Maverick Launches Latin Division

Maverick Recording Co. has launched a Latin division, it was announced today by label partner Madonna Ciccone. Maverick and WEA Latina will be strategic partners in the new venture. Bruno Del Granado, a sixteen-year veteran of music and television who was part of the initial team that launched “MTV Latin America," has been named President of the new division, which will be headquartered in Miami Beach.

Said Ciccone, “I think most people know how interested I am in pushing cultural and artistic boundaries, and I've always been inspired by the passion and spirit of Latin music. So, I'm happy to announce that we are about to become more diverse by establishing Maverick's Latin division. Bruno loves music as much as I do, so the choice to have him run the division was obvious."

The Spanish-born Del Granado noted that Maverick's Latin division will have its own national A&R, promotion, and marketing staff, though it will work very closely with both WEA Latina and Maverick's national and field staffs. “We want to develop and explore new ways to break artists, while retaining Maverick's cutting edge," said Del Granado. “Our first priority is setting up the office here in Miami Beach, but there are a few artists we already have our eye on. There's a lot of bilingual, bi-cultural talent out there, whether it's in pop, rock, alternative, or traditional Latin genres like salsa or banda. If it sounds interesting, we're going after it."

Del Granado added that he looks forward to working closely with the Maverick staff, in particular Madonna. “The first thing that impressed me when I met Madonna last year was her extensive knowledge of the Latin marketplace," he says. “She's very committed to this division because she understands the music and the culture. Her opinions are of tremendous value because of her vast experience."

Born in Majorca, Spain, Bruno Del Granado came to the United States as a student in the early 1980s. He began his music career in 1986 as a marketing staffer at CBS Records. He later joined MTV in the company's music programming department, relocating to Miami to launch “MTV Latin America" in 1993. After four years, he departed MTV to become an independent Latin music and television marketing/creative consultant. Over the ensuing years, he quarterbacked EMI Music Publishing's Latin America division, served as marketing advisor to Enrique Iglesias, spearheaded a music video channel for RTVE, the Spanish state-owned television, was part of the Sky Latin America launch team, and produced TV specials for CNN “Worldbeat," VH1's “Latin Explosion," Universal TV, and Polygram TV.