Spirit Music Group Forms Joint Venture, Signs Lecade
Spirit Music Group has announced that they have formed a music publishing joint venture with NFL All-Pro Receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, in conjunction with writer/producer/manager, Erik Belz. Through the deal, DeAndre Hopkins establishes his music publishing company, LASA Music. Belz will serve as Chief Creative Officer for LASA Music and will work with Spirit Music Group to sign and develop a roster of artists, writers and producers.
The first signing to the joint venture is Big Machine Record’s LECADE, a singer/songwriter based in Nashville. The publishing deal with LECADE is a worldwide deal that encompasses select songs from his catalog as well as future works.
“Spirit Music is thrilled to welcome both DeAndre Hopkins and LECADE to the family,” said Frank Rogers, Chief Creative Officer, Spirit Music Group/Chief Executive Officer, Spirit Music Nashville. “DeAndre brings a passion for music, entrepreneurial vision and a hard working attitude that is infectious. We are looking forward to teaming up with DeAndre and Erik Belz to bring the world some great music together! LECADE is perfect artist to kick things off and we are FIRED UP for everyone to hear what he has been working on!”
“So excited to be a part of such a fantastic team,” said LECADE. “From the moment I met these guys I knew this was where I wanted to be and that we could make some really special things together. I know we’re gonna prove that as we continue to work and grow as a family.”
“The first time I heard LECADE I knew something special was happening,” said DeAndre Hopkins. “His music doesn’t just play in the background — it pulls you in, makes you feel every beat, and leaves a lasting impression. Teaming up with Erik Belz, Frank Rogers, and Spirit Music felt like the perfect way to help take my passion for music to the next level. We’re not here to follow trends — we’re here to shake things up and make an impact.”
“I’ve known DeAndre for years and have always admired his taste and instinct — so partnering with him, Frank Rogers, and Spirit Music on this new venture is a no-brainer,” said Erik Belz, Chief Creative Officer, LASA / House of Blues Publishing. “Lecade is one of the most exciting young artists we’ve come across—wildly talented and refreshingly original—and we’re all in on building something special with him.”
LECADE defies genres by successfully marrying gritty-Country with Hip-Hop style. Averaging more than 3 million monthly listeners, LECADE’s audience continues to steadily grow and he has accumulated more than 200 million streams to date. With his unique, yet somehow familiar vibe, made for mainstream and outlaw Country fans alike, LECADE recently celebrated his single “When I’m Gone,” being certified gold. LECADE is currently in the studio working on new music. His new song “Hope It Kills Me (feat. Sterling Elza)” follows the release of “Liquor & Cigarettes,” which is the name of the tour LECADE has been bringing through the Southeast this year.
Since stepping onto the field, DeAndre Hopkins has captivated football fans with his gravity-defying catches and clutch end zone grabs. Drafted 27th overall in 2013, he has earned five Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors, including three consecutive First Team nods, and became the second-youngest player in NFL history to record 600 career receptions. Off the field, DeAndre is just as dynamic. Known for his sharp sense of style, he’s been featured twice on Sports Illustrated’s “Fashionable 50” and was nominated for Forbes “30 Under 30.” His interests extend into entrepreneurship and philanthropy, with investments in multiple early-stage startups and a strong commitment to community impact. A longtime lover of music, DeAndre has developed close ties with artists and deepened his industry presence during his time in Nashville. Now, he’s channeling that passion into his latest venture, LASA, where he aims to bring a fresh perspective to the music world.
Erik Belz is a Los Angeles-based music producer, songwriter, and artist manager whose genre-spanning work has made him a dynamic force in today’s music industry. A graduate of USC’s Thornton School of Music, Belz has worked with, produced, and written for a wide range of artists including Bryce Vine, Britney Spears, Kylie Morgan, Britney Spencer, Pitbull, Austin Mahone, Granger Smith and Metro Station. His music has been featured in major television series such as CSI, Scorpion, Station 19, and The Equalizer. In addition to his work in the studio, Belz is also a co-manager for pop/hip hop star Bryce Vine, EDM duo Arkade, and songwriter/producers Brock Westover and Patrick Ridgen.
