2026 So Far: The Year Independent Artists Are Running It Up
[L to R:] Todd L. Perry II, Goldie Harris, Luca Zanello, & Jason Peerless
Photo credit: Patonya Parker
Everything we do comes back to one idea: artists should be able to make it to the top without handing over what they own. And 2026 has been proving that idea right, over and over. Our artists are charting, going platinum, and breaking streaming records, all while keeping the rights to their masters. Behind the scenes, we’ve been growing the team and the roster to help even more of you get there.
We’re well into the year now, so here’s where things stand.
Our artists are proving the model works
The best way to tell if an independent-first approach actually works is to look at what our artists are pulling off. So far in 2026, they’ve been on a tear.
Brent Faiyaz dropped ICON, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200. That’s the highest-charting UnitedMasters album debut to date, and his singles “have to.” and “butterflies” have kept the momentum going across Urban and R&B radio.
BigXthaPlug earned an RIAA Gold certification for I Hope You’re Happy, with “Hell At Night” (featuring Ella Langley) going Platinum and “All The Way” (featuring Bailey Zimmerman) going 2x Platinum. The Dallas artist backed it all up with a momentous festival run.
FloyyMenor turned “GATA ONLY” into a global hit. It reached 4x Platinum RIAA certification and became the fastest Latin song to pass two billion Spotify streams, which makes him the only Chilean artist to earn Platinum or higher for a Latin title in the RIAA Gold & Platinum Program.
The best part of all of this? Every one of these artists hit these heights while keeping control of their masters.
“Witnessing our artists reach new levels of success, while having control of their masters, drives everything we do across the music division. The momentum we’ve seen with our global roster this year alone is a reflection of the incredible talent these artists possess, and the team’s commitment to providing excellence in strategy, support, and opportunities to create an impact and achieve their vision.”
New names joining the roster
Momentum like this tends to bring more talent through the door, and our roster keeps growing quarter to quarter. Now in Q3, we’re welcoming a fresh group of trailblazing artists into the community, including La Reezy, Grace Carter, Kid Apollo, and Elise Elvira, plus more.
If you’re an artist figuring out where to build your career, that growth matters. It means a bigger, more active community around you, and a company that keeps investing in the kind of support that helps artists across every genre and market break through.
Building out the team behind you
Great tools are only half of it. The other half is the people working to get your music heard, land the brand deals, open up new revenue, and keep everything running smoothly. We’ve added some serious depth across all of those areas with a few key leadership hires.
Todd L. Perry II joins as VP, Head of Artist and Label Marketing, coming over from Warner Records where he ran campaigns and strategic marketing for artists like Veeze, Alex Isley, Syd, Rusowsky, and LIHTZ. He’ll lead our Artist & Label Marketing division, focused on scaling and modernizing the marketing org and setting us up to support independent artists on a global scale.
“I’m thrilled to join the UnitedMasters team, for years I’ve admired the company and what they’ve meant to the landscape of modern music. I’m excited to continue to carry the torch and help mold and develop the next generation of superstar artists and rising executives.”
Luca Zanello steps in as Head of Brand & Sync, bringing more than 20 years of experience from leadership roles at The Orchard, Roc Nation, and MSM Group. He’ll drive collaborations across advertising, film, television, gaming, and global brands, and open up new sync and commercial opportunities for independent artists.
Goldie Harris joins as Head of Commerce, where she’ll run our global commerce strategy and grow the partnerships and initiatives that strengthen our direct-to-fan ecosystem. She’s got deep expertise across streaming, audience development, and digital strategy, spanning the U.S., Africa, and Latin America, and she’s focused on creating new revenue opportunities for artists.
Jason Peerless comes on as VP, Artist & Label Operations, after 12 years at Universal Music Group, including 10 years at Def Jam Recordings where he oversaw A&R Operations. He’ll lead operational strategy across our artist and label services so support feels seamless at every stage of your career.
Put together, these hires deepen our expertise across artist marketing, operations, commerce, digital strategy, and brand partnerships, all in service of helping you build a career on your own terms.
Why this matters for you
The whole point of all of this is to build a place where going independent doesn’t mean giving anything up. Where you can chart, go platinum, and land global brand partnerships and still own what you make.
“We’re excited to welcome this exceptional group to UnitedMasters as we continue redefining what independence looks like. These hires reflect our continued investment in the infrastructure, partnerships, and talent needed to help artists build sustainable careers on their own terms, especially this year as we are achieving milestones within the global music sector of the business.”
UnitedMasters is the leading software and services platform for independent artists. We bring together music distribution, technology, and first-of-its-kind artist marketing solutions all in one place, and we connect over 2M+ independent artists with global brands like ESPN, Diageo, and Coca-Cola. Unlike traditional record labels, our artists keep full ownership of their careers and the master recording rights to their music.
Ready to own your future? Get started with UnitedMasters and follow along on Instagram and YouTube.
