Universal Music, Warner Chappell Launch Ecuadorian Music Company

Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Chappell Music (WCM) have teamed up to launch Ecuadorian music company Sonido Distrito Sur (SDS). The initiative pairs UMG’s recorded music operations with Warner Music Group’s publishing arm.

The mission:

• As reported by Billboard, SDS will span investment, production, distribution, marketing, promotion, A&R, international collaborations, and new growth opportunities for Ecuadorian artists, with ambitions to take them into markets including Peru, Colombia, and Central America.

• It also plans to develop its booking operations with a future international partnership.

• The venture will be led by Ecuadorian singer-songwriter Juan Fernando Velasco, who is also President of the Ecuadorian authors’ and composers’ society SAYCE, alongside music executive Ricardo Ordóñez.

Growing presence:

• Both UMG and WMG have been building out their respective Latin American operations with key appointments in the region.

What they said:

• Juan Fernando Velasco: “Ecuador has never lacked talent. What has been missing is a structure capable of connecting that talent with opportunities in the international music industry. Sonido Distrito Sur was created to build that bridge and help our artists gain the recognition they truly deserve.”