Ghazi Shami’s San Francisco-headquartered distributor and record label, EMPIRE, is now also a music publisher.
The company has launched EMPIRE Publishing, led by Al McLean and Vinny Kumar, and says it plans to “build out [our] proprietary system to revolutionize the publishing industry, similar to what was done with music distribution in 2010”.
In a further statement, the company said: “The publishing industry is cluttered with artists not seeing the money that they earn for years because of simple things such as address changes, bank account changes, and a handful of other easily fixable situations. After a certain period of time, that money can be lost forever and the artist may never see their true earnings potential. It is EMPIRE Publishing’s mission to be the antidote to that, providing flexibility and clarity for their artists and their earnings.”
Al “Butter” McLean will lead EMPIRE Publishing’s A&R activity. He joined EMPIRE earlier this year after over 14 years with Kobalt Music, where he was Senior Vice President of Creative.
McLean has signed a raft of successful hip-hop and R&B artists, producers and songwriters in the past, including Slip N Slide, DJ Premier, Childish Gambino, Mike Will Made it, Noah “40” Shebib, 50 Cent, KEM, Jeezy, Yo Gotti, Kid Cudi and many more.
Vinny Kumar is named Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs for EMPIRE Publishing.
Kumar worked in the Distribution division of EMPIRE prior to his transition to Publishing. Early in his career, he worked with Teddy Riley at Future Records, in Business Affairs at Slip-N-Slide Records, and in the Legal & Business Affairs department at Universal Music Publishing in Miami, FL.
“With our new technology in place and Al ‘Butta’ McLean and Vinny Kumar at the helm, we are now ready to shake up the music publishing business.”
Ghazi Shami, EMPIRE
Since 2005, he has practiced entertainment law with the Atlanta, GA based law firm, Keniley | Kumar. Throughout his career, Kumar has represented various Grammy-winning recording artists and producers, record labels, executives, and fine artists.
“Over the past few years, our development team has worked tirelessly to build a proprietary system to bring transparency and accountability to the publishing industry – and to first and foremost protect artists’ rights,” says EMPIRE CEO, Ghazi Shami.
“With our new technology in place and Al ‘Butta’ McLean and Vinny Kumar at the helm, we are now ready to shake up the music publishing business.”
“Music is Magic and what EMPIRE has accomplished over the last 10 years for the culture has been magical.”
Al ‘Butter’ McLean, EMPIRE
Al “Butter” McLean added: “Music is Magic and what EMPIRE has accomplished over the last 10 years for the culture has been magical. I’m grateful for this opportunity to help lead EMPIRE into the realm of Publishing and Publishing Administration.”
Vinny Kumar said: “Over the past few years, EMPIRE has become one of the leading independent labels and distributors by focusing on empowering artists. We are looking forward to expanding the brand into the world of publishing and supporting our writers in the same way.”
“EMPIRE has become one of the leading independent labels and distributors by focusing on empowering artists. We are looking forward to expanding the brand into the world of publishing and supporting our writers in the same way.”
Vinny Kumar, Empire
Initial signings to EMPIRE Publishing include, producer !llmind (who’s worked with Drake, Beyoncé & Jay-Z and You’re Welcome from the Moana soundtrack), plus Nebu Kiniza, Mooktoven, Justin Love (who wrote the Grammy-winning song Focus by H.E.R.), Dr. Zeuz, India Got Them Beats, Natra Average, Mook On The Beat and Rippa on the Beat.
EMPIRE artists who have also signed to EMPIRE Publishing include Young Dolph, Key Glock, Mozzy, Fireboy DML and Yung Bleu.
In 2020 so far, EMPIRE has become the first independent label to release music in Dolby Atmos and acquired a majority stake in merchandising/ e-commerce company Top Drawer Merch/ Electric Family.
