Ludmilla Signs New Management Deal with WK Entertainment & Central Sonora

Ludmilla has a new management deal…

The 27-year-old Brazilian powerhouse singer-songwriter has signed with WK Entertainment and Central Sonora. The alliance arrives after she won a 2022 Latin Grammy for her album Numanice #2, and after making history as the first Afro-Latina artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify.

Ludmilla,“[This deal] is a very important step in my career,” Ludmilla tells Billboard Español. “WK Entertainment/Central Sonora, together with my company Sem Querer Produções, will add structure and they will assist in enhancing my musical work, which is my focus. I am very happy and excited about this partnership and I am sure it will yield many results.”

Together, the teams will work to further amplify Ludmilla’s global artistic development. Central to this growth is Central Sonora’s CEO Cesar Figueiredo, who is leading this new stage in the artist’s career. He’ll oversee all management functions of the project. Walter Kolm, who is the founder and CEO of WK Entertainment and WK Records, will also provide support while helping develop key relations for Ludmilla’s continued growth.

“Ludmilla reflects the true sonority that exists in Brazil today. She is ready to conquer the world by exploring our Brazilian culture,” Figueiredo said in a statement shared with Billboard Español. “Our alliance began a few years ago as a friendship and has since blossomed, giving us the opportunity to finally work together professionally. It is truly an honor for me as a manager to represent a highly regarded and iconic artist such as Ludmilla.”

“This is a phase in my career that is very diverse and different from anything I’ve ever done, a phase that accompanies my current state and the work I propose, which has 100 per cent my truth and [aligned with] my artistic vein,” the artist adds.

With her propulsive pop and funk formula, Ludmilla has become a force to be reckoned with in her native Brazil and beyond. And her ever-expanding fan base further testifies her rise to prominence — she currently has 28.8 million followers on Instagram and 10.5 million on Twitter. The singer-songwriter navigates stylistic configurations with ease, whether she’s soulfully singing an R&B ballad (“Quem é Você”), spitting some funky carioca bars (“Tic Tac”) or charming listeners with sweet samba songs (“Maldivas”). Her gritty trap features equally intrigue, like on “Tanto Faz.”

“I think of funk as an agent of change, especially in the lives of so many peripheral people who don’t have opportunities,” she says. “Funk embraces and elevates, it makes is claim our place in the world.”

Ludmilla is poised to drop her next singles “Sou Má,” featuring funk MCs Tasha and Tracie, as well as “Nasci Pra Vencer” on February 2. “The lyrics [to the latter trap song] tell my story, which is similar to the story of those who come from a place without [economic] gains, but with talent and hard work, we can reach places we never thought possible. It’s about me, but it’s also about others who I hope feel represented,” she says.

Last week, Billboard Español exclusively announced WK Record’s Brazilian operational expansion, which began quietly running last year. It will function to develop the careers of local talent with global appeal, while creating international opportunities for them.

“I am delighted to welcome Ludmilla to our family of artists and join her in this exciting new journey, in partnership with Central Sonora,” Kolm stated. “Our companies look forward to amplifying Ludmilla’s career around the world and to consolidate [her] position as one of Brazil’s top artists.”

Ludmilla is currently working on an eclectic album which, she mentions, will span genres like pop, R&B, funk, trap and more.

Yandel Partners with Rapetón Founder Angel “El Guru” Vera to Launch Talent Search Venture ‘Rapetón Approved’

Yandel is giving a hand up to the next generation…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer and record producer, whose real name is Llandel Veguilla Malavé, and Angel “El Guru” Vera, the founder of popular website and media brand Rapetón, have joined forces for a new venture called Rapetón Approved that will sign and promote up and coming acts.

Yandel

Rapetón Approved will sign new artists through Yandel’s label, Y Entertainment Records, and will help promote them via Rapetón’s platforms, including its website and YouTube channel.

Yandel is the latest among several Latin acts to launch or expand their label ventures in recent months. His longtime recording partner, Wisin, recently launched his own label with his manager, Walter Kolm.

Yandel, however, is partnering with a journalist, albeit one whose specialty is reggaeton and who has become a brand name within the genre.

“I’ve been following Angel’s growth for several years,” says Yandel. “I think he’s a natural A&R who truly wants to help new artists. I’m 100% convinced that with my record label, I can contribute to grow this Rapeton Approved, an idea Angel has been working on since 2016.”

Y Entertainment already has producers and artists signed to its roster, including Catalyna, Nesty and Izzy Guerra. However, the new Rapetón Approved will start from scratch in its search for talent, says Yandel’s manager, Andy Martínez, who helped piece the deal together.

Likewise, Rapetón will continue to function as it normally does, focused on covering the world of Latin urban music in general and the reggaeton in particular, where Guru is a widely respected fixture with a YouTube channel with over 900k subscribers.

“We are ready to support those who want to be successful in this industry and we’re doing it hand in hand with professionals who know their jobs,” added Guru. “There are no barriers to making dreams come true.”

Anitta to Take Part in Special One-On-One Conversation with Ryan Tedder at This Year’s Virtual Latin Music Week

Anitta is ready to open up about being a girl from Rio

The 27-year-old Brazilian singer, who recently released the Cardi B & Myke Towers collaboration “Me Gusta,” will take part in this year’s virtual Latin Music Week (Oct. 20-23).

AnittaAnitta joins a list of new additions to the roster that includes Anuel AA, Becky G, Nicky JamLos Tigres del Norte and Wisin.

Anitta and producer and lead singer of OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder, will take part in a one-on-one conversation about working together on Anitta’s forthcoming album, Girl From Rio and much more.

Puerto Rican rapper and Billboard Latin Music Awards finalist Anuel AA will be joined by his close friend, Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx, to talk about their upcoming joint music and film projects, including a documentary on Anuel’s life, produced by Anuel, Foxx, and RD Whittington.

Mexican-American hitmaker Becky G will join Jorge and Hernán Hernández from the iconic norteño group Los Tigres del Norte to discuss the role artists currently play in engaging voters and the immigrant experience as seen by two generations of iconic Mexican American artists.

Reggaeton star Nicky Jam will discuss the process behind his songs with Billboard’s Latin industry lead Leila Cobo for the “Sony ATV Iconic Songwriter” panel.

And Latin urban superstar Wisin will be joined by Latin music executive Walter Kolm to chat about how the two are expanding into their own label operations, how they are discovering new talent and creating new and novel marketing and promotions strategies in the music business, in a panel moderated by Enrique Santos, chairman and chief creative officer of iHeart Latino.

The newly-announced panelists join a star-studded Latin Music Week that will also feature superstar speakers like J Balvin, Maluma, Jennifer Lopez, Rosalía, Ozuna, Carlos Vives, Sech and Camilo. This year’s Latin Music Week, which was originally scheduled to take place April 20-23 in Las Vegas, NV and was postponed due to COVID-19.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary as the longest-running and biggest Latin music industry, the three day immersive experience dedicated to Latin Music, culture and entertainment, will feature intimate artist conversations, industry panels, workshops and performances. Additional participants and schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. To reserve a spot and receive updates, RSVP here.

Dangond Signs with WK Entertainment

Silvestre Dangond is ready to expand his global status…

The 36-year-old Colombian vallenato singer and four-time Latin Grammy-nominee has signed a deal with management company WK Entertainment to helm and expand his career in the United States and Latin America.

Silvestre Dangond

“I believe in God and that the sincere desires of the heart and dreams are fulfilled. I know this team will fight for me, that they will help me reach another level,” said Dangond in a statement. “Every day a new “silvestrista” is born, I want to get where they are. It will be very exciting for the “silvestristas” of Colombia see international “silvestristas” infected with my music around the world.”

The management company’s CEO Walter Kolm and Dangond’s longtime manager Carlos Bloom will co-manage Dangond’s career.

“This new alliance we formed will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening Silvestre internationally. We celebrate this event and hope that it will serve as an example for future work of the new generations,” said Bloom.

WK Entertainment currently manages Colombian superstars Carlos Vives and Maluma.