Sony Music has formed a strategic partnership with A&R and marketing entrepreneur Jonathan Master called SamePlate. The first release is from Harlem rapper Ro Ransom.

The label, with a roster that includes YGTUT, TOBi, Eza, Shari Marie, ROMderful and Ducko McFli, is focused on cultivating emerging music talent using cutting-edge approaches to artist development and services.

Master, most recently with Empire, will head the New York-based imprint and oversee a dedicated staff that includes former Republic Records and Atlantic Records exec Alex Ciccimarro, who will serve as VP, Operations.

"Jonathan Master is a forward-thinking entrepreneur, talent developer and marketer with a strong vision for building artist careers,” Said RCA Records Chairman & CEO Peter Edge. “I look forward to SamePlate making exciting new contributions to music culture, and creating opportunities for collaboration with RCA."

The Orchard will handle global distribution for SamePlate.

For the last four years, Master has overseen the New York A&R and marketing operations of Empire and been involved in numerous artist signings/label distribution deals, including agreements with PJ Morton, Joe Budden and Raekwon. He also has spent more than a decade running his own independent marketing, artist management, events and content creation company under the SamePlate name.

"SamePlate's mission is to work in true partnership with artists to help them nurture their brands, not just chase records,” Master said. “Artists need to be competitive and relevant all the time, not just in traditional release cycles, and we are committed to helping them share their stories with fans every day, through any medium, including music, videos and social content."