Juan Gabriel’s Estate Signs Exclusive Worldwide Agreement with Virgin Music US Latin; New Music Releases Expected

There’s new Juan Gabriel music heading your way…

Six years after his death, the late Mexican superstar’s estate has signed an exclusive worldwide agreement with Virgin Music US Latin, which will represent the singer’s post-2008 catalog and future recordings, and has also extended its publishing administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group, which will exclusively represent Gabriel’s extraordinary catalog of songs worldwide.

Juan GabrielThe deal is particularly important because unbeknownst to many, Gabriel left behind dozens of new recordings, including brand new, never released before material and re-recordings of old songs.

As one of the most recorded songwriters in Latin music and one of its biggest stars, the potential for those works is immense.

“We have a lot of material in different stages,” says Victor Gonzalez, president of Virgin Music Latin America & Iberian Peninsula.

This includes a third duets album (Gabriel recorded two prior to his death, both of them hits) featuring six or seven tracks with artists including Mon LaFerte and Gloria Trevi; additional, posthumous duets (which will use Gabriel’s previously-recorded vocals) will be included as well.

Gabriel died of a heart attack the morning of August 28, 2016 in Los Angeles as he readied for a flight to El Paso following a show at the Forum.

At the time, the 66-year-old singer and icon was at the apex of his career, enjoying a spectacular second act. He was in the midst of the U.S. leg of his MeXXico Es Todos tour, a 22-city arena trek that had him playing 360 stages to accommodate sold-out crowds.

He ranked at No. 18 on Billboard’s 2015 Money Makers list (just below Ed Sheeran and just above Florida Georgia Line).

He also scored the year’s highest-grossing Latin tour (bringing in $31.8 million) as well as the year’s top-selling Latin album, Los Duo.

The week before his death, his latest album, Vestido de Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallanes, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. A TV series based on his life was slated for the fall.

“He was at the height of his career. He was happy, happy, happy,” says González. “He was recording while he was on tour and because he was so healthy, we were able to re-record old songs and new material, and none of that saw the light of day, because he died.”

It was Jesus López who signed Gabriel to a 10-album contract with Universal Music Mexico in 2008, in a deal with a long back story. Gabriel signed his first label deal in 1971 with RCA in Mexico when he was 21 years old, at a time when publishing was typically included in recording deals.

In 1986 — after he became a major star and RCA was acquired by BMG — he famously stopped recording for seven years in protest of his original deal, under which the label owned not only his recording masters but also his songs.

Gabriel’s recorded music output resumed in 1994 when Jesús López (now the chairman of Universal Music Latin America/Iberian Penninsula), who had just been named president of BMG Latin, personally met with Gabriel and convinced him to record again after agreeing to give him ownership of his songs.

The first album under that arrangement was 1994’s Gracias por Esperar.

Gabriel’s recording deal eventually went to Sony after it acquired BMG; when that deal expired in 2008, González approached him with a new proposal.

“I suggested 10 albums that included a live album, a banda album, duets albums and three albums of new material,” says González. The first album under the deal — Juan Gabriel — was released in 2010. In an innovative twist, Universal agreed to let Gabriel retain ownership of his masters.

After Gabriel died in 2016, it took several years to untangle his affairs. Now, with his son Iván Aguilera the sole beneficiary of his estate, his legacy is ready to move on.

In 2020, Aguilera announced a partnership with Jampol Artist Management (JAM), a company that specializes in managing, preserving and developing artist estates whose clients include the estates of Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. Gabriel is their first Latin client, but he fit the company’s philosophy, says founder and CEO Jeff Jampol.

“When we talk about these huge legacies, they’re important not only artistically, of course, but sociologically and culturally and they mean a lot to a lot of people. Successful artists have magic,” says Jampol. “Juan Gabriel stands for something. The secret to my business is figuring out what that magic is and exposing it credibly and authentically.”

In 2020, Jampol and Gabriel’s estate — working with Melinda Zanoni of Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group and business manager Louis Barajas of the firm LAB — announced plans to release a documentary filmed during Gabriel’s last concert on Aug. 26, 2016, in Los Angeles, as well as a merchandise line, television series, feature film, theatrical stage show, books, tribute shows and a wax figure with Museo de Cera.

But having new music and new recordings to draw from pushes the value of the new deal to another level. Says Jampol, “These two deals [recorded music and publishing] combined are probably one of the highest valued deals I’ve made in the history of the company.”

In terms of publishing alone, “Juan Gabriel is one of the most important songwriters and artists in Latin music history,” says Alexandra Lioutikoff, president of UMPG for Latin America and U.S. Latin. “His catalog of music across 45 years is proof that great songs stand the test of time and continue to live on. Juan Gabriel is one of the strongest examples of a Latin music legacy catalog that is thriving through generations of fans around the world.”

For González, the deal will bring to life music he was personally close to.

“He was in the middle of a very creative period [when he died],” he says. “I spent some time with him in Playa del Carmen, for example, where he had a recording studio in his home, and he’d wake up and say, ‘I want to record!’ I lived it with him. I saw the day to day. He’d write and say, ‘Come and see me!’”

Howie Dorough & the Backstreet Boys to Perform on Fox’s ‘New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey’ Special

Howie Dorough is ready to ring in the New Year with a bangin’ performance…

The 46-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his Backstreet Boys mates will take the stage for Fox’s third annual Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square special.

Backstreet Boys

Dorough and the Backstreet Boys join a lineup that includes LL Cool JDJ Z-Trip, the Chainsmokers, the Lumineers, Florida Georgia LineTygaand The Killers, along with celebrity appearances by Gordon RamsayWill Arnettand Jenna Dewan.

Maria Menounos and NFL ex-player Rob Gronkowskiwill co-host the evening, which will feature a performance by Angel Moralesand his fellow Village Peoplemembers as the group tries to set a world record for the largest YMCAdance.

The evening also will feature a WWE match with Roman Reigns.

The Fox party starts at 8:00 pm live from Manhattan, with a tape-delayed edition for the Mountain and Pacific time zones.

Howie Dorough & the Backstreet Boys Win First-Ever CMT Music Awards Trophy

It’s a twangy first for Howie Dorough

The 44-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his fellow Backstreet Boys have earned their first-ever CMT Music Award.

Backstreet Boys

The boybanders won the award for CMT Performance of the Year for their performance ofEverybodyalongside Florida Georgia Line at the CMT Crossroads: Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line special.

The CMT Music Awards were broadcast live from Nashville.

Here’s a look at the night’s big winners:

Video of the Year
Blake Shelton – “I’ll Name The Dogs”

Male Video of the Year
Blake Shelton – “I’ll Name The Dogs”

Female Video of the Year
Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris – “The Champion”

Duo Video of the Year
Dan + Shay – “Tequila”

Group Video of the Year
Little Big Town – “When Someone Stops Loving You”

Breakthrough Video of the Year
Carly Pearce – “Every Little Thing”

Collaborative Video of the Year
Kane Brown feat. Lauren Alaina – “What Ifs”

CMT Performance of the Year
From CMT Crossroads:Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line – “Everybody”

 

Howie Dorough & His Backstreet Boys to Perform at This Year’s CMT Music Awards

Howie Dorough is goin’ country…

The 44-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his fellow Backstreet Boys group mates  are set to perform at next month’s CMT Music Awards, country music’s fan-voted awards show.

Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys join the lineup along with their “God, Your Mama, and Me” collaborators Florida Georgia Line, as well as country stars Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Dan + Shay and show’s hosts Little Big Town.

There’s no word yet on what song Dorough and the Boys will perform.

Previously announced performers include Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan and Kelsea Ballerini.

Clarkson will be delivering a performance of her remake of the rock classic “American Woman,” which is the theme of the new Paramount Network series of the same name.

The CMT Awards air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6 at 8:00 pm ET.

Meanwhile, Backstreet Boys’ new single, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” debuted at No. 32 on Billboards Pop Songs airplay chart. It marks their first hit on the chart since 2007’s “Inconsolable.”

Dorough & the Backstreet Boys Return to the Billboard Hot 100 with Their Florida Georgia Line Collaboration “God, Your Mama, And Me”

It’s the end of a decade-long drought for Howie Dorough

The 42-year-old half-Puerto Rican singer and his fellow Backstreet Boys band mates have returned to the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since 2007, as Florida Georgia Line‘s “God, Your Mama, And Me,” featuring the boy band, debuts at No. 92 on the chart (dated March 18).

Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys had last appeared on the Hot 100 with “Inconsolable,” which reached No. 86 in September 2007.

The new collaboration is BSB‘s 17th Hot 100 hit (and first in a featured role). The group has tallied six top 10s, led by its highest-charting, No. 2-peaking 1997 breakthrough smash “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).”

On the Hot Country Songs chart, “God, Your Mama, And Me” enters the top 20 (21-16) as the top Streaming Gainer, following the February 20 arrival of its official video, which stars both FGL and BSB. The song enters Country Streaming Songs at No. 15, up 31 percent to 2.8 million U.S. streams in the week ending March 2, according to Nielsen Music. It also pushes 6-5 on Country Digital Song Sales (20,000 downloads sold, up 27 percent) and 34-31 on Country Airplay (6.5 million in audience, up 14 percent).

Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley remembers seeing Backstreet Boys in concert in 1998. “It was nuts,” he recently told Billboard. “People were just screaming, hooting and hollering all around.”

“To have the Backstreet Boys featured on [“God”] was something we kind of envisioned in the studio while recording it,” the duo’s Tyler Hubbard added. “To have that come to fruition was amazing. It really, really took that song to the next level.”

Said Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson, “I’m a father of two boys, so I like how the song could have a double meaning. You could be talking about your children, or your spouse, or your love interest. I think it’s poetic, and it’s got a great melody.”

Bailon to Co-Host Fox’s Summer Reality Series “Knock Knock Live”

It looks like Adrienne Bailon is ready for a knock off….

The 31-year-old Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian American singer, actress, dancer and television personality will serve as one of the five co-hosts on Fox’s summer reality series Knock Knock Live.

Adrienne Bailon

Bailon, a former star The Cheetah Girls member and current co-host of Fox’s talk show The Real, will be joined by American Idol alum Kellie Pickler, TV host Ross Mathews and radio personalities Jordan “Shorty” Johnson and Chuey Martinez.

Bailon and the gang will travel the country rapping on people’s front doors and giving them a chance to win prizes and meet celebrities.

The network also announced that celebrities set for the Ryan Seacrest-hosted show include Common, David Beckham, Luke Bryan, Mike Holmes, Lea Michele, Meghan Trainor and country duo Florida Georgia Line.

Knock Knock Live is set to premiere on July 21 at 9:00 pm on Fox.

Blacc to Perform at Milwaukee’s Summerfest This June

Aloe Blacc is heading to The Badger State.

The 36-year-old Panamanian American singer-songwriter is set to perform at this year’s Summerfest, the Guinness Book of World Records-certified largest festival in the world.

Aloe Blacc

Aloe Blacc will join Kaskade, Bastille, the Flaming Lips, Sheryl Crow, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Santigold, Jane’s Addiction, DJ Paris Hilton, Kings of Leon, Florida Georgia Line, Kendrick Lamar, and more from June 24-28 and June 30-July 5 at Milwaukee’s Henry W. Maier Festival Park.

“Absolutely fantastic,” says Don Smiley, president & CEO of Summerfest, in regard to the 2015 line-up in a statement. “It’s the best line-up of bands in the U.S. and possibly the world. A true, quality choice of music for everyone.”

This year’s Summerfest anticipates its usual approximately 900,000 attendees to see a total of 800 acts and 1,000 performances (totaling last year to 1,353 hours, or about 57 days) spread across 11 days and 11 stages.

Tickets are now available for purchase on Summerfest’s official website, where you can also find a comprehensive list of this year’s lineup. General admission tickets are $19 while weekday tickets are $12; three-day passes sell for $45.

McCreery to be a Presenter at the American Country Countdown Awards

Scotty McCreery is ready for his countdown close-up…

The 21-year-old part-Puerto Rican country crooner and American Idol champion is among the presenters announced for the first ever American Country Countdown Awards, joining hosts Florida Georgia Line at the December 15 event.

Scotty McCreery

McCreery joins a roster that includes Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, Maddie & Tae and Kip Moore.

Musicians Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Cole Swindell and Chris Young, as well as NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and 2014 National League MVP Clayton Kershaw, actors Terry Crews of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Emily Kinney of The Walking Dead, and Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev will also present.

The show will air live on FOX at 8:00 pm EST and PST with a tape-delay.

The American Country Countdown Awards is based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show of 41 years, “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” and will honor country artists based on album sales and radio airplay.

Kenny Chesney will be on hand to accept The Groundbreaker Award and Reba McEntire will accept the NASH Icon Award. Performers will include Kelly Clarkson, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

Tickets to the American Country Countdown Awards, are available for purchase here.

The American Country Countdown Awards is produced by dick clark productions.

Lopez to Perform at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards

Jennifer Lopez is preparing for the Sin City celebration…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and American Idol judge will rock the stage at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez, who recently revealed the album title and steamy artwork for her upcoming album, has been confirmed as a performer at the May 18 BBMAs in Las Vegas.

The “I Luh Ya Papi” singer joins an all-star line-up of performers including Katy Perry, 5 Seconds of Summer, Florida Georgia Line, Imagine Dragons, Jason Derulo, John Legend, Lorde, Luke Bryan, Miley Cyrus, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, OneRepublic, Pitbull and Ricky Martin.

No word on what song Lopez will perform.

Fifth Harmony Perfoms Latest Single at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Lauren Jauregui, Camila Cabello and Ally Brooke Hernandez have proven that their better together this Thanksgiving

The Latina singers, members of the Simon Cowell-created all-girl group Fifth Harmony, celebrated the recent holiday by performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

fifth_harmony_billboard_650_20-flashbox

Fifth Harmony, who joined a lineup that included Austin Mahone, Ariana Grande and Florida Georgia Line, rode on the Pepperidge Farm Goldfish float and performed their latest single “Better Together.”

Other performers during the 87th installment of the iconic holiday event included Cher Lloyd, who appeared on a Brooklyn Bridge replica; Fall Out Boy, Kellie Pickler, Gavin DeGraw and the Goo Goo Dolls.

This year’s parade, a three-hour event, featured more than 50 character balloons, which included SpongeBob SquarePants, Snoopy and his bird friend Woodstock and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Due to strong wind, the balloons were flown lower than normal.