Is Lyrical Lemonade Really a Record Label? Everything You Need to Know
Lyrical Lemonade is not primarily a record label - it's a multimedia company and entertainment brand founded by Cole Bennett in 2013. While it collaborates extensively with artists and has significant influence in the music industry, it operates more as a music media platform, video production company, and merchandising brand.
The company initially gained recognition through its music video production and blog coverage of emerging hip-hop artists. Cole Bennett, who started Lyrical Lemonade as a blog while in high school, transformed it into one of the most influential platforms in modern hip-hop culture.
While Lyrical Lemonade does engage in artist development and music promotion, it does this through:
• Music video production • Event organization • Content creation • Brand partnerships • Merchandise sales
Unlike traditional record labels that sign artists and handle music distribution, Lyrical Lemonade primarily focuses on creating visual content and building artist exposure through its platform. They work with artists who are signed to various different record labels rather than signing them directly.
In 2024, Lyrical Lemonade did take a step closer to label operations by releasing "All Is Yellow," a compilation album in partnership with Interscope Records. However, this represents more of a collaborative project than traditional record label operations.
What makes Lyrical Lemonade unique is its position as a cultural curator and content creator rather than a traditional music industry entity. It has helped launch the careers of numerous artists through its video production and promotional efforts, but it doesn't function as a traditional record label that handles artist contracts, music distribution, and royalty management.
The bottom line is that Lyrical Lemonade is best described as a multimedia company that influences the music industry through content creation, marketing, and brand building, rather than operating as a traditional record label.