Empire (stylized as EMPIRE) is an independent distributor, record label, and music publisher headquartered in San Francisco.
The company has played a key role in launching the careers of artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, DRAM and Anderson .Paak.
More recently it has released music from artists such as Tyga, Lil Duval, Snoop Dogg, Iggy Azalea, The Free Nationals and XXXTentacion.
Empire is led by its CEO and founder, Ghazi Shami.
Launch of Nashville division
In September 2019, Empire launched its first Nashville division, hiring Eric Hurt as Vice President of A&R.
Prior to joining EMPIRE, Hurt was the Senior Director of Creative for Black River Entertainment, where he oversaw a major publishing catalog that boasts more than 20 No.1 hits.
Discussing Empire’s Nashville expansion at the time, Ghazi Shami said: “EMPIRE is built on culture and authenticity. As we expand into Country music, we believe Eric fits our company ethos and is an integral part of Nashville’s vibrant music industry.
“We look forward to empowering Country music singers and songwriters for years to come.”
Music Business Worldwide