Roc Nation

History

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. Unlike Roc-A-Fella, Jay-Z served as the company's sole proprietor. Roc Nation's first signed artist was rapper J. Cole.

In 2009, Roc Nation signed a distribution deal with Sony Music. After the Sony Music deal expired, in April 2013, Roc Nation signed a multi-year partnership with Universal Music Group.

Made in America festival

In September 2012, Roc Nation held the first Made in America festival in Philadelphia. Inaugural performances included artists across different genres, such as Jay-Z, Pearl Jam, Miike Snow, The Hives, Odd Future, and Passion Pit. Over the following years, artists such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Nine Inch Nails, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Coldplay, J. Cole, and Bad Bunny have also performed at the festival.

Roc Nation Sports

The next year, Roc Nation ally and close family member to its founder Jay-Z A.G. Fahrenheit assisted in forming a new sports management division, Roc Nation Sports, a subsidiary dedicated to sports representation for professional athletes. Shortly thereafter, Roc Nation Sports also launched a boxing promotion division.

In 2019, Roc Nation Sports launched its international division, Roc Nation International, with the opening of an office in London. The sports division later launched Roc Nation Sports Brazil in 2023. Other sports ventures have included collaborations with South African rugby club, The Sharks, AC Milan, United Rugby Championships, a marketing effort with Italian soccer agency, Serie A, and active collaborations with SAILGP and the Mamelodi Sundowns.

Roc Nation Management

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.

Roc Nation Latin

The company's previous Latin venture, Roc Nation Latin, was launched in 2016, with Romeo Santos named as chief executive officer. Santos signed Mozart La Para as the first artist to the label, along with other artists such as Victoria "La Mala," Yandel, and American Idol alum, Karen Rodriguez.

Paper Planes

In 2018, the company trademarked its streetwear clothing brand, Paper Planes.

Partnerships

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 Jonas, and Demi Lovato, to Roc Nation.

Roc Nation partnered with event production companies ESM Productions and DPS (Diversified Production Services) in 2016. The partnership focused on large-scale productions such as concerts and live-streamed festivals. The same year, the company launched the Roc Nation Publishing Nashville division and partnered with Rhythm House, a Nashville multi-genre publishing company.

In July 2017, Roc Nation collaborated with MSFTSrep, an art collective featuring siblings Willow and Jaden Smith, and Harry Hudson. Within this partnership, all three artists were scheduled to release new music.

The following year, Roc Nation entered a partnership with S10 Entertainment, which included management and a record label. In 2023, the venture signed Puerto Rican rapper Myke Towers.

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, producing all Super Bowl Halftime Shows since 2019. The collaboration augmented social justice efforts through the Inspire Change initiative. That December, Desiree Perez was named CEO of the company, succeeding Jay Brown, who was named vice-chairman. Perez formerly served as chief operating officer since 2009. As CEO, Perez assumed responsibility for the oversight of all 14 Roc Nation verticles.

In December 2020, it was announced that Roc Nation and Random House had teamed up to launch a new educational publishing imprint, Roc Lit 101. The partnership aimed to publish literature within the entertainment genre, focusing on topics such as music, sports, pop culture, activism, and art.

In 2021, Roc Nation teamed up with American Greetings to create custom greeting cards. Roc Nation also announced plans to launch a new brand and multimedia platform named EDITION in partnership with Modern Luxury Media. The brand would highlight pop culture influencers.

In 2022, the company announced a partnership with realty company SL Green and Caesars Entertainment to propose building a casino hotel in Times Square. The proposed development was rejected in September 2025.

In 2023, Roc Nation began a venture into the cannabis industry through a partnership with The Parent Company. The collaboration included the Monogram cannabis brand, allowing Roc Nation and The Parent Company to sell and distribute Monogram products.

In 2024, Roc Nation partnered with Versace in 2024 to produce "cause-focused initiatives" in an effort to support young emerging talent. The partnership included scholarships from Roc Nation School of Music, Sport and Entertainment for music and sports management students attending Long Island University.

In June 2025, it was announced that Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) would be partnering with E1, the "electrified raceboat equivalent of F1," focusing on content creation to help E1 acquire new fans.

In September 2025, it was announced that RNSI would be partnering with Matchroom Boxing to help with promoting events to the U.S. market. This following the Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen documentary that premiered on Netflix.

Notable artists

• Ambré
• Belly
• Buju Banton
• Casanova
• Clipse
• Claye
• Dixson
• Dorothy
• Farina
• Harloe
• Harry Hudson
• Infinity Song
• J. Cole
• Jaden
• Jay Electronica
• Jay Park
• Jay-Z
• Jess Glynne
• Kalan.FrFr
• Kirby Lauryen
• Major Myjah
• Memphis Bleek
• Mozart La Para
• Nicole Bus
• Pusha T
• Rapsody
• Rihanna
• Snoh Aalegra
• Tainy
• The Anxiety
• The Lox
• Willow
• Kay Young

Management

• Alicia Keys
• Big Sean
• Bohnes
• Chon
• Christina Aguilera
• Clarissa Molina
• Claudia Leitte
• DJ Khaled
• Fabolous
• Fat Joe
• Fred Ball
• Hit-Boy
• Jadakiss
• Jess Glynne
• Jim Jones
• Jozzy
• Kaash Paige
• Kamaiyah
• Kelly Rowland
• Key Wane
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Lola Ponce
• Maxo Kream
• Miguel
• Mustard
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Rapman
• Rihanna
• Rival Sons
• Robin Thicke
• Spiritbox
• Stargate
• Statik Selektah
• The Lox
• The-Dream
• Tinashe
• Touché Amoré
• We Came as Romans
• Westside Gunn
• Yo Gotti

Former artists

• Alexa Goddard
• Alexis Jordan
• Bridget Kelly
• Ceraadi
• Demi Lovato
• Freeway
• Gabi DeMartino
• Grimes
• Haim
• Inna
• Jarren Benton
• Jay Park
• K Koke
• Kanye West
• Kyle Watson
• Kylie Minogue
• Mack Wilds
• M.I.A.
• Meek Mill
• Mariah Carey
• Mayaeni
• Nasty C
• Nick Jonas
• Q Da Fool
• Rita Ora
• ROMANS
• Romeo Santos
• Shakira
• Sugababes
• T.I.
• Tiwa Savage
• Vic Mensa
• Wale
• Yellow Claw

Publishing

• Jahlil Beats
• Lab Ox
• Lil Uzi Vert
• Ludwig Göransson
• Stress
• Symbolyc One
• Tiwa Savage

Arrive

Roc Nation also operates an in-house venture capital arm called Arrive. By 2024, the company had reportedly made 44 investments in fintech, insurtech, edtech, health and wellness, social media, and gaming.

Roc Nation Distribution

In 2018, Roc Nation launched an independent label named Equity Distribution. In 2019, Equity also acquired the rights to Jay-Z's 1996 debut Reasonable Doubt for release on digital and streaming platforms. In 2024, Equity Distribution and Roc Nation Records were merged to form Roc Nation Distribution. In 2025, Clipse released their first full-length album in 16 years under Roc Nation Distribution.

Team Roc

In 2018, Roc Nation launched its philanthropic branch, Team Roc. The division focused on criminal justice reform.

Roc Nation School

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. Promising lectures from high-profile musical artists, instruction began in late 2021. The school gave students scholarships and falsely told them they would "graduate without [student] debt". More than a dozen students from the first year said they unexpectedly owed Long Island University thousands of dollars. Additionally, students reported that, instead of being provided a recording studio, they had to build one themselves. Celebrity guests advertised to students did not end up speaking.

References

References

1. "ROC Nation LLC - Company Profile and News".
2. "Roc Nation Leads Campaign to Help Underprivileged Students Secure $300 Million in Scholarships".
3. Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. "Jay Z's New 10-Year Live Nation Deal Is Worth $200 Million".
4. JoVonn, Jeroslyn. (August 16, 2024). "Roc Nation Amplifies The Needs Of Music Artists With New ROC Nation Distribution Merger".
5. Concepcion, Mariel. (June 30, 2009). "Jay-Z Confirms Roc Nation Deals With Sony, Atlantic".
6. (April 8, 2013). "Roc Nation Strikes Global Partnership With Universal Music Group".
7. "Jay-Z Presents First Annual Made In America Festival {{!}} GRAMMY.com".
8. (August 27, 2012). "The Original Made In America Festival".
9. (April 4, 2024). "Jay-Z's Made in America Festival canceled for the second year in a row".
10. "A Guide to Philly's Made in America Music Festival".
11. Mcilwain • •, Kaleah. (June 14, 2023). "SZA and Lizzo will be headlining Made in America 2023: Here's the full lineup".
12. Amorosi, A. D.. (September 5, 2022). "Philly's Made in America Festival Scores With Latin Stars Like Bad Bunny Joining Hip-Hop Favorites Like Tyler, the Creator: Concert Review".
13. (April 2, 2013). "With New Move, Jay-Z Enters a Sports Agent State of Mind". The New York Times.
14. (February 12, 2015). "Roc Nation Sports Signs 6 New Boxers". Sports Agent Blog.
15. Carp, Sam. (September 25, 2019). "Roc Nation Sports sets up soccer-focused international division".
16. Sim, Josh. (July 10, 2023). "Roc Nation Sports expands to Brazil with TFM Agency acquisition".
17. "Roc Nation Partners with International Rugby Club, The Sharks".
18. "AC Milan partners with Roc Nation, on a unique, industry-first, partnership".
19. Carp, Sam. (July 14, 2021). "United Rugby Championship taps Jay-Z's Roc Nation to reach new fans".
20. Ntim, Zac. (July 11, 2023). "Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports Inks Deal With Italy's Serie A Soccer League".
21. "DJ Khaled joins SailGP to expand global reach of high-speed sailing".
22. (February 9, 2025). "Roc Nation eye Ghana's next gen of talent".
23. Flanagan, Andrew. (February 12, 2015). "Jay Z's Roc Nation and Three Six Zero Partner to Launch Film and Television Management Arm".
24. (June 9, 2016). "Romeo Santos Is the CEO of Jay Z's Newly Launched Roc Nation Latin".
25. (October 7, 2016). "Romeo Santos Signs Mozart La Para as Roc Nation Latin's First Artist: Exclusive".
26. Cobo, Leila. (October 25, 2016). "Romeo Santos Signs Four New Acts to His Roc Nation Latin: Exclusive".
27. (October 25, 2016). "Rising bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez signs with Roc Nation Latin".
28. (January 31, 2018). "JAY-Z Files Trademark for Paper Planes Brand".
29. (October 3, 2022). "Announcing Paper Planes and Delos".
30. Billboard, Lars Brandle. (November 11, 2015). "Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas Manager Partners with Roc Nation".
31. Stutz, Colin. (April 19, 2016). "ESM Productions Enters Partnership With Roc Nation".
32. Stutz, Colin. (April 19, 2016). "ESM Productions Enters Partnership With Roc Nation".
33. "RIP, DAN PARISE".
34. Halperin, Shirley. (May 15, 2018). "Roc Nation Beefs Up Publishing Operation With Mustard Signing, Focus on Nashville".
35. (July 14, 2017). "Roc Nation partners with MSFTSrep".
36. (March 15, 2018). "S10 Entertainment, Management Home to Fifth Harmony's Normani, Partners With Roc Nation".
37. Garcia, Thania. (July 13, 2023). "Myke Towers Signs With Brandon Silverstein's S10 Entertainment for Management: 'His First Global No. 1 Is Just the Beginning'".
38. Thompson, Sonia. "How Roc Nation Made The Super Bowl Halftime Show More Inclusive".
39. "Jay-Z's Roc Nation entering partnership with NFL".
40. (December 13, 2019). "Desiree Perez Named CEO of Roc Nation".
41. Aswad, Jem. (December 15, 2020). "Roc Lit 101, New Roc Nation-Random House Company, to Publish Books by CC Sabathia, Lil Uzi Vert, More".
42. "Roc Nation Pairs With American Greetings For Custom Card Line".
43. (July 22, 2021). "Jay Z's Roc Nation to launch new multimedia brand, Edition".
44. (December 7, 2022). "Jay-Z's Roc Nation Joins Times Square Casino Bid Opposed By Broadway Producers".
45. (November 25, 2024). "Jay-Z and Roc Nation Join Bid to Open Times Square Casino".
46. Huston, Caitlin. (September 17, 2025). "Caesars' Times Square Casino Bid Ends After NYC Community Vote".
47. McNair, Sharelle B.. (January 9, 2023). "Roc Nation Cashes In on Cannabis Industry with 'The Parent Company' Partnership".
48. (February 9, 2024). "Roc Nation and Versace Announce Multi-Year Partnership".
49. Carosella, Vitas. "E1 Looks To Capture New Fans Through Roc Nation Team-Up".
50. Lingeswaran, Susan. (September 24, 2025). "Matchroom Boxing eyes US with Roc Nation Sports partnership".
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53. "Dorothy".
54. "G4SHI".
55. "J. Cole". Rocnation.
56. (July 14, 2017). "Jaden Smith Drops Two New Songs as Roc Nation Announces Partnership With His and Willow's MSFTSrep Collective".
57. "Jay Electronica".
58. "Jay-Z".
59. (June 13, 2024). "Major Myjah in the big leagues".
60. "Mozart La Para".
61. "Nicole Bus". Rocnation.
62. (June 5, 2025). "Pusha T and Malice pay seven figures to exit Def Jam and sign with Roc Nation". Tribune.
63. "Rapsody Signs With Jay Z's Roc Nation". [[Complex (magazine).
64. "Rihanna at Roc Nation".
65. "Snoh Aalegra at Roc Nation".
66. "The Lox".
67. "Willow".
68. "Kay Young".
69. "Aguilera Signs With Roc Nation Management".
70. "You'll Be Seeing A Lot More Of Roc Nation's Brazilian Pop Artist, Claudia Leitte". [[MTV Networks]].
71. (February 29, 2016). "DJ Khaled signs management deal with Roc Nation". The Verge.
72. (December 2, 2014). "Fabolous Signs Management Deal With Roc Nation". BET.
73. (January 18, 2017). "Fat Joe Signs Management Deal With Roc Nation".
74. "Fred Ball". Roc Nation.
75. Eustice, Kyle. (July 14, 2018). "Jadakiss Signs With JAY-Z's Roc Nation".
76. "Jim Jones". Roc Nation.
77. "Key Wane's official page at Roc Nation".
78. (November 24, 2025). "Lil Uzi Vert Signs with Roc Nation Distribution, Shares New Song and Video "Chanel Boy"".
79. "Maxo Kream".
80. "DJ Mustard - Ronation".
81. Alex Robert Ross. (September 13, 2019). "Megan Thee Stallion signs management deal with Roc Nation".
82. "Rapman". ROCNATION.
83. "The-Dream".
84. "Tinashe Signs With Roc Nation for Management".
85. "Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn Sign Roc Nation Management Deal".
86. "Yo Gotti". Roc Nation.
87. Corner, Lewis. (August 5, 2016). "Whatever happened to Alexis Jordan?". [[Digital Spy]].
88. (September 2023). "Ceraadi".
89. Brandle, Lars. (November 11, 2015). "Demi Lovato & Nick Jonas Manager Partners with Roc Nation: Exclusive".
90. "Freeway Signs with Roc Nation". [[Rap-Up]].
91. (January 16, 2020). "i have something to tell you + please dont hate me for it!".
92. "Grimes".
93. "Jarren Benton".
94. "Jay Park".
95. "Mack Wilds". Roc Nation.
96. (November 22, 2017). "Mariah Carey Signs With Jay-Z's Roc Nation for Management".
97. "Mayaeni".
98. "Emerging DMV Rapper Q Da Fool Signs Record Deal With Roc Nation: Exclusive".
99. "Romans".
100. "Romeo Santos at Roc Nation".
101. "Shakira at Roc Nation".
102. (September 2023). "Welcome Tiwa Savage to the Roc Nation Family!".
103. "Vic Mensa".
104. "Yellow Claw".
105. (May 3, 2021). "More Than Just Brunch With Jay-Z? A Look Into Roc Nation's Investment Strategy".
106. "Arrive Opportunities Management investment portfolio {{!}} PitchBook".
107. "JAY-Z's 'Reasonable Doubt' Now Available on YouTube Music Premium, SoundCloud, and More Streaming Services". Yahoo.
108. (August 19, 2024). "Roc Nation merges Label and Equity Distribution units to form ROC Nation distribution". Music Business Worldwide.
109. (July 23, 2025). "Clipse Scores No. 1 on Independent Albums Chart With First Release in 16 Years".
110. (August 24, 2020). "For Jay Z's Roc Nation, social justice is personal". Fast Company.
111. (August 6, 2020). "Roc Nation Partners With Brooklyn's LIU to Launch New School".
112. Young, Julius. (August 5, 2020). "Jay-Z's Roc Nation, Long Island University to launch new school for music, sports and entertainment".
113. 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]].