Interscope Records Signs Kevvo

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Kevvo’s on his way to makin’ a bigger musical bang…

Interscope Records, in partnership with Una Vision Quintana, Inc., has signed the 22-year-old emerging Puerto Rican singer and rapper, whose full name is Kevin Manuel Rivera Allende, according to Billboard.

“Today, an artist’s unique and authentic identity is the ticket to becoming a staple in the culture,” Nir Seroussi, Interscope Records evp, said in a statement. “In that respect, Kevvo checks all of the boxes of a star-in-the-making. We’re very impressed with everything that he and Pepe Quintanahave accomplished in only one year, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be their partner for what’s to come.”

“Hooking up with Interscope is a dream come true,” adds Kevvo. “They completely understand and support our vision. They’ve also given me the freedom to do what I want, and I can’t wait for everybody to hear what we’ve got coming.”

Hailing from Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Kevvo has been marking his territory in the Latin urban scene.

Most notably, Kevvo is known for his monster 2019 single “105F RMX,” in collaboration with Arcangel, Brytiago, ChenchoCorleone,Darell, Farruko, Myke Towersand Nengo Flow. In less than a year, the music video has racked up over 212 million views at the time of publishing.

Last year, Kevvo nabbed the award for top urbano Puerto Rico at Premios Tu Música Urbano.

Pepe Quintana, industry leader and CEO of Una Vision Quintana, signed Kevvo in 2019 and developed him under-the-radar. “Nir, Jorge [Fonseca, svp of A&R] and the Interscope team got it right away,” he said of the partnership with Interscope Records. “They recognized Kevvo’s talent, attitude, and energy and will be the perfect partner to elevate him to the next level. It’s exciting to kick off this alliance.”

In the middle of the coronavirus quarantine, Kevvo gained an entirely new following on social media with his nightly live party shows on Instagram dubbed “CuarentenaTV.” Kevvo prepares to bring new music and projects in 2020 under his new deal with Interscope Records.

Luis Coronel Celebrates Birthday with New Song “Solo Un Poquito”

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Coronel is commemorating his birthday with a new song…

To celebrate his 24th birthday, the Mexican American singer released “Solo un Poquito,” a banda track penned by Edgar Barrera and Nir Seroussi.

“I am more than excited that my fans can listen to more and more of my music,” Coronel tells Billboard. “It’s about making this day special not only for me on my birthday, but for all of those who are always supporting my career.”

His birthday wish this year: “Health, prosperity and good things to everyone around me.”

“Solo un Poquito” is Coronel’s first single the year and follows his 2019 collaborations with La Séptima Banda, Banda Los Recoditos and Play-N-Skillz.

Jenni Rivera Enterprises Agrees to Worldwide Distribution Deal with Sony Music Latin & The Orchard

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

The music of the late Jenni Rivera has a new home…

Jenni Rivera Enterprises has signed a worldwide distribution deal with Sony Music Latin and The Orchard to cover the late singer’s catalog.

Rivera, a legend of Regional Mexican music through her career, died in a plane crash in December 2012, at the age of 43.

“In Sony Music Latin and The Orchard, we found exceptional partners for the next era of Jenni’s music,” said Jenni Rivera Enterprises CEO and Rivera’s sister, Rosie Rivera, in a statement. “Her music meant everything to her, and still does to so many people. Our commitment and highest responsibility is to maintain its integrity and impact. The Orchard and Sony Music Latin feel the exact same way.”

Between 1999 and 2012, Rivera released 12 studio albums and four live albums, five of which reached the top two slots on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.

After her death, her popularity grew exponentially; two compilation albums and four additional live albums that were released in the four years following her passing all reached No. 1 on the Top Albums chart as well.

“Jenni Rivera’s contributions to the Regional Mexican genre are unparalleled,” The Orchard COO Colleen Theis said in a statement. “We are honored and excited to team up with Sony Music Latin and Jenni Rivera Enterprises to leverage our global network and bring her music to the world in a new way.”

As part of the deal, a “multi-tiered global marketing campaign” will be rolled out in order to push Rivera’s music and give it a new shine, according to a press release accompanying the announcement. Her music and catalog was previously distributed by Universal/Fonovisa, though, unusually, she had retained control of her masters throughout her career.

“We’re humbled and honored to be able to work alongside Rosie and [brother] Juan Rivera on Jenni’s legacy,” Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi said in a statement. “It’s an opportunity for her music to reach new audiences and for us to pay homage to a generation-defining superstar. She’s going to continue making history.”

Sony Music Latin Partners with Jenni Rivera’s Siblings to Develop Regional Mexican Stars

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Jenni Rivera’s family is keeping her legacy alive…

Juan and Rosie Rivera, siblings of the late Mexican American Banda and ranchera singer who passed away in December 2012, have joined Sony Music Latin in a new venture to develop the next generation of regional Mexican stars.

The announcement was made in Los Angeles earlier this week, where the Rivera family and Sony executives officially signed and agreed to commence a partnership between the Rivera’s Linea, LLC, and Sony.

“Juan and Rosie have been in the [music] game since they were born,” said Nir Seroussi, Sony Music Latin president, in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “Juan is very focused and chill. Rosie is very sharp and eloquent. We’re confident that Linea will soon become a major player in the market.”

It’s been nearly five years since Rivera died in a plane crash, while working in Mexico and since that time, numerous projects themed around the Long Beach, California, -born recording artist have been released, from albums to reality shows and merchandise.

Rosie, whose close-knit relationship with Jenni was undeniable, has spent the last five years helping to complete some of her sister’s dreams from releasing music to caring for her foundation and making sure she was there for her sibling’s children.

This new chapter, Rosie said, continues to honor her sister, but it’s different in that she will now have a more active role in the industry along with her brother, which is something that Jenni encouraged them to do years ago. While Jenni was signed to Fonovisa, under Universal Music Latin Entertainment, this new venture with Sony has nothing to do with Jenni music other than the fact that she always wanted to help launch the careers of others.

“I think Jenni would be very happy,” says Rosie. “I can see her smiling with tears of joy and her wide eyes. She invested so much love and discipline in her dreams. She told us she envisioned this for Juan and myself and she’s cheering us from heaven.”

In 2013, Rosie announced a similar venture, but it was in the form of a new label called JRE/Divina Music, which had already been in the works in 2010, two years before the singer died. That label was established to complete Jenni’s goals and that was met by supporting other artists. The new chapter begins with joining forces with Sony.

Rosie, an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, is the youngest of the Rivera family of singers. Since her sister’s death she has gone more public about her own struggles in the hopes of helping others. In 2015 she founded the movement Sister Somalia to support women who have been victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, drugs and domestic violence in Latin America. Additionally, Rivera is active in her family’s Christian outreach ministry, helping single mothers find affordable housing through the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation.

Besides overseeing the Jenni Rivera estate with his sister Rosie, Juan is a recording artist with nearly a dozen albums to his name and has appeared in several reality shows with his family of singers that includes Lupillo Rivera and Chiquis Rivera.

Seroussi said that more details will be unveiled soon and those aspiring artists hoping to break into the business through the regional Mexican genre will have a chance to participate. The Sony executive wouldn’t confirm or deny what types of projects will be unveiled, but he reassures that they will be part of a thrill ride.

“This is a very special venture,” Seroussi said. “Having Juan and Rosie makes it that more exciting. Many things are going to happen.”

Grace Lands Recording Deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Leslie Grace has a new recording contract…

The 20-year-old Dominican-American singer, the youngest female to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts, has signed a recording deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Under the new deal, Grace – who scored two No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart before she was 19 years old –will release an EP of new material likely in June. A first single will hit radio in May.

Grace, who was previously signed to Top Stop Music, the label launched by producer Sergio George (and also the first home of Prince Royce), tells Billboard in an exclusive interview that her new material will follow the bachata/pop vein of her previous fare.

“It will be very infused with lots of R&B and it’s infused with my roots, which are bachata,” says Grace, who speaks and sings in both English and Spanish. “We have a song called ‘Crazy Crazy’ and the introduction is very R&B and it has drums in there. But when the verse starts, it goes straight to bachata. It’s the two worlds I come from.”

Grace was born in New York City to Dominican parents and was raised straddling both cultures, much like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce.

She came to prominence with her debut single, a bilingual cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart in 2012. Grace released two albums on Top Stop, but going to Sony, she says, will allow her to take her music to other markets.

“A big focus is opening new markets for Leslie,” adds Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, noting that Grace is also “very appealing” to brands.

Working with her, adds Seroussi, “is like a dream come true.”

Boneta Lands Recording Contract with Sony Music U.S. Latin

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Diego Boneta is ready to make sweet music in America…

The 23-year-old Mexican actor and singer, who has made a name for himself in television and film, has landed a recording deal Sony Music U.S. Latin.

Boneta, best known for portraying Rocco on the Mexican telenovela Rebelde, is a rising star in Hollywood who has become a fixture on U.S. television with roles on MTV’s Underemployed, CW‘s 90210 and ABC Family‘s Pretty Little Liars. He’s also starred in several films, most notably the film adaptation of the Broadway hit musical Rock of Ages, where he starred as Drew Boley and performed nine tracks on the film’s acclaimed soundtrack.

Now, Boneta is hoping to advance his musical career further with his newly inked record deal with Sony Music U.S. Latin. The label plans to release material in both English and Spanish, beginning with an EP that could come out in early 2015.

“Diego is a brand and music is an integral part of his artistic identity,” says Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi, who plans to find Boneta opportunities in multiple media, including opportunities for Boneta’s music in the many films he acts in.

His upcoming projects include the horror flick Summer Camp and Pelé, the biopic about the legendary Brazilian soccer player, in which Boneta plays archrival Pedro alongside Vincent D’onofrio and Rodrigo Santoro.

“The idea is not to simply release an album but create a strategy that’s congruent with my career,” Boneta said in an exclusive interview with Billboard. However, Boneta points out, “Diego the actor and Diego the singer are managed completely separate from one another.”

Boneta actually started out as a singer, taking voice lessons when he was only 8 years old and becoming a finalist on music reality show Codigo F.A.M.A. when he was 12. At 15, Boneta landed his star-making role on the popular soap opera Rebelde and went on to release two successful solo albums with EMI.

By 2010, at 20 years old, Boneta was already making a mark in Hollywood with his roles in Pretty Little Liars and 90210, plus a role in Mean Girls 2. He was signed briefly to Adam Levine‘s label but finally went to Sony, where he’ll work in both languages and across many mediums.

Now, Boneta is writing new tracks even as he prepares to begin shooting the miniseries The Dovekeepers, from Roma Downey and Mark Burnett (The Bible).

The trick to the balancing act, he says, is “finding the time. I’d like to be doing what Justin Timberlake does.”

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