September 23, 2009

By By Ayala Ben-Yehuda, L.A.

-Colombian artist Fonseca will release his "Gratitud" album in Spain the first week of November. The release will be distributed by EMI but marketed by Fonseca's management team at 10 Music.

-Mexican rock band Moderatto will partner with Microsoft next month to promote the latest version of Windows in Mexico. The band wrote a new song, "Zodiaco," incorporating distorted versions of tones that are heard when computers running the operating system are booted up. The song will be included on an upcoming hits EP by the band. The band's manager, Federico Ponce de Leon, says Microsoft will sponsor a Moderatto concert at Mexico City's giant public square, the Zocalo, early next year.

Mexican pop artist Aleks Syntek will star in a three-month campaign for Ferrero Rocher chocolates beginning next month. Syntek has taped a TV commercial with a song he wrote that will be exclusive to the brand through December. Rocher will give away a CD single of the song in its packages in December, according to Ponce de Leon, who also manages Syntek.


-On the heels of its first showcase with Colombian singer-songwriter Marta Gomez, the Latin Recording Academy is presenting other artist showcases at Los Angeles' Grammy Museum in the run-up to the Latin Grammys. Cesar Franco, Alih Jey and Eduardo Osorio will perform Sept. 30; Kevin Johansen will perform on Oct. 14; and Chilean singer Alberto Plaza will play on Oct. 28.

-Italian popera artist Andrea Bocelli will release his first Christmas album in the U.S. and Puerto Rico in November under Siente Music, the joint venture label of Universal Music Latino and Venezuelan multimedia company Venevision. The tracklist includes Spanish versions of classic Christmas songs (such as "White Christmas" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town") and English songs (such as a duet with Mary J. Blige on "What Child Is This?" and "The Christmas Song" with Natalie Cole). "Dios Nos Bendecir?," another song on the album, is the Spanish version of "God Bless Us Everyone," part of the soundtrack to Disney's upcoming animated movie "A Christmas Carol." The album will come in CD and CD/DVD versions, the latter including a PBS performance.

-Young Fonovisa crooner and "Objetivo Fama" runner-up Iv?n is the face of Sears' fall "Satis-fashion" campaign in Puerto Rico. He's promoting a clothing line directed at college students.

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