Marquee Latin music producers Chris Jedi and Gaby Music, known for their work with Bad Bunny, Ozuna, Anuel, Lunay and, most recently, the Bad Bunny/Rosalía smash “La Noche de Anoche,” have launched a new record label.
La Familia (The Family) will be home to Lunay as well as newly signed Puerto Rican acts Chanell and Julito and a roster of producers that includes Dímelo Ninow and Dulce Como Candy. The company also includes both Jedi’s and Gaby Music’s state of the art recording studios in Puerto Rico, which they see as ground zero both for production and for talent development.
“The term ‘family’ is a big deal for us and it’s a word that truly represents us,” says Jedi. “We feel that everyone in this operation is a true family, and we want everybody to feel the same and equally supported.”
“This is a vision we’ve had for years,” says Gaby music. “Beyond being successful producers, we wanted our own label and the ability to sign new talent. We have great plans with our artists and are looking forward to growing our family.”
Jedi and Gaby Music have, for several years, owned and operated record label Star Island, to which Lunay is signed, and distributed via Ingrooves. Lunay will now shift to La Familia with Star Island remaining as a sort of holding company or “mothership,” in its founders’ words.
The launch of La Familia is part of a growing group of independent labels launched by prominent executives and artists; most recently manager Walter Kolm launched his WK Records and one of his artists, reggaetón star Wisin, launched La Base Music.
But La Familia stands out because Chris Jedi and Gaby Music are perhaps the top production duo in the reggaetón realm today, and also, because their operation is fully self-financed and is currently not a joint venture with a major label or distributor. Although Lunay is distributed through a longstanding deal with Ingrooves, upcoming La Familia releases will be negotiated on a track by track basis.
“The fact that we’re producers is key,” says Jedi. “We worked in this for years and realized there was a need. We sign artists not because they have a hot single, but because we’re interested in developing the artist or the producer. To sign good talent, you need to produce or to have good taste. That’s our biggest asset. And we’ve learned how to delegate in other aspects.”
Lunay, for example, was initially managed by Jedi and Gaby Music. When his career began to take off, they tapped star manager Rebeca León, whose select roster includes Rosalía (and formerly J Balvin).
“It’s amazing to work with Chris and Gaby because they not only have incredible visión and business acumen but are also the biggest hitmakers in Latin music today,” says León. “It’s a fierce and winning combination. Lunay is in such a privileged position to be part of La Familia.”
Jedi and Gaby Music met as teenagers when they were sound engineering students in Puerto Rico. They met again in 2013, working with hitmakers Wisin & Yandel, and have been together since, working with virtually every name in the genre as both producers and songwriters.
La Familia’s staff includes label manager Sam Allison. Max Perez of Buena Vibra Group will be in charge of marketing and Normaris Cruz of The Wall Group will head PR.
La Familia’s new signings include Julito, who does freestyle, and Chanell, who just released the single “Inmoral.”
