After what sources describe as a lengthy negotiation, superstar Karol G has signed a record deal with Interscope Records, the Universal Music Group-owned label announced today (June 6). The new deal will see her leave her longtime home at Universal Music Latino, the label that signed her as a new artist nearly a decade ago and developed her into an international powerhouse, but will have her remain within the Universal family.
The Colombian star, who is managed by Noah Assad (Bad Bunny), was signed by Universal Music Latin Entertainment in 2016, and under them, she released her history-making set Mañana Será Bonito earlier this year. The 17-track set debuted atop the Billboard 200 becoming Karol’s first No. 1 on the tally and the chart’s first No. 1 all-Spanish-language album by a woman.
“Our partnership with Karol and her team dates back to the beginning of her career, and it has been a thrilling journey filled with incredible music,” said Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Music Group, in a statement. “She is simply one of the most exciting artists in popular music today and we’re honored she has chosen to deepen her partnership with UMG for many more years to come.”
“Karol G is without a doubt one of the most powerful, creative and dynamic artists in the world,” said John Janick, Chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “We are thrilled to welcome her into the IGA family.”
Interscope Executive Vice President Nir Seroussi who oversees the company’s Miami operation added: “Karol is one of the most talented, driven and astute artists with whom I’ve ever worked. She brings with her a world-class team in Noah Assad, Jessica Giraldo and Raymond Acosta, and we look forward to working with them to build upon Karol’s global legacy as an artist.”
Karol G’s move, from Latin label to mainstream label, is not all that common in the music world. While many stars who are signed to major labels release their music jointly between Latin and mainstream labels according to language –Shakira long released her English albums on Epic and her Spanish language albums on via Sony Music Latin, for example, and Enrique Iglesias released both on Interscope and Universal Music Latin– Karol G will fall entirely under Interscope’s purview.
“John, Nir and the entire team at Interscope have built the only platform of its kind which will enable Karol to serve her current fanbase while continuing to grow her audience around the world,” said Assad about Karol G’s new deal. “We’re excited to get started with everyone at Interscope.”
Karol G’s tenure at Universal Music Latino was successful and steadily ascending. There, the “Tusa” singer became a force to be reckoned with and a leading lady in the male-dominated genre of reggaeton. To date, Karol G is one of only two women (the other being Selena Gomez) who’ve had No. 1 releases on the Top Latin Albums chart between 2020 and 2023 thanks to KG0516 (2021) and Mañana Será Bonito (2023). In March, Karol G jumped to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Latin Songwriters chart, becoming just the second woman — after Yahritza Martinez (Yahritza Y Su Esencia) — to rule the ranking.
Most recently, Karol G announced her very first-ever stadium trek in the United States. The Mañana Será Bonito Tour — produced by Live Nation — is set to kick off on Aug. 11 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and will visit Pasadena, Miami, Houston and Dallas, among other cities.
Last year, her arena $trip Love Tour became the highest grossing U.S. tour by a Latin woman in history. It grossed $69.9 million across 33 shows in North America — according to numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore — surpassing Jennifer Lopez’s $50 million grossing It’s My Party World Tour in 2019 and Shakira’s El Dorado World Tour, which grossed $28.2 million in 2018.
Before hitting the road for her stadium tour, Karol will become the first Spanish-language female artist to ever headline Lollapalooza in Chicago on Aug. 3.
“Mañana será bonito marked a new era for me that came with many unforgettable milestones,” said Karol G in a statement. “I’m continuously amazed at the support my fans give me, which motivates me to deliver the best of me, and I’m certain that this partnership with Interscope and their incredible team will help us continue building and making history. I’m thrilled to see what’s to come.”
