Maverick to launch Latin arm

Del Granado tops Latin Maverick

By DON WALLER

Maverick Recording Co. has launched a Latin division with 14-year music and TV vet Bruno Del Granado tapped as prexy. Maverick and WEA Latina will be strategic partners in the new venture, headquartered in Miami.

"I think most people know how interested I am in pushing cultural and artistic boundaries, and that I've always been inspired by the passion and spirit of Latin music," said Maverick co-partner Madonna. "So I'm happy to announce that we're 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."

Own staff

The Latin arm will have its own national A&R, promo and marketing staff, though it'll work closely with 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," Del Granado said. "There's a lot of bilingual, bicultural talent out there -- whether it's in pop, rock, alternative or traditional Latin genres, such as salsa and banda."

Born in Majorca, Spain, Del Granado began his music career in 1986 as a marketing staffer with CBS Records. He later joined MTV's music programming department, relocating to Miami to launch "MTV Latin America" in 1993.

After four years, he exited to become an indie Latin music and TV consultant, quarterbacking EMI Music Publishing's Latin America division, spearheading a musicvideo channel for Spanish pubcaster RTVE, helping launch Sky Latin America, and producing TV specials for CNN, VH1, Universal TV and Polygram TV.