THE APEX TIMES
Avex executive Katsumi Kuroiwa discusses Bruno Mars publishing deal and expansion plans in Billboard Global Power Players interview
In a June 30 interview with Billboard Japan, Katsumi Kuroiwa described Avex’s publishing strategy, including a deal involving Bruno Mars and efforts to expand the reach of the company’s music catalog internationally.
Katsumi Kuroiwa, an executive at Avex, said the company has moved to broaden its music publishing footprint through a deal involving Bruno Mars, in an interview published June 30 by Billboard Japan as part of its Global Power Players series. The conversation focused on how Avex is approaching rights acquisition and catalog development, and what it means for the company’s ambitions beyond its domestic market.
Billboard Japan framed the interview around Kuroiwa’s role in steering Avex’s business direction, including initiatives related to the company’s music catalog acquisition project. In the interview, Kuroiwa discussed the prospects and strategic rationale for taking catalog assets and related rights to a wider international audience, positioning publishing as a long-term driver rather than a short-cycle marketing effort.
The interview also addressed the broader context for music publishing deals, including why established catalogs can carry value across geographies through licensing, synchronization, and other downstream uses. Kuroiwa’s comments, as presented by Billboard Japan, centered on how a catalog strategy can support more consistent opportunities for rights holders and commercial partners over time.
As described by Billboard Japan, the Bruno Mars publishing deal is part of that larger catalog and publishing approach. Kuroiwa discussed what the company is seeking to accomplish by structuring deals that connect high-profile international talent to the availability of rights for licensing and distribution partners.
Billboard Japan’s interview format emphasized industry-wide business considerations, including the operational questions that come with managing publishing assets, such as aligning rights administration across markets and ensuring that licensing and exploitation reflect each work’s commercial life cycle. The publication did not present new legal filings or regulatory actions in the material provided, and no deal terms were included in the available summary.
The next public update would typically depend on subsequent announcements by the parties involved, such as when rights administration arrangements become fully operational or when additional catalog transactions are disclosed in press releases or industry reporting. For readers tracking publishing rights, the immediate follow-up would be confirming the scope of the Bruno Mars deal and how Avex describes its role in licensing and catalog management over time.
Why It Matters
- Publishing deals can affect how music rights are licensed across borders, influencing the availability and pricing of catalog uses for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and advertisers.
- Catalog acquisition and international rollout can shift leverage between rights owners and downstream partners, particularly when administration and licensing responsibilities are centralized.
- High-profile talent-related publishing agreements can increase media attention on how music rights are managed, raising expectations for clear exploitation and reporting practices.
- For industry observers, the Bruno Mars deal may serve as a reference point for how Avex intends to execute future publishing and catalog transactions internationally, subject to further disclosures by the parties.
Key Facts
- Katsumi Kuroiwa of Avex discussed Avex’s music publishing strategy in a Billboard Japan Global Power Players interview published June 30, 2026.
- Kuroiwa said Avex has signed a Bruno Mars publishing deal, described as part of the company’s rights and catalog approach.
- Billboard Japan’s interview also addressed prospects for Avex’s global music catalog acquisition project.
- The interview was published by Billboard Japan as part of its broader Global Power Players coverage.
- The available material did not include specific financial terms, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction rights scopes, or regulatory filings related to the deal.