Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell Music have partnered on the launch of an Ecuadorian music company called Sonido Distrito Sur (SDS).
The venture pairs UMG’s recorded music operations with Warner Music Group‘s publishing arm.
It is led by Juan Fernando Velasco, the Ecuadorian singer-songwriter, alongside music executive Ricardo Ordóñez.
Velasco is also president of SAYCE, the Ecuadorian authors’ and composers’ society.
News of the launch was first reported by Billboard on Wednesday (September 9).
According to the publication, SDS was formally launched at an event during SAYCE’s Music Week conference, which ran in Quito from September 1 to 4.
Billboard reports that the remit of Sonido Distrito Sur spans investment, production, distribution, marketing, promotion, A&R, international collaborations, and new growth opportunities for Ecuadorian artists.
On the live side, a press release quoted by Billboard says SDS plans to strike “a future international partnership to develop its booking operations.”
“At the heart of SDS is Artist Elevation, a proprietary model that seeks to comprehensively strengthen each artist’s career…” the release says, listing repertoire, image, positioning, collaborations, platform presence, and live performance among the areas covered.
“Ecuador has never lacked talent,” said Velasco. “What has been missing is a structure capable of connecting that talent with opportunities in the international music industry.
“Sonido Distrito Sur was created to build that bridge and help our artists gain the recognition they truly deserve.”
“Ecuador has never lacked talent. What has been missing is a structure capable of connecting that talent with opportunities in the international music industry.”
Juan Fernando Velasco (via Billboard)
Velasco served as Ecuador’s Minister of Culture and Heritage from mid-2019, resigning in September 2020 to run for president.
He ran in the February 2021 election for the Construye movement.
Billboard reports that Sonido Distrito Sur is targeting a position in the Andean region, and wants to take Ecuadorian artists into markets including Peru, Colombia, and Central America.
Both UMG and WMG continue to build out their respective Latin American operations.
Universal made three senior appointments across its Latin America and US Latino business in March, under Jesús López, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula.
Warner Chappell has been adding regional leadership under Gustavo Menéndez, its President of US Latin and Latin America, appointing Julian Franzoni General Manager for Argentina and Uruguay in June.
In January, the publisher named David Checa Managing Director of its Colombian operation, a role that also reports to Menéndez.
Checa spent a decade as CEO of both SAYCE and SOPROFON, Ecuador’s neighboring rights society, and later led Sony Music Publishing’s operations across Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Central America (excluding Mexico).
He joined Warner Chappell from independent publisher ONE Publishing, where he was Global Head of Publishing and Rights Management.
Checa was billed as a speaker at the opening session of this year’s Music Week, alongside Velasco.
The publisher has also signed a run of deals with independent and artist-led companies over the past year, including a global partnership with French electronic music company Kidding Aside, announced on Wednesday (September 9).
Neither UMG nor Warner Chappell has disclosed the ownership structure of Sonido Distrito Sur or the financial terms of their involvement.
Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group compete in both recorded music and publishing, with UMG’s publishing operations run through Universal Music Publishing Group.Music Business Worldwide
