Ghazi Shami Explained

Ghazi Shami
Known For:	CEO 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.

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.

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 Africa.^{[15] [16]}

External links

• Ghazi Shami: On shaking up the music distribution industry
• Ghazi Shami - Interview

Notes and References

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