Three Latin Music Power Players on Being Managers in Today’s Industry: ‘It’s The Work That Goes Unseen’
Categoria: Musica
Pepo Ferradas, Walter Kolm and Rebeca León headlined "The Power Players: Managers Edition" panel at Billboard Latin Music Week 2026.
Por Billboard | 29/10/2026
Last week, during Billboard Latin Music Week, three Latin music Power Players took the stage to discuss the role of managers in today’s industry. They were Jorge “Pepo” Ferradas , president and CEO of FPM Entertainment; Rebeca León , CEO and co-founder of Lionfish Entertainment; and Walter Kolm , founder and CEO of WK Entertainment — all managers with decades of experience who have helped launch the careers of some of the biggest Latin stars. During the conversation — titled “The Power Players: Managers Edition” and moderated by Pamela Bustios, Billboard Latin/Español’s senior charts and data analyst — the three executives reflected on the challenges they face in their careers and the selfless role of working to fulfill other people’s dreams. Related How Arenas Are Driving the Global Growth of Latin Music: ‘It’s About Creating Experiences’ Kenny MacPherson, Veteran Music Publisher and Big Deal Music Co-Founder, Dies at 71 Diddy Moved From New Jersey Prison to Similar Facility in Pennsylvania “Being a manager is being a guide, having answers to many questions, and it’s super difficult. I don’t know if it’s for everyone,” said León, who has represented superstars like Juanes and Rosalía and whose current roster includes Anitta, Danny Ocean, Tokischa and Aria Vega. Kolm, manager of Carlos Vives, Morat, Emilia and Xavi, among others, highlighted the importance of having a strategy to achieve specific goals. “I always tell artists: ‘You pay us to tell you what we think, not what you want to hear,'” he said, emphasizing the responsibility of always guiding with honesty. Meanwhile, Ferradas, whose roster includes Camilo, Evaluna Montaner, Rauw Alejandro and Rels B, stressed the importance of reclaiming the manager’s work: “It’s the work that goes unseen. It’s clear that it’s not magic — the locomotive of the train is the music, the song and the artist. [But] behind that, there’s a team.” Below are some of the best quotes from the panel, which took place on Oct. 21 at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach. On being a manager: León: For me, being a manager is having vision… Visualizing how the artist will grow, how that will develop. Always thinking months, years ahead; if you’re in the here and now, you are late. Being a manager is being a guide, having answers to many questions, and it’s super difficult. I don’t know if it’s for everyone, because you’re serving someone else’s dreams, so there’s a personal sacrifice — you have to set aside your own path to help this other person achieve their dreams. Kolm: What Rebeca says is key. I would add that we’re also strategists; that’s fundamental in an artist’s career. Sometimes artists think the manager is the one who finds them dates or secures a show… No, the manager is the one who designs a strategy to achieve a goal, and that’s what I believe we are. We’re strategists with years of experience in the industry who understand from our