Posted by Elena del Valle on July 5, 2007
“Codigo Astral” co-hosts Mauricio Puerta and Carolina Perpetuo
Photo: Mega TV
Miami, Florida – Mega TV Channel 22 began airing “Código Astral,” an astrology show, Thursday, June 14 at 9 p.m. Each episode of the program will feature three different astrology cases highlighting special guests and real-life situations. The show is co-hosted by Mauricio Puerta and Venezuelan Carolina Perpetuo of Venevisión network.
Like its predecessor, “Puerta Astral,” “Código Astral” will begin every show by giving an astrology chart reading to a member of the studio audience. Puerta will analyze the reading and give that person advice on what to expect in the years ahead and how to cope with their predicted future.
“The birth chart is the navigation manual to a person’s soul,” said Puerta. “A person’s birth month determines their astrological sign, the year they were born indicates the role the planets will play in their life, and their birth place sets the scene for their story. I’m looking forward to sharing my astrological readings on ‘Código Astral.’”
The show’s main focus is on the audience, their personal stories and their birth charts interpreted by Puerta, who believes that everyone’s destiny begins on the hour, date, and place of their birth and the only tools Puerta needs to read a person’s life story.
Born in 1950 in Bogota, Colombia to an affluent family Mauricio Puerta considers himself an anthropologist and archeologist with a keen interest in astrology. Puerta began hosting the station’s previous program, “Puerta Astral,” in 2006.
According to promotional materials, he became known during the 1980’s after forecasting the assassination of Luis Carlos Galán, a candidate to the presidency of Colombia at the time. He also forecasted the downfall and death of drug czar Pablo Escobar and Ernesto Samper’s rise as the next leader of the South American nation.
Puerta graduated from the University of the Andes in 1973 majoring in anthropology. He was a professor at the school of Education at the University of Los Andes where he founded one of the first schools of higher learning in astrology in Latin America. Puerta has authored 27 anthropology and archeology publications and more than 30 astrology books.
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded Hispanic-controlled media and entertainment companies in the United States. SBS owns and operates 20 radio stations located in Hispanic markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Puerto Rico. The Company also owns and operates Mega TV in Miami.
Discover how to reach Latinos in language today with
“Hispanic Market Translation Issues” audio recording
Presenter Martha E. Galindo
Translation company owner Martha E. Galindo explains
-
Why it’s important to reach your clients in language
-
Ins and outs of translations issues
-
How to select a translator
-
What to expect
-
How to save on translation costs
-
Much more
Click here to purchase “Hispanic Market Translation Issues”
Posted by Elena del Valle on July 2, 2007
Piñata album cover
Photo: Nacional Records
Mexican Institute of Sound’s follow up album to the successful 2006 debut “Méjico Máxico” album will be released to the public by Nacional Records July 24, 2007. Described as an “infectious pastiche of electronica, dub, cha cha, spoken word and musical surprises,” Piñata’s first single is “El Microfono.” The track will also be featured on the upcoming EA Games release “FIFA 2008.”
Guests in the new album include members of Tom Tom Club, Cornelius, and Babasonicos. According to promotional materials, in the past year, MIS has received widespread acclaim from outlets like Spin, The New York Times, and Urb, as well as radio support from KCRW (Los Angeles), Indie 103 (Los Angeles), KEXP (Seattle) and KUT (Austin). MIS music has also been featured in a recent episode of ABC’s sitcom “Ugly Betty” and the Dos Equis national advertising campaign.
Camilo Lara, the one-man musician behind Mexican Institute of Sound, hails from Mexico City. He channels his inner rock star while holding down a day job as head of a major label. He creates his music with only the help of his computer, his imagination, and his collection of vinyl.
Lara’s talent is described as his ability to select and blend diverse musical references in his music. Lara’s hobby to compile the year’s best tracks led him to collaborate on remixes, under the moniker of Mexican Institute of Sound, for bands and friends like Placebo, Le Hammond Inferno, Gecko Turner, and Babasónicos.
With “Piñata” Lara hopes to continue the vision he launched with his debut album, which was meant to serve as a collage of musical influences that combine to reflect his impression of life in busy Mexico City.
To listen to the single “El Microfono” from the “Piñata” album Click the button to hear the podcast:
“Latino Family Dynamics” audio recording
Brenda Hurley and Liria Barbosa
Find out
Latino purchasing habits and products they favor
Latino family characteristics
Latinos and extended families
Division of duties, responsibilities within the family
Who is the decision maker in the Latino family
Who is the information provider in the Latino family
Click here to purchase “Latino Family Dynamics”
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 22, 2007
A scene from “Ladron Que Roba A Ladron“
Photos: Dan Austin, Richard Azurdia
Los Angeles, California – “Ladron Que Roba A Ladron,” a heist caper movie in the tradition of “Ocean’s Eleven” pulled off by a group of immigrant workers who team up to rob an evil, wealthy entrepreneur, is scheduled for release in 300 theaters nationwide August 31, 2007. Named for a Latin American proverb that means a thief who steals from a thief will receive 100 years of forgiveness, the Lionsgate movie features a motley crew of underdogs, undertaking an impossible task, with improbable odds.
The 98-minute Spanish language comedy follows two crack thieves, Emilio and Alejandro, who get together to rob the biggest thief they know, Moctesuma Valdez. Valdez, a TV infomercial kingpin, made his fortune selling worthless health products to poor Latino immigrants. Although the millionaire’s empire is next to impossible to infiltrate, Emilio and Alejandro decide that getting hired as day laborers they can rob Valdez.
Actor Richard Azurdia
To overcome their fear they decide on a practical solution: use real day laborers. They form a team of criminal amateurs including Julio, a TV repair shop employee and electronics expert; Rafa and Rafaela, a valet and his mechanic daughter in charge of transportation; Miguelito, a Cuban refugee actor and master of disguises; and Anival, a metro-sexual ditch digger who plays the token heavy.
Cast members include Fernando Colunga, Miguel Varoni, Julie Gonzalo, Gabriel Soto, Ivonne Montero, Saul Lizaso, Richard Azurdia and Sonya Smith. The Jim McNamara Ben O’Dell project was written by Jojo Henrickson and directed by Joe Menendez.
Discover how to reach Latinos in language today with
“Hispanic Market Translation Issues” audio recording
Presenter Martha E. Galindo
Translation company owner Martha E. Galindo explains
-
Why it’s important to reach your clients in language
-
Ins and outs of translations issues
-
How to select a translator
-
What to expect
-
How to save on translation costs
-
Much more
Click here to purchase Hispanic Market Translation Issues
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 18, 2007
Sweet Electra “Lying to be Sweet” album cover
Photo: La Corporacion Muzic
La Corporación Muzic will release electronic band Sweet Electra’s latest album, “Lying to be Sweet,” in U.S. stores June 26, 2007. The album will include the single “Firefly” and two bonus remixes. Other song titles include: “Intro,” “La Lune,” “Kum-v-e,” “Gemido,” “Assim,” “Jazzsweet,” “Dous Corpos,” and “My Own.”
In September of 2006, Sweet Electra headlined New York City’s Celebrate Mexico Now festival. The group kicked off the celebration at Joe’s Pub and played shows at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn and Carlitos Café in East Harlem. Sweet Electra rounded out the series of concerts at a private party at Lincoln Center in honor of Mexican film director Alfonso Cuaron. Heather Graham, Ethan Hawke and Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar attended the event.
In addition, according to promotional materials, Sweet Electra has performed at dozens of sold-out concerts in Mexico, and international festivals including Romeries of May in Cuba, Festival Vive Latino in Mexico City, Peak of Tajin in Veracruz, and DJ Tour MOTO Motorola in Mexico and Europe.
The single “Firefly,” has been featured on compilations in South Africa, Spain, Germany, England, United States and Japan. The single was also remixed by DJs Ben Watt EBTG, David Alvarado and Wally Lopez. Sweet Electra has worked with Mexican artist Cecilia Batida of Tijuana NO and Japanese artist Sakiko Yocko. Additionally, Sweet Electra’s lead singer, Nardiz Cooke, is a graduate of Fermatta Music Academy, where Natalia Lafourcade, Liquits and Joselo of Café Tacuba studied.
La Corporación Muzic, based in Pasadena, California, is an independent record label that specializes in signing and developing Latino talent for the U.S. bilingual market with exclusive distribution by Navarre. Other titles released on La Corporación Muzic include Maxim! En Espanol Rockz, Latin Explosión and Peter Michael Escovedo Moments.
Reach Hispanics online today with
“Marketing to Hispanics Online” audio recording
Identifying and characterizing the booming Hispanic online market
Joel Bary, Alex Carvallo and Matias Perel
Find out about
• The 16 million Latino online users
• Latino online users by gender
• What they do online
• Their language preferences
• How to reach Hispanic urban youth online
• What affects their online behavior
• What influences their purchases
Click here to purchase a recording on marketing to Hispanics online
To listen to the single “Firefly” from the “Lying to Be Sweet” album click on the play button below.
Click the button to hear the podcast:
Click here to sponsor a HispanicMPR.com podcast
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 8, 2007
Observatory Series-1
Photos: Jazmin Ferrari and Angela María Ortíz S.
Jazmin Ferrari and Angela María Ortíz S. were curators for the recently opened “Cityscapes, Landscapes & In Between: A Black & White Photography Show” at jFerrari Gallery in Atwater Village, California. The show, which will remain open until July 2, 2007, showcases the work of 10 photographers.
In addition to the curators, the photographers exhibiting are: Ali Farhoodi, Domenico Foschi, Cynthia Frederick, Nathan French, Gerrad Holtz, Walt Jones, Gordon Ownby, and Kristina Schulte-Eversum. There will be 34 photos on exhibit.
Ferrari, a novice photographer and painter, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she was exposed to a blend of cultures under her father’s powerful influence. A photographer, he inspired her to be unique and have fun with the camera. As a girl, she remembers being more interested in photography, but as an adult her focus turned towards painting.
Untitled
“Photography and painting go hand-in-hand for me, photographs and paintings usually work within the same confines of two-dimensionality and stillness,” said Ferrari. “Understanding a sense of the picture plane of a painting helps in organizing photographic space, and vice-versa. Photography is as adept in depicting the subliminal mind, as is painting. They are both equally essential to me.”
“Los Angeles and its surrounding area is my muse,” said Ortiz S. “I have been a freelance art director/graphic artist most of my adult life. I decided about seven years back to concentrate on my photography and at this point, I think I’ve made the right decision. I think my career is moving forward and I’m not looking back. As a Latina artist or just being a woman artist, I do think we have to work harder. Here in Los Angeles, they are so many artists trying to get collectors to see their work. I’m a Latina photographer trying to get my name out there on my own. It’s a challenge, but when someone says, ‘I like your work’, that’s a big reward for me.”
Ortíz S. was born in Colon, Panama, where she spent the first ten years of her life. She was inspired by her roots and the city she lives in, Los Angeles.
Hispanic Marketing and Public Relations Understanding and Targeting America’s Largest Minority book
“A must resource for practitioners/professionals expecting to reach US Hispanics; also valuable for college programs in marketing, public relations and communications. Highly recommended.”
Choice magazine
Click here for more information and to buy your copy today!
Posted by Elena del Valle on June 1, 2007
“Carlos Baron” performance
Photo: Haiku Films
San Francisco, California — California film producer and director Mabel Valdiviezo recently screened “Carlos Baron,” her latest production, on Spark, a KQED and PBS television show about Bay Area artists in San Francisco. The Spanish language film includes English subtitles.
In the 14-minute film, Carlos Baron, described as a Bay Area multicultural theatre evangelist, guides viewers on road trip to Chile to explore love and exile through the poetry of Pablo Neruda after the death of Augusto Pinochet, Chile’s former president . Shadow theatre, music and dance, are said to run a powerful link between Baron’s life and the Nobel poet that inspires his work.
Baron’s play, “Poeta Pan” or “Bread Poet” traces his Chilean roots through the poetry of Neruda. A collaboration with Latin jazz flutist John Calloway, Rafael Manriquez and choreographer Martha Zepeda, calls up comparisons between September 11, 2001 and the Pinochet coup d’etat that occurred 28 years earlier on the same date.
“The first day of production was a pivotal moment in the film. Carlos called me a few hours before the shoot to tell me that Pinochet had died that very morning. Everybody, including myself, was in an altered state when I started filming with my crew the run through rehearsal just before Carlos and his troupe headed to Chile,” said Valdiviezo.
“Why Neruda? It’s beautiful poetry; accessible and a voice of reason and peace in the midst of war atmosphere that exists today,” said Barón. “I want the audience to take away a sense of hope, the sense of collaboration that took place here, the sense that it is possible to do things in lean times.
Produced by Mabel Valdiviezo, “Carlos Baron” is a joint project of Spark and KQED. Valdiviezo is the founder of San Francisco based production company Haiku Films. Her short feature film, “Soledad Is Gone Forever,” was accepted to the Short Film Corner Cannes International Film Market in May 2007. Spark is a magazine TV Show that airs on KQED, a Public Broadcasting System television station.
“Emotional Branding: How to capture the heart and mind of the Hispanic consumer” audio recording
“Emotional Branding” was recorded January 2007 during the Strategic Research Institute 13th Annual Blockbuster Marketing to U.S. Hispanic and Latin America conference in Miami, Florida.
Receive a free downloadable copy by completing our Visitor Survey.
Click here
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 31, 2007
Marissa Lopez, West Coast assistant manager, Peermusic
Photo: Peermusic
Los Angeles, California – Independent music publisher peermusic promoted Marissa Lopez to West Coast assistant manager, peermusic Latin. Lopez was formerly West Coast creative assistant for the Latin Division. In her new role, she will oversee administrative activities for the West Coast Latin division of peermusic and work closely with talent.
She will be responsible for new artist recruitment, song placement, and maintening peermusic’s existing Latin roster. In addition to nurturing the careers of artists such as Upground, Charanga Cakewalk and Los Pinguos, Marissa will work in tandem with peer’s Spanish-language catalog.
“Marissa has played an integral role in the growth of the Latin Division of peermusic, and in her new role she will continue to keep peermusic at the cutting edge of the Latin industry,” said Yvonne Gomez, Latin creative director for peermusic West Coast and Mexico. “We are so proud of her and feel honored to have someone with Marissa’s talent and unparalleled work ethic as part of the peermusic Latin team.”
Born and raised just outside of Los Angeles, Marissa joined peermusic in 2003. Prior to joining the music publisher, Marissa worked for La Banda Elastica, a Latin rock magazine and marketing firm; where she directed promotions, oversaw LBE Group marketing campaigns for various corporate clients including Bromley Corp., Arenas Group, Tower Records, Watcha Tour and Batanga. She was also executive assistant to the company presidents.
Founded by Ralph S. Peer in 1928, peermusic is a global network of music publishing companies operating from 35 offices in 27 countries. With a quarter of a million country, blues, jazz, pop, Latin, and rock ‘n’ roll titles in the company’s catalogue, peermusic is one of the largest privately owned companies of its kind in the world.
Reach Hispanics online today with
“Marketing to Hispanics Online” audio recording
Identifying and characterizing the booming Hispanic online market
Joel Bary, Alex Carvallo and Matias Perel
Find out about
• The 16 million Latino online users
• Latino online users by gender
• What they do online
• Their language preferences
• How to reach Hispanic urban youth online
• What affects their online behavior
• What influences their purchases
Click here to purchase an audio recording about marketing to Hispanics online
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 22, 2007
Aterciopelados
Photo Nacional Records
This year’s LATV weekly live show “LATV en Concierto” will feature urban artists Calle 13, Frankie J, Pitbull, and Akwid, as well as rock acts Ozomatli, Aterciopelados, Motel, Allison, Zoe and Quetzal. LATV invites its studio audience to interact with the performing artists.
“The reception that we have received from the broadcast community to the launch of our network has been phenomenal. We are delighted to add so many affiliates in such dynamic Hispanic communities and expand our reach throughout the United States,” said Danny Crowe, president, LATV. “With our new VJs cast, production rolling, advertisers coming on and affiliates signing up, LATV is ready to deliver its product nationwide to Latino audiences.”
Pitbull
Other performers in this year’s “LATV en Concierto” are Upground, Toby Love, Miz Mandy, David Rolas, Xtreme, Crooked Stilo, Jennifer Peña, Kinto Sol, The Pinker Tones, Sparta, Soul Kid, Spigga, Fosforo, Tres Coronas, and Chino XL. Other programs on the national bilingual network include “Mex 2 the Max,” “LATV Live,” “Rokamole,” “Drive Thru,” and “LATV Does Hollywood.”
Since 2001, the predominantly English-language LATV headquartered in Los Angeles, California has been shot in front of a live in-studio audience and airs on broadcast, basic cable and satellite in Los Angeles. The network targets the 16- to 34-year-old Latino with multi-genre music, lifestyle and entertainment content.
“Latino Media and Hispanic Media Training” audio recording
Presenters Federico Suverbi, Ph.D. and Elena del Valle, MBA
Find out about
Find out
• About the hundreds of Latino media
• Who are the major Hispanic media
• Type of media outlets they represent
• Languages in which they are produced
• Programming and content they offer
• Hispanic media geographic reach
• Hispanic media challenges
Click here to purchase Latino media and Hispanic media training
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 21, 2007
Manu Chao
Photo: Nacional Records
This year, singer Manu Chao launched his most extensive North American tour to date in support of his upcoming studio album. The circuit began April 29 in Indio, California and concludes June 29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The 2007 tour follows last year’s series of sold-out stateside dates. Chao’s new album, to be released in August, was mixed by Mario Caldato (Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson) and Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mars Volta).
Chao was born to Spanish parents in Paris and is said to use his cross-cultural surroundings and background for musical inspiration. An offspring of the French alternative scene, Chao formed his first major band, Mano Negra, in the mid-1980’s. Following the split of Mano Negra in 1995, he traveled to Madrid where he formed Radio Bemba with local musicians; soon after he went solo as Manu Chao. For his debut solo album with predominantly Spanish lyrics, “Clandestino,” he collaborated with musicians from diverse backgrounds and was inspired by street culture and local bar scenes.
According to promotional materials, “Clandestino” became one of France’s top-selling albums and one of the best-selling French albums abroad, making it one of the best-selling French albums with sales totaling more than 2.5 million copies.
In 2001, Chao released a second album, “”Proxima Estacion: Esperanza,” topping the European charts and also receiving attention from international media with Rolling Stone naming “Esperanza” one of the best albums of the year and Manu Chao making the front page of The Wall Street Journal.
Promoters emphasize Chao’s loyalty to his origins as an anti-establishment artist who mixes music and politics by performing at events that promote anti-globalization efforts. He toured around the world, playing to sold-out crowds in Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and Central and South America in the past year.
Chao’s North American tour includes stops in Indio, California, Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, Quincy, Washington, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco, California , Los Angeles, California, San Diego, California, Denver, Colorado, Dallas, Texas, Austin, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Manchester, Tennessee, Chicago, Illinois, Detroit, Michigan, Toronto, Ontario in Canada, Washington, DC, Boston, Massachusetts, Brooklyn, New York, and Philadelphia.
“Search Engine Marketing to Hispanics” audio recording
Presenter Matias Perel, founder and president, Latin3
Find out about
- The 16 million Latino online users
- Types of online access among Hispanics
- Latino online user language preferences
- What they do online
- Usage by age
- Income levels among Hispanics who visit the Internet
- Internet use by Hispanics
Click here to purchase a recording about search engine marketing to Hispanics
To listen to the single “Bongo Bong” from the ”Clandestino” album click on the play button below.
Click the button to hear the podcast:
Click here to sponsor a HispanicMPR.com podcast
Posted by Elena del Valle on May 18, 2007
Tex-Mex artist Freddy Fender
Photos: Pochteca Media
San Antonio, Texas – Ivan Entertainment and KTCOK Enterprises in association with Pochteca Media will present a Las Vegas style show in honor of the late Tex-Mex country-rock performer Freddy Fender Saturday, June 16, 2007. Artists scheduled to appear are Grammy Award-winners Little Joe y La Familia, Ramon Ayala y Los Bravos del Norte, country crooner Johnny Rodriguez, Roberto Pulido, Johnny Hernandez, California Chicano sounds Tierra, Charlie Rich Jr. and Augie Meyers, a founding member of the Texas Tornados. Actor Jesse Borrego, former star of the television series “Fame” and films such as Con-Air, “Bound by Honor” and “Lone Star” will be master of ceremonies.
Concert promoter Ivan Hernández is promoting a Tex-Mex sound renaissance and the preservation of the Fender legacy and native musical tradition. Hernández has recruited musical artists who will appear together on stage for the first time at the Orleans Arena as part of a dance and concert in memory of fellow Texan Fender, a rocker who achieved crossover star status with a string of top hits on Billboard’s Country and Pop charts, while recording Spanish-language versions of hits by Elvis Presley and Harry Belafonte. Part of the proceeds from the showcase will benefit the Freddy Fender Scholarship Fund.
“He was one of my best friends, but he was also one of my heroes,” said Little Joe Hernández, a Texas musician. “We lost a national treasure in Freddy. I want to make sure his legacy lives on. He was a fighter to the end and proud of his Chicano heritage. We want to celebrate his life and his music.”
Ramon Ayala
Born Baldemar Huerta in San Benito, Texas, Fender showed musical promise at an early age. While still a child, he constructed a homemade guitar from screen door wire and a used sardine can. By age 10, he had already made his first local radio appearance. Playing bars and honky-tonks, he was often referred to as “El Bebop Kid.” Taking a cue from his favorite guitar, he changed his name to Freddy Fender in 1959.
In more recent years, he co-founded the Texas Tornados with Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers and Doug Sahm, continued touring as a solo artist, and toured as part of Tejano group, Los Super Seven. A multi-Grammy Award winner, he battled health problems before succumbing to lung cancer at the age of 69 on October 16, 2006.
“Growing up on the road with dad, I was fortunate to have grown up around all of these guys,” said Ivan Hernández. “I saw all of them with Freddy at one time or another. And I was especially impressed at how down to earth Freddy was, how well he treated everybody. If anything, this is what I hope we can convey with the Tex-Mex Fest.”
Entertainment agencies Ivan Entertainment and KTCOK Enterprises are based in Temple, Texas. They focus their collaboration on live events and talent resources in the United States.
Hispanic Marketing and Public Relations Understanding and Targeting America’s Largest Minority book
“A must resource for practitioners/professionals expecting to reach US Hispanics; also valuable for college programs in marketing, public relations and communications. Highly recommended.”
Choice magazine
Click here for more information and to buy your copy today!
