July 01, 2009

By By Lelia Cobo, Miami

Veteran Latin industry executive George Zamora has launched a new label, Zamora Music Group (ZMG). ZMG will be distributed by Sony Music Latin, which has an equity interest in the upstart label and is backing it.

Zamora describes ZMG as a "boutique" label specializing on the tropical and urban genres that he's focused on in the past several years.

Zamora used to head Warner Music Latina, but launched his own label, SGZ, along with producer Sergio George, in 2004. The label, whose artists included Tito Nieves and Olga Tanon, was initially distributed through Sony but was eventually acquired by Univision Music Group.

The company absorbed SGZ's artists into its own La Calle Records roster, which Zamora headed, signing artists like Xtreme. When Univision was acquired by Universal, Zamora continued in the company while George left and recently launched his own label, Top One Entertainment.

Now, says Zamora, "I just decided I wanted to go back on my own."
"We definitely have an interest in the label, but it's very important to note that George is running it independently with his vision of what it needs to be," said Ruben Leyva, managing director, U.S. Latin/Day 1 Entertainment for Sony Music Entertainment. "George is a great A&R source and has a great sense of what's happening in the street and being able to tap into new trends."

ZMG will not be part of Day One Entertainment, Sony Music Latin's artist development arm, but it is likely that the companies will work closely in some projects. ZMG's first artist release will be in September. Zamora would not disclose who his signing is, but said it would be a new, urban tropical act. ZMG will also release Olga Ta??n's upcoming new album, which se will license on a long-term, exclusive basis to ZMG.

Unlike Zamora's previous indie venture, ZMG will also engage its acts into other aspects of the business, such as management and booking. Each deal is expected to be different.

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