Ghazi Shami

Ghazi Shami
Shami in 2024
Occupations
  • Music technologist
  • record producer
  • audio engineer
  • entrepreneur
Known forCEO and founder of Empire Distribution

Ghazi Shami is a Palestinian-American music technologist, record producer, audio engineer, entrepreneur, CEO and founder of Empire Distribution. Empire Distribution was founded in 2010 in San Francisco, California. Empire Distribution has offices in New York, Nashville, the UK and the Middle East.[1][2] [3][4]

Early life

Shami graduated from the College of San Mateo with an associate degree in music technology. He has a bachelor's degree in radio and television from San Francisco State University.[5][6]

Career

In 1995, he worked as an audio engineer for 3rd Eye Studios. Shami's music label has produced music for 50 Cent, XXXTentacion, Benny the Butcher, Hayley Kiyoko, Nef the Pharaoh, The Foreign Exchange, Rapper Big Pooh, Keak Da Sneak, Kendrick Lamar, and others.[7][8][9] [10]

In 2000, he worked as a creative media manager for Audiohighway.com. Shami has helped jump-start the careers of Kendrick Lamar, Migos, Cardi B, and Anderson .Paak.[11][12]

In 2010, Ghazi started Empire Distribution. [citation needed]

In February 2021, Ghazi opened up a US division in the U.S. focussing on marketing in West Asia, North Africa, and the African Diaspora.[citation needed]

In 2022, Ghazi partnered with Claude Vonstroke to expand Empire's business into dance culture. Vonstroke is the CEO and founder of independent electronic music label Dirtybird Records. Dirtybird was acquired by Empire in 2022.[13][14]

In 2022, Ghazi started Empire in the African continent.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ "How EMPIRE Became A Music Industry Giant In An Unlikely City". www.grammy.com.
  2. ^ "How Empire founder Ghazi Shami built San Francisco a new musical kingdom".
  3. ^ Payne, Ogden. "Empire: The Distribution Company That Turned Music Streaming Pennies Into Profit". Forbes.
  4. ^ Hissong, Samantha (October 29, 2020). "Empire's Founder Ghazi Shami -- Future 25". Rolling Stone.
  5. ^ "Who Owns EMPIRE Records? Ghazi Shami: The Mastermind Behind The Infamous Label - Industry Hackerz". September 19, 2022.
  6. ^ Rys, Dan (October 20, 2016). "Hip-Hop's Other EMPIRE: How Indie Distributor Is Quietly Owning the Rap Game". Billboard.
  7. ^ Sisario, Ben; Coscarelli, Joe (July 8, 2018). "XXXTentacion Signed $10 Million Album Deal Before His Death". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^ "Everything You Need To Know About Empire Distribution, Records & Publishing ! - Industry Hackerz". July 6, 2022.
  9. ^ Wyatt, Nick (August 19, 2020). "How To Master Digital Distribution — EMPIRE Edition".
  10. ^ "6 Arabs who are quietly dominating the music industry". noor k.
  11. ^ C.M, Emmanuel C. M. Emmanuel (17 November 2016). "Here's How EMPIRE Helps Your Favorite Rappers Climb the Charts - XXL". XXL Mag.
  12. ^ "EMPIRE CEO Ghazi Shami on Reconnecting with WANA". www.scenenoise.com.
  13. ^ Bain, Katie (October 20, 2022). "Claude VonStroke's Dirtybird Label Acquired By EMPIRE". Billboard.
  14. ^ Narozniak, Rachel (November 10, 2022). "Bringing Dirtybird to Roost: Ghazi & Moody Jones Discuss the Electronic Label's Future at EMPIRE". Billboard.
  15. ^ "EMPIRE launches 'EMPIRE Africa', with three executive hires in Nigeria". Music Business Worldwide. February 21, 2022.
  16. ^ Steward, Riley Van. "EMPIRE Is Investing Early In African Music And Culture". Forbes.
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