on-demand on Hiway!
With a focus on the booming tropical music scene and its international impact, the event will provide a dynamic overview of cutting-edge strategies in distribution, streaming, and cross-border collaborations. Expert panelists will dive into topics such as game-changing deals, high-profile catalog acquisitions, and innovative revenue models that are transforming the music finance landscape. Attendees will also discover how financial literacy and understanding investor priorities can open up lucrative opportunities in the evolving global music market.
A Multi-Grammy Winning Music Producer and Composer; Sergio George can be described as one the “nice guys” in Latin Music. He continues to be a huge influence. Spanning a career over 40 years, he has produced for Maluma, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Thalia, to name a few, with 18 Latin Grammys to his name.
SPEAKING FACULTY:
Sergio George, Music Producer, Winner of over 20 Latin Grammy and Grammy Awards
Our Co-Chairman and Partner is Sergio George, an iconic figure in the music world, has become a Master recognized for his multiple GRAMMY Award-winning productions, arrangements, and piano skills. Throughout a legendary career spanning more than three decades, Sergio George has created a renowned repertoire of hits in collaboration with personalities such as Marc Anthony, Thalía, Jennifer López, Daddy Yankee, Maluma, Lenny Tavarez, Zion & Lennox, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Leslie Grace, Prince Royce and a variety of iconic figures; as well as winning over 20 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.
Amy Baker, CEO & Co-Founder, Winston Baker
As CEO of WINSTON | BAKER, Amy Baker oversees the company’s global strategic planning, business development and vendor relationships. Amy Co-Founded the FILM FINANCE FORUM® in 2008, which provides the leading series of events dedicated to bringing seasoned finance and entertainment executives together from around the globe. Winston Baker is a renowned leader in the entertainment industry, known for curating content and organizing Forums worldwide. Amy has successfully organized sold out conferences, film festival programming and private events across the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, China, Pacific Asia and Latin America, along with a lineup of exciting virtual programs.
Prior to establishing Winston/Baker, she was at SRI which was acquired by ALM. At ALM, as Vice President of Business Development, Amy provided finance executives and marketers with targeted channels for reaching decision-makers within the legal, entertainment, healthcare, sports and tech sectors. In her previous position, Director of Business Development at RPMC, she worked with entertainment, music, and sports companies, creating event marketing programs, travel incentive services, sweepstakes, and media promotions.
Amy lived for many years in Europe, while working as a professional Model before receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Honors from New York University. Amy proudly sits on the National Board of Advisors for the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida since 2018. She has recently started producing and developing projects for Film and Television.
Oscar D'León, Latin Grammy Winner and Grammy Nominated Musician
Carlos Cruz, Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets, HarbourView Equity Partners
Carlos is a seasoned finance professional with nearly 20 years of experience in Corporate and Investment Banking, leading Capital Markets at HarbourView Equity Partners. Most recently, he spent 6 years at Fifth Third Bank, building a strong reputation as a lead advisor to media and entertainment clients, originating, structuring, and arranging financing solutions for companies in the industry. Carlos began his career in the Investment Banking Group at Merrill Lynch, followed by roles at Jefferies and the CIT Group. He holds a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University and an MBA from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. With a results-driven approach and a passion for shaping the future of media and entertainment finance, Carlos is a trusted expert in his field.
Scott Quinto, Senior Portfolio Manager, Vice President | Wealth Management, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
An experienced wealth management professional with more than 30 years of industry experience, Scott is dedicated to providing customized advice and investment strategies to high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments and foundations in the New York metropolitan area. His comprehensive approach includes a thorough planning process and a commitment to providing outstanding service.
Scott began his career in financial services as a traditional broker at Paine Webber in 1992. Over the years, Scott has had the opportunity to work at several large financial institutions, including First Union (formerly Everen Securities), Oppenheimer and Credit Suisse. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2015, then became a Certificated Portfolio Manager after studying at Columbia University in 2018. He continues to build trust with clients by upholding transparency and delivering exceptional client experience. Scott delivers high quality service, guided by a distinctive value proposition that prioritizes trustworthiness, productivity and a dedication to asking the right questions to understand and help meet his client’s financial needs.
Scott grew up in a Spanish speaking household in Manhattan and is fluent in Spanish. He is a member of the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Multicultural Networking Group and the Latino Employee Networking Group. Scott actively participates in the exciting world of e-sports and entertainment. He works with business managers, athletes, and entertainers in the field.
Scott attended Fordham University where he studied finance. He participates in the foster home program for North Shore Animal league and is a CrossFit and basketball aficionado.
Maria Fernandez, Executive Vice President and COO of Latin Iberia, Sony Music Entertainment
Maria Fernandez, as the Executive Vice President and COO of Latin Iberia at Sony Music Entertainment, oversees operations, negotiates major deals, and leads mergers and acquisitions. Since joining Sony Music Entertainment in 2007, she has played a crucial role in forming partnerships with companies like EVENTIM and Walter Kolm Entertainment. Notably, she played a key role in the acquisition of Som Livre, Brazil's largest independent company, and is currently leading its integration process. Maria is also dedicated to mentoring colleagues and young individuals in the music industry.
Growing up in Venezuela, her passion for music led her to start her career at Disney before moving to DirecTV Latin America. Alongside her corporate roles, she has been involved in entrepreneurial ventures and fundraising activities. Maria's career at Sony Music Entertainment has seen her rise from Sr. Director of Finance to Executive Vice President and COO, facilitating major deals and expanding the reach of label artists internationally. She has also been active in industry panels and recognized in Billboard's Women in Music and Latin Power Players lists. Maria completed her MBA with a focus on Business Analytics and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Additionally, she joined the board of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. in 2022. Throughout her career, Maria's primary objective remains serving artists, organization members, and partners, recognizing the importance of music in evoking emotions and sharing it with the world.
Rudy Lopez Negrete, Latin Branding and Music Agent, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Rudy Lopez Negrete is a Latin branding and music agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Based in the Los Angeles office, Lopez Negrete has more than a decade of expertise in working with Fortune 100 companies and Latin talent.
In 2005, Rudy began his career at CAA as a trainee in the Music Touring department, working with Latin territories and clients. By 2010, he transitioned to Lopez Negrete Communications (LNC), a leading Hispanic creative advertising agency owned by Alex Lopez Negrete, where he managed all entertainment and talent initiatives as the Head of Music and Content. In 2016 he left LNC to oversee Hispanic efforts for serial entrepreneur Robert Earl, where he managed Earl’s portfolio across all Latin outreach and marketing efforts. Rudy was most recently at Observatory Marketing, overseeing multicultural for the agency. Lopez Negrete re-joined CAA in the summer of 2019, where he leads all branding partnerships for the agency’s Latin music clients, including RBD, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Peso Pluma, Jennifer Lopez, Anthony Ramos, Grupo Firme, Miguel, and Feid, among others. Rudy has also worked with clients across all departments, which include well renowned actor Eugenio Derbez, as well as soccer superstar Rafael Marquez. In addition to his current role within brand partnerships, Rudy also leads and oversees the CAA Latino group, bringing in new opportunities to all of CAA’s Latin clients across the agency.
Alex Gallardo, US Latin Music President, Sony Music
Musician and record executive; two words that define the professional career of Alex Gallardo, the president of Sony Music U.S. Latin. Leading the most successful Latin music label in the United States for over two decades, he has earned numerous accolades. This year, he was named "Executive of the Month" in the October 2024 Spanish edition of Billboard! and included in the prestigious "Power Players" list. Under his leadership, Sony Music U.S. Latin was awarded the Top Latin Album Label of the Year by Billboard, while Sony artists dominated the Billboard Latin Music Awards.
In 2023, Gallardo oversaw the launch of a special West Coast division focused on developing regional Mexican music artists. His vision also led to the creation of nonfiction audiovisual content, like Shakira's live concert in Times Square, New York, and Rauw Alejandro's historic performance at the 2024 Global Citizen Festival. Sony has significantly increased its share of Latin music streams across platforms, maintaining its position as a leader in entertainment industry recognition.
Gallardo, who approaches his work by asking, “What does this artist need from us?” has recently brought new talents to Sony Music U.S. Latin, including Argentine rapper Trueno and influencer Dome Lipa, who has a following of 76 million on TikTok. Under Gallardo’s direction, artists like Rauw Alejandro, Ozuna, Anuel, and Natti Natasha joined Sony’s roster, while others such as Shakira, Romeo Santos, Nicky Jam, Maluma, and Farruko have taken their careers to new heights.
In 2024, for instance, Shakira made a triumphant comeback with her album "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran" and an upcoming tour of the same name throughout Latin America, the United States, and beyond. “We’re a multidisciplinary company focused on delivering solutions,” he says of his corporate philosophy. “We don’t see ourselves as a traditional record label.”
Nor has Alex Gallardo’s career been traditional. Born and raised in Madrid, where he fell in love with music by listening to The Beatles on a needle turntable at his parent's house, he soon discovered his musical talents, initially with keyboards and later with guitar. His indie pop band Landa, with which he toured extensively, released two albums.
“That was the beginning of my passion and career,” he recalls. “When I started working as an executive, this experience helped me to put myself in the artists' shoes. We speak the same language. I learned what emerging artists must go through, which allowed me to connect with and understand the business more broadly.”
Another critical tool was his degree in Business Administration from the University of Alcalá de Henares. His career as a music executive began in 2000 at Warner Music Spain, where he worked in A&R/Product Management. Three years later, he joined Sony Music Entertainment as A&R Director, rising through the ranks until 2013, when he settled in Miami as Senior Vice President of A&R for Sony Latin Iberia. In 2019, he was promoted to President of Sony Music U.S. Latin,where he championed a new generation of regional Mexican stars, such as Christian Nodal and Fuerza Regida. Gallardo worked with the team to produce and launch the HBO Original Series "En Letra D'Otro," featuring Farruko, Gente de Zona, Pedro Capó, and GOYO performing Latin music classics. This production earned two Latin GRAMMY® awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Content.
Under his supervision, Sony has produced tour documentaries for stars like Shakira and Romeo Santos, the live concert series Live On Max, and Camilo’s historic La Hispanidad concert, in partnership with the Community of Madrid and YouTube, which was broadcast live to millions worldwide and attended by 80,000 people in Madrid’s iconic Puerta de Madrid. Among other collaborations, Gallardo personally secured a deal with Puerto Rican reggaeton icon Rauw Alejandro, a two-time Latin GRAMMY® winner who has since become a household name.
Under Gallardo’s leadership, cultural milestones have included Ozuna’s appearance in the Call of Duty Mobile video game soundtrack, with his own playable character skin. Committed to fostering the next generation of executives, Gallardo remains active on Sony Music U.S. Latin’s Gen-Z Committee, ensuring young employees' voices are part of decision-making.
Additional recognitions include Billboard Power 100 [2022, 2023], Billboard Latin Power Players [2022], and Variety Miami Impact List [2022]. Alex Gallardo sees these accolades as a natural result of staying focused on a singular goal: “Our mission is to develop careers, working behind the scenes so our roster shines. I’m just another passionate team member who believes in our artists and does everything possible to support their success.”
Pamela Bustios, Sr. Charts & Data Analyst, Latin & Billboard Español
With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Pamela is a bilingual writer and music journalist who has been with Billboard since 2017. She serves in the role of senior charts and data analyst for Latin and Billboard Español, overseeing the performance of Latin artists across Billboard charts. As part of Billboard’s Latin live events and initiatives, she contributes charts analysis, editorial content and programming expertise to complement Billboard’s Latin coverage. Some panels she has covered as moderator include Billboard Latin Music Awards: Producing for the Global Market (2018), ASCAP Foundation & She Is the Music: What She Said (Producers/Engineers) (2019), Women in Music: Career Journey and How Success Is Defined (2023), Optimizing Your Songwriting and Production Earnings in the Streaming Era (2023). Pamela worked alongside top artists and producers during her years at BMG Music Entertainment, Sony Music Latin and indie labels; she served as band manager and publicist during Nelly Furtado’s Mi Plan tour. A devoted researcher of emerging talent and music, her priority is live shows; she opts for vinyl records; and she still does CD listening sessions in the car
Nelson Albareda, Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY Award Winning Music Producer and CEO, Loud And Live
Nelson Albareda is a distinguished Cuban-American business executive and a renowned GRAMMY® & Latin GRAMMY® Award-winning producer with a remarkable career spanning over 25 years. His diverse expertise encompasses various domains, including media, live entertainment, marketing, content, sports, and real estate.
Albareda embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at a young age, igniting his passion for business at the tender age of 14. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and achieved remarkable success across a multitude of industries, including advertising, spirits, entertainment, and media. His professional journey commenced at RMM Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music and subsequently led him to Univision Radio. At Univision Radio, Nelson played a pivotal role in the development of the company’s non-traditional revenue initiatives, showcasing his innovative and forward-thinking approach. In 2002, Albareda identified a compelling opportunity in the events, entertainment, and marketing sectors. His entrepreneurial acumen bore fruit when he founded Eventus Marketing in 2008. Under his leadership, Eventus Marketing rapidly rose to become the largest multicultural marketing company in the United States, servicing a prestigious roster of clients that included Sony Music, New York Yankees, Kimberly-Clark, Keurig Dr Pepper, McDonald’s, Walt Disney Entertainment, and the Latin GRAMMY® Awards, among many others.
In 2013, Eventus attracted attention from various strategic and private equity groups, including WPP, Thomas H. Lee Partners, and Advantage Solutions, leading to its eventual acquisition by Apax Partners (who owned parent company Advantage Solutions) through a roll-up strategy. In 2017, Nelson Albareda founded Loud And Live, where he currently serves as the CEO. The company has quickly emerged as a dominant force in the fields of entertainment, sports, live events, content development, and marketing. Loud And Live consistently ranks among the top global promoters, earning recognition from esteemed industry publications such as Billboard, Pollstar and IQ. Albareda himself has been consistently honored by Billboard, earning a place on Billboard’s Top 100 Entertainment Executive list, as well as being recognized consecutively on Billboard's Top 40 Latin Power Players list and in 2023 honored as Billboard’s Latin Power Executive of the Year. His expertise also frequently earns him invitations to speak at industry conferences, including ILMC, Billboard, Variety and Latin GRAMMY® events. Loud And Live boasts an impressive portfolio of partnerships with leading global brands including McDonald’s, Walmart, Amazon, Red Bull, Pepsi, Samsung, Vita Coco, New Balance, Sonos, Goya Cares, Royal Caribbean, the Latin GRAMMY® Awards and Univision, among others. Their marketing services have consistently garnered industry recognition, with repeated inclusion in Event Marketer’s Top 100 “IT LIST” Agency since 2021 along with multiple awards, including EX-Awards and in 2024, Loud And Live took home 8 Telly Awards for their outstanding brand work.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Nelson Albareda is deeply committed to social responsibilities and servicing his community. In 2010, he was appointed by the U.S. Congress to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Commission tasked with providing a report to President Obama on the creation of the National Museum of the American Latino. He currently serves as a Director on the US Cuba Democracy PAC, advocating for democracy in Cuba. Albareda, is an avid philanthropic contributor to the community and our future generation. In a notable philanthropic gesture in 2022, through Loud And Live, Nelson made the largest single donation to the Latin GRAMMY® Cultural Foundation, committing $1 million to support the Foundation’s year-round efforts. These efforts include furthering its mission to support music and its makers through college scholarships, grants, and educational programs. In 2023, Albareda was honored a Casita Maria Gold Medal of Honor, for his conscience support of the Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming community, with art and educational programs for the youth and families. Recently, in 2023, Nelson was inducted into the Miami Dade College Alumni Hall ofFame, in recognition of his exceptional achievements and contributions to society. In addition to his bustling career at Loud And Live, Nelson Albareda manages and owns a growing real estate portfolio, with a focus on commercial and multi-family properties in South Florida. Albareda resides in Miami with his wife Elena and their three children, Nelson Alejandro, Gabriela, and Francisco. Nelson Albareda’s remarkable journey is characterized by innovation, leadership, and a profound commitment to both his professional endeavors and his community, making him a respected figure in the realms of business, entertainment, and philanthropy.
Pierre Hachar Jr., Esq. Lawyer and Founder, The Hachar Law Group
Founder of The Hachar Law Group, Hachar has been recognized as one of Billboard magazine’s Top Music Lawyers for six consecutive years, representing top Latin music artists, producers, songwriters, managers, and companies in multimillion-dollar deals. With a background in music from Berklee College of Music and a Music Business degree from the University of Miami, Hachar earned his law degree with Cum Laude honors from St. Thomas University School of Law. He also serves on the Advisory Committee of the Latin GRAMMY Foundation. Additionally, he shares his expertise in music business and entertainment law on social media (@redcarpetlaw) and as a speaker at various universities and international organizations.
Andres Recio, Talent Manager and Grammy Award Winning Executive Producer and A&R, AR Management
Andres Recio, has worked for 30 years in the music industry as talent manager, and Grammy award winning executive producer and A&R. Working for legendary producers Julio Reyes Copello, Sergio George and for artists such as Alessia Cara Nelly Furtado, Juanes, Ricky Martin, Julio Iglesias, Alejandro Sanz, Paulina Rubio, and artists on his label ARM Records. Andres is Co-founder of AR Solutions, a Digital Business Management Agency, created with his brother Alejandro Recio, COO of www.Covver.com; Co-founder of AmplificARTE, with Art House and Fundación Princesa de Girona an award winning educational program that analyzes songs to help students and teachers use music as a tool to support mental health and emotional intelligence education.
Having studied Music and Audio Engineering at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and International Business and Trade at FAU in Florida (USA), he has linked both worlds of music and business to support and assist the careers of international superstar producers and artists.
AGENDA
10:30am - 10:35am
Welcoming Address
Amy Baker, CEO & Co-Founder, Winston Baker and Sergio George, over 20 Latin Grammy and Grammy Award Winning Music Producer
10:35am - 11:15am
State of the Industry; The Future of Tropical Music
Join us for an all-inclusive deep dive into the dynamic world of music finance, with a special focus on the vibrant future of tropical music. As streaming opportunities explode and global borders blur, this panel will explore how tropical music is making waves regionally and internationally and how artists, labels, and investors can tap into emerging trends to stay ahead of the game.
Explore:
Current trends in the tropical music landscape
Cutting edge distribution and streaming strategies
The major players shaping the industry’s future
Innovative revenue streams
Cross-border collaborations
Moderator:
Pierre Hachar Jr., Esq., Founder and Lawyer, The Hachar Law Group
Panelists:
Sergio George, over 20 Latin Grammy and Grammy Award Winning Music Producer
Alex Gallardo, US Latin Music President, Sony Music
Nelson Albareda, Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY Award Winning Music Producer and CEO, Loud And Live
Rudy Lopez Negrete, Latin Branding and Music Agent, Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
11:15am - 11:45am
Fireside Chat with Sergio George and Oscar D'León
Join these two Latin Grammy-Award Winning Artists in an intimate Fireside Chat!
Moderated by:
Pamela Bustios, Sr. Charts & Data Analyst, Latin & Billboard Español
11:45am - 12:30pm
Money Moves; Tropical Beats, Global Profits
The music finance space is buzzing with exciting developments, game-changing deals, and new opportunities for investors, artists, and industry professionals alike. In this session, we’ll explore the hottest topics shaping the future of music finance and what investors are most excited about.
From high-profile catalog acquisitions to innovative revenue models, we’ll break down the trends driving big money into the music industry. Learn what investors are looking for, how artists and labels are securing lucrative partnerships, and why understanding the financial side of the business is more important than ever.
Discover:
What's got investors buzzing
Game-changing deals rocking the industry
Innovative revenue streams you can't ignore
Learn:
How artists are cashing in on catalog sales, royalty streams and new revenue models
Why financial literacy is your new superpower
Where the smart money is heading next
Financial opportunities in cross-border collaborations and global expansion
From headline-making acquisitions to cutting-edge partnerships, we're breaking down the $$$ moves that are amplifying the music world.
Moderator:
Andres Recio, Talent Manager and Grammy Award Winning Executive Producer and A&R, AR Management
Panelists:
Scott Quinto, Senior Portfolio Manager, Vice President | Wealth Management, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Carlos Cruz, Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets, HarbourView Equity Partners
Maria Fernandez, Executive Vice President and COO of Latin Iberia, Sony Music Entertainment
Forum Concludes
For more information please email:
Special Thanks to Our Partners
Gold Partners
HarbourView Equity Partners is an investment firm, founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, focused on opportunities to support premium content across the entertainment, sports, and media markets. The firm seeks businesses or assets powered by IP and investment opportunities that aim to build enduring value and returns. HarbourView has been extremely active since launching in 2021, amassing roughly $1.45 billion* in regulatory assets under management including over 70+ music catalogs to date and investments in two media production companies, MACRO and Mucho Mas Media, both with a mission to center premium storytelling. The firm's distinctly diverse music portfolio features thousands of titles spanning numerous genres, eras, and artists, amounting to a diversified catalog of ~31,000+ songs across both master recordings and publishing income streams. The company is headquartered in Newark, NJ.
*Regulatory AUM is as of 12/31/23; RAUM for private funds is calculated regardless of the nature of the gross assets under management. This includes any uncalled committed capital pursuant to an obligation to make a capital contribution to the fund.
Supporting Partners
Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment (GSE) is a highly specialized business within Morgan Stanley’s wealth management division, dedicated to serving the distinct needs of individuals and institutions in rapidly evolving sports and entertainment fields, such as music, film, eSports and digital media.
For more on Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment, please visit: www.morganstanley.com/gse
