Nas’ Mass Appeal Records has reportedly signed a deal with Sony Music’s subsidiary company The Orchard, according to Music Business Worldwide. The news brings an end to the label’s three-year global distribution deal with Universal Music Group.
As part of the deal, Nas will also be releasing his own material through Sony Music. The Queensbridge rapper returns to the label after dropping early albums such as Illmatic, It Was Written and I Am… via Sony’s Columbia Records, before signing to Def Jam in January 2006.
“This is a full circle moment for me,” Nas said. “To come back to Sony Music with my own label is a major milestone. We see this multi-phase initiative as an opportunity to continue to push the culture forward, educate, and inspire. It’s what we do it for, I couldn’t be more excited.”
Founded in 2014, Mass Appeal Records’ entire roster will have access to The Orchard’s label and artist services, including distribution, marketing, sync licensing, video services, data analysis, advertising, rights management and radio promotion.
Mass Appeal CEO Peter Bittenbender added, “We are thrilled to be reunited with the team at The Orchard. What Brad [Navin] and his staff have built over the past few years is beyond impressive, and we can’t wait to help supercharge their place in Hip Hop with all the incredible talent and projects we have lined up, including a major project for our Hip Hop 50 platform.”
Hey @orchtweets 👋 https://t.co/VrE9cmeeBR
— Mass Appeal Records (@MassAppealRecs) May 26, 2021
