2016 Sync Up Conference: Ghazi Shami, Empire Distribution on Making Money from Artist-Owned Records

2016 Sync Up Conference
Sunday, April 30, 2016
Making Money From Artist-Owned Records - Ghazi Shami, Founder & CEO, EMPIRE
You want to put out your own records? You want to keep ownership of your master recordings and publishing? And sell lots of copies and make it onto the Billboard charts? If you’re in hip-hop, R&B, rock, pop, gospel or Latin, you want to talk to Ghazi Shami, founder and CEO of the indie distributor EMPIRE, the San Francisco-based company that launched the career of Kendrick Lamar.
Copyright 2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

[@TheKKCody0824]

Takes 20% when artists sign. Builds a relationship/chemistry with them. Artist drop records and hits, they blow up. Then he takes the other 80% when he assassinates them. If I was evil, I’d say that’s genius

[@6ick6ick6ity5]

Yeah just like they did Kendrick and yung bleu right?

[@aurastarlight2821]

He most definitely Sacrificing his artist . Shit sad 😢

[@gottgame4678]

Dolph,xxxtentacion,, king von .. Etc

[@JnthnCk]

Drakeo the ruler

[@6ick6ick6ity5]

@@JnthnCk d savage is on empire he’s alive

[@justinaragland3025]

NEVER AGAIN WILL YOU KILL ANYMORE OF OUR BLACK BROTHERS

[@tkthehottie3205]

It happened today again

[@03PaK]

Slim400 and Drakeo just died

[@inmyhumbleopinion_]

@@03PaK PNB Rock

[@johanmassy5290]

What they do is opportunistically is make money of the talented Black & Brown artist who create.

[@workharder9429]

How many of his artist have died lest do the research on that.

[@henryvosh9256]

Boom!

[@I.Follow.Yeshua.]

BOOM !!!

[@creatme6101]

@@henryvosh9256 illuminati

[@2pacalypse2010]

How to research that? Was nipsey hussle tied into this

[@tauriusashford9967]

Facts

[@lacyzo4757]

His eyes is freaky asf!!

[@g4gmfstl114]

Maaaaaan!!! Tf he got going

[@lacyzo4757]

@@g4gmfstl114 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@aurastarlight2821]

Yesss yo I just said that . His eyes 👀 tellin on his ass 😂😂😭💯

[@GR33ZY.A1]

I wanna know why Young Dolph, King Von, Xxtentacion and Moe3 are dead and they were all signed to you?

[@66chevy100]

There are other labels that do the same .Select o hits can put your shit out no problem ask juicy j

[@treDay-s5v]

All the deceased had beef with others . Work it out it’s not that hard!

[@thisisthania]

Life insurance policies

[@Judah337]

There's more than them. Keep ya eyes on Mozzy n several others. Once their life insurance policy rises that's when they (folk like ghazi) cash out on they heads. Using money. that's all u need dealing with young niggas in the streets n ain't ever had no education or no nothing. Just God given talent. Dude look Middle Eastern but probably identify as Jew(ish). All these elites are Jew(ish) record label owners. From the Rothschilds to the royal family's of Europe. World banks. Mainstream media (social). Most All the mobile apps. News. Everything u can think of these people own. O Dude ghazi definitely had money in the fam he ain't hurtin. They bought his way to success. On some Greek fraternity occultist type shit. Cashing in on our peoples God given talent. That's all it boils down too. Listen to em closer

[@Channel313tv]

@@66chevy100 they can put you on iTunes wow big deal

[@dbcoopertsv860]

5 artists dead , he owns their money now 🤔 #ThinkAboutIt

[@esoj7162]

Two more bodies

[@dbcoopertsv860]

@@esoj7162 facts

[@beachboi6196]

No doesn't they own masters u know nothing of how it works Dolph's wife owns his master's look yukmonth he tell how works look his website he nos goz personal as he from ffim da bay

[@dbcoopertsv860]

@@beachboi6196 calm down g !!!! Yes dolph owns his masters , the rest dont ... And even though dolph had his shit sorted out are you telling me empire ain't eating of his name? You missed the point Mr emotional

[@donuts4dilla]

This interview was so damn good. They seem like really different guys but his questions were so perfectly well thought out, and Ghazi was awesome

[@nathanamazin8464]

17 artistes signed to his label have been killed or killed themselves in 3 years since you have written that

[@ayuushkumar2783]

@@nathanamazin8464 it doesn't affect the guy and his company the interview was good artists had their personal problems

[@Chucktay100]

prolly the most under rated person in the industry

[@jetlido6383]

The bay area always underrated

[@apocalyptic8ballgtaonline4]

Boy were YOU right.

[@Only1vic]

The top killer in the industry cashin all his artists in

[@JoeMammaBff]

Mind blowing

[@TheKKCody0824]

@@Only1vic you’re observant fr fr sis

[@prodjincmusicproductions6587]

33:00....for the love! the passion!....the money will come. i enjoyed this!

[@samsonfikadu9407]

Why are artists signed to empire dying in such an alarming rate????

[@aurastarlight2821]

Right 💯💯💯

[@beachboi6196]

If in streets it will happen epsiclly when in street beef

[@arturo_rangel440]

@@beachboi6196 no it’s deeper than tgat

[@tonecitx2105]

RIP🐬

[@biguce8570]

He's a Bay Boy fasho. That passion and pride for Bay's independent game culture is strong.

[@Tac-ManOfficial]

Facts

[@mo12689]

FRFR OMM

[@nathanamazin8464]

Had over a handful of his artists murdered

[@biguce8570]

@@nathanamazin8464 they were all gang affiliated. How is it his fault. Is it Gucci fault too because I’m sure they all had some kind of Gucci on

[@TherealToppo]

@@biguce8570 lol

[@IceMontgomery]

Just here collecting all the gems.... 💎

[@Delawarepunch818]

Very interesting looking back in time. Smart guy

[@Lo-vy2lh]

Great interview! So appreciative that this type of independent innovation of the rap game has always been strongly accented in my backyard (Bay Area, CA.) Ghazi's journey is inspiring because he has arrived at his current position off of pure love of the game, unlike 99% of other distributors/majors who are notoriously known to take advantage of artists. Much love & thank you for the motivation. GRIND 💯

[@nathanamazin8464]

So that’s why about 17 artistes have died

[@nathanamazin8464]

by murder or suicide

[@ayuushkumar2783]

@@nathanamazin8464 why are you commenting on every postive comment? One of them was your dad or what?

[@meechdaman78king23]

Sad u a lost soul whose follows the bs but u hope u still here with a changed mindset I know if u ever respond back

[@tommyraystaleyjr.2773]

Music Streaming needs the best when they make sales of your music it definitely adds up to your songs he makes you a lot of money and a lot

[@PeaceSimonvibes]

I didn’t build empire just for profit but to give a platform to urban music…because hip hop gave me purpose…I resonate with that 🔥🔥🔥

[@jefferysullivan6362]

Are you crazy? he is killing people

[@GR33ZY.A1]

Dude sketchy i dont know why you praising him.. what happened to Young Dolph king Von Xxtentacion and Moe3? And they were all signed to Empire

[@DuryeaHozay]

LOL maaaaan

[@nathanamazin8464]

He has lost 17 artists in 5 years by murder or suicide

[@shawnartero]

You can make $100,000 depending on your catalog. The more music the more money.

[@Jdotbalance]

the more QUALITY music you mean; this is why why independent labels still have relevance towards the artist development process. But for making money and avoiding third party sharks, we need distribution like empire

[@themoneyman1752]

PLEASE HELP: My question is why would you need Empire for distro if you can distribute your music on your own, with distrokid, Itunes, Spotify etc? im guessing Empire has exclusive connections to big time playlists on iTunes and Spotify and they have the cash to give you a nice advance, whats the advantage to signing to distro company like Empire?? Thanks

[@KhalilACG]

Connections and a team to handle everything for you as an artist besides making music. So basically they have the pull of a major label but they do (less) of the shady, greedy stuff

[@meechdaman78king23]

It was a scam that was allowed to take place so black artist can not benefit from ownership. Because Tech9 exposed the game but niggas didn't wanna listen to Tech9 too jealous and couldn't see past the act so mofos showed how weak n dependent they are for contracts and record label reckoning.

[@Beatmonstarr]

Very inspiring to hear...

[@kellcoleStyleEnt]

About about to look this up in the Few mins

[@HULYRICSTV]

52:57 is what did it for me. He said, there are two ways to play a game right, you play to not lose or you play to win. That sums it all up. He is definitely hired by the gate keepers to fufill which agenda is what I am worried about. But, I think positive now and days rather than negative. I think he does very good to the black community and other minorities in general. But, he didn't mentioned where he got his money to get started if it was not from the street. Curious to know.

[@MrBurton44]

he says at about the 4:50 mark he was a DJ, Producer, writer, ran a studio, and worked in Silicon Valley so im sure he acquired some money from those various streams of income

[@CoolCrowdTV]

He actually took out a loan

[@harrymuhammad9835]

🤔

[@ixviimcmxc]

credit

[@Only1vic]

3 yrs later he had done nothing but kill black men that just want a chance to take care they family, he hijacke their platform to push a agenda then cashes them in smh sick he could care less about the black community they’re a token to him

[@mr.howard3390]

I wonder do up and coming artists come on here and do they research before singing?

[@BenjaminCole520]

IS THIS THE SAME GHAZI THAT WORKED WITH GOLDTOES JULIO BACK IN THE DAY? I THINK IVE SEEN HIM ON TRILL T.V. THIZZ LATIN DVD WAY BACK...

[@jessemartinez3476]

Same Ghazi

[@edwardmpanza]

Very Informative! I still have one question though. 🤔 How does a distribution company distribute directly to 400+ digital stores? Do you get into a partnership with each store/is there some sort of system behind this?

[@osoarrogant5666]

illuminati

[@tradinwarstoriez5641]

Upload to stream service

[@soundsbyzian]

There’s an organization called Merlin. They have a whole network of deals with the stores and you can deliver over their deals.

[@edwardmpanza]

@@soundsbyzian Thank you. I will check it out.

[@ivanreese7087]

@@soundsbyzian he mentioned to Russ they no longer use merlin services

[@garlotto7192]

We will be coming to see you very soon ..Blu Ray Racci out of Atlanta Ga

[@russellhoffman3321]

He's offing rappers

[@shawnartero]

would love to know how much percentage of the master they get

[@HULYRICSTV]

80%

[@nathanamazin8464]

CHEICK SACKO so that’s why they end up dying

[@michaelvaladez7928]

Point A to Z I like that

[@jefferysullivan6362]

Dude looks evil. I don't like his vibes

[@aurastarlight2821]

He do look evil . that shit eventually shows & I see right through his ass . His eyes 👀 tellin on him 😂😂💯

[@nathanamazin8464]

17 artists on his label dead 14 murdered others Suicide

[@Tryingtogetrichouthere]

He just got pnb

[@vast48]

The eyes are a window to the soul…and his look very tired, bleak, and sunken. I would not trust this guy based on my gut

[@mogulcitymedia]

He was funded yall missed that INGROOVES IS EMPIRE PERIOD

[@josephwhite3486]

The most important asset to an artist is owning their masters and receiving all royalties. Funny how he said it was distribution not owning their own music. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@ssingh6030]

Why is Gazi always with my opps? He’s in these steet politics too!

[@kinghendrix3176]

he pretty much a temp service

[@eastdaygorush5798]

Give him couple years he goona become a mainstream distrubtion

[@tradinwarstoriez5641]

Lmao

[@tradinwarstoriez5641]

@@eastdaygorush5798 already is tbh

[@Tac-ManOfficial]

Fast forward 2-3 years (2021, current date) damn near half of all hip-hop artists out right now are in some way tied to Empire, or Ghazi & Nima directly

[@nathanamazin8464]

EastDaygo Rush for killing his artist

[@AZ-Frankie_]

After an artist signs to empire they’re music changes significantly. Larry June hasn’t been the same since he signed with Ghazi.. the music is different and not good. Dolph dropped one good album with empire and the rest was not as good. On top of that Ghazi is taking insurance on his artists I’m surprised people still sign to this demon literally sacrificing themselves to the devil. “If I sacrifice myself will I go to hell?” Dolph wanted to be co owner of empire offered 100 Million 4 days later he gets killed and it’s pushed as “gang related” or because he had “beef” with rappers. Na real recognize real we see what’s going on. Follow the money ghazi enjoy your money In this life but everyone will have to answer to THE MOST HIGH

[@afbm6890]

I believe that part business vs gangs and gang DONT even know it that’s scandalous asf Thank you ghazi

[@NUMBERZGAMEMEDIA]

SO BASICALLY HE IS A MIDDLEMAN

[@daledagreat9055]

KEDAR RA no more like the 🔌

[@Channel313tv]

Y’all need to watch this interview if you sign to empire lol he scamming y’all with I can put you on iTunes lol but you can do it yourself

[@meechdaman78king23]

Idk ppl don't know shizzz bro smh

[@ssingh6030]

He’s always with my suckers.. is he sucker too! 🤷‍♂️

[@nicholasverando2150]

Great innerview

[@jkenstube]

check out J'KEN and SHILL MACC BAY AREA ARTIST GOIN HARD

[@dashiellhouse]

The murderer himself.

[@tommyraystaleyjr.2773]

Cool Music business video !

[@prodjincmusicproductions6587]

LOVE THIS GUYS LOVE FOR HIS WORK!

[@nathanamazin8464]

Shouldn’t tho he has lost so many artists due to murder

[@Dj4eign_]

Dope af 👀👀👀🗣🗣

[@nathanamazin8464]

just not the fact that 17 of his artistes have died

[@Channel313tv]

Don’t nobody buy records why do you need distribution

[@reddhottbeatzinc]

Satan's Illuminati his business logo is a old rock band satanic logo who did satanic music so sad.. but to God be the glory this to shall fail

[@YourDataGathered]

He reminds me of vlad

[@SheGotStyle]

He look shady as hell 🐍🐍🐍

[@Tac-ManOfficial]

The Elon Musk of the music industry

[@mo12689]

Yessssir!!! Hope your well 💯

[@tkthehottie3205]

At least Elon Musk doesn't let his employees die

[@Tac-ManOfficial]

@@tkthehottie3205 true, some goofy shit going on behind closed doors over at Empire 👀 RIP Drakeo, Dolph, Von

[@Beatsofwar]

This guy is the real deal. I wanna sign with them

[@AA-td1yw]

Black man, he is your enemy

[@truth1283]

Man open up a business and live......

[@nathanamazin8464]

You’ll be another one of his artists “killed”

[@teyonce7294]

he need to be investigated 🔎 🙄 EVIL 😈

[@afbm6890]

Who win when the rest of the labels and the executive do so that’s not a good point So if the artist dying and not of because empire is that good to artist We researching that why ghazi didn’t been come out and say nothing distribution company Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo So they setting ghazi up Yeah that threat Ghazi did that shit Omg omg omg Let us check for the apology

[@roadrunnaz6802]

5 years later .. Running the industry 💯hands down , I salute ghazi

[@nathanamazin8464]

Having his artists taken out left and right

[@meechdaman78king23]

But let u remain a fool n broke. U saluting someone who not even saluting you. U happy that black men are dying?

[@mogulcitymedia]

He is right tho. He isnt indie he lyin

[@rch3290]

43

[@ssingh6030]

I don’t like that, Gazi works with my opps

[@AbuAbbas3]

Why is everyone so surprised when street ninjas die as a businessman he should take life insurance out on his artist they are an investment and rap is the most dangerous job in America

[@ovoaleria]

Smh look nervous Af

[@whitelight4077]

"We're all adults here"😂

[@TherealToppo]

Coke or pepsi? Lol

[@YourDataGathered]

It’s giving scam the artist

[@harrymuhammad9835]

No

[@laquandrah9442]

Merk king von

[@eugenekost5962]

I bet! This culture is getting out of control!

[@GR33ZY.A1]

Young Dolph king Von Xxtentacion and Moe3

[@hotsauce8671]

Soulja boy was made off him while it was successful

[@hotsauce8671]

He like Jesus to the street.. In a way...BPM...

[@hotsauce8671]

Black folk matter

[@meechdaman78king23]

He said gatekeeper I'ma firm believer now