The first ever Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid, presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard, took place on Tuesday (March 19) at the WiZink Center.
The one day, invite-only event — attended by some 500 artists, managers and industry execs — sought to highlight the growing consumption of music in Spanish across continents, and featured four panel conversations, as well as a Q&A and performance by Argentine superstar Nicki Nicole.
The forum focused on the new generation of cross-continent, cross-genre, cross-focus Latin acts who are now dominating the charts and the fact that Madrid is an epicenter of that fluidity.
“Spain fully embraces its role as part of a new Latin music movement,” said Jorge “Pepo” Ferradas, who manages Colombian artist Camilo and Spanish artist Rels B, both of whom have had success on opposite sides of the Atlantic. He was part of a powerhouse panel that also featured Walter Kolm, founder of WK Entertainment and manager of Maluma and Carlos Vives, among others; Fede Lauria, founder of Dale Play Records and manager of Bizarrap and Nicki Nicole; Alex Gallardo, president of Sony Music U.S. Latin; and Rosa Lagarrigue, founder of RLM Entertainment and manager of Rozalen and Raphael.
Spanish icon Raphael had a one-on-one conversation with Leila Cobo; artists La Mala Rodríguez, Yotuel, Maikel Delacalle and Paula Cendejas sat down for a discussion on the current state of music; followed by an interview with conductor Luis Cobos, president of the newly minted Spanish Academy of Music.
Below, see the photos inside the Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid.
