NEW YORK (By
Amanda Collins/ Warner
Music Group) - WEA Corp., Warner
Music Group Corp.'s (NYSE: WMG) U.S. sales and retail distribution company, today announced an agreement to market and distribute select music titles from Union Records' roster of artists, including Latin stars Juan Fernando Velasco and Danilo Parra, among others.
Miami-based Union Records, a division of Union Music Group, focuses on all Latin musical genres, including regional Mexican, rock, pop, tropical and reggaeton.
In making the announcement, Ricardo Ordonez, CEO of Union Records, said, "This is undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity where we have an ability to join the resources from our publishing and catalog repertoire with the most talented distribution company in the music business, WEA Corp."
John Esposito, President and CEO, WEA Corp., said, "Latin Music remains one of the industry's fastest growing and most dynamic genres. WEA is delighted to leverage our expertise in sales and marketing with Union Records and their exciting artist roster."
Jose Godur, President of Union Records, said, "This is the time to prove that Latin independent labels are not only equipped with some of the most young and talented artists of today, but with a distribution partner as powerful as WEA, the possibilities are endless. In addition, there are many popular acts who want the attention and representation that only independent labels can provide, and with a strong collaboration as the one with WEA, you'll find many of these artists knocking at your door."
One of Colombia's hottest musical sensations, Juan Fernando Velasco's albums have sold more than 120,000 units in Colombia alone. Danilo Parra's debut release, "Mis Canciones," has been certified gold two times in his native Ecuador.
About WEA Corp.
WEA Corp. was the first major music distribution company in the U.S. and has continued to set the standard for sales and marketing in the music industry for more than thirty years. In addition to the Warner Bros., Elektra and Atlantic labels, WEA distributes audio and video releases from Rhino Entertainment, Asylum Records, East West Records, Word Entertainment, Time-Life Music, Warner Music Latina and Curb Records, as well as several other labels. WEA Corp.'s e-Commerce department works with online and traditional retailers for all commercial, digital and wireless transactions on behalf of WMG's U.S. labels. The department develops and delivers sales and marketing programs to promote WMG's artists to online retailers and other partners.
Headquartered in New York, WEA Corp. has regional offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Minneapolis.
About Union Records
Miami Beach-based Union Records is the creation of two young, well known individuals in the Latin music industry: Ricardo Ordonez (CEO) and Jose Godur (President). Ordonez comes from an extensive publishing background that dates back to the early 1990s in New York City working with some of the most important Tropical catalogs and later creating his own publishing network, Generations. Jose Godur's Sales and Marketing experience also dates back to the early 1990s with Warner Latina and Lideres - Ole Music where he was National Director of Sales for both organizations. Both have vast experience with all Latin musical genres including regional Mexican, rock, pop, tropical and reggaeton. Ordonez states, "We are a Latin music company, therefore we represent all Latin music, hence the word Union."
