Spanish star Alejandro Sanz, widely recognized as one of the leading singer/songwriters in Spanish language music, has signed a recording deal with Sony Music, Billboard has exclusively learned.
Sanz inked his new contract June 13 in Madrid, with Afo Verde, chairman/CEO of Sony Music Latin-Iberia, and José María Barbat, president of Sony Music Iberia.
“Happy to join the Sony Music family, a company where I have many friends which whom I share LOVE for MUSIC [sic]. I’m sure together we will have fun doing what we love most,” said Sanz, who holds the record for having the best-selling and second best-selling albums in Spain’s history: 1997’s Más and 2000’s El Alma Al Aire, respectively.
“We’re very honored and excited to welcome Alejandro to Sony Music and deeply hope this will be a very happy stage in his life,” said Verde. “It will no doubt be a thrill for us to work together with this marvelous artist, not only because of his professional excellence but also his human qualities.”
Sanz has won four Grammy awards and 25 Latin Grammys — the most for a Spanish artist — in his storied career, which includes 18 albums that have sold over 25 million copies, according to his label. He has also collaborated with a long string of artists, from Shakira to Alicia Keys, and was one of Rosalía’s early supporters, and is also known for his social activism and his work with organizations like Save The Children and Doctors Without Borders.
“Beyond his uncommon talent, Alejandro is an amazing person,” added Barbat, citing Sanz’s multiple collaborations, and the fact that he was one of Rosalía’s early advocates.
Originally signed to Warner Music, where he remained for over a decade, Sanz became an international star with 1997’s Más, which boasted global hit “Corazón Partío,” a track that managed to blend his Spanish pop with tinges of flamenco and exceptional lyrics. Sanz quickly became a model to follow in terms of musicality and commercial appeal, and developed close friendships with artists like Shakira and Carlos Vives. He also became a top touring act; his current Sanz en Vivo tour includes over 60 dates that already saw him play throughout Latin America, followed by Spain in June, July and August and the U.S. and Mexico in the Fall.
In 2011, left Warner for Universal Music, where he remained up until now.
Then, last year, Sanz signed an unorthodox management agreement with two separate executives, each of them focused on a different area of his career. Alex Mizrahi, who heads management and promotion company OCESA-Seitrack, now oversees Sanz’s international management and business; and Iñigo Zabala, the former president of Warner Music Iberia and Latin America, and the person who originally signed Sanz to Warner years ago, oversees his recording career and creative output.
Those changes have now led to Sony Music.
“Dear Alex, thanks for your trust,” Verde said to Sanz. “Thanks to you and your beautiful team: Iñigo Zabala, Alex Mizrahi and Octavio Padilla. Welcome home. From the bottom of my heart. This is just beginning.”
