Ryan Leslie Changes The Game With His Superphone

There are very few artists these days that I sing the praises of. There are very few artists who continue to push the envelope whether artistically or business-wise. Ryan Leslie IS one of those artists. Ryan Leslie is one of the most innovative artists of this millennium and continues to show artists how to prosper without the support of a major label.

The Harvard graduate first started gaining popularity on Youtube as he began to film his creative process in the studio. As a producer Leslie has worked with some of the biggest names in music including the likes of Beyoncé, Fabolous, Kanye West, New Edition and Ne-Yo. As an artist, he has released 4 studio albums. But in 2010, Leslie decided to forego his pursuit of being signed to a major record label and decided to go independent; he never looked back!

Ryan Leslie recently released a documentary via his Youtube channel to discuss the Superphone. According to Forbes.com:

SuperPhone is a bidirectional mobile communications system that enables creators to deliver smart, scalable SMS messaging to millions of supporters worldwide. The app is mobile-responsive, with each user assigned an active mobile number that can also be used for bidirectional calling. Leslie’s mobile product is built on relationship equity, turning contacts into currency by way of a direct-to-consumer approach that taps into the true value of forging genuine personal connections with your loyal supporters. SuperPhone empowers creators to take ownership of their audience and influence, bypassing the perceived need for a major label or third party distribution platform to increase an artist’s global footprint and create opportunities for true revenue generation.

Ryan Leslie is one of the leaders of a new generation of artists and entrepreneurs who are finding new innovative ways to make a living outside of traditional means. Check out the 10-minute documentary below.

Ryan Leslie's music and methods has many critics, but it's hard to argue with success. When an independent artist is able to make millions from his music and not have any music on mainstream radio, I'd say he's doing something right. Salute to the Renegades.