WK Entertainment Founder & CEO Walter Kolm Wins Billboard Latin Power Players’ Choice Award
Written by djfrosty on September 21, 2023
For 2023, Billboard introduces the Latin Power Players Choice Award, a peer-voted accolade chosen by Billboard Pro members to honor the executive they believe has made the most impact across the Latin music business over the past year. After three rounds of voting, Billboard Pro members have chosen Walter Kolm, founder and CEO of WK Entertainment, to receive the inaugural award.
Launched over a decade ago, WK Entertainment represents Latin heavyweights Maluma, Wisin, Carlos Vives, Prince Royce, Emilia and Ludmilla. Last year, Sony Music Entertainment Latin-Iberia acquired a stake in WK Records, which Kolm inaugurated in 2020 with distribution by The Orchard. The independent label has a roster that includes Alex Rose, CNCO‘s Zabdiel de Jesús and Daaz and is home to Maluma’s and Wisin’s respective imprints.
“I am truly honored to have received this award, and even more humbled that it came from my peers and members of the Billboard community. To know that people who fight the same fight with me on behalf of our artists can recognize and appreciate the work that I’m doing, is a special thing,” says Kolm. “When starting WK Entertainment over a decade ago, I could never have imagined we would be here today, continuing to grow, thrive and expand on such a global scale. I want to acknowledge all of the artists that I represent, most of which have been at WK for many years. Thank you for your partnership and trust in me and my team to help build your vision and take it to a global level! This award feels like not only an accomplishment for myself, but also a testament to my entire team. It takes a village, and we all work together to reach those same goals!”
This story will appear in the Sept. 23, 2023, issue of Billboard.