Sony Music Central America and the Caribbean (CAC) has struck up a strategic alliance with Alofoke Music, the label founded by prominent Dominican Republic-based media personality Santiago \u201cAlofoke\u201d Mat\u00edas.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, Sony Music CAC says it will serve as the exclusive distributor of all forthcoming releases from Alofoke Music.<\/p>\n
Sony has also acquired a portion of the label’s catalog. Billboard<\/em> reports<\/a> that Sony has “acquired the majority of the more than 700 tracks released under Alofoke Music for over a decade”.<\/p>\n According to the official press release announcing the deal, the “long-term partnership reflects a shared vision for nurturing the next generation of Latin urban talent and expanding their presence across international markets”.<\/p>\n The deal also allows for “strategic collaborations” on select tracks with potential for what Sony described in its press release as a “global rollout under a shared rights model”.<\/p>\n The first two releases under the Sony Music CAC banner are already in development, with official release dates to be announced soon.<\/p>\n Alofoke Music is a subsidiary of Alofoke Media Group, founded in 2006 by Mat\u00edas in the Dominican Republic. The label oversees the group\u2019s recorded music ventures, including the ‘Alofoke Music Sessions’ \u2014 live studio performances during Alofoke\u2019s radio\/YouTube broadcasts that spotlight emerging and established urban artists.<\/p>\n Originally launched as a digital platform to spotlight local artists, Alofoke Music has grown into what Sony describes as “a powerhouse in music production, A&R, and cross-platform content” with a “vast digital footprint” across platforms including YouTube, social media, and all major global DSPs.<\/p>\n Alofoke Music has helped launch viral hits like Que Linda<\/em> by Lomieel, Donaty, and Papera (35m+ streams globally), Con Sonido<\/em> by Bulin 47 and Ceky Vicini, and Baje Con Trenza<\/em>\u00a0by El Cherry Scom and Ozuna.<\/p>\n Sony adds that Alofoke’s cultural impact extends beyond the Dominican Republic into “major” diaspora hubs such as New York, Miami, and Madrid \u2014 “making it a cornerstone of the global urban scene”.<\/p>\n To date, Alofoke Music has generated over 762 million<\/strong> global audio and video streams across platforms.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to join forces with Alofoke, who is a monumental figure in the music and media space in the Dominican Republic and beyond.”<\/p>\n Melissa Exposito, Sony Music CAC<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to join forces with Alofoke, who is a monumental figure in the music and media space in the Dominican Republic and beyond,\u201d said Melissa Exposito, President, Sony Music CAC.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he represents in terms of community, culture, and championing talent aligns perfectly with our vision. This partnership is about elevating regional voices in key international markets and building bridges for emerging artists to thrive globally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis alliance is the result of a shared vision rooted in innovation and legacy, with our eyes firmly set on the future of music.”<\/p>\n Santiago \u201cAlofoke\u201d Mat\u00edas,\u00a0 Alofoke Music<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Santiago \u201cAlofoke\u201d Mat\u00edas, Founder of Alofoke Music, added: \u201cThis alliance is the result of a shared vision rooted in innovation and legacy, with our eyes firmly set on the future of music.<\/p>\n “Partnering with Sony Music not only validates the years of work we\u2019ve poured into building a platform for talent\u2014it also opens the door for new generations to break barriers and take their sound to global audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n Sony’s partnership with Alofoke marks the company’s latest move in one of the emerging markets highlighted by Rob Stringer, the Chairman of Sony Music Group and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, during an update to investors last month.<\/span><\/p>\n Stringer\u00a0revealed<\/a>\u00a0during the presentation that\u00a0Sony<\/a>\u00a0has \u201ccompleted more than\u00a060<\/strong>\u00a0investments in the past year alone\u201d and spent \u201cover\u00a0$2.5 billion<\/strong>\u00a0for frontline, catalog, as well as creative and service ventures with outside entrepreneurs across a vast number of territories\u201d.<\/p>\n He also highlighted Sony Music\u2019s expansion in high-growth markets across Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cIn our central local companies, we have forged new ventures in the Czech Republic, Greece,\u00a0\u00a0Saudi Arabia, and all across Southeast Asia,\u201d said Stringer.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cOur appetite for this is endless in its potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
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