NEC Avenue

NEC Avenue
Company type	Division
Industry	Music and video game publishing
Founded	1987
Defunct	1999-01-29
Fate	Ceased operations
Successor	NEC Interchannel (gaming segment), IC Avenue Music Publishing (music publishing division)
Headquarters	Japan
Key people	Toshio Tabeta
Products	Music, video games
Owner	NEC
Parent	NEC

was a Japanese company specializing in both music and video game publishing, operating as a division within NEC.

History

Established in 1987 originally as a record label under NEC, NEC Avenue later ventured into the video game market by obtaining licenses to develop console adaptations of arcade hits from companies such as Sega and Taito. Toshio Tabeta, who was instrumental in securing the agreement with Sega, later disclosed that the Sega staff member responsible for approving these ports faced disciplinary action. By the year 1994, video game-related products represented roughly 10% of NEC Avenue's overall business. In October 1995, the company's gaming segment was separated into a new NEC subsidiary named NEC Interchannel, which by October 1997 had assumed control over NEC Avenue's music and gaming operations. Subsequently, in March 1998, NEC Interchannel acquired its music subsidiary. NEC Avenue ceased operations on January 29, 1999; following Interchannel's split from NEC in 2004, the music publishing division was rebranded as IC Avenue Music Publishing.