Benjamin Flores Jr. Signs with Hyperion for Agency Representation

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Benjamin Flores Jr. is under new representation…

The 19-year-old Latino actor and rapper has signed with Hyperion for agency representation.

Flores most recently starred in the Leigh Janiak-directed Netflix feature trilogy Fear Street, released this past summer.

He’s also a series regular on the Showtime drama Your Honor alongside Bryan Cranston and Michael Stuhlbarg. The series, which has been picked up for a second season, became the most-watched debut season ever on Showtime as well as the network’s most watched series.

Flores was previously a lead in the McG-directed Netflix feature comedy Rim of the World and played a supporting role in the $605M-global grossing Transformers: The Last Knight for Paramount.

The actor got his start as a series regular on Nickelodeon’s The Haunted Hathaways followed by Game Shakers.

He is a recipient of the Imagen Award for Best Young Actor-Television.

Warner Music Latina Signs Worldwide Deal with Keityn

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Keityn is ready to break out globally…

Warner Music Latina has signed a worldwide exclusive deal with the 25-year-old Colombian songwriter.

Born Kevyn Mauricio Cruz Moreno, the artist is behind chart-topping hits like “Tusa” by Karol G and Nicki Minaj, Maluma‘s “Hawái” and J Balvin and Tainy‘s “Agua,” to name a few.

The deal will see future releases of his songs as an artist. With “Nueva Versión,” which was released this week, he makes his debut as a singer-songwriter.

“Keityn is undoubtedly one of today’s top and most complete artists,” Gabriela Martinez, managing director Warner Music Latina, said in a statement. “His new musical work with his lyrics and rhymes represent an unprecedented new sound, and his voice confirms his unstoppable talent.”

“For me it is a pleasure to be part of the Warner family, this is one of the largest labels in the industry and I’m extremely happy,” Keityn expressed. “It is incredible to know they trust me, and my talent and I hope to do amazing things with this great family.”

Juan Vargas, Keityn’s manager added: “It is a pleasure to start this new stage in his rising career, with the support of a Warner Music Latina. It means a lot to be backed by a such a great record label.”

Keityn is up for three Latin Grammys, including song of the year for “Agua” and “Hawai” and best urban song for “Agua.”

Earlier this year, Billboard caught up with the artist who’s “Tusa (Heartbreak),” which he co-wrote with Ovy on the Drums, won song of the year at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards.

“It’s a song that a woman or a man can sing,” Keityn said talking about the hit song. “It’s a situation a lot of people go through so they identify with the song. Plus, the combination of Nicki with Karol; that was explosive.”

Jhené Aiko Signs Co-Publishing Deal with Warner Chappell Music

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Jhené Aiko has a new publishing deal…

Warner Chappell Music has signed a co-publishing deal with the 33-year-old part-Spanish and Dominican American Grammy-nominated artist.

The deal includes all songs created by Aiko from January 2021 until the deal’s end, this includes already released songs like “In the Dark” by Swae Lee and Aiko, “By Yourself” by Ty Dolla $ign ft. Aiko and Mustard, and more.

“Jhené’s star power only continues to rise, and it’s been exciting to see her become one of the industry’s most influential acts,” says Ryan Press, Warner Chappell Music President of A&R, U.S. “With each new release, she reveals a different side of her musical talent and captivates listeners with her artistry and lyrics. She’s established herself as the defining voice of her generation and of modern R&B, and we’re so proud to be working with Jhené, her manager Taz and the whole team at ArtClub.”

Jhené Aiko also added, “I’ve known Ryan Press for a long time now and have so much love and respect for the work they’re doing at Warner Chappell. They treat their songwriters like family, and it’s great to be on this new journey together.”

Heyday Television Options Four of Dolores Redondo’s Novels

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Some of Dolores Redondo’s works are getting the Hollywood treatment…

Heyday Television has optioned four novels from the 52-year-old Spanish award-winning noir author: The North Face of the Heart and its Baztan Trilogy prequel, the latter of which has already been made into three Netflix films.

The North Face of the Heart follows Spanish detective Amala Salazar, as she helps the FBI track an extraordinary serial killer down in New Orleans on the eve of Hurricane Katrina. Salazar joins a high-profile team led by FBI agent Aloisius Dupree, whose own complicated past is entwined with the communities struggling to defend their homes as the flood waters rise.

Prior to its publication, Redondo wrote the Baztan Trilogy, which comprises The Invisible Guardian, The Legacy of the Bones and Offering to the Storm and has already been made into three Spanish language Netflix films by Fernando González Molina.

Heyday, which is part of NBCUniversal International Studios, has been busy in the optioning market since it launched, most recently scoring TV rights to Big Little Lies’ author Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall.

Zoey Luna Signs with A3 Artists Agency for Representation

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Zoey Luna has new representation…

The pioneering Latina transgender youth activist turned actress, who stars in The Craft: Legacy star Zoey Luna has signed with A3 Artists Agency.

Luna portrayed Lourdes in The Craft: Legacy and currently can be seen in Universal’s Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Stephen Chbosky.

Luna was the subject of the groundbreaking documentary film Raising Zoey, chronicling her journey of how she was determined to live her authentic life, and fought school officials in the Los Angeles school system with the ACLU for her right to self-identify in school between ages 12-15.

She was also part of Laverne Cox’s documentary film Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word for MTV and the documentary 15: A Quinceañera Story for HBO.

She began her acting career with a lead role in the Rosario Dawson-directed short film Boundless and she most recently appeared in the season finale of FX’s award-winning series Pose.

Luna served as the grand marshal at the 2015 LA Pride parade, is the recipient of the San Diego Equality Award and the recipient of the ALMA Awards’ Young Trailblazer Award.

She also is a frequent featured speaker at the Human Rights Campaign’s Time to Thrive conferences.

Ricky Velez Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Ricky Velez is ready for new endeavors…

William Morris Endeavor (WME) has signed the Latino comedian for representation in all areas.

Velez has an upcoming one-hour comedy special titled Ricky Velez: Here’s Everything—executive produced by himself, Judd Apatow, and Pete Davidson—debuting on October 23 via HBO.

On the acting front, the Queens native starred in (and co-produced) the 2020 film, The King of Staten Island. He’s also appeared in Netflix’s Master of None.

Velez was a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and has appeared on Comedy Central’s This Week at the Comedy Cellar.

Eugenio Derbez & His 3Pas Studios Sign First-Look Deal with Univision for Original Spanish Projects

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Derbez is excited to bring new Spanish projects to Univision…

The 60-year-old Mexican actor, comedian and filmmaker and 3Pas Studios, run by Derbez and his producing partner Ben Odell, have inked a first-look deal with Univision to create original scripted and unscripted Spanish-language projects for Univision’s global streaming SVOD content slate set to launch in 2022.

Univision will have the first look at all Spanish-language television and theatrical motion picture projects controlled by 3Pas Studios and Derbez, including movies and series for SVOD or theatrical releases.

The multi-year agreement also includes the curation of the new “Derbez Channel” featuring family and comedy content available via the network’s free AVOD tier, and the release of titles starring Derbez that put him on the map.

A sampling of titles includes Al Derecho y al Derbez, La Familia P. Luche, and the hit film Instructions Not Included.

“I’m really glad to get back to producing in Spanish,” Derbez tells Deadline exclusively. “Although, I am proud to say my projects like [the Apple TV+ series] Acapulco and [the film] Overboard, and How to Be A Latin Lover always included some Spanish. I’m going to still do English projects but I’m very excited to connect again with my Spanish-language fans who have always supported me.”

Derbez teases the 3Pas team is “working on a lot of ideas” that could bring series similar to Acapulco to Univision. Odell shed some insight into what that could look like.

“We know our audience likes to sit with their families and watch content together,” Odell shares. “We teamed up with Univision because we share that sensibility—we want to reach a multigenerational audience. That takes wanting to be in dialogue with that audience—which Univision is—but now we want to make the premium version. What’s our Stranger Things look like?”

Derbez adds, “What Univision is doing with their streaming platform is the future. They’re giving us the freedom and the budget to try new things and take risks to make interesting and different programming. The idea of developing and producing world-class, Spanish-language content across different genres and catering to different age groups for Univision is very exciting.”

Joss Favela Signs Worldwide Administration Agreement with Warner Chappell Music

Posted on October 10, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Joss Favela has a new deal…

The 30-year-old Mexican award-winning singer-songwriter has signed a worldwide administration agreement with Warner Chappell Music.

“His raw talent, creative instincts, and authenticity shine through in every performance,” said Gustavo Menéndez, WCM president, U.S. Latin & Latin America, who first saw Favela perform at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards a few years ago. “We’re glad Joss has chosen Warner Chappell as his partner in this journey and we look forward to working alongside him.”

Proud to be his publisher and excited to do “great things together,” Lazaro Hernandez, WMC vice president, A&R, U.S. Latin & Latin America, added: “Joss is a dynamic and genuine songwriter who at such a young age has already established himself as one of the greatest of his time.”

The Regional Mexican star, who has penned more than 100 songs for artists like Alejandro Fernandez, Banda MS, and Natti Natasha, made history at the 2016 Premio ASCAP as the youngest person ever to win songwriter of the year. He nabbed the title in 2017 and 2018.

On the Billboard charts, Favela has entered Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, Top Latin Albums, Regional Mexican Albums, and Regional Mexican Airplay, where he has five top 10’s.

“When my love for music started I never thought that I’d get to spend my life writing songs,” he said. “I’m continuously surprised by the beautiful things that happen to me, and joining the Warner Chappell family is one of them. I’m grateful for the songs that life has given me, but I’m even more grateful for the ones that are still to come.”

Favela, who is represented by Simran A. Singh and Christopher Navarro of Singh, Singh & Trauben, LLP, is nominated for best banda album at the 2021 Latin Grammys with Llegando al Rancho.

Debra Moore Muñoz Signs Overall Content Deal with FX Productions

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Debra Moore Muñoz has a new content deal…

The Mexican-American writer and producer, a co-executive producer and writer on FX’s Mayans M.C., has signed an overall deal with the show’s producer, FX Productions, to develop new content for FX through her company Apogee Films, Inc.

Muñoz is a first generation American who was born and raised in Los Angeles. She attended Columbia University in New York City, then returned to LA to begin her career in film development.

She worked on projects like Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Heat and St. Vincent before transitioning into television, serving first as a general assistant, then as a writers’ assistant on Westworld from 2016 to 2018.

In 2019, she was included on the 2019 Black List for her script Refuge, which follows a brother and sister through Central America as they seek safety in the United States.

In 2021, Muñoz joined the writing staff of Mayans M.C., which stars JD Pardo as Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes, a new member of the Mayans M.C. charter on the border of California and Mexico. EZ and his brother Angel (Clayton Cardenas) uncover the truth behind their mother’s murder while their father Felipe (Edward James Olmos) struggles to reconcile the choices he and his sons have made. Muñoz was recently promoted to co-executive producer.

“Debra has emerged as one of the brightest writers and producers in the industry and FX was fortunate to have her on the writing staff of ‘Mayans M.C’. since its inception,” said Nick Grad, FX’s president of original programming. “We look forward to collaborating with her for new projects that draw on her enormous talents.”

Blessd Signs Worldwide Distribution & Licensing Deal with Warner Music Latina

Posted on October 4, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Blessd has an exciting new deal…

Warner Music Latina has signed an exclusive worldwide distribution and licensing agreement with the up-and-coming Colombian artist, who recently announced his first-ever international tour.

In addition, Blessd’s exclusive deal, which is an alliance with JM World Music and Cigol Music, will include a “crafty, all-party proposal that will bring the artist’s music globally.”

“Blessd is undoubtedly Colombia’s next musical urban star,” Gabriela Martinez, managing director at Warner Music Latina, said in a statement. “At Warner Latina we are very excited to be part of this project and take it to the next level.”

Dr. Velasquez, who signed Blessd to JM World Music in 2019, added: “JM World Music and Cigol Music see in Warner Mexico and Warner Music Latina an opportunity for team growth.”

“Everything that is happening in my career is very important to me,” the 21-year-old artist said in a statement. “I feel that the alliance with Warner Music Latina is a new beginning and I feel very confident to have the backing of a company like this. The idea is to project bigger and bigger goals and work as a team with the best.”

Part of Colombia’s new wave of hip-hop and reggaetón artists, the artist born Stiven Mesa Londoño in Antioquia, Medellín, broke out during the global pandemic, releasing viral hits like “Imposible” and “Hace Tiempo.” A promising singer-songwriter, who can gracefully go from freestyle to a chanteo to singing, he has already collaborated with artists such as Maluma, Piso 21, Ovy on the Drums, and The Black Eyed Peas. The former Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise credits reggaetón veteran Arcangel and Venezuelan rapper Akapellah as his biggest source of inspiration.

He continued: “All my achievements are in the hands of God and in prayer, I always ask that my songs be heard in all corners of the world and that my team is always blessed. From today on, I have the Warner, JM, and Cigol shirt on, because working hand in hand with the Lord everything is possible.”

The signing announcement comes on the heels of his first-ever international fall tour, kicking off November 4 in Europe. Blessd’s upcoming studio album, Hecho en Medellín, is scheduled to launch on October 27 under Warner Music Latina and features collaborations with Arcangel, Justin Quiles, Myke Towers, and more.

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