1. Rhymesayers Entertainment
Analysis of a small independent record label

2. background
Rhymesayers Entertainment (sometimes abbreviated as RSE) is an American hip hop Independent record label based in Minnesota; it was co-founded in 1995 by Sean Daley (Slug), Anthony Davis (Ant), Musab Saad (Sab the Artist) and Brent Sayers (Siddiq). Initially compromised mostly of artists from its home state of Minnesota, the label has since extended is geographical reach to include nationally recognized acts. Beyond just your standard record label, Rhymesayers also run ‘The Soundset Festival’, which they started in In the summer of 2012, over 20,000 hip hop fans made a trip to Minneapolis take part in the event's fifth anniversary.

3. artists
Current artists that are promoted by Rhymesayers Entertainmentare: Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Brother Ali, deM atlaS, Dilated Peoples, Evidence, Eyedea & Abilities, Face Candy, Felt, Grieves, Hail Mary Mallon, I Self Devine, Micranots, Prof, Sa Roc, Semi.Official,  Soul Position, Step Brothers, and The Uncluded.
Artists that have previously been promoted by Rhymesayers Entertainment are: Abstract Rude, Blueprint, Budo, DJ Abilities, Freeway, Grayskul, Jake One, MF Doom, Mr. Dibbs, P.O.S, Psalm One, Sab the Artist, and Toki Wright.

4. Marketing history
Rhymesayers Entertainment opted to maintain their own distribution themselves. In they got their first distribution deal, this was because they did a couple of strategic licensing deals. Rhymesayers Entertainment did not have an actual distribution deal until They took the approach of always making sure that when they made a move they were prepared for the move, which is why the record label did not look for distribution agreements for the first nine years of being formed. Before Rhymesayers Entertainment did sign with Universal Music Group for distrobution in 2004 they used a warehouse in Minneapolis and they would sell direct to indie distributors, selling direct to one-stops, and selling direct to mom-and-pop shops. Siddiq (co-founder) told hip hop DX magazine in an interview, “We weren’t really even getting into – except on a really small scale with one-stops – we weren’t really even getting into the mass retailers until Best Buys and Target”.

5. Marketing analysis
The growth of Rhymesayers Entertainment was limited by its decision to keep independent distributing leading up to its 2004 Universal Music Group distribution deal. The chances for independent record labels, like Rhymesayers Entertainment, to be self-sufficient as a distributor are small as the lack of finical backing means new companies with no existing contacts or independent distribution deals is very hard. It could be said that the reason for the survival of Rhymesayers Entertainment in its first nine years of being formed is down to the companies inner structure (four close friend, each with the desire to make a successful record label) and its cautious decision making, whereas a major record label has existing distribution contacts, comparatively huge amounts if financial backing and the fact that this make it a magnet for artists and independent record companies looking for more effective distribution.