Innovation & Job News

Ghostly International capitalizes on a successful decade in Ann Arbor

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

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Entrepreneurship, Music, University Of Michigan

Ann Arbor

Ten years ago this August the idea behind Ghostly International was only a dream for Sam Valenti, a dream that the University of Michigan student incubated in his dorm room in Couzens Hall.

Today it's an internationally recognized electronic and ambient music label that supplies pay checks for six employees, a handful of independent contractors and numerous musical artists. It continues to grow, moving into places like retail stores and iPhone applications.

"We've tried to move with the times," Valenti says. "Obviously, the record industry was in tumult or recession before the country was."

That doesn't mean Ghostly is abandoning the music that made it famous. It still plans to produce the records and shows that its fans yearn for, but also use them as a launching pad for diversify its business plan. Among its target industries are film and beauty shows.

Valenti expects such diversification will lead to further expansion of the record label's payroll and its fan base. But big growth or no, he still plans to keep the business' headquarters in downtown Ann Arbor.

Source: Sam Valenti, founder and owner of Ghostly International
Writer: Jon Zemke