Posted by Elena del Valle on December 27, 2005
Two song selections related to today’s Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations article on Spigga’s new album release are available in an audio format. They provide a sampling of the lastest in Hispanic market entertainment for those wishing to take advantage of entertainment venues for Hispanic marketing and public relations campaigns and programs.
To listen to them, visit www.HispanicMPR.com and scroll down until you see "Podcasts." Select the files with the Spigga in the title and click on the play button to listen to the songs online.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 27, 2005
Spigga album cover
Fronted By Popular LATV Host Giovanny Blanco, the bilingual duo has garnered national attention with the song “Papa Knows” in "The Shield" (FX Network) and the films "See Jane Run” and "First Snow." Spigga headlined at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco December 9, 2005 and at Little Pedro’s Blue Bongo December 16, 2005.
Spigga, led by Giovanny Blanco, members are gearing up for a series of West Coast dates in support of their just-released album ‘06105: The Mixtape’ (Supermercado23/Navarre Corp.) Spigga hopes to make music for "iPods that ache to be boomboxes." Giovanny Blanco is the host and producer of the popular “LATV Live” program and a former double-time doing frontman of Latin punk merrymakers Viva Malpache). The group is rounded out by Blanco’s collaborator Jaswho?, a house music master (Soulmine Records). Friends and musical collaborators since they met in Hartford Public High School in the late 1980s, California transplants Blanco and Jaswho? named the album ‘06105’ as a shout-out to their Connecticut hometown.
Spigga
Spigga’s latest waves were with the bilingual cover of “People of the Sun” for the new Rage Against the Machine tribute album ‘Tributo a Rage Against the Machine en Espanol’. The track was recently named a Prioridad Discografica by Radio & Records magazine. It was selected as the first single for the album, it also appears on Spigga’s own album. Spigga also created two off-the-wall videos for the single and commissioned seven remixes performed by Nova of NYC’s Pacha Massive and BradElectro from San Francisco.
Spigga are also indie favorites of a growing number of music supervisors, with the song “Papa Knows” landing on FX Networks’ The Shield, as well as the films "See Jane Run" and "First Snow." When asked to describe his group’s appeal, Blanco commented, “It’s quite simple, we’re a taco truck version of Hall and Oates. ghetto muzak.”
Spigga, a full six piece band at its live shows, is an internationally-flavored act with members from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Ireland, Mexico, Oakland, and New Jersey. Spigga was formed officially several years back after the response they received from their song "Papa Knows" (on the CD). The members of Spigga (Giovanny Blanco and Jaswho?) are high school friends and have been writing songs together since high school. They grew up in ethnic neighborhoods: Jaswho? in Hartford, Conneticut and Giovanny Hartford in Jersey City, New Jersey and the Dominican Republic. When they were growing up, Latin Music and street culture were a part of their lives. Spigga lyrics are in Spanglish, sometimes English, sometimes Spanish and sometimes mixed together. Spigga describes its style as "Maniacodepresivopsychosexual."
Spigga, unsatisfied with the taste of the current music scene, created their own flavor, "Un mundo with no boundaries (a world with no boundaries) where funk and rock collide, house and industrial reside with soul and garage goofiness; drum and bass become guitars, drum and bass, but el sancocho doesn’t stop there."
Listen to Spigga sample songs on the HispanicMPR.com website Podcast section.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 15, 2005
Andrea Echeverri
Colombian rock icon Andrea Echeverri was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Latin Pop Album category. The Awards will air on CBS on February 8, 2006. Andrea Echeverri’s self-titled solo debut recently received a Latin Grammy nomination and 4 MTVLA nominations. She was also nominated for two Premio Lo Nuestro Awards for the same album "Andrea Echeverri" (Nacional Records). One of the highest-rated annual television special among Hispanics in the U.S the Premio Lo Nuestro Awards are scheduled to air February 23, 2006. Echeverri was nominated for Premio Lo Nuestro “Rock Album of the Year” and “Song of the Year (for the single “A eme O”).
Her debut solo album “Andrea Echeverri” was released by Nacional Records, the new ADA/Warner Music Group-distributed label. The announcement marks Nacional’s first Grammy nomination, a coup for the label, as Andrea Echeverri is also the label’s first album release.
Best known as the frontwoman for acclaimed Colombian Latin alternative band Aterciopelados, Andrea Echeverri has captivated audiences with her "potently melodic brand of feminism." After the success of "Gozo Poderoso," which landed Aterciopelados on the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Latin Albums Sales chart as well as a coveted appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Echeverri took time off for the birth of her first child Milagros, who has become an inspiration. The result is the self-titled album “Andrea Echeverri,” Andrea’s first solo release. The disc, produced by Hector Buitrago from Aterciopelados and mixed by Thom Russo (Juanes, Kinky, Johnny Cash), also features a remix from Richard Blair (Sidestepper). Andrea Echeverri and Aterciopelados fans can look forward to a special iTunes-only release of an acoustic live session recently recorded in the iTunes studio available beginning on Dec. 20, 2005.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 14, 2005
Miami, Florida -Univision Communications Inc. (NYSE:UVN)-The 18th Annual “Premio Lo Nuestro a la Musica Latina” (Lo Nuestro Latin Music Awards) nominees were announced live on the Univision Network morning show “Despierta América.” Award announcements will be made on Premio lo Nuestro which will be broadcast by the Univision Network on Thursday, February 23 from 8-11 pm ET/PT (7-10 pm Central/Mountain) live from Miami’s American Airlines Arena.
Dominican Bachata duo Monchy y Alexandra lead the competition with the most nominations at five in Tropical Genre categories such as “Album of the Year,” “Best Group or Duo,” “Song of the Year,” and “Artist of the Year.” Groups or artists with four nominations each include Colombian singer/songwriter Shakira, Mexican group Conjunto Primavera, Italian pop star Laura Pausini, Puerto Rican “Woman of Fire” Olga Tañón, Norteño group Intocable, Colombian rocker Juanes, Regional Mexican group K-Paz de la Sierra, reggaetón star Daddy Yankee and Puerto Rican pop star Luis Fonsi.
Additional multiple nominees include salsa music idols Marc Anthony (3) Gilberto Santa Rosa (2), and El Gran Combo (3), urban music stars Wisin y Yandel (3), Andy Andy (3), and Don Omar (2), regional Mexican artists Marco Antonio Solís (3), Beto y Sus Canarios (3), Luis Miguel (3) and Pepe Aguilar (2). Other nominated are Mexican “Golden Girl” Paulina Rubio, Colombian recording artist Carlos Vives, Mexico’s Vicente Fernández and Los Tigres del Norte.
The awards include finalists in 32 categories divided into five popular Latin music genres: Pop, Tropical, Regional Mexican, Rock and Urban. “Premio Lo Nuestro” awards are bestowed annually to the top talent in the Latin music industry along with the Video of the Year. Music nominations are determined from charts compiled by the recording industry trade magazine Radio & Records® for the time period of October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005.
Latin music fans can go to http://www.univision.com to cast their votes online for the “Premio Lo Nuestro” winners. By logging onto Univision.com (Uniclave: Premio) between now and January 18, 2006, they can vote for their favorite artists in all categories. Univision.com will also have a dedicated section on the website with exclusive coverage that includes artist profiles, streaming video and music clips of the nominees.
“Premio Lo Nuestro” is a top rated annual special for Hispanics in the United States. It was viewed by more than nine million Hispanics in 2005, beating, according to promoters, all English or Spanish language award programs. Following is a complete list of 2006 “Premio Lo Nuestro” nominees by genre and category:
Pop
Album of the Year
1) Escucha, Laura Pausini (Warner)
2) Fijación Oral, Shakira (Sony BMG)
3) Fuego, Kumbia Kings (EMI Televisa)
4) Paso a Paso, Luis Fonsi (Universal)
5) Todo el Año, Obie Bermúdez (EMI Televisa)
Best Male Artist
1) Alejandro Fernández
2) Luis Fonsi
3) Obie Bermúdez
4) Reyli
Best Female Artist
1) Jimena
2) Julieta Venegas
3) Laura Pausini
4) Paulina Rubio
Best Group or Duo
1) Aleks Syntek y Ana Torroja
2) Kumbia Kings
3) La 5ª Estación
4) Shakira y Alejandro Sanz
Song of the Year
1) La Camisa Negra, Juanes (Universal)
2) La Tortura, Shakira y Alejandro Sanz (Sony BMG)
3) Nada es Para Siempre, Luis Fonsi (Universal)
4) Víveme, Laura Pausini (Warner)
5) Volverte a Ver, Juanes (Universal)
Best New Soloist or Group of the Year
1) Lena
2) Lu
3) RBD
4) Reik
Rock
Album of the Year
1) Andrea Echeverri, Andrea Echeverri (Nacional)
2) Con Todo Respeto, Molotov (Universal)
3) Consejo, La Secta All Star (Universal)
4) Consuelo en Domingo, Enjambre (Oso Records)
5) En el Cielo de Tu Boca, Circo (Universal)
Artist of the Year
1) Circo
2) Enjambre
3) Juanes
4) La Secta All Star
Song of theYear
1) A Eme O, Andrea Echeverri (Nacional)
2) Amateur, Molotov (Universal)
3) Biografía, Enjambre (Oso Records)
4) Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor, Juanes (Universal)
5) Un Accidente, Circo (Universal)
Tropical
Album of the Year
1) Amanecer Contigo, Frankie Negrón (SGZ Entertainment)
2) Aquí Estamos y De Verdad, El Gran Combo (Sony BMG)
3) Hasta el Fin, Monchy y Alexandra (J&N)
4) Ironía, Andy Andy (Urban Box Office)
5) Una Nueva Mujer, Olga Tañón (Sony BMG)
Best Male Artist
1) Carlos Vives
2) Gilberto Santa Rosa
3) Juan Luis Guerra
4) Marc Anthony
Best Female Artist
1) Brenda K. Starr
2) Melina León
3) Milly Quezada
4) Olga Tañón
Best Group or Duo
1) Aventura
2) El Gran Combo
3) Monchy y Alexandra
4) N’Klabe
Song of the Year
1) Bandolero, Olga Tañón (Sony BMG)
2) Hasta el Fin, Monchy y Alexandra (J&N)
3) Perdidos, Monchy y Alexandra (J&N)
4) Que Ironía, Andy Andy (Urban Box Office)
5) Se Esfuma Tu Amor, Marc Anthony (Sony BMG)
Tropical Merengue Artist of the Year
1) Juan Luis Guerra
2) La Gran Banda
3) Los Toros Band
4) Olga Tañón
Tropical Salsa Artist of the Year
1) El Gran Combo
2) Gilberto Santa Rosa
3) Marc Anthony
4) Tito Nieves
Tropical Traditional Artist of the Year
1) Andy Andy
2) Aventura
3) Carlos Vives
4) Monchy y Alexandra
Best New Soloist or Group of the Year
1) Ciclón
2) Edgar Daniel
3) T4
4) Xtreme
Regional Mexican
Best Album
1) Diez, Intocable (EMI Televisa)
2) Directo al Corazón, Los Tigres del Norte (Fonovisa)
3) Hoy Como Ayer, Conjunto Primavera (Fonovisa)
4) Pensando en Ti, K-Paz de la Sierra (Univision Records)
5) Razón de Sobra, Marco Antonio Solís (Fonovisa)
Best Male Artist
1) Luis Miguel
2) Marco Antonio Solís
3) Pepe Aguilar
4) Sergio Vega
Best Female Artist
1) Ana Bárbara
2) Diana Reyes
3) Isabela
4) Mariana
Best Group or Duo
1) Beto y sus Canarios
2) Conjunto Primavera
3) Intocable
4) K-Paz de la Sierra
Song of the Year
1) Aire, Intocable (EMI Televisa)
2) Eres Divina, Patrulla 81 (Disa)
3) Está Llorando Mi Corazón, Beto y sus Canarios (Disa)
4) Hoy Como Ayer, Conjunto Primavera (Fonovisa)
5) Volveré, K-Paz de la Sierra (Univision Records)
Band/Artist of the Year
1) Banda el Recodo
2) Beto y sus Canarios
3) K-Paz de la Sierra
4) Patrulla 81
Grupero Artist of the Year
1) Bronco – El Gigante de América
2) Grupo Innovación
3) Los Temerarios
4) Marco Antonio Solís
Norteño Artist of the Year
1) Conjunto Primavera
2) Intocable
3) Los Huracanes del Norte
4) Los Tigres del Norte
Ranchero Artist of the Year
1) Ezequiel Peña
2) Luis Miguel
3) Pepe Aguilar
4) Vicente Fernández
Best New Soloist or Group of the Year
1) Los Elegidos
2) Beto Terrazas
3) La Autoridad de la Sierra
4) Zaino
Urban
Album of the Year
1) Chosen Few El Documental, Chosen Few (Urban Box Office)
2) Desahogo, Vico C (EMI Televisa)
3) Flow La Diskoteka, DJ Nelson (Universal)
4) Los K-Becillas, Master Joe & OG Black (Ole Music)
5) Luny Tunes & Baby Ranks: Más Flow 2, Luny Tunes & Baby Ranks (Machete Records)
Artist of the Year
1) Daddy Yankee
2) Don Omar
3) Master Joe & OG Black
4) Wisin y Yandel
Song of the Year
1) Lo Que Pasó Pasó, Daddy Yankee (El Cartel)
2) Mayor Que Yo, Baby Ranks, Daddy Yankee, Héctor “El Father,” Tonny Tun Tun & Wisin y Yandel (Machete Records)
3) Mírame, Daddy Yankee (Machete Records)
4) Rakata, Wisin y Yandel (Machete Records)
5) Reggaetón Latino, Don Omar (Urban Box Office)
Video of the Year
Artist, Video
1) Laura Pausini, “Víveme”
2) Luis Fonsi, “Nada Es Para Siempre”
3) Luis Miguel, “Que Seas Feliz”
4) Shakira, “No”
5) Vico C, “Desahogo”
6) Anasol, “Nace”
Univision Communications Inc. is a premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 98 percent of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 86 percent of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavisión, a leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, a leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 67 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and four stations in Puerto Rico; Univision Music Group, which includes Univision Records, Fonovisa Records, and a 50 percent interest in Mexico-based Disa Records labels as well as Fonomusic and America Musical Publishing companies; and Univision Online, a premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at http://www.univision.com. Univision Communications also has a 50 percent interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa’s pay television channels in the U.S., and a non-voting 27 percent interest in Entravision Communications Corporation, a public Spanish-language media company. Univision Communications is headquartered in Los Angeles with television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 13, 2005
Barrio305 launched a reggaeton TV Show. Episode One of the show, titled "From Miami 2 Puerto Rico," was scheduled to be broadcast in it’s entirity on the Barrio305.com site. That episode featured comprehensive and in depth coverage of the reggaeton/Latin hip hop community.
Shot on location in Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, the first episode uncovers the cultural movement known as reggaeton with special interviews, event coverage, never-before-seen behind the scenes footage of top reggaeton artists and special segments that feature import tuners and the Barrio Babes.
Barrio 305 obtained one-of-kind exclusive interviews with major hitters in the reggaeton and urban Latino music scene. Fat Joe, Pitbull, Nicky Jam and Tego Calderon are some the big names that have participated in making Barrio 305 a leading authority on reggaeton and urban Latin music coverage.
The name Barrio 305 is a Spanglish term that describes the emerging Latino youth culture in the U.S. Barrio is Spanish for neighborhood and 305 is the area code for the city of Miami; organizers hope the name captures the bi-cultural nature of English dominant Latinos living in U.S. urban areas.
Barrio 305 hopes to expand reggaeton’s audience outside major cities. Online-featured artists include leading acts such as Tego Calderon, Queen Ivy, Don Chezina and Daddy Yankee. As it’s popularity grows broadband channels such as Barrio 305, could act as an outlet for upcoming artists to stimulate the forefront of the "urban" Latin America. More information is available at http://www.barrio305.com/reggaeton_videos.htm
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 12, 2005
Raza Hoodia EP album cover
A sample of the recent Nacional re-release of Hip Hop Hoodios popular Raza Hoodia recording announced last week is available in an audio file on the HispanicMPR.com website at www.HispanicMPR.com . To listen to it, visit the website, then scroll down until you find "Podcasts" on the right column, selected the title from the options listed and click on the play button. Enjoy!
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 8, 2005
Rafael Urbina, CEO of HMI
Miami, FL and Greensboro, NC –Planeta Networks (http://www.planetatv.com) and Batanga (http://www.batanga.com) , two leading privately held Hispanic media Internet companies, announced a merger in an all-stock transaction effective immediately. The new website will be bilingual.
The merger will create a leading multimedia online network for Hispanics. It will combine the Planeta Broadband video business with the Batanga Latin music and online radio network and add Latin sports and auto content channels. Together, the companies will meet a wider set of customer needs, more than double their customer reach and be able to accelerate growth in new markets, such as the mobile and advanced television arena.
The new company will operate under the Hispanic Media, Inc. (HMI) name. Rafael Urbina, founder and chief executive officer of Planeta Networks, will continue as CEO of HMI. Troy McConnell, founder and chief executive officer of Batanga, will be president and chief operating officer of HMI.
"We are passionate about the opportunity to provide unique and compelling online content to Hispanics,” said . Urbina. "This is the fastest growing market demographic in the U.S. and we believe we can deliver to these consumers an engaging online experience which will make HMI a part of their everyday life.”
"For our advertisers and their agencies,” continued McConnell, “we can now offer rich-media advertising formats across a broader content platform. This will provide marketers with more creative options to deliver their messages persuasively to a much larger Hispanic audience.”
Planeta Networks and Batanga currently have more than 80 advertising clients, more than half of which are Fortune 500 corporations. Revenue is derived primarily from online advertising and broadband video streaming. The new company will employ 55 professionals and have its headquarters in Miami, Florida while maintaining offices in Greensboro, Caracas and Madrid.
Posted by Elena del Valle on December 6, 2005
Kemo the Blaxican album cover
With three number one albums on iTunes and Nacional Records’ Label Sampler Recently Hitting number one on Emusic, the Latin Indie Record Company announced a new digital-only subsidiary “Nacionale”
Leading Latin-alternative label Nacional Records established a new digital-only E-label, Nacionale. The launch of Nacionale comes on the heels of Nacional Records unprecedented success for an indie Latin label in the digital world. Nacional has seen three of its releases hit number one on iTunes’ Top Latin Albums chart (Andrea Echeverri – "Andrea Echeverri"; Nortec Collective – "Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3"; and KCRW "Sounds Eclectico"). Its compilation of label artists also hit the top spot overall on Emusic’s Top Albums chart, beating out releases from Coldplay and Ray Charles among others.
Nacional/Nacionale also established an exclusive digital distribution deals with key Indie labels PopArt (Argentina), La Oreja Bizarro (Chile), rising U.S. Indie acts like Kemo The Blaxican (Delinquent Habits), Reyes del Bajo Mundo, Bayú, and Hip Hop Hoodíos.
“We are particularly excited about Nacional’s new e-label, Nacionale,” says Ray Farrell, VP of Content Acquisition for Emusic. We have done very well with Nacional Records’ excellent catalog to date. The Nacionale e-label will bring an array of hard to find Latin artists to the forefront. We believe that the appeal of Latin alternative music extends to music fans of all cultures, and Emusic is proud to help bring this music to a new audience.”
“At a time when CD sales are dropping, we recognize that Latin Rock, Hip-Hop, and Electronic music are making great strides in the digital arena,” says Josh Norek, Nacional’s VP of Business Affairs & Media Relations. “We’ve been thrilled to see 15-20% of our album sales take place on iTunes and Emusic alone. We’re also seeing strong sales with iTunes Europe, with several releases charting on iTunes Spain.” Label President Tomas Cookman adds “With a nod to the future, we’re in a position to offer digital distribution and marketing to some of our favorite labels and artists, be it a rock label like Pop Art in Argentina or a veteran Hip-Hop MC like Kemo of Delinquent Habits. Because of the large college and youth audience for our music, we’re seeing extremely fast growth in the digital world from this internet-savvy demographic.”
Nacional/Nacionale is in the final stages of signing more indie labels and artists. Nacional/Nacionale’s initial exclusive E-label signings thus far include: Pop Art Records (Argentina), which is often hailed as the Argentine answer to Sub Pop. Pop Art remains the leading indie label in Argentina, and boasts an impressive roster of cutting-edge acts. La Oreja Bizarro Records (Chile), a fast-growing indie label in Chile, it is home to an eclectic roster of acts including electronic groovemeisters Bitman & Roban and Los Bunkers. MC Kemo the Blaxican (U.S.), a Los Angeles-based former frontman of popular Latin Hip-Hop act Delinquent Habits, which sold more than a million units worldwide in the late 90’s on the strength of singles like “Tres Delinquentes” and “The Kind”. His new solo album "Simple Plan" features the lead-off single “La Receta.” Reyes del Bajo Mundo is a El Salvador-by-way-of-NYC Hip-Hop crew that has been earning a name for itself with strong live performances and the videos for “Donde” and “Nuevo Musicon”, which have seen airplay on MTV-Espanol, Mun2, and SiTV. The tracks are from their new album ‘Nuevo Musicon.’
Hip Hop Hoodíos album cover
Others include: Hip Hop Hoodíos, for whom Nacionale is re-releasing the now out-of-print "Raza Hoodia" EP which features fan favorites “Havana Nagilah” and “Ocho Kandelikas.” The EP led to the group’s eventual signing with Jazzheads Records for their follow-up full length album "Agua Pa’ La Gente." Guests on the EP include members of Jaguares, Orixa, and Los Mocosos. Bayu, a popular Los Angeles indie band that has made a name for itself with their multicultural fusion of funk, rock, Brazilian, and Latin influences. Named by Los Angeles New Times as the “Best Latin Band” in 2002, Bayú has drawn favorable comparisons to kindred spirits Ozomatli, and have had numerous tracks featured on major label compilations. Bayú’s debut full length CD ‘Super Mofongo Beat’ is now available for the first time ever digitally via Nacionale. La Monaretta, one of Colombia’s leading electronic acts, has made its debut album "Electronoche" available for the first time digitally. Led by local BMX champions Andres Martinez and Camilo Sanabria, La Monaretta band members have performed at Colombia’s prestigious Rock al Parque festival and are continuing to create a buzz for their inspired brand of "Caribbean electroniche" and "negroclash" sounds.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 30, 2005
VOY Chairman Fernando Espuelas
New York, November 21 /PRNewswire/ — The newly launched VOY Music, identified as the first integrated Latin music platform created by Latinos for Latinos, is dedicated to the discovery, promotion, and marketing of Latin music. VOY Music features the world’s first Latino eLabel, a virtual record label providing undiscovered artists access to free promotion and distribution of their music; a free internet radio network featuring 23 genre-based stations of both popular and emerging artists, as well as seldom heard, eclectic works; an online music store; podcasting; blogging; newsletters; music news, artist profiles and other interactive services. VOY Music is part of VOY, LLC, a multi-media company reaching Latinos and Latinophiles through television, radio, music, film, publishing and internet platforms.
“In keeping with the mission of all VOY products, VOY Music is dedicated to empowering the artist and consumer of Latin music through an innovative platform that meaningfully changes the music experience. This is a transformational moment for the Latin music industry: we are democratizing the market,” said VOY Chairman Fernando Espuelas.
Espuelas has a history of conceiving cutting-edge consumer products, building globally recognized brands while being a strong advocate of empowering and connecting Latins. Named one of the “Leaders of the New Millennium” by Time magazine, he founded and was formerly chairman and CEO of StarMedia Network, the pioneering multi-platform media company for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking audiences worldwide that introduced the Internet to consumers across Latin America.
At the helm of VOY Music is CEO Alejandro Cosentino, a senior executive with experience in multi-billion dollar companies and start-ups. Cosentino has experience running consumer-centric businesses requiring complex levels of business development, marketing and innovation.
“As the music business has shifted from an analog to a digital distribution system, where consumers are in the driver’s seat of the industry, consumer marketing and operations have become paramount. Alejandro’s deep experience in developing customer-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader for VOY Music,” said Espuelas.
“With the range of VOY Music’s products, we are providing talented, undiscovered Latin musicians a global forum to reach millions of people, while at the same time giving music fans a home base and community for Latin music,” said Cosentino. “Previously, only a handful of lucky artists could dream of landing a record contract and reaching a meaningful consumer market. Now with VOY Music, Latin musicians around the globe can immediately reach consumers and directly promote their work through the VOY eLabel(TM) and our 23 channels of radio, while selling their music to a worldwide audience. For consumers of Latin music, we are a central plaza, providing access to a full spectrum of musical styles and showcasing both popular and rare, previously undiscovered music. This is unprecedented in the industry,” he added.
VOY Music CEO Alejandro Cosentino
The VOY Music senior management team also includes Ruth Infarinato, former MTV Latino VJ as content director; Latin music industry veteran Rudy Vila as vice president of Business Development; and accomplished technology executive Gabriel Paluch, as chief technology officer. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Buenos Aires, VOY Music plans to open satellite offices in Spain and principal Latin American cities in 2006.
VOY, LLC is a media company focused on the Latin market and those consumers discovering Latin culture. Through a suite of VOY- branded products and services, including television and radio programming, films, music and publishing, as well as a television network, the company endeavors to help its consumers achieve their aspirations. VOY donates ten percent of its profits to the VOY Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that awards college scholarships to Latino youth. VOY has offices in New York, Los Angeles and Buenos Aires.
Posted by Elena del Valle on November 21, 2005
Andrea Echeverri of Aterciopelados
Andrea Echeverri, lead singer of Aterciopelados will release an intimate acoustic session EP with her band featuring solo material and some of Aterciopelados’ best known hits. Grammy-nominated Latin rock icon Echeverri and her band Aterciopelados will release a special live acoustic session EP exclusively on iTunes on December 20. Recorded this past summer in the iTunes studio, the session features some of Aterciopelados’ biggest hits (“El Album”, “Pipa de la Paz”) as well as fan favorites from Andrea Echeverri’s recently-released solo album, including “A eme O” and “Amortiguador.” Andrea Echeverri’s single “Amortiguador” a Discovery Download earlier this year, became iTunes’ most successful Discovery Download to date.
Andrea Echeverri’s self-titled solo debut recently received a Latin Grammy nomination in the “Best Female Pop Vocal Album” category. The album was released by Nacional Records, the new ADA/Warner Music Group-distributed label. Best known as the frontwoman for acclaimed Colombian Latin alternative band Aterciopelados, Andrea Echeverri has captivated audiences with her brand of feminism. After the critical and commercial success of "Gozo Poderoso," which landed Aterciopelados on the Top 10 of the Billboard Top Latin Albums Sales Chart as well as a coveted appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Echeverri took time off for the birth of her first child Milagros, who has become a new point of artistic inspiration. The result is the self-titled album “Andrea Echeverri,”Andrea’s first solo release. The disc was produced by Hector Buitrago from Aterciopelados and mixed by Thom Russo (Juanes, Kinky, Johnny Cash); it features a remix from Richard Blair (Sidestepper).
Following is Andrea Echeverri and Aterciopelados “Live” EP tracklisting:
1) Pipa de la Paz
2) Ya Yo No
3) Menos Mal
4) El Album
5) A eme O
6) Amortiguador
