Two years ago Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion was released from her contract with 1501 Entertainment, after a three year legal battle [click here if you missed that].
1501 CEO, Carl Crawford, admits he would do things differently if he had a second chance with Meg...
From Brian Zisook
I spoke with Carl Crawford about rebuilding. After a turbulent contract dispute with Megan Thee Stallion that tested his label, he’s focused on starting a new era.
“I went from being seen as a hard-working athlete to the villain in music overnight.”
When Crawford started 1501 in 2016, his goal was clear: to break the next superstar out of Houston.
Crawford invested $6M of his own money, built recording studios, and signed artists straight out of his neighborhood, intending to shine a light on the talent in his hometown.
Megan Thee Stallion became the breakout star Crawford sought, but their public fallout put 1501 under scrutiny. Crawford says their three-year-long legal battle cost him financially and made artists hesitant to sign with him.
When Megan signed to 1501 in early 2018, she entered into a “360” deal with Crawford’s label, meaning they took a percentage of multiple revenue streams—including master royalties, touring, and merchandise.
Crawford now admits he structured her deal differently than he would today.
“I didn’t fully understand the business at the time,” he told me. “Back then, we just came in with a number—like us taking 40 percent of [her] net [profit]. That was just me not knowing the business.”
Now, Crawford says he’s taking a different approach. He’s focused on artist development, offering more “standard contracts” and ensuring he’s directly involved in label decisions. “I don’t let anyone control what I’m doing anymore,” says Crawford.
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