In a city known as a centre of tech innovation, Ghazi Shami has built a progressive music company that’s become a global force for hip-hop.

The current restrictions mean that Empire’s founder and CEO is a solitary presence at the firm’s San Francisco HQ when he connects with Music Week to outline his global ambitions.

“We’re on the top floor of a beautiful high-rise in the middle of downtown,” he smiles. “There are windows all around when you step off ...