Borderline Becomes First NZ Act to Sign With EMPIRE
Aotearoa’s rising indie-pop band Borderline have inked a deal with music powerhouse EMPIRE, making them the label’s first-ever New Zealand signing.
The milestone comes after a breakthrough year in 2024, which saw the band gaining traction across Australia and New Zealand, with their single “Heartbeat” receiving strong support from Spotify, Apple Music, and RAGE.
In September 2024, The Music Network exclusively revealed that the independent music powerhouse is establishing a footprint in Australia.
Speaking at All That Matters conference in Singapore at the time, EMPIRE founder and CEO Ghazi Shami confirmed that his music company has hired Cameron Walsh as territory management for Australia.
EMPIRE, founded by Ghazi in 2010, has built a reputation as an independent giant, having worked with artists such as Anderson .Paak, XXXTentacion, Tyga, Shaboozey, and G-Dragon in their early career stages. EMPIRE expanded into the Australia/New Zealand market in September 2024, with Cameron Walsh leading its territory management efforts in Australia.
Speaking on the signing, EMPIRE COO Nima Etminan emphasised the label’s belief in Borderline’s raw potential.
“In today’s world, there’s so much emphasis on data and analytics, but every now and then you hear something so raw and compelling that the numbers fade into the background. Borderline does just that, and this is one of those moments where you just know they’ve got something special.”
The Auckland-based band has steadily built momentum since their 2019 debut EP Perfect Movie Scene, earning comparisons to acts like The 1975 while incorporating elements of the classic Dunedin sound. Their ability to merge indie-pop melodies with rock influences has solidified their status as one of the most exciting new acts in the region.
With their North American debut set for SXSW in March, Borderline are gearing up for their next phase of global expansion. Their new single, “When It’s Raining”, is slated for release on March 7th, marking their first official drop under the EMPIRE umbrella.
The band shared their excitement about the partnership, stating,
“We are super stoked to be joining the EMPIRE family, including their incredible roster. We couldn’t be luckier to have such a dedicated team around us who are as passionate about music as we are. We’re so excited for the year ahead and can’t wait to see what’s to come!”
Borderline are managed by August Avenue and represented for bookings by Brandon Wade (Select Music, Australia), Larry Webman (Wasserman, North America), and Paul Buck (Wasserman, UK/EU).
EMPIRE’s footprint in the global music landscape continues to grow, with its focus on early-stage artist development, label services, publishing, and digital distribution. The company, which remains one of the largest privately owned record labels in the US, has successfully expanded into Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America in recent years.
With Borderline now on its roster, EMPIRE is making a strong statement about its commitment to discovering and nurturing talent from the Australia/New Zealand region.