Posted by Elena del Valle on April 18, 2006
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Singer Celia Cruz and documentary director Joe Cardona
Photo: CeliaCruzonline.com and WPBT South Florida
PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) will broadcast a 90-minute documentary, directed by Joe Cardona, about Cuban singer Celia Cruz during the 2006 Hispanic Heritage Month. Titled “Celia: The Queen,” the documentary recounts the life and music of Celia Cruz from her humble beginnings in Cuba to international fame.
Cardona includes first hand testimonies from the “Queen of Music” herself, musicians, artists and friends such as Quincy Jones, Johnny Pacheco, and Gloria Estefan. The documentary attempts to capture the impact Cruz had on music and her contribution to universal culture.
“She was there, in spirit, in the faces of the dancing crowd and through her treasured belongings, from her make-up table and small statuettes of saints, to her show-stopping gowns,” said Cardona, who was also co-curator of a 2005 Celia Cruz exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, “Azúcar! The Life and Music Celia Cruz.”
A Celia fan since childhood, Cardona was working on her documentary when she passed in 2003. He completed the project with the cooperation of her family and friends.
The documentary will debut in private screenings in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, and will later air nationally on PBS. Publicitas LHM, headquartered in Miami, is managing limited marketing sponsorship opportunities for the media showings and the broadcast premier.
Cardona was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, of Cuban parents. Some of his recent films, include “Bro,” a 2000 feature film which made its way to more than 15 film festivals, won the 2001 Flickapalooza Best Script Award and in that same year was nominated for an Alma Award in the Best Indie Film category; in 2001, he directed “Nuestra Risa,” a 60-minute documentary in English providing a look into the world of Latino humor.
He was also responsible for “Jose Marti: Legacy of Freedom,” a 2002 documentary narrated by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Liz Balmaseda and Academy Award nominee, Andy Garcia. The film won the 2002 Best of Show Aurora International Platinum Award. Most recently he released “Cafe con Leche II,” a documentary sequel to the 1997 film about Cuban identity and a growing young Cuban-American generation.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 17, 2006
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Louis Pagan, creator and author, Latinopundit.com
Photo: Louis Pagan
A podcast interview with Louis Pagan, creator and author, Latinopundit.com is available on the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Louis discusses blogging and Hispanic market issues with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Latinopundit.com is a daily weblog that focuses on Latino issues and flies under the banner “Born out of underrepresentation.” Louis, the website founder, feels mainstream media does not do enough to cover the Hispanic community.
For almost three years Louis has scoured the internet for events that affect the Hispanic community in America. He corrals this information on his blog for readers to learn and participate in the discussion by submitting comments. Louis feels his readers benefit from getting information on Latinopundit.com instead of from to traditional sources that may not represent the Latino community adequately. According to Louis, Latinopundit.com’s readership exceeds 2,000 visitors a day.
“Not bad for a non-commercial site,” said Louis who believes his success is due to his opinion on events. “People want to know what other’s think, especially those who are not afraid to say what they think.”
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Louis Pagan,” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. You can also subscribe to the podcast by right clicking over the podcast box and selecting “copy shortcut” then inserting the URL address in the podcast section of your iTunes program listed under the “advanced” column. The podcast will remain listed in the April 2006 section of the podcast.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 14, 2006
Click here to sponsor a HispanicMPR.com podcast
Bitman & Roban album cover
Photo: Nacional Records
One of Chile’s musical exports, Bitman & Roban, will make their stateside debut May 2 with a new album, “Musica Para Despues de Almuerzo” (Music for After Lunch) released on Nacional Records. “Musica Para Despues del Almuerzo” is the band’s third release and their first U.S. release. Bitman & Roban’ first two albums were “Hurtos” (released in 2000) and “Robares Natural” (released in 2002).
The Bitman & Roban album track “Despues de Almuerzo, Part I” was included in the recently released soundtrack to the Lionsgate film titled “La Mujer de Mi Hermano.” The DJ crew from Chile features a mix of electronic, funk, hip-hop, Latin and lounge music. The album’s mix is complemented by collaborations with Anita Tijoux, Solo Di Medina, Tea Time and Juan Chills. DJ Bitman leads the group. According to Bitman & Roban promoters, the artists have received heavy airplay and video play for the clip “Tatita,” the first single from the album (available on the HispanicMPR.com podcast).
Bitman & Roban is composed of José Antonio “Toto” Brave, Cristián Powditch, Roberto “Titae” Lindl and Adolfo Araus. José Antonio “Toto” Brave a.k.a. DJ Bitman does the samples, scratches and beats. Cristián Powditch is the synthesizer, Roberto “Titae” Lindl plays the bass and Adolfo Araus plays the piano.
To listen to Bitman & Roban “Tatita” song from the recently released “Musica Para Despues de Almuerzo” album scroll down on HispanicMPR.com until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “Bitman & Roban Tatita” by clicking on the title or on the play button. You can also download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the April 2006 section of the podcast. Gabrielle Sarnese
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 13, 2006
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Carlos Garcia, partner and chief strategist, Nobox Marketing Group, Inc.
Juan Alberto Arteaga, director, Arteaga Interactivo
Photos: Hispanic Market Pro
Miami, Florida – Hispanic Market Pro (HMP) will host a 90 minute national audio conference Thursday, April 20 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the growth of the interactive and Internet advertising markets in Puerto Rico. The teleconference, to be conducted in Spanish, will cost $100 per site.
“Puerto Rico’s Digital Frontera: Increasing Your Market Share by Developing the Right Internet Strategy” is part of a series of professional development audio conferences for Hispanic communicators. Speakers include Carlos Garcia, partner and chief strategist of Nobox Marketing Group, Inc.; Juan Alberto Arteaga, director of Arteaga Interactivo and Rene Juan de la Cruz-Napoli, director, DLC Digital. Bill Gato, president and partner of Hispanic Digital Network, will moderate the audio conference.
Some of the topics slated for discussion during the audio conference include: An in-depth market profile of Puerto Rico’s Internet marketplace featuring key facts and figures about the island’s online market space; the effect of Puerto Rico’s bilingual and bicultural heritage on online marketing campaigns and Web sites have to be conducted; differences between Puerto Rico’s online marketing arena and the U.S. Hispanic Internet; examples of campaigns or Web sites that have crossed over from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Hispanic market and vice versa; news about Puerto Rico’s interactive boom for 2006; the five leading online media players in Puerto Rico and the key audience and content differentiators among them; technical and legal issues particular to do Internet marketing in Puerto Rico; industries, companies and brands that are investing most aggressively in the Puerto Rico interactive marketplace; companies and organizations that have the most effective Puerto Rico-focused Web sites and what makes them stand out; and the importance of volume discounts for interactive advertising. Registration information is available online at HispanicMarketPro.com
Co-headquartered in Miami and New York, Hispanic Market Pro provides Hispanic marketing executives professional development teleseminars. A joint venture of Hispanic PR Wire and Bryan Communications, the company offers audio conferences every other Thursday on a wide variety of career-building topics that appeal targeting executives in advertising and public relations.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 12, 2006
Click here to sponsor a HispanicMPR.com podcast
Performer Eva Ybarra
Photos: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
San Antonio, Texas – Tejano artist Ram Herrera and Conjunto performers Mingo Saldivar and Flaco Jimenez will be among the headliners at the 25th Annual Tejano/Conjunto Festival to be presented by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center May 10-May 14 at Rosedale Park in San Antonio, Texas. Texas-based acts and three out-of-state bands will take the stage during the festival: Juan Chapa of Azusa, California; Grupo Xpresión of Lakin, Kansas; and Los Cuatro Vientos de Jimmy Bejarano of Freemont, Ohio. Festival tickets are $7.50 and a four-day “Festival Pass” is available for $25.
Kicking off the five-day event on Wednesday, May 10, 6-9 p.m., will be a fundraising “mixer” at the Guadalupe Theater, featuring the sounds of Juan Tejeda y Conjunto Aztlan. Other performaners include: Henry Zimmerle, Los dos Gilbertos, the Hometown Boys, Eva Ybarra y Su Conjunto, Mingo Saldivar y Los Tremendos Cuatro Espadas, Joel Guzman y Los Aztecs with Special Guest Sarah Fox, Guadalupe Students, Los Cuatro Aces, Santiago Jimenez Jr., Linda Escobar y Su Conjunto, Ruben Vela y Conjunto, Los Texmaniacs, Angel Flores, and Chano Cadena.
Conjunto performer Mingo Saldivar
Organizers say the five-day celebration of music and culture has become a major annual event in the Alamo City, drawing visitors from across the country, Mexico and overseas. In addition to showcasing these music forms, the festival also includes cultural and educational activities, food booths, and games.
Conjunto music began more than 100 years ago when the native Mexican population living in South Texas and northern Mexico adopted the lively button accordion from the German settlers, and combined it with the Spanish guitar, or bajo sexto (a 12-string bass guitar). Conjunto musicians mixed European rhythms such as polkas and waltzes with indigenous Mexican musical forms, creating a highly stylized form of music.
Eventually, the Conjunto sound became influenced by American big bands of the 1930s and 1940s, creating a new music form known as Orquesta Tejana, which featured horns, saxophones, trumpets, pianos and guitars. Conjunto and Orquesta Tejana continued to evolve parallel to each other until the mid-1970s, when the two merged into what we now know as Tejano, a highly danceable music featuring colorful light shows, pyrotechnics, smoke machines and flashy outfits. It is one of the fastest growing segments in the music business. San Antonio has emerged as a capital for Conjunto and Tejano.
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is one of the premier cultural and educational centers of San Antonio. Since its founding in 1980, it has created and carried out programming that reaches tens of thousands of people annually and has earned a national reputation for celebrating and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Chicano, Latino and Indigenous peoples of the United States, particularly in the Southwest.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 11, 2006
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Tomas Cookman, president, Nacional Records and Cookman International
Photo: Nacional Records
Latin-alternative label Nacional Records and Nettwerk Music Group established Canciones Nacionales Music Publishing, a joint venture designed to increase artist opportunities and strengthen their respective niches. Initial signings include Tijuana-based electronic band Nortec Collective and Mexican singer Sara Valenzuela. As part of the agreement, Nettwerk will represent Nacional for film and television placements and release select Nacional titles in Europe via Nettwerk Europe.
The strategic partnership between Nettwerk and Nacional also extends into film and television, with Nettwerk providing placement services for Nacional acts Nortec Collective, The Pinker Tones, and Sara Valenzuela. Select titles from Nacional will also be released in Europe via Nettwerk, including the planned European summer releases of Nortec Collective “Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3” and Panoptica “Ahora Yo a Ti.”
“Nettwerk One is tremendously excited to be working with the similarly structured management,label, and publishing company Cookman International,” said Mark Jowett, vice president, International A&R/Publishing. “It has quickly demonstrated a brilliant knack for finding and developing awesome, progressive Latin Music. Nettwerk One believes that together we can expose some incredible Latin talent in the U.S., Canada and abroad, including the Nortec Collective and many other great Latin artists to come.”
“We’re very excited about working closely with Nettwerk in so many different capacities. As an artist manager and label owner, there are many parallels between my own company and that of Nettwerk,” said Tomas Cookman, president, Nacional Records and Cookman International.
Nacional Records is distributed in the United States by ADA/Warner Music and based in N. Hollywood, California. Nacional released the Grammy-nominated solo debut from Aterciopelados frontwoman Andrea Echeverri and the Nortec Collective album “Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3.” In addition, Cookman International has managed Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Nortec Collective, Aterciopelados, and La Ley. More information on Nacional Records is available online at NacionalRecords.com
Nettwerk Music Group is one of Canada’s leading privately owned record labels and artist management companies with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Nashville, London and the main office in Vancouver, B.C. Nettwerk is the label home for Sarah McLachlan, Avril Lavigne, the Barenaked Ladies, Dido, Ivy and Latin Alternative stars Kinky. More information on Nettwerk is available online at Nettwerk.com
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 10, 2006
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Jim Starks, vice president, Diversity Insights, Synovate
Photo: Jim Starks
A podcast featuring an interview with Jim Starks, vice president, Diversity Insights, Synovate is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Jim discusses the 2006 U.S. Diversity Markets Report with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Synovate recently published the 12 edition of its U.S. Diversity Markets Report (formerly titled U.S. Hispanic Market Report) for which Jim was the lead person. The Report includes an update of Synovate’s acculturation model utilizing social tension to explain movement toward acculturation.
In addition to updated demographics and buying power information, the Report analyzes autos, technology products, financial services, health/wellness, leisure, entertainment and shopping trends. There are new summary sections on young adult markets (ages 18-24) and mature markets (ages 55 and above), which examine similarities and differences between ethnic groups.
Jim, who has more than 15 years of research experience in various fields, including building products, financial services and public gaming, is the project director and primary author of the 2006 U.S. Diversity Markets Report.
He has designed and directed many research programs for multinational companies covering the general, U.S. Hispanic and other diversity and international markets. Jim received his B.A. in Regional Science from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.B.A. in Finance from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Jim Starks,” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. You can also subscribe to the podcast by right clicking over the podcast box and selecting “copy shortcut” then inserting the URL address in the podcast section of your MP3 player or iTunes program listed under the “advanced” column. The podcast will remain in the April 2006 section of the podcast.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 7, 2006
Click here to sponsor a HispanicMPR.com podcast
Maxim en Español Rockz! cover
Photo: Dennis Publishing
Pasadena, California/New York, New York — Dennis Publishing, Inc., JMuzic, in collaboration with Maxim en Español magaine, recently released the compact disc music compilation “Maxim en Español Rockz!” in the U.S. The first brand licensing offshoot of American flagship Maxim’s successful Hispanic Americas edition, this eclectic compilation showcases the diversity of talent in popular Latin music, with acts spanning rock en Español, reggaeton, hip-hop, punk, Latin alternative, and trip hop.
Featured artists are break-out rocker JD Natasha, Grammy-nominated Andrea Echeverri, and Plastilina Mosh (whose contribution is the brand new track “Nalguita” from the band’s forthcoming Greatest Hits collection).
“Maxim en Español Rockz!” is enhanced with two music videos, “La Receta” by Kemo the Blaxican and “Amortiguador” by Andrea Echeverri, screensavers and wallpapers for download. On the pop side, Jennifer Pena makes an appearance with the song “Corazon Bandido.” Rock and punk are represented by buzz bands as Go Betty Go (“Saturday”), Lucybell (“Salvame La Vida”) and Seis Pistos (“El Punk No Morira”). Hip-Hop and urbano abound with acts such as Kemo the Blaxican of Delinquent Habits (“La Receta”), Phame (“Arriba”), and T-Weaponz (“Mira, Mira”).
Backed with an upcoming national television and print campaign, “Maxim en Espanol Rockz!” represents one of the most extensive efforts to date to represent a cross-section of Hispanic youth culture in Spanish and English on one single album.
“Maxim en Español Rockz!” tracks include: 1. “Mira, Mira” by T-Weaponz, 2. “Wepa” by C-Note, 3. “Plastico” by JD Natasha, 4. “Corazon Bandido” by Jennifer Pena, 5. “La Receta” by Kemo The Blaxican, 6. “Amortiguador” by Andrea Echeverri, 7. “Salvame La Vida” by Lucybell, 8. “Bounce” by T-Bone, 9. “Nalguita” by Plastilina Mosh, 10. “Saturday” by Go Betty Go, 11. “El Punk No Morira” by Seis Pistos, 12. “Lado Este” by Sara Valenzuela, 13. “Under My Skin” (Ocean Radio Mix) by Fhernando, 14. “Ghetto Mambo” by Peter Michael Escovedo (available on the HispanicMPR.com podcast), 15. “Libertad” by F.I.L.T.H.E.E. Immigrants, 16. “Arriba” by Phame, 17. “Loving You” by Solid, and 18. “Penumbra” by Cronicas del Eco.
Dennis Publishing, Inc. is a media company that publishes the two modern men’s lifestyle magazines in America, Maxim (2.5 million rate base) and Stuff (1.3 million rate base). The company also publishes general interest music magazine Blender (Advertising Age’s Launch of the Year and Adweek’s Hot List), and The Week, a distillation of the week’s most important news and opinion from the U.S. and international media (Advertising Age’s A-List). Maxim Radio is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio on channel 108. JMuzic , based in Pasadena, California, is an independent record label that specializes in signing and developing Latino talent for the U.S. bilingual market.
To listen to “Ghetto Mambo” by Peter Michael Escovedo from the “Maxim en Español Rockz!” soundtrack, scroll down on HispanicMPR.com until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “Ghetto Mambo,” hit the play button or download it to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the April 2006 section of the podcast.
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Posted by Elena del Valle on April 6, 2006
Diana Rios, Ph.D., associate professor Department of Communication Sciences and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies Institute (PRLS), University of Connecticut
Federico Subervi, Ph.D., professor School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University-San Marcos and director Latinos and Media Project
Photos: Diana Rios, Ph.D. and Federico Subervi, Ph.D.
Diana Rios, Ph.D., and Federico Subervi, Ph.D., contributing co-authors of chapter 2 of the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book, will speak at day long symposium, “Latino Strategies: Media and the Public Good,” on Friday, April 7, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dodd Center, Konover Auditorium at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
Other invited speakers include Ron Taylor, Ph.D., vice provost, Office of Multicultural and International Affairs of the University, Gil Cardenas, Ph.D., and Jaime Gomez, Ph.D. Issues to be addressed include: “Demographics & Latino USA,” “Freedom of Speech During Ideological Wars,” “Who is covering us: Puerto Ricans in Orlando, Florida,” “Drafting a Blueprint for a far-reaching Latino Communication Research Agenda,” “Responsibility of Latino TV Producers in Mainstream Media,” “Working towards a new Latino Imagination,” “The Future of News and Broadcast Education,” and “A New Latino Media Coalition.”
This symposium, organized by professor Rios and sponsored by the Institute of Puerto Rican and Latino Studies, is designed for experts in mass communication, journalism, research and Latino and Chicano studies. It will include information on Latino-centered efforts in media research, policies impacting Latino communities, documentary production, and mass communication and journalism training in broadcast, web, and print media. More information on the symposium is available at Web.Uconn.Edu
Diana Rios is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and the Puerto Rican/Latino Studies Institute (PRLS) at the University of Connecticut. Her research and teaching include minorities, women and media, media effects, and cross-cultural communication. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Federico Subervi is a professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Texas State University-San Marcos. Since the early 1980s, he has been conducting research, publishing and teaching on a broad range of issues related to the mass media and ethnic minorities, especially Latinos in the United States. His research also includes assessments of the images of Black in Brazilian television advertisements, and the media system of Puerto Rico, his place of origin.
Posted by Elena del Valle on April 5, 2006
Elena del Valle, editor, Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, and Amy Rodriguez, principal, Volverde & Rodriguez Advertising
Photos: LNA World Communications and Amy Rodriguez
Elena del Valle, editor and contributing author of the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations book (Poyeen Publishing, $49.95), and Amy Rodriguez, principal, Volverde & Rodriguez Advertising will speak on April 7 at the Miami Herald Travel Experience and Tourism Industry Conference 2006. Del Valle and Rodriguez will address travel industry professionals during a 90-minute presentation entitled “Defining the Hispanic Travel Market.”
The Conference, offered for the first time this year as part of the fourth annual Miami Herald Travel Show, will provide travel professionals, national and international tour operators and regional associations information on the latest trends and travel industry news. Other presenters include Peter Greenberg, Today Show travel editor; Arthur and Pauline Frommer, guidebook authors; Paul Prudhomme, chef; and Doug Duda from A&E Well Seasoned Traveler.
Del Valle is principal of LNA World Communications, a marketing and communications company, where she is responsible for media training, strategic planning and client relations. She is the director and host of the Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations website and podcast.
A 21 year marketing and public relations veteran, she has worked extensively in health care and with U.S. and international Hispanic markets. Prior to founding her own marketing and public relations firm nine years ago, she was a key member of the health care team and headed the Hispanic practice at the largest independent public relations firm in Florida. Before that, she attended law school nights while she was in charge of domestic and international Hispanic marketing and public relations for a major private South Florida health care company. She is the recipient of the 2004 D. Parke Gibson Pioneer Award Multicultural Communications Professional Interest Section of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the 1988 Up & Comers Award in Public Relations.
Rodriguez has more than 17 years of experience in the U.S. Hispanic market and Latin America. Her focus is on analyzing client needs and providing insightful, highly researched strategic solutions that are culturally relevant to Hispanic consumers; and creating enduring relationships with Hispanic consumers, to fuel long-term growth for brands and services.
She began her career managing national and international efforts for American Airlines in the Caribbean, Latin America and U.S. Hispanic markets. Rodriguez was tapped as vice-president, strategic planning for Accentmarketing, guiding large regional accounts such as Physician Healthcare Plans, and launching Chevrolet’s first major effort in the U.S. Hispanic market. She returned to V & A in 1994, later named The Rodriguez Group, and became partner in 1998 when the company was named agency of record for Visit Florida for the U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets. Rodriguez considers herself an expert at navigating local clients through the complete Latino Universe. She completed her Bachelors in Business from Marymount University and her MBA in International Business from George Washington University in Washington.
