Virgin Music has entered into a strategic partnership with a new record label launched by former Warner Music Iberia President José Carlos “Charlie” Sanchez.
The deal with Sanchez’s new Metales Preciosos record company is the first signing to the new Virgin Music Label & Artist Services in Spain.
Sanchez stepped down from Warner Music Iberia in June last year after spending 13 years in the role and was succeeded by Guillermo Gonzalez.
Universal Music Group launched Virgin Music Label & Artist Services last month as a new global division serving independent artists and labels that UMG says is “inspired and influenced by the spirit and ethos of the iconic Virgin Records label”.
Amongst other regions, the Virgin services division also launched in Mexico and Spain, as well as launching Latin operations in the US across Los Angeles and Miami.
UMG claims that “Virgin Music Label & Artist Services Latin America will be the first fully integrated label services division worldwide for Latin music.”
“Personally, I have known Charlie for many years and have always had the utmost respect for him both as a firm competitor and also as a human being.”
Jesús Lopez, UMG
Jesús Lopez, Chairman Universal Music LATAM & Iberian Penninsula at Universal Music Group International, said: “From the late 80’s, DRO set the trend and was cutting edge in its modern and progressive way of perceiving Spanish and Latin music.
“Warner, under Charlie’s direction, then continued with that innovative spirit. Now, this new relaunch of Virgin Music in Spain, the iconic record company founded by Sir Richard Branson and Charlie’s newly established company
Metales Preciosos Música & Discos, represents a new and exciting challenge for us all: for the Universal Music Spain team, led by Narcis Rebollo and for Virgin Latam & Iberian Peninsula, headed by Victor Gonzalez.
He added: “Personally, I have known Charlie for many years and have always had the utmost respect for him both as a firm competitor and also as a human being.
“We are very happy that he has decided to join forces with us and welcome him.”
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to return to my entrepreneurial roots with the launch of Metales Preciosos Música & Discos.”
Charlie Sanchez
Charlie Sanchez added: “I am very excited to have the opportunity to return to my entrepreneurial roots with the launch of Metales Preciosos Música & Discos and am thrilled to be able to work with Universal/Virgin and its team of professionals.
“A team with whom I have always maintained a very good personal relationship and whom I respect and admire. It’s an honor and an inspiration for me to be part of Virgin’s relaunch.
“When we founded DRO in the early 80’s, Virgin was the best example of an independent company to follow, with its know-how to discover and develop new musical talent and its capacity to innovate and transform the music business.
“I hope this new alliance will give us the opportunity to carry on discovering new great talents and allow us to create more hits for music in our language.”Music Business Worldwide
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