EMPIRE Distribution

EMPIRE is an American independent record label, distribution, and publishing company founded in 2010 by Ghazi Shami in San Francisco. It is the largest privately held record company in the US, employing 321 people (a 20.1% year-over-year increase) across 28 countries with offices in New York, London, Lagos, and Johannesburg, plus recording studios in San Francisco and New York. EMPIRE has helped launch the careers of Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, XXXTentacion, Shaboozey, Asake, and Fireboy DML, and was the official music partner of the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

EMPIRE built its reputation by bypassing the existing digital distribution system and delivering music directly to streaming and retail platforms. Founder Ghazi Shami, a San Francisco native with a background in music and tech, developed proprietary software that allowed managers and artists to easily track airplay and sales, and paid monthly royalties to artists. The company's focus on early-stage artist development has made it instrumental in identifying future icons. EMPIRE operates divisions including EMPIRE Africa, EMPIRE Latino, EMPIRE Nashville, EMPIRE Publishing, and Above All.

Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" held the number 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 non-consecutive weeks in 2024, tying the record for the longest-running number 1 song of all time. The single was released on April 12, 2024, on American Dogwood and EMPIRE, and was nominated for five Grammy Awards at the 2025 ceremony, including Song of the Year and Best New Artist. The official visualizer was published on Shaboozey's YouTube channel.

Notable Artists and Releases

EMPIRE's catalog spans hip-hop, Afrobeat, country, pop, and Latin music. The label and distributor has been involved in releases by artists across multiple genres and continents:

• Kendrick Lamar (early distribution): EMPIRE distributed Kendrick Lamar's 2011 album "Section.80," his first studio album, before he signed with Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records. The album was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and distributed by EMPIRE.
• Shaboozey (signed via American Dogwood and EMPIRE): His 2024 single "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" held the number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 non-consecutive weeks, tying the record for the longest-running number 1 solo artist song in chart history. The song interpolates J-Kwon's 2004 hit "Tipsy." Shaboozey received five Grammy nominations at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, Best New Artist, and Best Remixed Recording for the David Guetta remix.
• Asake (via YBNL Nation and EMPIRE): Nigerian Afrobeats artist whose debut album "Mr. Money With The Vibe" (2022) was released through YBNL Nation with global support from EMPIRE. The album was the number 1 album on Nigeria's TurnTable Charts in 2022. "Joha," the seventh track from the album, was released as a music video on October 6, 2022, directed by TG Omori, and has accumulated over 44 million views on AsakeVEVO. EMPIRE ended 2022 with the top three artists on Nigeria's TurnTable Charts (Asake, Burna Boy, and BNXN).
• Fireboy DML (via YBNL Nation and EMPIRE): Nigerian artist whose "Peru" remix featuring Ed Sheeran was released on December 23, 2021, through YBNL Nation and EMPIRE. The music video on FireboyDMLVEVO has accumulated over 255 million views. The original version of "Peru" was released earlier in 2021.
• Anderson .Paak (early distribution): EMPIRE distributed Anderson .Paak's breakthrough album "Malibu" (2016), which was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 59th Grammy Awards.
• XXXTentacion: EMPIRE was involved in the distribution of early releases by the Florida rapper, whose posthumous streams continued to generate significant revenue.
• Fat Joe and Remy Ma: Their 2016 single "All the Way Up" was distributed through EMPIRE, reaching the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Two of EMPIRE's most recognized music videos from its African roster are embedded below. Asake's "Joha" (2022) was directed by TG Omori and has over 44 million views on AsakeVEVO. Fireboy DML and Ed Sheeran's "Peru" (2021) has over 255 million views on FireboyDMLVEVO.

How EMPIRE Operates

EMPIRE operates as a combined label, distributor, and publisher. It accepts demo submissions through its website, making it one of the more accessible independent companies for artists. EMPIRE is known for crafting bespoke deals that favor the artist, and its proprietary software provides unprecedented transparency on analytics, recoupment, and royalties, available to every partner. The company's geographic spread across North America, Europe, and Africa positions it to work across multiple markets.

Deal Structures and Royalties

EMPIRE offers multiple deal types depending on the artist's needs and career stage:

• Distribution deals: EMPIRE provides digital distribution to streaming platforms and retail through its proprietary platform. Artists retain ownership of their masters and receive monthly royalty payments, a practice that sets EMPIRE apart from labels that pay quarterly. The proprietary software allows artists and managers to track airplay, sales, and recoupment in real time.
• Label deals: For artists seeking full-label services (marketing, A&R, radio promotion), EMPIRE crafts bespoke agreements. These deals are non-exclusive in many cases, allowing artists to maintain flexibility. Founder Ghazi Shami has stated the approach is "not to lock people in and get rights from them" but to build relationships that naturally evolve into broader partnerships.
• Publishing deals: EMPIRE Publishing, established in 2020, offers publishing administration. This division handles royalty collection and sync licensing for songwriters.
• Partnership deals with labels: EMPIRE formalized its partnership with Olamide's YBNL Nation in early 2020, after the relationship began in 2016. This type of partnership allows independent labels to use EMPIRE's distribution infrastructure while maintaining their own A&R and artist development operations.
• Royalty transparency: EMPIRE's proprietary software provides every partner with access to analytics, recoupment status, and royalty data. This level of transparency is uncommon in the industry, where many labels restrict access to detailed financial data.

Signing Practices

EMPIRE accepts demo submissions through its website, making it one of the more accessible independent companies. The company signs artists across hip-hop, Afrobeat, R&B, country, pop, Latin alternative, dance, and reggaeton. Its A&R team operates across offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Lagos, and Johannesburg. Tina Davis serves as President, Nima Etminan as COO, and Ghazi Shami as CEO. The company employed 321 people across 28 countries as of 2024.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

EMPIRE is one of the most accessible and artist-friendly independent companies in music. Its open demo submissions, transparent royalty software, and bespoke deal structure make it a strong option for artists who want major-label-quality services without signing away control. Its track record of breaking artists like Kendrick Lamar, Shaboozey, and Asake shows it can develop careers across hip-hop, Afrobeat, country, and pop.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• High volume of submissions: EMPIRE's open demo policy means competition is high. Standing out requires strong music and traction.
• Deal structures vary: EMPIRE offers different deal types (distribution, label, publishing). Understand which you are being offered.
• Hip-hop and Afrobeat focus: While EMPIRE has expanded into country and Latin, its core strength remains hip-hop and Afrobeat.
• Global operations: With offices across 28 countries, communication and project management can vary by region.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What an EMPIRE deal contains
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The independent advantage
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building traction for an independent signing
• AWAL - A comparable distribution and label services platform
• Top Dawg Entertainment - The label whose early releases EMPIRE distributed
• Quality Control Music - Another independent hip-hop label with major distribution
• 300 Entertainment - A comparable independent label with multi-genre roster
• Cactus Jack Records - Another independent label with major distribution partnerships
• EMPIRE Official Site - Roster and demo submissions