Pedro Javier González leaves iHeart

[davideduardo]

The operating head of iHeart's Hispanic division has left and is partnering to acquire a group of stations in Puerto Rico.

"SMD Media Group, a new radio conglomerate in Puerto Rico, led by: Pedro Javier González, Jaime Cosculluela and Luis Iglesias, has acquired the radio stations MIX, Fresh and WQBS. This acquisition promises a future disruptive transformation in the entertainment industry, creating around 40 direct and indirect jobs and fostering economic and technological development in the Puerto Rican community."

New multimedia conglomerate is created

SMD Media Group, a new radio conglomerate in Puerto Rico, led by: Pedro Javier González, Jaime Cosculluela and Luis Iglesias, has acquired the radio stations MIX, Fresh and WQBS. This acquisition promises a future disruptive transformation in the entertainment industry, creating around 40 direct...

www.theweeklyjournal.com

The initial purchases are the stations that used to be Pichín Román's Radio Voz on FM and AM (870) and Estereotempo (99.9 and repeaters).

 

[Identnut]

The operating head of iHeart's Hispanic division has left and is partnering to acquire a group of stations in Puerto Rico.

"SMD Media Group, a new radio conglomerate in Puerto Rico, led by: Pedro Javier González, Jaime Cosculluela and Luis Iglesias, has acquired the radio stations MIX, Fresh and WQBS. This acquisition promises a future disruptive transformation in the entertainment industry, creating around 40 direct and indirect jobs and fostering economic and technological development in the Puerto Rican community."

New multimedia conglomerate is created

SMD Media Group, a new radio conglomerate in Puerto Rico, led by: Pedro Javier González, Jaime Cosculluela and Luis Iglesias, has acquired the radio stations MIX, Fresh and WQBS. This acquisition promises a future disruptive transformation in the entertainment industry, creating around 40 direct...

www.theweeklyjournal.com

The initial purchases are the stations that used to be Pichín Román's Radio Voz on FM and AM (870) and Estereotempo (99.9 and repeaters).

Given that a popular jock has just become a free agent, I wonder if they've got something planned with El Molusco.

 

[davideduardo]

Given that a popular jock has just become a free agent, I wonder if they've got something planned with El Molusco.

I have confirmation that they are in conversations with him. I created the talk version of Salsoul in the 90's and was known for being pretty liberal in the content, I just can't take the Mollusk.

 

[Identnut]

I have confirmation that they are in conversations with him. I created the talk version of Salsoul in the 90's and was known for being pretty liberal in the content, I just can't take the Mollusk.

Frankly, as talented as he is, I am a bit miffed that he named the show after only him, despite his show also featuring the former morning lady of el Circo and the son of one of PR's most beloved comedians!

 

[davideduardo]

Frankly, as talented as he is, I am a bit miffed that he named the show after only him, despite his show also featuring the former morning lady of el Circo and the son of one of PR's most beloved comedians!

I agree. Going back perhaps 50 years or so, José Miguel Agrelot's show on WLUZ was the "Su Alegre Despertar" despite him being one of the best comedians and talents ever on the Island. It ran as the Despertar Colgate starting in 1949 and then became "Su Alegre Despertar". Don Cholito left us in 2004. Agrelot always gave credit to his team and associates.

 

[Identnut]

I agree. Going back perhaps 50 years or so, José Miguel Agrelot's show on WLUZ was the "Su Alegre Despertar" despite him being one of the best comedians and talents ever on the Island. It ran as the Despertar Colgate starting in 1949 and then became "Su Alegre Despertar". Don Cholito left us in 2004. Agrelot always gave credit to his team and associates.

Molusco not even mentioning the name of Alí Warrington in the show name would be like El Circo/Bayú only mentioning the name of El Gangster without Funky Joe just because Tony Sanchez had the big TV show.

 

[OriginalSample]

Jaime Cosculluela just might have a famous younger brother. Just might be this dude right here

 

[radioislife2020]

I wonder if they will try to fill that position, Pj was a big part of the new format they are rolling out into new cities.

 

[OriginalSample]

I wonder if they will try to fill that position, Pj was a big part of the new format they are rolling out into new cities.

What format and which cities?

 

[radioislife2020]

the magic format they now have in Miami, ft Myers, Tucson

 

[davideduardo]

the magic format they now have in Miami, ft Myers, Tucson

It will be interesting to see if it has impact in Tucson. The appeal in Miami and Florida in general is to people of high income and education levels who have left nations like Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Perú due to violence or a socialist government. They listened to English language music on stations back home and do the same in Miami.

But Tucson is not home to that kind of immigrant. I'll be following that station closely to see, if perhaps, it has some second generation appeal. In the past, second generation children of immigrants are light or non-users of Spanish language media.

 

[davideduardo]

What format and which cities?

The format is English language AC music with announcers and ads in Spanish. The music list is researched against Hispanics only, so some "odd" songs will get airplay and others that are core to general market stations will not play at all.

 

[Identnut]

But Tucson is not home to that kind of immigrant. I'll be following that station closely to see, if perhaps, it has some second generation appeal. In the past, second generation children of immigrants are light or non-users of Spanish language media.

Which is funny because its sister Mega 97.1 absolutely is aimed at second-generation Hispanics. But there the presentation is largely in English even if a large portion of the music isn't.

 

[OriginalSample]

Most second generation Latinos listen to Spanish Language music. It’s the presentation on the Spanish Language stations that loses them.

Let’s take Marc Anthony as an example. He started singing Freestyle music and then decided to do Salsa. He’s second generation and took that route. He’s the best selling Salsa artist ever.

With all respect to the greats that came before him, Marc reached a wider audience because of his ability to transcend not just language but culture too.

Back to Spanish Language radio, A lot of these shows are targeted at an audience that’s entertained by farándula and “bochinche”. At least that’s what these radio conglomerates are offering.

Someone who’s second generation is not interested in finding out what’s going on with Maripily or Yailin but they do wanna hear Marc Anthony belt out a tune.

 

[OriginalSample]

I have confirmation that they are in conversations with him. I created the talk version of Salsoul in the 90's and was known for being pretty liberal in the content, I just can't take the Mollusk.

The Mollusk just sounds weird as a nickname in English. It sounds better in Spanish. Nicknames just don’t translate well into another language. Imagine telling someone a favorite childhood comedian of yours is called “Cake” 🤣

 

[davideduardo]

Most second generation Latinos listen to Spanish Language music. It’s the presentation on the Spanish Language stations that loses them.

As someone who has worked in U.S. Spanish language radio since first consulting KWKW in 1972, what I can tell you is that second generation Hispanics don't listen for enough time each week to make an impact on the ratings.

And while at HBC and Univision, I managed plenty of research and found that there was a danger in attracting second generation Hispanics to mainstream formats because they would influence the programming to the detriment of first generation heavy listeners and they would never spend the same amount of time with a Spanish language station.

Whether they like some or all of the music is a separate subject. People in the Mexican American community who sing "La Ley del Monte" and "Volver, Volver" at weddings and Quinceañeras don't listen to that music during their everyday life. And they may like some cumbias or salsa or merengue at a party, but, again, not during everyday life.

Let’s take Marc Anthony as an example. He started singing Freestyle music and then decided to do Salsa. He’s second generation and took that route. He’s the best selling Salsa artist ever.

But Marc Anthony was involved in the New York music scene. He did freestyle because many of his gigs were at gay clubs where that was profitable for him. But he had enough time also living on the Island to understand salsa.

And El Gran Combo is actually the best selling salsa band of all time.

With all respect to the greats that came before him, Marc reached a wider audience because of his ability to transcend not just language but culture too.

But only because he did non-salsa songs and videos, with "Rain Over Me" being a good example. Much of Marc's later success was in the non-salsa area.

Back to Spanish Language radio, A lot of these shows are targeted at an audience that’s entertained by farándula and “bochinche”. At least that’s what these radio conglomerates are offering.

Because that format works while straight music does not.

Someone who’s second generation is not interested in finding out what’s going on with Maripily or Yailin but they do wanna hear Marc Anthony belt out a tune.

Not enough to listen for enough time to make any difference in ratings.

How many years has it been since Marc had a pure salsa hit?

 

[davideduardo]

The Mollusk just sounds weird as a nickname in English. It sounds better in Spanish. Nicknames just don’t translate well into another language. Imagine telling someone a favorite childhood comedian of yours is called “Cake” 🤣

My objection is not to the name. It's to his socially degrading content and attitude.

 

[OriginalSample]

My objection is not to the name. It's to his socially degrading content and attitude.

I understand that. My point is that it sounded weird hearing it in English. A lot of these Spanish Language shows here in the US are of low brow quality as well.

 

[OriginalSample]

But Marc Anthony was involved in the New York music scene. He did freestyle because many of his gigs were at gay clubs where that was profitable for him. But he had enough time also living on the Island to understand salsa.

And El Gran Combo is actually the best selling salsa band of all time.

Marc Anthony is the best selling Salsa artist of all time is what I said above. He’s has sold over 30 million Salsa albums.

When Freestyle was at its peak, it did play in gay clubs but it was quickly displaced by House music once that scene got going, However, Freestyle came out of the NYC dance scene of the early 80’s. It’s not “gay music” per se. And you might be surprised to know that a lot of gay clubs play hip hop.

Back to Marc Anthony, he wrote a lot of songs for other Freestyle artists like Safire, TKA and La India. He was part of the NY Freestyle Scene. His first English album from 1988 is mostly Freestyle with a couple of House songs. My point is, he was a pioneer of that scene.

 

[OriginalSample]

How many years has it been since Marc had a pure salsa hit?

I can tell you don’t listen to new Salsa. How about this year.