Christina Aguilera Signs with United Talent Agency for Global Representation

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera has new representation…

The 43-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer and pop icon has signed with United Talent Agency (UTA) for worldwide representation.

The “Genie in a Bottle” and “What a Girl Wants” singer, a multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter renowned for her powerhouse vocals, has to date sold more than 75 million records worldwide. She’s also garnered ﬁve No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making her the third female artist, and fourth overall, to top the list over three consecutive decades.

The winner of seven Grammys, including two Latin Grammys, Aguilera’s most recent recognition at these award shows came in the form of the 2022 Latin Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album on behalf of her second Spanish-language album, Aguilera. After being recognized with the inaugural Music Icon Award at the People’s Choice Awards in 2021, she nabbed the Spirit of Hope Award at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards, going on to receive the Advocate for Change Award at the GLAAD Media Awards the following year.

In addition to her work as a songwriter and recording artist, Aguilera is well known for her efforts as a producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Since 2009, she’s served as a global spokesperson for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief eﬀort, also helping to raise over $150 million for the World Food Program and other hunger relief agencies, while raising awareness around domestic violence, LGBTQ+ equality and other essential cultural conversations.

Also the co-founder of Playground, a sexual wellness lifestyle brand launched in 2022, Aguilera can currently be found headlining a new show at Volatire at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

She continues to be represented by Roc Nation and imPRint.

Ozuna Signs with Scooter Braun‘s SB Projects

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ozuna is hoping to build up his music empire with a little extra braun…

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and rapper has signed with Scooter Braun‘s SB Projects.

The management deal is a partnership with Edgar Andino, founder and CEO of Andino Marketing Group.

Ozuna joins a SB Projects roster that includes Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, among others.

The company also previously managed Colombian powerhouse J Balvin, who parted ways with SB in June 2022 and is now signed to Roc Nation.

“I’m confident that Scooter and his team’s global music expertise will open doors into new markets,” Ozuna said in a statement. “We all share the same strategic vision and direction to keep spreading my music worldwide. I’m truly excited about all the new opportunities the future holds.”

“His music is a true voice of his community, and we look forward to working with him here at Hybe on a global scale,” Braun, CEO of HYBE America, added.

A key figure in Ozuna’s team, Andino has helped the singer-songwriter land global deals that range from NFT collaborations to releasing a song for the Call of Duty video game.

Most recently, he led negotiations for Ozuna’s inclusion in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack, performing “Arhbo” with rapper GIMS. The uplifting song, which they performed at the World Cup’s closing ceremony, peaked at No. 1 Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart.

“Working with Ozuna over these past years, one thing is for certain, we always go big,” added Andino. “For us, Scooter and SB Projects align with our vision. They are the perfect partners to help in our continued approach and take Ozuna to the next level of his career. We cannot be more thrilled and cannot wait for everyone to see what we have coming next.”

In May, he released Afro, a seven-track EP where he experiments with Afrobeats. It followed his 2022 studio album, Ozutochi, which landed at No. 5 on the Top Latin Albums chart. Ozuna is set to embark on his Afro Tour across Europe this summer, which has 16 confirmed dates, including stops in France, Spain, Italy, Israel and Holland. The monthlong trek kicks off July 7 in France and wraps Aug. 6 in Spain.

“We’ve been following Ozuna’s career for years and we’re excited to be bringing him into the family to work with him and Edgar,” Jennifer McDaniels, president of management at SB Projects, said in a statement.

“Ozuna’s music is unmatched. His ability to work across genres including reggaeton, Latin pop, and more, is phenomenal. With unique songs offering fresh perspective and beautiful sounds, we’re thrilled to amplify his artistry with this partnership.”

J Balvin Signs Management Deal with Roc Nation

Posted on May 15, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin has new management…

The 38-year-old Colombian singer has officially joined Roc Nation as a management client, where he will be overseen directly by Jay Brown and Chris Knight.

Balvin was previously managed by Fabio Acosta and Scooter Braun’s SB Projects. He parted ways with the latter on June 30, 2022, after nearly three years together.

He continued working with Acosta and his company, Akela Family Music, through March. Acosta had managed or co-managed Balvin in some capacity for the past decade. Sources say the two parted on amicable terms.

Balvin, one of the biggest Latin stars in the world, has had a series of management shifts over the past five years. In 2019, he parted ways with manager Rebeca León, who had managed him since the onset of his career in the United States, and signed with Braun.

Throughout both deals, Acosta remained part of his management team and worked in partnership with SB Projects, helping bring in groundbreaking deals and partnerships. These included his celebrity menu collaboration with McDonald’s — a first for a Latin act.
7/14 – Tenerife, Spain – Ritmo del Mundo
7/15 – Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal – Meo Mares Vivas Festival
7/21 – Byron Bay, Australia – Splendour in the Grass
7/23 – Melbourne – Margaret Court
7/25 – Sydney – Hordern Pavillion

Fat Joe to Host This Year’s BET Hip Hop Awards

Posted on September 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is hedging his BET…

The 52-year-old rapper, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, will host this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, slated for October 4 at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta.

“This will be the BIGGEST award show in history,” Fat Joe tells Billboard. “It’s truly an honor to host and produce the BET Hip Hop Awards, and I can’t thank Connie [Orlando] and the entire BET family enough for this opportunity. We’re going to celebrate music, culture, and entertainment, honor the biggest and brightest stars in the world and make this an unforgettable night full of laughs and surprises. Always remember that yesterday’s host is not today’s host.”

“Fat Joe is hip-hop royalty. He has represented the art form and the Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop, throughout his outstanding musical career. He is a treasured friend of the network, and we’ve loved seeing and supporting his evolution to becoming the superstar he is today,” adds Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy at BET. “We can’t wait to watch him take the stage with his vivacious energy, standing together with today’s hottest and beloved hip-hop stars.”

In August, Joe announced his one-man stand-up show, which will highlight his life and career. The show is set to debut in New York City this fall. Dave Chappelle will start the show with a special introduction, while Chris Robinson serves as the show’s director. Magic Lemonade and Roc Nation are co-producing the event. His autobiography will also drop Nov. 15.

As for the BET Hip Hop Awards, the event will be taped on Sept. 30, and premieres on air Tuesday, October 4, at 9:00 pm ET/PT on BET.

Anitta Appears in This Year’s Edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

It appears Anitta is doing swimmingly…

The 28-year-old Brazilian singer/songwriter appears on the pages of this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, which launched online on Monday, July 19.

Anitta is one of three musicians appearing in the issue. The other two? Megan Thee Stallion, who becomes only the second musician ever to star on the cover of the issue, and R&B singer Tinashe. This is the 58th edition of SI Swimsuit.

For Latin artists like Anitta, being featured in SI Swimsuit can not only make their reach more global, but it can also make their brand more relatable, says Isabel Paz, publicity and promotions associate director at Warner Music Latina. Paz works with artists including Anitta, Justin Quiles and Sofia Reyes.

Warner Records worked with the global Warner Music Latin team to sign the “Girl From Rio” singer last June ahead of her U.S. debut album due this year.

“I think Sports Illustrated is such a big brand that it definitely has a global reach. We don’t have Sports Illustrated in our market, like a Spanish version,” Paz tells Billboard, adding that print coverage exposes fans to a multidimensional view of their favorite singers. “It also shows another side of the artist that perhaps we wouldn’t see if they wouldn’t have been featured there. If you see them in a sports-related magazine, then you’re able to discover that this artist also has that interest. I think it just makes them more well-rounded and perhaps shows a side that is not just them on stage, but it also lets you know that the artist is capable of doing something else. It humanizes them a bit, because you can relate to them further.”

While SI Swimsuit works to “redefine the cultural conversation around beauty by celebrating a diverse group of women,” according to the publication’s statement during the annual Miami runway show earlier in July, Paz believes it has the power to celebrate “the whole variety” of Latina artists. The question remains if SI Swimsuit will continue to break grounds with whom the magazine wants to feature on the cover and in its pages in the coming years, and how many of those models will come from the music industry.

Megan Thee Stallion, Tinashe and Anitta will take the stage and perform at the official launch event for the 2021 issue on July 23 and 24 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. SI Swimsuit partnered with Hard Rock International for the two-day series of festivities, including interactive daytime events and a red carpet before the blowout concert at Hard Rock Live.

SI Swimsuit also worked with Roc Nation, where all three artists have direct and indirect management ties, to book the talent featured in its pages. Anitta signed a worldwide management deal with Brandon Silverstein’s S10 Entertainment, which is a partner of Roc Nation, in August 2019.

Anitta’s “Girl From Rio” single has been getting steady rotation at top 40 and rhythmic radio, further helping to ensure the Brazilian superstar’s long overdue breakout in the United States, with special thanks to DaBaby for his guest verse on the remix.

The 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue will be on newsstands on Thursday, July 22.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRg2_T2McN8/

Mariah Carey Leaves Roc Nation for Management Representation with Range Media Partners

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is expanding her range…

The 52-year-old half-Venezuelan Grammy-winning singer/songwriter has departed Roc Nation and partnered with Range Media Partners for management.

Carey will work with Melissa Ruderman, her former rep at Roc Nation who joined Range Media in January.

Carey’s move to Range Media follows a report in U.K. tabloid The Sun that the singer and Roc Nation founder Jay-Z fell out following an “explosive meeting.”

Carey, who signed with Roc Nation in November 2017, subsequently set out to quell the rumor by tweeting, “The only ‘explosive’ situation I’d ever ‘get into’ with Hov is a creative tangent, such as our #1 song ‘Heartbreaker.’”

Ruderman and Carey’s relationship goes back over 15 years, when Ruderman worked for manager Benny Medina and handled day-to-day management for Carey during the release cycle for her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi.

During her five-year stint at Roc Nation, Ruderman helped execute several major deals for Carey, including two consecutive residencies at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, a TV deal with Apple and a publishing contract that led to the publication of the New York Times-bestselling memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey.

Carey has had a long list of managers over the years. Before signing with Roc Nation, she was with Stella Bulochnikov and, before that, Kevin Liles, with whom she signed in 2014 following the dissolution of her management relationship with longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri. At various points earlier in her career, Carey was managed by ex-husband Tommy Mottola, Randy Jackson and Red Light Management.

Range Media Partners was launched in Sept. 2020 by former Entertainment One chief strategy officer Peter Micelli and a coalition of former CAA, WME and UTA agents.

Christina Aguilera Signs with Roc Nation Management

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Christina Aguilera is solid as a Roc…

The 39-year-old half-Ecuadorian American Grammy-winning singer has signed with Roc Nation management.

Rumors of the switch sparked when fans noticed the singer’s name and bio on the Roc Nation management roster. Aguilera joins Alicia Keys, DJ Khaled, Mariah Carey, Megan Thee Stallion, Meek Mill, Rihanna and more at the Jay-Z-founded agency.

Aguilera was previously managed by industry executive Irving Azoff, with whom she signed in 2000 after filing a breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against her previous manager Steve Kurtz.

The pop singer’s most recent album, Liberation, debuted (and peaked) at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2018. It was her seventh top 10 on the chart.

“Accelerate,” which features Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz, became her 10th No. 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart.

Lola Ponce to Perform for AC Milan & Roc Nation’s Virtual Live Tribute Concert

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Lola Ponceis honoring Italy’s frontliners…

Italian soccer club AC Milan and Roc Nation have joined forces to stage a virtual live event on Sunday, featuring the 37-year-old Argentine-Italian singer/songwriter and actress.

Headlined by Alicia Keys, the concert will pay tribute to workers fighting the coronaviruspandemic in Italy and beyond.

Funds raised through the event will benefit global humanitarian aid organization Direct Reliefand AC Milan’s philanthropic foundation.

Viewers will be able to donate via the “From Milan with Love” fundraising site and AC Milan’s Facebook page.

The hour-long tribute is scheduled for Sunday at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) and will be hosted by Grammy-winning producer DJ Khaled and Italian TV presenter Diletta Leotta.

In addition to Ponce and Keys, other performers include Kelly Rowland, Robin Thicke, Gavin Rossdale and Chris Traynor of Bush, and Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons.

“This crisis has presented unprecedented challenges for all of us, but the contribution that these key workers have made is humbling, inspiring and will never be forgotten,” Milan chief executive Ivan Gazid is said. “The participation of such an amazing array of talent in this event will provide a fitting tribute to them and I hope will help to spread a message of hope and optimism during this difficult period.”

Milan’s last Serie Agame was on March 8 before the league was suspended.

More than 27,000 people are known to have died from coronavirus in Italy. However, the number of daily new cases of COVID-19, as well as the fatalities, have steadily declined, and the country is set to ease lockdown measures on Monday, allowing individuals to practice sport outdoors.

Mariah Carey Returning to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest

Posted on December 26, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is getting a second chance…

The 47-year-old half-Venezuelan American singer will return to the scene of her infamous major malfunction in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, agreeing to another performance this year for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Carey was the victim of an alleged technical malfunction when she appeared on the globally televised program in 2016-17, though her bizarre off-camera demeanor made others question whether sound was the issue. Carey wound up walking around the stage without singing in what many described as a meltdown.

A representative for Carey blamed Dick Clark Productions. saying “production set her up to fail”; DCP called that claim “absurd.”

This year, Carey will take another stab at performing in the New Year’s Eve celebration, taking the stage at 11:45 p.m.

Carey recently changed managers, and the switch to Roc Nation might have prompted the return.

Other performers scheduled to appear include Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland. Britney Spears will appear for a remote cameo from Las Vegas.

Cardi B Among Artists Taking Part in Roc Nation’s Hurricane Relief Fundraiser

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B’s autograph will soon help people affected by this year’s hurricanes…

Roc Nation plans to raise money for the victims of the recent hurricanes that swept through Texas, Florida and the Caribbean, and they’ve called upon the 24-year-old part-Dominican American rapper to help.

The label management company has reportedly teamed up with One America Appeal and CharityBuzz, to host an auction of memorabilia from this year’s Made In America Festival signed by Cardi B, JAY-Z, J.Cole and more.

The pieces up for auction, are reportedly camouflage jackets that have the official, celebrity seal of approval on them. The Rocky jacket, which is estimated to be worth $3,000, includes handwritten signatures from JAY-Z, Migos, J. Cole and Pusha T. Other jackets – Liberty, Freedom, and Tidal – will boast signatures from Cardi B, Vic Mensa, 21 Savage, Run the Jewels and Stormzy.

For more information about the auction, visit here.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Roc Nation