Al “Butter” McLean is an experienced music executive, Founder and CEO of SongSplits.com, and currently the Senior Vice President /Head of Worldwide Creative for Empire Distribution and Publishing. Previously, he was the Senior Vice President of Creative for Kobalt Music and one of the most well-known A&R executives in the hip-hop, r&b, and pop music community. A force, who has signed some of the hottest hip-hop and r&b names including:  T.I.G 7, Childish Gambino, ParisAlexia, Mint Condition, Tank, Ski Mask the Slump God, Mike Will Made it, Lecrae, Kid Cudi, Machine Gun Kelly, Lela Hathaway, Nadia Ali, Jadakiss,  Robert Glasper,  Chuck Harmony, YFN Lucci, Young Dro, Jeezy, Christopher KIngFish Ingram, Travis Greene,  Noah “40” Shebib,  Demarco, Yo Gotti, Kid Cudi, Kirk Franklin, Illa Da Producer,  tha Bizness,  MoneyBagg Yo, D.A Damon, Avant,  KEM, Kelly Price, Circle Point, Faith Evans, Empire Publishing, Fred Jerkins,  Amara La Negra,  Darnell Jones, Dave Jam Hall and many more. He has assisted in the acquisitions, revenue growth and branding of their administration, Label Services and Neighboring Rights services; and responsible for licensing and collaborative pitch strategies to exploit client assets and company services. Through his commitment to helping songwriters and producers develop great songs, McLean also educates young and old musicians about the path to prosperity via independence.

At Universal Music Publishing and JB Music Publishing, Al Mclean was responsible for signing Swizz Beats, Trackmasters (Mariah, Jay z, Nas, Foxy Brown), and Mary J Blige.

 

As a record A&R and Manager, He was responsible for finding and developing Alicia Keys, Voices of Theory, M.O.P, Roots, and Cannibus.

At all companies, he was the builder of those new company foundations brand awareness, marketing and business.

What might be more important is that McLean is one of the new music industry leaders in the pop,  hip-hop, R&B and Gospel community. Through his commitment to helping songwriters and producers develop great songs, McLean also educates young and old musicians about the path to prosperity via independence. In addition, Al Butter McLean is a governor of the Atlanta Chapter of the Recording Academy and founding, Board Member of SongSplits.com.

With the roster of talent McLean works with every day and the success his independent clients are seeing song after song, McLean has helped provide important context to a community that believed the best option to be a successful musician was to sell copyrights. McLean has helped shatter the belief that a big flashy check is the best option, proving songwriters and producers can create big hits, own their rights and get paid for their work – ultimately leading to more long-term earnings.

Leading Kobalt’s Hip-Hop Signing Spree, Al ‘Butter’ McLean Talks Betting on Atlanta and ‘Making Administration Sexy’

2019, 2020, 2021 kobalt won independent music publishers of the year award and 2021 bmi best gospel music publishing award.

Writers with Grammy accomplishments Signed by al butter mclean

Here are songs that were Nominated and/or won Grammy Awards

Record of the Year

I LIKE IT*

Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Blavin (Anthony G. White pka JWhiteDidIt)

THIS IS AMERICA (WINNER)

Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)

GOD’S PLAN

Drake (Daveon Jackson pka Yung Exclusive, Noah “40” Shebib)

Album of the Year

INVASION OF PRIVACY

Cardi B (Andrew Wotman pka Andrew Watts, Anthony G. White pka JWhiteDidIt)

SCORPION

Drake (Noah “40” Shebib, Jahaan Sweet, Daveon Jackson pka Yung Exclusive, Raphael Saadiq, Christopher E. Martin, Ramon Ibanga Jr. pka IllMind)

BEERBONGS & BENTLEYS

Post Malone (Travis Walton pka Teddy Walton, Andrew Wotman pka Andrew Watts, Adam “Blaqnmild” Pigot)

Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By

Kendrick Lamar (Michael Len Williams II pka Mike Will Made It, Travis Walton pka Teddy Walton, Ramon Ibanga Jr. pka IllMind, Jaahan Sweet)

Song Of The Year

GOD’S PLAN

Drake (Daveon Jackson pka Yung Exclusive, Noah “40” Shebib)

THIS IS AMERICA (WINNER)

Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)

Best R&B Song

FEELS LIKE SUMMER

Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)

Best Urban Contemporary Album

EVERYTHING IS LOVE (WINNER)

The Carters (Jaahan Sweet, Ramon Ibanga Jr pka IllMind., Denisia Andrews)

WAR & LEISURE

Miguel (Roget Chahayed, Sidney Swift, Raphael Saadiq, Jerry Duplessis pka Jerry Wonda)

Best R&B Album

H.E.R. (WINNER)

H.E.R (Ryan Campbell, Noah “40” Shebib, Daniel Traynor, Robert Glasper, Ashton Simmond, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans)

Best Rap Performance
NICE FOR WHAT

Drake (Adam “Blaqnmild” Pigot, Noah “40” Shebib)

KING’S DEAD (WINNER)

Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake (Travis Walton pka Teddy Walton, Michael Len Williams II pka  Mike Will Made It)

SICKO MODE

Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee (Roget Chahayed)

Best Rap/Sung Performance
THIS IS AMERICA (WINNER)

Childish Gambino (Donald Glover)

Best Rap Song
GOD’S PLAN (WINNER)

Drake (Daveon Jackson, Noah “40” Shebib)

KING’S DEAD

Kendrick Lamar (Travis Walton pka Teddy Walton, Michael Len Williams II pka Mike Will Made It)

SICKO MODE

Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee (Roget Chahayed)

Best Rap Album
INVASION OF PRIVACY (WINNER)

Cardi B (Anthony G. White pka JWhiteDidIt, Andrew Wotman pka Andrew Watts)

SWIMMING

Mac Miller (Daveon Jackson pka Yung Exclusive, Jon Brion, Christopher Lane, John MacGillivray)

ASTROWORLD

Travis Scott (Brandon Whitfield pka B Wheezy, Cydel Young pka Cyhi the Prynce, Roget Chahayed, Abel Tefaye pka The Weeknd, June James pka June, The Genius)

Best Gospel Performance/Song

NEVER ALONE (WINNER)

Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin (Kirk Franklin)

A GREAT WORK

Brian Courtney Wilson (Brian Courtney Wilson)

Best Gospel Album

HIDING PLACE (WINNER)

Tori Kelly (Kirk Franklin)