VIRGIN MUSIC LABEL AND ARTIST SERVICES LAUNCHES IN BRAZIL AND PARTNERS WITH WORK SHOW, BRAZIL’S LEADING SERTANEJO LABEL
Brazilian superstar duo Henrique & Juliano join the Work Show roster as first signings under the agreement.
RIO DE JANEIRO, July 12, 2021 – Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the launch of Virgin Music Label & Artist Services in Brazil.
Virgin Music Label & Artist Services Brazil is a division of UMG’s recently launched global network delivering premium and flexible artist and label services to the industry’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and independent talent worldwide, inspired and influenced by the spirit and ethos of the iconic Virgin Records label. The newly launched division will focus on supporting the next wave of Brazilian independent artist talent, labels, influencers and entrepreneurs with disruptive innovation and best in class services, to help deliver global success for its roster.
As part of this launch, Virgin Music Label & Artist Services Brazil has also announced that it has joined forces with Work Show, Brazil’s number one Sertanejo label and one of the country’s leading music companies in an unprecedented new partnership that will help expand the reach of Brazilian music culture and Sertanejo music around the world.
Work Show has been a major player in the Brazilian music market since its creation 14 years ago. The company’s impressive reach and figures show the massive footprint and cultural impact that it has already made in the music industry, achieving more than 35 billion views on YouTube, 100 million followers on social media, multiple awards, innovative projects, global achievements on streaming platforms and radio charts as well as thousands of live events in both, Brazil and abroad, in Europe and in the US.
“I’m 100% confident that we are starting a new cycle of major contributions to the Brazilian music environment, with the joining forces of Work Show and Virgin Music Brazil”, says Wander, Founder and CEO of Work Show.
The first new signing under this dynamic new partnership, sees hugely popular Sertanejo duo Henrique & Juliano join the Work Show label roster, bringing with them their entire catalogue spanning their acclaimed 9-year career under the new agreement. Henrique & Juliano have consistently been among the best performers on radio and digital platforms in Brazil, having accumulated over 10 billion views and 13.2 million subscribers to their YouTube channel alone, have 5.5 million listeners on Spotify, more than 10.2 million followers on Instagram, 10 million on Facebook and 2.6 million on Twitter.
Virgin Music arrives in Brazil under the leadership of Miguel Cariello, who has been appointed General Manager, Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, Brazil effective immediately. An experienced industry executive, Cariello has served as Content and GTS Director for Universal Music Brazil since 2017, following a long career in the music industry, with extensive professional experience as digital marketing manager, artist manager, as well as artistic and event producer, collaborating with some of the biggest talents in Brazilian music. Cariello has a degree in Business, with emphasis in marketing and music projects.
“I feel humbled and grateful for the trust and responsibility the company has bestowed in me. Taking on this challenge will be a great honor. My main goal is to keep the disruptive spirit that has always characterized this legendary label and to broaden Virgin Music legacy with the help of great artists and excellent Music. I look forward to working closely with Work Show, and their incredible artist roster to deliver a new and exciting chapter in the label’s history together.” – Miguel Cariello.
In making the announcement, Paulo Lima, President of Universal Music Brazil said: “There is no doubt that we are launching one of the most extraordinary business models in the Brazilian music industry. This game-changing partnership will help establish new expressive milestones among artists and audiences. I would like to thank and welcome the talented executives and teams that will lead this joint project and to thank Work Show for their belief in our vision for this strategic partnership and am delighted to welcome their artists and new signings, Henrique & Juliano to the global Virgin Music family”.
About Virgin Music Label & Artist Services
Virgin Music Label & Artist Services is a network of regional hubs strategically positioned in the world’s leading music markets that delivers premium artist and label services to the industry’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and independent talent.
Founded on the spirit and ethos of the Virgin brand, long synonymous with disruptive innovation and musical creativity, Virgin Music Label & Artists Services provides artists and labels with global and regional solutions and resources from fully staffed operations across major music markets, including the fast-growing Latin music territories, with more to come.
Since its launch earlier this year Virgin Music Label & Artist Services has opened divisions in the U.S., Japan, U.K., Germany and Central Europe, France, Australia & New Zealand, Sweden and across Latin America and Iberia, with further markets to launch in the coming months.
About Work Show:
A company with 14 years of history, which has already marked the Brazilian music market. The artistic care, which is its trademark, begins with the music publisher, a visionary project that enables the emergence of several hits and composers that will be forever in history. The company accumulates: 35 billion views on YouTube, 100 million followers on social networks, several awards, innovative projects, global achievements on streaming platforms and nobody plays on the radio like Work Show artists. Before the music business, it bet on women as protagonists of the music scene. It was even with one of these women, Marilia Mendonça, that Work Show carried out one of its biggest projects, Todos os Cantos, with free, surprise and unprecedented concerts. The project earned a series at Globoplay and a Grammy Latino.
The office also has the following branches: events in all Brazilian states, events in Europe and the USA, festivals with an average audience of 40,000 people and the biggest live musical in history. They are also pioneer in live donations and inclusion of accessibility in broadcasts. Work Show Live was the 1st transmission of several artists simultaneously from their homes throughout Brazil.
About Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Universal Music Group is a Vivendi company. Find out more at: http://www.universalmusic.com.