Brandon Silverstein’s Avex Music Group Makes First Artist Move with We The Band

Avex Music Group has announced its first artist signing under CEO Brandon Silverstein, bringing Justin Bieber’s longtime backing band We The Band into the fold. The five-member group includes Harv, Tay James, Julian Michael, Devin “Stixx” Taylor and O’Neil Palmer.

Tay James brings the deepest history with Bieber, having served as his A&R and DJ since 2009. Harv joined the team in 2010 and later co-wrote and co-produced the chart-topping hit “Peaches” in 2021. That same year, Harv signed with Silverstein’s S10 Publishing, creating the foundation for this expanded partnership.

“Through my friendships and conversations with both the band and Justin, I saw how much they believe in and inspire each other—not just as collaborators, but as people,” Silverstein explained. “Harv and Tay’s vision, and the band’s genuine talent, made it clear this was something special with real potential.”

Silverstein’s New Role at Avex Music Group

The signing comes as Silverstein settles into his position as CEO of Avex Music Group, the rebranded U.S. division of Japanese entertainment giant Avex. The appointment followed Avex’s March acquisition of 100% of S10 Music Publishing and an increased stake in S10 Management, making Avex the largest shareholder alongside Silverstein and Roc Nation.

Silverstein founded S10 Publishing in 2020 as a joint venture with Avex. The catalog now includes hits by Tate McRae, Doja Cat, Tommy Richman and others, generating over 22 global number-one hits and 50 billion streams worldwide.

“Katsumi Kuroiwa and the entire team at Avex have been exceptional partners to me,” Silverstein said of the expanded relationship. “It is an honor to work alongside Katsumi and contribute to Avex’s legacy of innovation and excellence.”

We The Band is currently finishing their debut album at Avex Studios in Los Angeles, with release planned for later this year. The project will feature special guest appearances, though specific collaborators remain undisclosed.

The signing demonstrates Silverstein’s philosophy that “artists are finding talent first,” positioning We The Band as the first example of how Avex Music Group plans to support artist-driven discoveries under his leadership.