DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING
Faro Latino
Javier Fainzaig, president/CEO
The digital content and marketing team manages YouTube pages for record labels and other local music companies that collectively generate 1 billion monthly views. It also handles distribution, publishing and other music-related services for artists such as DJ Kane of Los Kumbia Kings.
Phone +54 11 5339 5387
Mojo
Tomas Talarico, managing director
The Argentine digital music distributor manages content for 450 artists on YouTube — including Rodrigo Tapari and singer-rapper Papichamp — and offers marketing and promotion services for new releases.
Email info@mojo.com.ar
The Sello
Mariela Croci, founder
Former Sony Music Argentina marketing executive Croci started this company in 2019 to help artists develop and market their brands to fans via social media and other avenues. At the time, she told Billboard that her goal is to fulfill the artists’ dreams. Despite its Buenos Aires base, The Sello has worked with a number of Mexican acts, such as urban trio Reik and singer Carlos Rivera, as well as Argentinian rock band Joystick.
Email info@thesello.com
LABELS
Dale Play Records
Federico Lauriá, founder
This young indie label, which has partnered with Sony Music, has a roster that includes homegrown rappers and trap artists Nicki Nicole, Bizarrap and Duki. Founder Lauriá also leads Lauría Entertainment, a concert promotion company, and Lauría Management.
Instagram @daleplayrecords
Leader Music
Roberto “Kuky” Pumar, president
According to Leader Music’s website, the label developed “the tropical movement in Argentina,” and has been breaking regional stars since 1983, such as cumbia singers Antonio Ríos and the late Gilda. It has since expanded to offer publishing (licensing catalogs from labels such as U.S.-based Fonovisa), music video (representing Eagle Rock Entertainment), merchandising and digital content, such as its El Reino Infantil channel on YouTube, which has over 45 million subscribers.
Website leadermusic.com
Mueva Records
Omar Varela, founder/CEO
After pivoting from bass music to trap, Varela, a producer-DJ who “caused the Argentine trap to explode locally and become international,” according to the label’s website, ushered the indie label into deals with young hitmakers such as rappers Kifykify, Kaktov and Louly. Mueva also houses a publisher and management team.
Email info@muevarecords.com.ar
Website muevarecords.com.ar
Sony Music Argentina
Damián Amato, managing director
The major-label outpost in Buenos Aires is home to such regional stars as singer-songwriter Abel Pintos, composer Vicentico of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and singer-actress Tini.
Website sonymusic.com.ar
Phone +54 11 5218 2200
Universal Music Argentina
Luis Estrada, president, Southern Cone
Although based in Buenos Aires, Estrada oversees Universal’s operations in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Bolivia. Recent signings include Argentinian pop-rock singer-songwriter and former Tan Biónica member BAMBI (Gonzalo Moreno Charpentier) and Chilean rapper EnSecreto.
Phone +54 11 5167 7937
Instagram @umargentina
Warner Music Argentina
Guillermo Castellani, GM
The Buenos Aires outpost of this label focuses on Latin American and global artists in Argentina, including reggaetón star Justin Quiles and U.K. pop artist Ed Sheeran.
Instagram @warnermusicarg
LIVE
300 Producciones
Pocho Rocca, partner
The longtime indie producer founded the Mastai festival in 2012, which draws tens of thousands of music fans to Buenos Aires annually; among past headliners are rockers Manu Chao and Ciro y Los Persas. The company’s post-pandemic shows have included Argentinian folk-pop singer Luciano Pereyra and rock band Divididos.
Email 300@300producciones.com
Phone +54 11 4 551 7461
900mb Producciones
Esteban “Kolo” López, GM/producer
The Buenos Aires concert promoter — which also operates management and production divisions, among other services — has handled concerts by Argentine rockers Más Sola Que Carola and reggae stars Israel Vibration, as well as upcoming festival Dolores Rock Experience.
Email precario_records@yahoo.com.ar
Phone +54 11 4551 7461
DF Entertainment
Diego Finkelstein, owner/founder
Live Nation acquired a 51% stake in DF Entertainment in 2018 and has relied on the company to promote such major shows and festivals as Harry Styles, Metallica, KISS and Lollapalooza Argentina. (Finkelstein is also president of Fenix Entertainment Group, which produces the festival.)
Website dfentertainment.com
Email contact@dfgroup.com
El Bajo Producciones
Bebe Contepomi, founder
Broadcast personality Contepomi’s Buenos Aires-based audio-visual production company films bands, festivals and music YV programs, including the free Movistar FRI Music conference and the Rock del País band-discovery series.
Email info@elbajoproducciones.com
Gonna Go Producciones
José Luis Cameron, CEO
The 15-year-old production company and booking agency puts on over 200 Argentina shows and four festivals annually. Recent concerts include rapper Sara Hebe, jazz fusion artist Hugo Mendez, neo-folk singer-actress Soledad Pastorutti and the Rock en Baradero festival. Gonna Go-owned venues include the ’50s-era Teatro Opera in La Plata and the Roxy in Buenos Aires.
Email info@gonnago.com.ar
Move Concerts
Phil Rodriguez, CEO
Billing itself as “the biggest independent concert promoter in Latin America,” Move has offices in Miami and Puerto Rico, as well as Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica and Brazil. Rodriguez began his career in 1977 promoting the Jackson 5 in Latin America, as well as The Police in 1980 and Rock in Rio in 1985, and he helped build touring routes in South America. Upcoming regional shows include Michael Bublé at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires and a slew of concerts, including top pop, rap and reggaetón stars such as Camilo, Karol G, Myke Towers and Bad Bunny in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Website moveconcerts.com
Popart Music
Roberto Costa, owner
Over its 20-plus-year history, the promoter has produced festivals, as well as stadium and theater concerts by an array of headliners from Luis Miguel to Juanes to Warpaint. Popart also operates Popart Discos, the label of veteran ska-punk band Los Auténticos Decadentes, among others.
Email info@popartmusic.com
MULTISERVICE
Pirca Records
Cristian Merchot, president
The roster of this longtime Buenos Aires indie label run by artist manager Merchot includes singer-model-actress Lelé, pop-rock singer-songwriter Chano and rock band Bersuit Vergarabat. Merchot manages some of these acts, and there is a production arm as well.
Website pircarecords.com
S-Music
Alejandro Varela, president
A full-service music company including management (rock band Eruca Sativa; Naomi Preizler, the model turned trap singer), record label (pop group Foxley, rapper UnderMC), concert production, publishing and other services, indie S-Music has been pushing regional talent for over 15 years.
Email infomusic@s-musicrecords.com
Phone +54 11 4778 1015
Website s-musicrecords.com
LABELS
KondZilla
Konrad Dantas, CEO
The funk-music label and publisher, known for its YouTube channel Canal KondZilla that has racked up over 64 million subscribers, is the brainchild of producer Dantas. “For a long time, everything that came from the periphery, from the favelas, was looked down on. We’re changing that,” he told Billboard in 2019. The label broke singer Kevinho and created the Netflix series Sintonia, a crime drama with a music component that stars KondZilla artist Jottapê as one of the main characters, along with other label roster members such as funk singer-rapper MC Kekel. In 2020, KondZilla partnered with Twitch to make content for music, games, video and podcasts.
Website kondzilla.com
Som Livre
Marcelo Soares, CEO
In April, Sony Music Entertainment paid $255 million to purchase the 52-year-old former indie label, which began by releasing soundtracks to the novelas (soap operas) aired by Brazil’s Globo TV network. More recently, it has evolved to represent the country’s biggest music acts, including sertanejo group Jorge & Mateus, singer-songwriter Maria Gadú and forró fixture Wesley Safadão. Som Livre also operates specialized labels — such as slap, which focuses on contemporary Brazilian music; electronic dance imprint Austro; and gospel imprint Você Adora — and produces multiple music festivals, such as Festeja and Arena Pop.
Website somlivre.com
Sony Music Brazil
Paulo Junqueiro, president
The label group’s outposts in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are home to an artist roster that includes 80-year-old psychedelic rocker Ney Matogrosso, funk producer Dennis DJ and hit electronic forró and technobrega duo Os Barões da Pisadinha. Sony Music Entertainment expanded its regional operations by buying Som Livre, Brazil’s biggest indie label, home of stars Wesley Safadão, Maria Gadú and others, for $255 million.
Phone +55 21 2128 0600
Warner Music Brasil
Sérgio Affonso, president
The major label’s Rio de Janeiro division spent years signing regional YouTube stars. Its top hitmakers include singer-songwriter heroine Anitta and The Voice contestant Jade Baraldo, who has turned into a social media star.
Website warnermusic.com.br
LIVE
DC Set Group
Tiago Maia, head of business
One of Brazil’s top concert promoters since 1979, the company brought Van Halen, Michael Jackson, U2 and other global superstars of the ’80s and ’90s to Brazil, as well as the Rock in Rio festival. More recently, by partnering with Move Concerts, the company has put on the massive Planeta Atlântica festival and shows by Shakira, Ed Sheeran and U2. DC also does business in sports management and museum exhibitions.
Phone +55 11 3074 2828
VillaMix
Marcos Araújo, CEO
Brazilian promoter Araújo has helped popularize Brazil’s country music genre sertanejo, discovering and initially managing talents like Jorge & Mateus and Gusttavo Lima. He also helped propel the international success of dance music DJ-producer Alok, whose global rise came thanks to his 2016 song “Hear Me Now,” recorded with Bruno Martini and Zeeba; it became the first track from Brazil to break 100 million streams on Spotify. The song and VillaMix exposure helped push Alok’s performance fee in Brazil to between $100,000 and $150,000, says Araújo.
Website villamix.com.br
MULTISERVICE
Universal Music Brazil
Paulo Limo, president
In addition to its Virgin subsidiary, the top international label also runs this Rio de Janeiro outpost, which markets stars from regional samba group Bokaloka to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Phone +55 21 2108 7650
Virgin Music Label & Artist Services Brazil
Miguel Cariello, GM
In July, Universal Music Group launched this division, which is based in UMG’s Rio de Janeiro offices and focuses on signing and supporting up-and-coming Brazilian indie artists and labels. Its first deal: a partnership with Brazil’s top sertanejo label and artist management company, WorkShow, and hit duo Henrique & Juliano, which aims to make the homegrown music style a global success.
Phone +55 21 2108 7637
WorkShow
Wander Oliveira, founder/CEO
The premier label and artist management entity for such increasingly popular sertanejo acts as Henrique & Juliano, Maiara & Maraísa and Luiza & Maurílio forged a 2021 partnership with Universal Music Group’s Virgin Music Label & Artist Services Brazil that’s intended to grow the musical style globally.
Email contato@workshow.com.br
Phone +55 62 3241 7163
Website workshow.com.br
RIGHTS AND COLLECTION ORGANIZATIONS
Uniao Brasileira de Compositores
Paulo Sérgio Valle, CEO
The Brazilian equivalent of BMI or ASCAP, UBC represents over 40,000 songwriters and publishers, and has distributed $600 million-plus to creators. Founded in 1942, the organization has 10 offices in Brazil, including its headquarters in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Phone +55 21 2223 3233
Pro-Música Brasil
Paulo Rosa, president
Initially established as the Brazilian Association of Record Producers in 1958, this IFPI affiliate maintains a database on regional sales and streaming data, and issues gold, platinum and diamond discs. Its partners include the major-label groups and indies such as Som Livre.
Phone +55 21 3511 9908
LABEL
Sony Music Central America
Ginny Peirats, managing director
Longtime Sony executive Peirats manages the major label’s Caribbean and Central American territories, the latter of which signed Panamanian rapper Boza in June.
Website sonymusic.co.cr
LIVE
Bizarro Entertainment
Alfredo Alonso, CEO
Chile’s largest promoter sells 900,000 tickets annually. Recent tours include Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin and Paul McCartney, as well as the Viña del Mar and Talca Independence festivals. In early 2021, Alonso, a founding member of Chilean rock band Aleste, helped vaccinate 1 million Chileans against the coronavirus.
Website bizarro.cl
Lotus Producciones
Sebastián de la Barra, founder/partner
The 15-year-old, Santiago-based promoter behind Lollapalooza Chile — scheduled to return in November after taking a year off due to the pandemic — specializes in booking internationally popular acts such as Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath and Sting.
Phone +56 9 5333 6237
Ruidosa Fest
Francisca Valenzuela, founder
Ruidosa’s regular Latin feminist festivals in Santiago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and other locations emphasize international artists such as rising stars Daughters of the Moon from Chile and Sofía Correa from Argentina, as well as Pussy Riot and Garbage’s Shirley Manson. In a 2019 interview, Valenzuela said the festival was established “to increase visibility and celebrate a diversity of voices and projects of women.”
Email hola@somosruidosa.com
MULTISERVICE
Swing Management
Carlos Lara Díaz, executive director
Veteran promoter Díaz has booked acts ranging from Paul Anka and Charles Aznavour to Luis Fonsi and Latin-ska fusion band Los Auténticos Decadentes in Chilean venues, and manages singers Pablo Herrera, Alberto Plaza and others. Before founding Swing in 2005, Díaz managed an indie label and worked for Warner Music and Sony Music in Chile.
Website swingmanagement.cl
LABELS
Codiscos
Andrés Ovalle Muñoz, president
The 70-year-old indie has 10.5 million YouTube subscribers and bragging rights for breaking Colombian stars Julio Jaramillo in the ’60s, Peter Manjarrés in the 2000s and Nicky Jam in the 2010s. (In 1964, it also pressed Meet the Beatles for distribution in Colombia.) The label’s Mundo Canticuentos division also creates family-oriented content, such as Sammy el Heladero (Sammy the Ice Cream Boy).
Email info@codiscos.com
Discos Fuentes
Tony Manuel Penarredonda Caraball0, manager
Colombia’s oldest label — which pressed its first record, by vallenato composer Guillermo Buitrago, in 1945 — has in recent years licensed catalog classics for TV and film, including Julio Jaramillo’s “Amor Profundo” for Netflix’s Narcos series and marketed contemporary stars like reggaetón singer Salvador. A 2007 compilation, Colombia! The Golden Age of Discos Fuentes, documents Colombia’s thriving salsa, cumbia, gaita, fandago and porro dancehall scenes in the ’60s and ’70s.
Phone +57 4 540 4700
Sony Music Colombia
Adriana Restrepo, Andes president
The label’s roster includes bolero and balada singer Andrés Cepeda and boy band CNCO. Restrepo took over the Bogotá-based label in 2020 after running indie powerhouse Codiscos.
Website sonymusic.com.co
Universal Music Colombia
Manuel Peña, managing director, Andean region and Central America
UMG’s Bogotá outpost releases the work of rising pop stars Yeison Jiménez and Karen Lizarazo.
Phone +57 1 514 4132
LIVE
Bogotá Music Market (BOmm)
Nicolás Uribe Rueda, executive president, Bogotá Chamber of Commerce
The four-day BOmm, run by the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce, showcases artists (like singer-songwriter Keke Minowa, rapper Elevn and pop singer Alessandro D) as part of the city’s support for cultural industries. Hundreds of artists apply annually for the showcases, but the curators give nods to just a small percentage (19 in 2020).
Phone +57 1 594 1000
MULTISERVICE
Toro Music Group
Diego Toro, founder
Former Sony Music label manager and Barranquilla radio promoter Toro formed this management and marketing company in 2020. He represents Karen Lizarazo, Lv5, Benu and others. “Trusting music production from the heart and being loyal to your principles and values are an inspiring route that will always pay off,” he told Billboard in 2020.
Phone +57 315 384 6594
Queen Street Talent
Maria Ramirez, founder/CEO
Former Sony Music Colombia marketer Ramirez started this marketing and artist services company in 2019. Her first client was Colombian bolero and balada star Andrés Cepeda. She has since taken on acts from outside of Colombia.
Email queenstreettalent@gmail.com
LABEL
829Music Mundial
Vladimir Garcia, owner
The indie label and publisher recently broke Dominican rapper La Ross Maria and partnered with Sony in April to release her music.
Instagram @829music
LABELS
Remex Records
Domingo Chávez and Germán Chávez, co-presidents
In April, the 10-year-old regional Mexican label, which specializes in such Latin subgenres as banda, norteño, cumbia, mariachi and sonora, sold its catalog (but not its label services) to Sony Music. Remex’s contemporary stars include norteño band Grupo Pesado and banda artists Leandro Ríos and Edwin Luna y la Trakalosa de Monterrey.
Email ventas@remexmusic.net
Sony Music Mexico
Roberto López, president
Sony’s Mexico City-based outpost has had a busy last few years. It signed Dominican rapper La Ross Maria, sealed a global distribution deal with local hip-hop label Homegrown Mafia (Alemán, La Banda Bastön), acquired the catalog of regional Mexican label Remex Music (Edwin Luna y la Trakalosa de Monterrey, Grupo Pesado) and renewed the contract of hit Mexican pop-rock band Reik.
Website sonymusic.com.mx
Universal Music Mexico
Alfredo Delgadillo, managing director
The major’s Mexico City-based outpost is home to local singer-songwriters Ed Maverick and Danna Paola, while several established Mexican labels under the umbrella of Universal Music Latin Entertainment — most notably Fonovisa Records (Los Tigres del Norte, Banda el Recodo and Jenni Rivera’s catalog) and Disa Records (La Arrolladora Banda el Limón, Grupo Pesado).
Phone +52 55 5263 5202
Warner Music Mexico
Tomas Rodríguez, managing director
In addition to marketing such contemporary local acts as singer Leon Leiden and rapper MC Davo, Warner Music’s Mexico City headquarters recently formed a global distribution partnership with Orféon Videovox, which owns the Disco Orfeón catalog (Agustín Lara, Pedro Infante, La Sonora Santanera). The label also has a Warner Chappell publishing outpost based in Mexico.
Website warnermusic.com.mx
LIVE
Apodaca Group
Oscar Flores Elizondo, founder/CEO
The 40-year-old concert booking company, which has offices in Monterrey and Houston, represents regional Mexican act Fievre Looka, alt-rockers Beta and rapper MC Davo. The company books 600 shows a year, including 15 festivals. In spring 2021, Apodaca teamed with TSM and Mano Booking to bring regional stars to U.S. concerts and festivals.
Phone +81 82 62 2700
MANAGEMENT
Westwood Entertainment
Jorge Juárez, CEO
David West, founder/president
The 20-plus-year-old music-management company represents massive international stars like Carlos Rivera, Reik and Pandora. It’s based in Mexico City, with offices in Miami and Spain.
Phone +55 5337 2020
MULTISERVICE
Dubbing Hits Entertainment
Diego Laviada, founder
Former Sony marketing and promotions executive Laviada, who formed this digital marketing and radio promotions company in February 2020, works with Maluma and Alex Fernández. The company has offices in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Email contacto@dubbinghits.com
Phone +52 55 5249 3271
Ocesa-Seitrack
Alex Mizrahi, founder/CEO
After establishing Seitrack as a booking agency and management company in 2003, then-lawyer Mizrahi partnered with promoter OCESA two years later. The joint company handles the tours of major Latin American stars such as Los Ángeles Azules, María José and Zoé, and does 1,000 shows a year. Its management roster includes regional Mexican star Alejandro Fernández.
Phone +52 55 2629 6900
LABELS
La Base Music
Wisin, founder
Reggaetón rapper and reality TV coach Wisin launched this indie label in June 2020, signing young talent such as Chris Andrew and Abdiel Larralde to work with resident producers Los Legendarios, engineer Hyde Quimico and others. It’s distributed by The Orchard through WK Entertainment, which manages Wisin. “Attitude is everything,” he told Billboard in 2020. “I’m looking for people who want to grow but also listen.”
Instagram @labasemusicgroup
La Familia
Chris Jedi and Gaby Music, founders
Hit reggaetón producers Jedi and Music, who’ve worked with Bad Bunny, Ozuna and others, launched this label in March, signing Lunay, Chanell and various producers. “We sign artists not because they have a hot single, but because we’re interested in developing the artist or the producer,” Jedi told Billboard in 2021.
Website lafamilialf/pages/la-familia
Rimas Music
Noah Assad, founder/CEO
One of Puerto Rico’s top hitmaking labels is the home of Bad Bunny, Archángel and Tommy Torres. Founded in 2014 in San Juan, the indie has expanded its staff from six to 60 and now has offices in Miami, Mexico, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Assad, a manager in his early 30s, signed Bad Bunny when the young artist was working at a grocery store in his native Puerto Rico. “Every six months, there’s a pivot in the industry, and I see it coming,” Assad told Billboard in 2020.
Website rimasmusic.com
MANAGEMENT
Duars Entertainment
Eric Duars Pérez, CEO
The San Juan management company represents star singer-rapper Rauw Alejandro, reggaetón duos Angel y Khriz and Baby Rasta y Gringo, and others. After Alejandro’s “Todo de Ti” became a smash in 2021, Sony U.S. Latin president Alex Gallardo credited Duars Pérez for picking the single instead of following the major label’s choice: “The work between the label and management has played a pivotal role in our success.”
Phone 1 787 644 6046
MULTISERVICE
La Buena Fortuna Global
Nelson “Polo” Montalvo, president/CEO
With a roster of regional hit artists that includes rapper Residente, Uruguayan singer Jorge Drexler, singer-songwriter Kany García and singer-actor Pedro Capó, San Juan-based La Buena Fortuna handles management, booking, marketing and production.
Phone 1 787 230 1782
EDITOR’S NOTE If you would like your company included in this directory or to revise any of the information contained here, please contact: frank.digiacomo@billboard.com
