According to Tuesday’s (July 15) announcement, headquartered in Los Angeles, Nebula17 aims “to both develop the next wave of US talent and, by leveraging its creative and business resources, to serve as a launchpad for culturally progressive Japanese artists expanding into the US and global markets”.<\/p>\n
Osada’s new company notes that its launch arrives amid “rising international demand for contemporary Japanese music”.<\/p>\n
Nebula17 says it is backed by a group of strategic investors, contributing “multi-million-dollar funding” across entertainment, culture, and technology.<\/p>\n
Leading the round is Japanese entertainment company Akatsuki<\/strong> Inc., with the investment led by Director, Executive Vice President, CFO & CSO Kazuhiko Ishikura.<\/p>\n Other key backers include what Nebula17 calls “some of Japan\u2019s most influential next-generation management companies,” such as BMSG<\/strong>, a breakout force founded by Japanese artist SKY-HI (Mitsuhiro Hidaka); ASOBISYSTEM<\/strong>, the production company behind girl group ATARASHII GAKKO!, founded by Yusuke Nakagawa; plus And Music<\/strong>, the management home of Awich, founded by entrepreneur Toyoki Tanizaki.<\/strong><\/p>\n Angel investors include Paul Bragiel<\/strong>, an early investor in and advisor to Uber and Unity, as well as an entrepreneur and global startup mentor; the co-founders of Decima Fund<\/strong>, a crypto-focused VC bridging Japan and the global market; and C-suite executives from Gumi<\/strong>, a global leader in gaming and Web3 innovation.<\/p>\n Osada spent over two decades at Japan-headquartered entertainment giant Avex, most recently serving as CEO of its US division, where he led the company\u2019s expansion into the American market<\/a>.<\/p>\n