The T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer Research last night (February 20) held the Martell in Miami Dinner at Estefan Kitchen, 140 NE 39th Street in the Miami Design District.
Martell in Miami honored Iñigo Zabala, President, Warner Music Latin America & Iberia with the Estefan Lifetime Achievement Award.
Leila Cobo, Vice President, Latin Industry Lead Billboard, was honored with the Music Industry Trailblazer Award.
Zabala, born in Madrid, Spain, began his career in the music industry as a founding member and songwriter of the Spanish band “La Union.” In 1988 he joined Warner Music Spain as A&R manager and was named Marketing Manager in 1990.He quickly moved up the corporate ladder as Deputy Managing Director in 1993 and just one year later was appointed Managing Director Warner Music Spain.
Zabala moved to become Managing Director Warner Music Mexico in 1998, took over as President of WMI’s Mexico and US Latin operations in January 2000, and moved to New York as Executive Vice President WMLA in August. Shortly after January 2001, he became President of Warner Music Latin America based out of Miami.
“Iñigo’s leadership, creativity and expertise are invaluable as our Latin business continues to explode.”
For over 25 years, Zabala has been at the helm of the professional careers of many of the Latin world’s biggest superstars including Mana, Miguel Bose, Luis Miguel, Ricardo Arjona, Alejandro Sanz, Jesse & Joy, Anitta, Laura Pausini, Piso21, Sofia Reyes, Danny Ocean, Zion & Lennox and Pablo Alboran, among many others.
Today, Warner Music Latin America’s affiliates include WM Argentina, WM Brazil, WM Chile, WM Colombia, WM Mexico, WM Spain and WM Portugal, with additional license offices in Central America, Ecuador and Peru.
Stu Bergen, CEO of International and Global Commercial Services, WMG, said: “Iñigo has spent his career bringing great music to life – first as an artist himself with La Union, and then as a force behind a huge diversity of talent, everyone from Anitta to Maná.
“His leadership, creativity and expertise are invaluable as our Latin business continues to explode, I can think of no one more deserving of the Estefan Lifetime Achievement Award, and it’s great to see him honored alongside the influential journalist Leila Cobo. TJ Martell is an excellent cause and we’re all honored to support their mission.”
Leila Cobo is considered one of the world’s leading experts in Latin music. In addition to her work with Billboard, she works closely with broadcast partner Telemundo on the Billboard Latin Music Awards and programs the yearly Billboard Latin Music Conference. Cobo was recently promoted to Vice President, Latin Industry Lead for Billboard.
[L-R: Honorees Iñigo Zabala and Leila Cobo with Alex Gonzalez, Sergio Vallin, Karol G, Fher Olvera, and Juan Calleros of Mana at the T.J. Martell dinner at Estefan Kitchen in Miami Florida on February 20, 2019. (Photo by John Parra, Getty Images)]Music Business Worldwide
