Egea to head up new WK Entertainment European office
Walter Kolm’s WK Entertainment is to open its first European office, in Madrid, on 1 December.
The US artist management company, launched in 2013, represents some of the biggest draws in Latin music, including Colombian singers Carlos Vives and Silvestre Dangond, Puerto Rican rapper Wisin and reggaeton star Maluma. Its Madrid office will be headed up by veteran promoter Pascual Egea, most recently president of the Spanish Music Promoters’ Association (APM), who will report to CEO Kolm.
“We’re excited to open new offices to serve the European market and this is just the beginning,” says Kolm. “We’re already planning additional office openings as we continue to revolutionise the entertainment industry and give our clients opportunity to expand their career goals.
“We want to be in a prime position to negotiate tours in Europe”
“We want to make sure that all of the artists on our rosters have the best global services available, and we want to be in a prime position to negotiate tours in Europe.
“I strongly feel that Pascual has all of the characteristics needed to be a leader for our company abroad during this new phase.”
Bolstered by the record-breaking success of Luis Fonsi’s ‘Despacito’, 2017 has been called the year of the ‘Latin music revolution’ as a result of the genre’s newfound popularity among non-hispanophone audiences. Live Nation launched its own Latin division, Live Nation Latin, earlier this month.
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Albert Salmerón named APM president
Albert Salmerón, director of Barcelona-based Producciones Animadas, was today appointed president of Spain’s Association of Music Promoters (APM).
Salmerón (pictured), who takes over from Pascual Egea, leads a board of directors comprising Doctor Music’s Neo Sala, Tito Ramoneda of The Project, Julio Martí of Serious Fan Music and Maricruz Laguna, director of marketing at Universal Music’s GTS.
The news was announced at APM’s 17th annual general meeting in Peralada, Catalonia. Egea was not eligible for reelection, having already served eight years in the role.
With Animadas, Salmerón is involved in the Barcelona Acció Musical (BAM), Hipnotik and Utopia festivals, as well as Legal Music’s troubled SOS 4.8. He has been an APM board member for the past four years.
His presidency, he says, will be “discreet and conflict-free”.
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