Jump to content

Roc Nation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roc Nation, LLC
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedApril 1, 2008; 17 years ago (April 1, 2008)
FounderJay-Z
Headquarters
540 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10001
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
[1]
OwnerJay-Z
ParentLive Nation
Divisions
  • Team Roc
  • Equity Latin
  • Roc Nation Unified
  • Roc Nation United
  • Roc Nation TV&Films
  • Roc Nation Sports
  • Roc Nation Sports International
  • Roc Nation Management, LLC
  • Roc Nation Records
  • Roc Nation Records, LLC
  • Roc Nation Publishing, LLC
  • Paper Planes
  • Roc Lit 101
  • Three Six Zero Entertainment
  • S10 Entertainment & Media
  • Roc Nation Distribution
  • Arrive
  • ESM Productions, LLC
  • Édition
  • Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment
  • Monogram
  • Roc Nation Rock
  • Made In America Festival
Websitewww.rocnation.com

Roc Nation is an American entertainment company founded by Jay-Z in 2008. Headquartered in New York City, the company is a successor to his previous Roc-A-Fella Records label, with additional offices in Los Angeles and London. It serves as a record label, talent agency, media production firm and clothing line along with educational and philanthropic programs.[2]

It is a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment.[3]

History

[edit]

Roc Nation was founded in 2008 by Jay-Z with the intent of signing pop and hip hop artists, succeeding his previous label, Roc-A-Fella Records.[4] Unlike Roc-A-Fella, Jay-Z served as the company's sole proprietor. Roc Nation's first signed artist was rapper J. Cole.[4]

In April 2013, Roc Nation supporting ally and close family member to its founder Jay-Z, A.G. Fahrenheit assisted Roc Nation in forming a new sports management division, Roc Nation Sports, a subsidiary dedicated to sports representation for professional athletes.[5] Shortly thereafter, Roc Nation Sports also launched a boxing promotion division.[6] After the Sony Music deal expired, in April 2013, Roc Nation signed a multi-year partnership with Universal Music.[7]

Roc Nation Management

[edit]

The company's management division, Roc Nation Management, and Three Six Zero Group announced the formation of Three Six Zero Entertainment, a management subsidiary that represents clients in film, television, and the literary arts in February 2015.[8]

Paper Planes

[edit]

In 2018,[9] the company trademarked its streetwear clothing brand, Paper Planes.[10]

Partnerships

[edit]

Roc Nation and management company Philymack partnered in 2015. Philymack brought its current clients, such as the Jonas Brothers (as a group), Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas (and his group, DNCE), Kevin Jones, and Demi Lovato, to Roc Nation.[11]

Roc Nation partnered with event production companies ESM Productions and DPS (Diversified Production Services) in 2016.[12] The partnership focused on large-scale productions such as concerts and live-streamed festivals.[13]

In July 2017, Roc Nation collaborated with art collective MSFTSrep.[14]

Roc Nation announced a long-term partnership with the National Football League in August 2019. The company became the live-music entertainment strategist for the league, executive producing all Super Bowl Halftime Shows since 2019.[15] The collaboration augmented social justice efforts through the Inspire Change initiative.[16] That December, Desiree Perez was named CEO of the company, succeeding Jay Brown, who was named vice-chairman.[17]

In December 2020, it was announced that Roc Nation and Random House had teamed up to launch a new publishing imprint, Roc Lit 101.[18]

In 2021, Roc Nation teamed up with American Greetings to create custom greeting cards.[19] Roc Nation also announced plans to launch a new brand and multimedia platform named EDITION in partnership with Modern Luxury Media.[20]

In 2022, the company announced a partnership with realty company SL Green and Caesars Entertainment to propose building the first casino in Times Square.[21][22]

Notable artists

[edit]

Management

[edit]

Former artists

[edit]

Publishing

[edit]

Arrive

[edit]

Roc Nation also operates an in-house venture capital arm called Arrive, which is led by Neil Sirni, the group's co-founder and president.[76] By 2024, the company had reportedly made 44[77] investments in fintech, insurtech, edtech, health and wellness, social media, and gaming.[76]

Roc Nation Distribution

[edit]

In 2018, Roc Nation launched an independent label named Equity Distribution. Jay-Z's mentor, Jaz-O,[78] released a project under the newly formed independent label.[79] In 2019, Equity also acquired the rights to Jay-Z's 1996 debut Reasonable Doubt for release on digital and streaming platforms.[80] In 2024, Equity Distribution and Roc Nation Records were merged to form Roc Nation Distribution.[81]

Roc Nation School

[edit]

In August 2020, Roc Nation partnered with Long Island University in Brooklyn to begin a program called the Roc Nation School for Music, Sports, and Entertainment.[82][83] Promising lectures from high-profile musical artists, instruction began in late 2021.[3] The school gave students scholarships and falsely told them they would "graduate without [student] debt".[3] More than a dozen students from the first year said they unexpectedly owed Long Island University thousands of dollars.[3] Additionally, students reported that, instead of being provided a recording studio, they had to build one themselves.[3] Celebrity guests advertised to students did not end up speaking.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ROC Nation LLC - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Roc Nation Leads Campaign to Help Underprivileged Students Secure $300 Million in Scholarships". Billboard.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Khalifeh, Ramsey (April 8, 2025). "A Brooklyn school backed by Jay-Z said students could graduate debt-free. Now they're buried in it". Gothamist. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  4. ^ a b JoVonn, Jeroslyn (August 16, 2024). "Roc Nation Amplifies The Needs Of Music Artists With New ROC Nation Distribution Merger". Black Enterprise. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "With New Move, Jay-Z Enters a Sports Agent State of Mind". The New York Times. April 2, 2013. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  6. ^ "Roc Nation Sports Signs 6 New Boxers". Sports Agent Blog. February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  7. ^ "Universal Music Group strikes global partnership with Roc Nation". Universal Music. April 8, 2013. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  8. ^ Flanagan, Andrew (February 12, 2015). "Jay Z's Roc Nation and Three Six Zero Partner to Launch Film and Television Management Arm". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  9. ^ "JAY-Z Files Trademark for Paper Planes Brand". Hypebeast. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "Announcing Paper Planes and Delos". The Business of Fashion. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  11. ^ Billboard, Lars Brandle (November 11, 2015). "Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas Manager Partners with Roc Nation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  12. ^ Stutz, Colin (April 19, 2016). "ESM Productions Enters Partnership With Roc Nation". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  13. ^ "RIP, DAN PARISE". www.hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  14. ^ "Roc Nation partners with MSFTSrep". Variety. July 14, 2017. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  15. ^ Thompson, Sonia. "How Roc Nation Made The Super Bowl Halftime Show More Inclusive". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  16. ^ "Jay-Z's Roc Nation entering partnership with NFL". NFL.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  17. ^ Staff, Variety (December 13, 2019). "Desiree Perez Named CEO of Roc Nation". Variety. Archived from the original on June 9, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  18. ^ Aswad, Jem (December 15, 2020). "Roc Lit 101, New Roc Nation-Random House Company, to Publish Books by CC Sabathia, Lil Uzi Vert, More". Variety. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  19. ^ "Roc Nation Pairs With American Greetings For Custom Card Line". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "Jay Z's Roc Nation to launch new multimedia brand, Edition". Music Business Worldwide. July 22, 2021. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  21. ^ "Jay-Z's Roc Nation Joins Times Square Casino Bid Opposed By Broadway Producers". deadline.com. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  22. ^ "Jay-Z and Roc Nation Join Bid to Open Times Square Casino". Complex. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  23. ^ "Belly". Rocnation. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "Casanova". Rocnation. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  25. ^ "Dorothy". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  26. ^ "G4SHI". Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  27. ^ "J. Cole". Rocnation. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  28. ^ Aswad, Jem (July 14, 2017). "Jaden Smith Drops Two New Songs as Roc Nation Announces Partnership With His and Willow's MSFTSrep Collective". Variety. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  29. ^ "Jay Electronica". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  30. ^ "Jay-Z". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  31. ^ "Major Myjah in the big leagues". Janaica Observer. June 13, 2024. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  32. ^ "Mozart La Para". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  33. ^ "Nicole Bus". Rocnation. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  34. ^ "Pusha T and Malice pay seven figures to exit Def Jam and sign with Roc Nation". Tribune. June 5, 2025. Archived from the original on June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  35. ^ Ortiz, Edwin. "Rapsody Signs With Jay Z's Roc Nation". www.complex.com. Complex. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  36. ^ a b "Rihanna at Roc Nation". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  37. ^ "Snoh Aalegra at Roc Nation". Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  38. ^ a b "The Lox". rocnation.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  39. ^ "Willow". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  40. ^ "Kay Young". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 13, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  41. ^ "Aguilera Signs With Roc Nation Management". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  42. ^ Huerta, Heidi. "You'll Be Seeing A Lot More Of Roc Nation's Brazilian Pop Artist, Claudia Leitte". MTV.com. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  43. ^ "DJ Khaled signs management deal with Roc Nation". The Verge. February 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  44. ^ "Fabolous Signs Management Deal With Roc Nation". BET. December 2, 2014. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  45. ^ "Fat Joe Signs Management Deal With Roc Nation". Billboard. January 18, 2017. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  46. ^ "Fred Ball". Roc Nation. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  47. ^ a b Eustice, Kyle (July 14, 2018). "Jadakiss Signs With JAY-Z's Roc Nation". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  48. ^ "Jim Jones". Roc Nation. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  49. ^ "Key Wane's official page at Roc Nation". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  50. ^ "Maxo Kream". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  51. ^ "DJ Mustard - Ronation". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  52. ^ Alex Robert Ross (September 13, 2019). "Megan Thee Stallion signs management deal with Roc Nation". The Fader. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  53. ^ "Rapman". ROCNATION. Archived from the original on January 29, 2019. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  54. ^ a b Brandle, Lars (November 11, 2015). "Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas Manager Partners with Roc Nation: Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  55. ^ "The-Dream". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  56. ^ "Tinashe Signs With Roc Nation for Management". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  57. ^ "Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn Sign Roc Nation Management Deal". Complex. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  58. ^ "Yo Gotti". Roc Nation. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  59. ^ Corner, Lewis (August 5, 2016). "Whatever happened to Alexis Jordan?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  60. ^ "Ceraadi". Retrieved June 14, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  61. ^ "Freeway Signs with Roc Nation". www.rapup.com. Rap-Up. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  62. ^ "i have something to tell you + please dont hate me for it!". YouTube. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  63. ^ "Grimes". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  64. ^ "Jarren Benton". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  65. ^ "Jay Park". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  66. ^ "Mack Wilds". Roc Nation. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  67. ^ "Mariah Carey Signs With Jay-Z's Roc Nation for Management". Variety. November 22, 2017. Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  68. ^ "Mayaeni". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  69. ^ Saponara, Michael. "Emerging DMV Rapper Q Da Fool Signs Record Deal With Roc Nation: Exclusive". billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  70. ^ "Romans". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  71. ^ "Romeo Santos at Roc Nation". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  72. ^ "Shakira at Roc Nation". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  73. ^ "Welcome Tiwa Savage to the Roc Nation Family!". Retrieved August 1, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  74. ^ "Vic Mensa". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  75. ^ "Yellow Claw". rocnation.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  76. ^ a b "More Than Just Brunch With Jay-Z? A Look Into Roc Nation's Investment Strategy". Afrotech. May 3, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  77. ^ "Arrive Opportunities Management investment portfolio | PitchBook". pitchbook.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  78. ^ "Roc Boys: A Look At Jay-Z And Jaz-O's Journey From Brothers, To Beef, To Business Partners". BET. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  79. ^ Ortiz, Edwin. "What You Need to Know About Equity, Roc Nation's Independent Distribution Platform change they name to Roc Nation". complex.com. Complex Networks. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  80. ^ Cowen, Trace William. "JAY-Z's 'Reasonable Doubt' Now Available on YouTube Music Premium, SoundCloud, and More Streaming Services". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  81. ^ Dalugdug, Mandy (August 19, 2024). "Roc Nation merges Label and Equity Distribution units to form ROC Nation distribution". musicbusinessworldwide.com. Music Business Worldwide. Archived from the original on June 7, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  82. ^ "Roc Nation Partners With Brooklyn's LIU to Launch New School". billboard. August 6, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  83. ^ Young, Julius (August 5, 2020). "Jay-Z's Roc Nation, Long Island University to launch new school for music, sports and entertainment". Fox Business. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roc_Nation&oldid=1304553284"