Ghazi on Empire’s Global Expansion & Latin Music Growth | On the Record
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
New coverage adds Ghazi’s account of EMPIRE’s early move into reggaeton: he says he saw its piracy challenges as a temporary obstacle and believed subscription streaming would make the genre commercially viable. The decision helped shape the company’s growth beyond hip-hop as global music found wider audiences.
EMPIRE began signing reggaeton artists in 2011, but Ghazi said he later signed established acts whose streaming numbers drew interest from Sony and Universal. In the interview, recorded at Latin Music Week, he also discusses the label’s reach across Latin America, Southeast Asia and North Africa, and how US visa and immigration issues affect Latin artists’ touring schedules.
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In short
- Ghazi says EMPIRE backed reggaeton before streaming made it easier to monetise.
- The label began signing reggaeton artists in 2011.
- He also discusses global expansion and visa issues affecting tours.
How this story developed
- 6 minutes ago EMPIRE has grown from a hip-hop label into a company signing artists across Latin America, Southeast Asia and North Africa, as US audiences increasingly listen to music from around the world.
- 11 minutes ago New coverage adds Ghazi’s account of EMPIRE’s early move into reggaeton: he says he saw its piracy challenges as a temporary obstacle and believed subscription streaming would make the genre commercially viable.
Coverage · 2 sources
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