James Ryan Ho a.k.a. Malay has started a yet-to-be named record label with BMG, Billboard has reported. The producer has worked with Frank Ocean on his albums Channel Orange and Blond, and has collaborated extensively with Zayn Malik.
Malay discussed his vision for the imprint. He hopes to sign "some classic, timeless artists that are impactful and still very musical and anti-gimmick." His plan is to guide the artists he works with to eventual autonomy. "It's just a little bit deeper where I can actually find somebody and help them from the beginning to the point where they're independently running their own career."
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The label was founded after a conversation with BMG president Zach Katz involving "a forthcoming collaboration album [Malay] plans to release." As Pitchfork has noted, Malay posted about the "Booty Club" on Instagram, something he's been referencing publicly since his Reddit AMA in August. "Everyone will get a ticket to the booty club who wants one," he wrote in response to a question asking what the "Booty Club" was.
The FADER has reached out to BMG for comment.
