Hip-hop has reached its 50-year milestone, transforming from a passing trend to the most influential music genre worldwide. It continues to venture into new territories, but not all changes are satisfying, and both the sound and business experience fluctuations. Otan Motamedi highlights the current peak of the music industry and believes that many label owners are lagging behind in their approaches. As a result, @8PETOWN takes charge by employing innovative promotional strategies and staying ahead of the game to achieve desired success.
Otan Motamedi, a seasoned record executive, manager, and owner originally from Baltimore and now residing in Orange County, has joined forces with an old friend to establish a rapidly growing record label called 8Petown. When asked about the label’s inception, Motamedi explains that his close friend, also known as “Ocho” or @8PECEO, recognized his unparalleled passion for music and extensive connections within the industry. As a result, he appointed Motamedi as President A&R of 8Petown.
After the label was formed, they quickly signed their first artist, the popular act KINGMOSTWANTED.
“KINGMOSTWANTED” was the first artist we signed to 8petown,” Otan remembers. “He was already our friend, so we had a strong connection and loyalty. Our debut song, “In My City,” has now surpassed 30 million streams on all platforms! It gained instant popularity, and the demand for more KINGMOSTWANTED kept growing. Currently, his streaming numbers have exceeded 100 million.”
After the success of KINGMOSTWANTED, more and more independent artists flocked to the label, hoping to achieve the same level of popularity. We have a diverse roster of artists, including notable names like KINGMOSTWANTED, GIRLSLUHDEV, and HEEMBEEZY. Currently, our artist KINGMOSTWANTED has surpassed 100 million streams worldwide, with Dev and Heem not far behind. We also have more exciting artist signings on the horizon, so stay tuned for updates.
The label’s success is mainly attributed to the loyalty of its artists. As he emphasized, “At 8petown, we value loyalty, hard work, and the desire for personal and family transformation. We are more than just a label; we are a close-knit family.”
Due to hip-hop’s larger-than-life portrayal in the media, the public’s perception of record contracts often obscures the true responsibilities of a record label towards their artists. Motamedi explains the label’s requirements and responsibilities as follows:
“We have many responsibilities and requirements, such as supporting our artists with marketing and promotions, assisting them with their recording budget, and ensuring a fair contract that leaves them satisfied and motivated to work.”
Just like streaming, the music industry is gradually venturing into the realm of NFTs and the metaverse. Embracing this new frontier, 8Petown is excited to thrive and fully embrace these opportunities. “We have exciting plans for big NFT launches, including album NFT launch parties and NFTs created for all our artists. We want our supporters to feel connected to us! NFTs are the future, and their popularity is only growing,” shared Otan.
Prior to NFTs, Otan and 8Petown Records have exciting plans for the remainder of 2022, including new artist signings and music releases. In addition, the label is preparing impressive merchandise packages that will coincide with album launches, creating heightened anticipation. Otan elaborates:
“We are looking to sign additional artists who aspire to transform their lives and become the next big sensation,” he shared. “Our artists consistently garner millions of views across various platforms, and we are committed to delivering the finest music for our dedicated supporters and fans. We have a plethora of new merchandise and NFT projects in development. Exciting announcements await 8petown in the near future, and the Music Industry is in for a surprise.”
