EMPIRE is increasing once more.
The unbiased label, distributor, and writer, which celebrates 15 years within the music trade in 2025, has formally launched within the Nordic area, led by Iman Hazheer, as Territory Supervisor.
In response to EMPIRE, on this newly established position, Hazheer will lead strategic initiatives for the corporate throughout Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, driving artist relations, market growth, and regional partnerships.
Based mostly in Stockholm, Hazheer will work carefully with EMPIRE’s worldwide staff to amplify the corporate’s footprint in what EMPIRE calls “certainly one of Europe’s most vibrant and revolutionary music markets”.
“The additional enlargement throughout Europe into the Nordic area additional cements EMPIRE as champions of bringing music and tradition to a world viewers,” EMPIRE’s Founder and CEO, Ghazi, informed MBW.
“The additional enlargement throughout Europe into the Nordic area additional cements EMPIRE as champions of bringing music and tradition to a world viewers.”
Ghazi
Added Ghazi: “Iman’s information of the music enterprise makes him the perfect match to spearhead these efforts and we’re completely happy to welcome him to the staff.”
Hazheer arrives at EMPIRE with a decade of expertise on the intersection of music, tradition, and model technique. He spent almost seven years at Spotify, the place he led editorial technique for the Nordics as a Senior Editor, curating playlists and “shaping the regional music narrative”.
Previous to that, he labored with artists throughout Northern Europe as a part of the Leisure division at Nike, in Amsterdam.
He started his profession as a music and tradition journalist at Sveriges Radio, protecting rising traits and, as EMPIRE notes, “elevating voices throughout Sweden’s inventive panorama”.
“The Nordic area has lengthy been a world drive in music, however the path to worldwide recognition is changing into more and more slender particularly for unbiased and rising artists.”
Iman Hazheer
“The Nordic area has lengthy been a world drive in music, however the path to worldwide recognition is changing into more and more slender, particularly for unbiased and rising artists,” mentioned Hazheer.
“All through my profession, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges gifted creators face when making an attempt to scale past their residence markets. That’s why I’m excited to hitch EMPIRE, an organization that not solely understands the nuances of native tradition but in addition presents a really artist-first mannequin.
“We’re right here to problem the established order, champion artists on their very own phrases and provides the Nordic expertise pool the platform they deserve, globally.”
“Iman’s trade information, cultural fluency, and strategic strategy make him the perfect chief to broaden our presence and deepen our impression within the area.”
Guillermo Ramos
Guillermo Ramos, EMPIRE’s Managing Director of Europe, added: “It’s with nice enthusiasm that we welcome Iman to EMPIRE as our Territory Supervisor, Nordics.
“The Nordics are residence to a wealthy ecosystem of musical expertise and forward-thinking creators. Iman’s trade information, cultural fluency, and strategic strategy make him the perfect chief to broaden our presence and deepen our impression within the area.”
Based by Ghazi in 2010, EMPIRE has labored with artists together with Kendrick Lamar, Fireboy DML, Shaboozey, Asake, and Anderson Paak.
Along with its distinguished positioning within the North American market, the San Francisco-headquartered firm’s world presence extends to the African continent, Europe, Asia, and South America.
In April, EMPIRE expanded in Asia with a multi-year partnership with Cambodian music firm Baramey Manufacturing.
EMPIRE’s partnership with Baramey Manufacturing marked its newest strategic transfer in Asia after appointing revered govt Jeffrey Yoo as Senior Vice President, East Asia, in October. At the moment, EMPIRE additionally made its first signing in Asia, Korean famous person G-Dragon.
The corporate launched EMPIRE Africa in 2022, following the launch of a division the earlier yr to deal with West Asia, North Africa, and its diaspora.Music Enterprise Worldwide
