Roc Nation

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Lore & Background

Roc Nation was founded in 2008 by Jay-Z as a successor to his previous Roc-A-Fella Records label. Unlike Roc-A-Fella, Jay-Z served as the company's sole proprietor. The first artist signed to Roc Nation was rapper J. Cole. In 2009, Roc Nation signed a distribution deal with Sony Music; after that deal expired, in April 2013, the company signed a multi-year partnership with Universal Music Group. The company's reach extends beyond music: in 2012, Roc Nation held the first Made in America festival in Philadelphia, featuring performances by Jay-Z, Pearl Jam, Miike Snow, The Hives, Odd Future, and Passion Pit. In 2013, Roc Nation Sports was formed as a sports management division, later launching a boxing promotion division. Roc Nation Management and Three Six Zero Group formed Three Six Zero Entertainment in February 2015. The company also launched a Latin venture, Roc Nation Latin, in 2016 with Romeo Santos as CEO. In 2018, Roc Nation trademarked its streetwear brand, Paper Planes. In August 2019, Roc Nation announced a long-term partnership with the NFL to produce all Super Bowl Halftime Shows since 2019. That December, Desiree Perez was named CEO, succeeding Jay Brown who became vice-chairman. In 2020, Roc Nation partnered with Long Island University to create the Roc Nation School for Music, Sports, and Entertainment. In 2024, Equity Distribution and Roc Nation Records merged to form Roc Nation Distribution.

In Their Own Story

In 2009, J. Cole walked into a room with Jay-Z and walked out as the first signed artist to Roc Nation. The label had been founded just a year earlier, in 2008, as Jay-Z's new venture after Roc-A-Fella Records. For Cole, a rapper from Fayetteville, North Carolina, the deal was a lifeline. The label gave him the freedom to craft his sound, and he repaid that trust by becoming one of hip-hop's most consistent voices. Roc Nation's roster grew to include artists like Rihanna and Lil Wayne, but Cole remained the cornerstone—the artist who proved that substance could still sell. The label's history is marked by key moments: the first Made in America festival in 2012, the launch of Roc Nation Sports in 2013, and the NFL partnership in 2019. For fans, Roc Nation is the bridge between Jay-Z's legacy and the next generation, with Cole as its flagship act.

Reader's Guide

Roc Nation is the record label and entertainment company that signed J. Cole in 2009 as its first artist. Founded by Jay-Z in 2008, the company is headquartered in New York City with additional offices in Los Angeles and London. It operates as a record label, talent agency, media production firm, and clothing line, and is co-owned by Jay-Z and Live Nation Entertainment. For J. The label's distribution deals shifted over time: initially with Sony Music (2009), then with Universal Music Group (2013). Roc Nation also runs the Made in America festival (first held in 2012), Roc Nation Sports (launched 2013), and Roc Nation Management (which formed Three Six Zero Entertainment in 2015). In 2019, the company became the live-music entertainment strategist for the NFL, producing all Super Bowl Halftime Shows since then. In 2020, Roc Nation partnered with Long Island University to create the Roc Nation School for Music, Sports, and Entertainment. In 2024, Equity Distribution and Roc Nation Records merged to form Roc Nation Distribution.

Did You Know?

• Roc Nation was founded in 2008 by Jay-Z as a successor to his previous Roc-A-Fella Records label.
• J. Cole was the first artist signed to Roc Nation in 2009.
• Roc Nation is co-owned by Jay-Z and Live Nation Entertainment.
• In 2019, Roc Nation became the live-music entertainment strategist for the NFL, producing all Super Bowl Halftime Shows since then.
• In 2020, Roc Nation partnered with Long Island University to create the Roc Nation School for Music, Sports, and Entertainment.