Epic Records

Epic Records is a Sony Music Entertainment imprint founded in 1953 and based in New York. It signs across pop, hip-hop, and rock. Epic's catalog includes Michael Jackson (held with Sony), and its modern roster includes Camila Cabello, 21 Savage, and Future. It operates as a frontline label within Sony's US operations.

Epic has historically been a versatile imprint, moving between genres as the market shifts. In the 1980s it was a dominant rock and pop label (Michael Jackson's Off the Wall and Thriller were on Epic). Today it leans toward hip-hop and pop with Sony's global distribution behind it.

21 Savage's "a lot" featuring J. Cole, released on Epic through Slaughter Gang in 2019, has accumulated over 839 million views on YouTube. The video, directed by Aisultan Seitov, depicts a family reunion in a luxurious mansion intercut with scenes of family members facing hardship. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2020, making it one of Epic's most recognized hip-hop releases.

Notable Artists and Releases

Epic Records' catalog spans seven decades and multiple genres. The label's most significant artists and releases include:

• Michael Jackson (catalog): Signed to Epic in the late 1970s. Off the Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982) are the best-selling albums in Jackson's catalog. Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales exceeding 70 million copies worldwide. The masters are held jointly with Sony Music Entertainment.
• 21 Savage (active): Signed to Epic through Slaughter Gang. I Am > I Was (2018) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. american dream (January 2024) also debuted at number one, his fourth consecutive chart-topping album. What Happened to the Streets? (late 2025) debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and features guest appearances from Drake, GloRilla, G Herbo, and Young Nudy. "a lot" ft. J. Cole won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2020.
• Future (active): Epic's most streamed hip-hop artist. "Life Is Good" featuring Drake (January 2020) has over 2.27 billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most-viewed music videos on the platform. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified diamond by the RIAA.
• Madison Beer (active): Released her third studio album Locket via Epic Records in January 2026. The album includes "make you mine" (2024), which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording and reached number one on Billboard's Dance Airplay chart, and "bittersweet," which became her fastest song to enter Top 40 radio and earned her first Billboard Hot 100 entry. Beer announced a 30-date tour in support of the album, concluding with a homecoming performance at Madison Square Garden on July 13, 2026.
• Travis Scott / Cactus Jack (joint with Epic): JackBoys 2, the second collaborative compilation from Travis Scott's Cactus Jack label, was released through Cactus Jack and Epic on July 13, 2025. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 232,000 equivalent album units in its first week. The album features Don Toliver, Sheck Wes, SoFaygo, and guest appearances from Playboi Carti, Future, GloRilla, and Kodak Black.
• Absolutely (active): Released her sophomore album Paracosm via Epic Records on February 20, 2026. The 13-track album blends pop, electronica, jazz, and R&B. Lead single "I Just Don't Know You Yet" generated millions of TikTok views and earned standing ovations on tour. She has songwriting credits with LISA, GIVeON, Teddy Swims, The Chainsmokers, and MARINA.
• Camila Cabello (active): Signed to Epic as a solo artist after leaving Fifth Harmony. Her debut solo album Camila (2018) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, led by the single "Havana" which reached number one in over 30 countries.

How Epic Operates

Epic runs dedicated A&R with a focus on streaming-era hip-hop and pop. It shares Sony's distribution, marketing, and radio infrastructure. The label has undergone leadership changes in recent years as Sony reorganizes its frontline operations, which has affected signing strategy.

Deal Structures and Royalties

Epic operates on standard major-label terms within Sony Music Entertainment. Typical deal structures include:

• Traditional recording deal: Epic funds recording, marketing, and distribution through Sony's global network. Artists receive an advance against royalties. Major-label royalty rates typically range from 12% to 18% of suggested retail price, lower than independent label rates but with significantly larger advances and marketing budgets. Standard deductions apply for packaging, free goods, and video costs.
• Master ownership: Epic (via Sony) owns master recordings for the deal term. Unlike independent labels, Sony's major-label contracts rarely include master reversion clauses, meaning artists typically do not regain ownership of their masters.
• Joint ventures: Epic's deal with Cactus Jack (Travis Scott's label) operates as a joint venture, where Cactus Jack signs and develops artists while Epic provides distribution and major-label infrastructure. This model allows label founders to share in profits while leveraging Sony's global reach.
• 360 provisions: Modern Epic deals typically include 360 provisions, taking a percentage of touring, merchandising, and publishing revenue in addition to recording royalties. These percentages vary by artist leverage but commonly range from 10% to 30% of non-recording income.
• Advance recoupment: Advances must be fully recouped from artist royalties before the artist earns additional income. Marketing costs, video production, and other expenses are often deducted from the artist's royalty account, meaning many signed artists never see royalty payments beyond their initial advance.

Artists considering Epic should understand that the label's frontline activity fluctuates with leadership changes. The label's recent successes (21 Savage's chart-topping albums, Madison Beer's Grammy nominations, JackBoys 2's number-one debut) show it can break artists in the current streaming environment, but the major-label deal structure means artists trade master ownership and a portion of all income streams for the resources and reach that Sony provides.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Epic is a viable Sony target for hip-hop and pop artists. Its roster of streaming-era rap acts (21 Savage, Future) shows it can break artists in the current environment. It is generally less prestige-focused than Columbia and more commercially driven.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Master ownership: Epic (via Sony) owns your masters under a standard deal.
• Leadership turnover: Epic has seen multiple reorganizations, which can leave signed artists in limbo.
• No unsolicited demos: You need representation or an A&R relationship.
• Roster depth varies: Epic's frontline activity fluctuates with leadership changes.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What an Epic deal contains
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building traction for a Sony imprint
• Music Publishing Explained - Sony Music Publishing vs Epic
• Sony Music Entertainment - Epic's parent company
• Epic Records Official Site - Roster and news
• Columbia Records - Sister Sony Music imprint with a broader genre range
• RCA Records - Sister Sony Music imprint focused on pop and RnB
• Sony Music Entertainment - Epic's parent company
• Cactus Jack Records - Travis Scott's label in joint venture with Epic
• Def Jam Recordings - Comparable major-label hip-hop imprint within Universal Music Group
• Republic Records - Comparable major-label imprint within Universal Music Group
• Record Label Contracts Explained - What an Epic deal contains
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building traction for a Sony imprint
• Music Publishing Explained - Sony Music Publishing vs Epic
• Record Labels Directory - Browse all record labels in our directory