Best Quotes from ‘Power Players: The Indie Edition’ at Billboard Latin Music Week 2023

Industry heavyweights united for Billboard Latin Music Week 2023 and the voices of three influential tastemakers were highlighted during a panel conversation amid the star-studded week. 

On Tuesday, October 3, “The Power Players: The Indie Edition,” presented by Lexus, programming saw the likes of Jimmy Humilde, CEO of Rancho Humilde, Federico Lauria, CEO of Dale Play Records, and George Prajin, CEO of Prajin Parley and manager to rising superstar Peso Pluma, sit down for a candid conversation about what it means to forego major label support. Moderated Leila Cobo, Billboard’s Chief Content Officer of Latin-Español, the discussion hit on what it means to lead the charge on some of the most successful independent labels on the market and the insight was overflowing.

We’ve selected a few standout quotes from the few panels that were captured on video. Below, check out the conversation in full, with some memorable quotes from each panelist:

Humilde on Bestowing Talent with Key Advice: “Once I grab them, I’ll shape them up out of nothing. And I say from nothing because it was literally from nothing: no money, no power, no respect from anyone. So, we have earned that with work, with effort, with sweat and that is the same thing I tell everyone: don’t give up. It is the most important thing, don’t give up. And I preach that to the artist: if you give up, then you are giving me a chance to give up.

Lauria on Indie Labels Biggest Strength: “I think that independence is priceless, I mean, it’s the best thing that can happen to us. As independent labels or as independent structures, what it gives us is plenty of possibilities to have a dynamic, an ease and an agility to respond to the speed of the market, possibly much faster. And that is the most important asset we have as structures.”

Prajin on Prioritizing Quality: “In all the years of being in the business, I’ve had periods when I signed many artists at a time and then I kind of went away from that because if I’m giving you my word that I’m going to do everything possible to develop you as an artist, I feel like I kind of spread myself out too much, that I can’t focus on fulfilling my promise to you. So, currently, we’re more like a boutique label that we’re signing only select artists.” 

Earlier in the week, Billboard jump started the week-long Miami festivities by honoring executives during the Latin Power Players Event at the chic Pao by Paul Qui eatery. The event, which was also presented by Lexus, saw the most influential folks of the Latin landscape gather for an intimate night of networking, speeches and award presentations. While attendees joined together at the event, consumers experienced a glimpse of amazing with the first-ever Lexus TX, which was displayed outside of the Faena Forum across the street.

Celebrated for more than 30 years, Billboard Latin Music Week is the longest running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world, and coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which was broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 5, from the Watsco Center in Miami.

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