December 17, 1999
by Berenice Cisneros
RIAA releases benchmark study of Hispanic consumers of pre-recorded music
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) released the results of the first ever study of U.S. Hispanic consumers of pre-recorded music. The RIAA undertook the study to enable its Latin member labels and their retailer customers to better comprehend the core consumers of Hispanic music by investigating which Hispanics are buying music, and what and where they're purchasing, what influences their pruchases and the importance of music in their lives.
The key findings of the study reveal a healthy marketplace with large blocks of both older and younger consumers reporting a high degree of purchasing, involvement and satisfaction with music. Not surprisingly, Hispanic comsumers are also purchasers of English language music and this particularly true of younger consumers. Paralleling the general music market, approximately one third of Hispanic customers are responsible for two thirds of music purchases by Hispanics.
"Young Hispsters"
"Still Grooving"
Hispanics are enthusiastic music consumers
Music listening is extremely or very important to half of Hispanic consumers. Another 41% consider music listening fairly important, with only 9% reporting music to be not very or not at all important to them.
Outlets vary somewhat by market
While the outlets where Hispanic consumers purchase music vary somewhat by region and are spread over many types, a higher percentage of Hispanic customers (24%) buy all or most of their music at independent stores ("mom and pop" shops) than compared to the general market. Also of note, a significant number (6%) of purchases by Hispanic consumers are made at flea markets, nightclubs and/or concerts. The RIAA assumes this pattern reflects the better availability of Spanish language product at independent stores and off-site venues such as clubs or flea markets.
Radio most influential
Hispanic consumers report that radio stations (67%) most influence their music listening habits. Their genre of choice, not surprisingly, is Spanish music (63%) followed by Easy Listening (20%) and Rap/Hip-Hop (13)%. Among Hispanics, the most popular sub-genres of Latin music (as defined by respondents), are Spanish language (44%), Mexican (24%) and Merengue and Salsa tie for third (8%).
Survey Methodology
More than 900 telephone interviews among Hispanics 14-54 years old. The ethnic composition of the study closely reflected the ethnic composition of the United States' Hispanic population. A detailed executive summary of the survey's findings is posted on the homepage of the RIAA website at riaa.com
Se lanza Ritmoteca.com--el primer sitio dedicado exclusivamente a la venta de música latina
Llevando la fenomenal popularidad de la música y el entrenimento latino a su siguiente faceta, Ritmotecas. com anunció el lanzamiento de su sitio en la Internet, el cual ofrece la selección más variada de música latina que se puede "bajar" directamente desde una computadora.
Ritmoteca, un híbrido de las palabras ritmo y biblioteca, ofrece canciones latinas que pueden ser escuchadas y bajadas a una computadora personal, un equipo de sonido MP3 u otra máquina. Ritmoteca es un concepto novedoso en la industria del entretenimineto latino, un mercado mundial y explosivo que para el año 2003 alcanzará los US $2.6 milliones en ventas de músicas que el consumidor puede bajar directamente de la Red, de acuerdo a Jupiter Communications, un analista independiente de la industria.
"Hemos creado un portal de música interactiva que asegurará que los amantes de la música en todo el mundo tengan acceso a lo más caliente en música latina, la última información sobre el mundo del entretenimiento y lo mejor en mercancía dis-ponible en la Internet," dijo Ivan J. Parrón, fundador y presidente de Ritmotecas. Parrón lideró el desarrollo y lanzamiento del sitio en la Internet de MTV Networks Latin America.
Latino Christmas
Add some spice to the season's most popular carols with zesty Latin rhythms including lively rumba and chachacha from "Cuba L.A.", sultry flamenco from "Oscar Lopez" and "Chuscales," and lush Brazilian fusion from "Nando Lauria" all on the recently released Latino Christmas CD by Narada. Check your local store for this release.
Cantina Classics celebrates 100 years of Mexican cinema
During the 1930s there was a parallel universe between the silver screens of the United States and Mexico. In the U.S. the likes of Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers rode horses, dispensed with bad guys and wooed their women with guitars and songs. In Mexico, Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete rode horses, dispensed with bad guys and wooed their women with guitars and songs.
The music from this time is re-created on "Cantina Classics" by legendary Tex-Mex guitarist Frank Corrales. As a young boy growing up in San Antonio, TX, Corrales was a big fan of these movies. "I actually learned the guitar by watching guys like Gene Autrey and the Mexican stars," says Corrales. This mix between the guitar styles of the U.S. and Mexican stars has become a Corrales trademark.
The music on "Cantina Classics" is a rich and charming mixture of influences that go to the heart of Mexican music. The range from the break-neck rhythms of the Afro-Mexican huapan-go to the soulful melodies of the "ranchera."
Overall the music is a boisterous and outgoing style, and yet it has enough substance that it sticks to the ribs of the psyche. Backed only by guitar, bass and Mexican harp, Corrales' barebones sytle reveals the charm of the music's melodies and rhythms -- just the way you'd hear it walking into a neighborhood cantina or restaurant after taking in a matinee.
To order or to hear samples log onto Allegro Music at www.allegro-music.com
La Costumbre Takes Tradition in New Directions
Rising out of the Texas-Mexico
borderland country, La Costumbre is a band firmly
rooted in tradition, yet has forged a path in new musical directions
as heard on their debut Hollywood Records release, "La
Costumbre. The album features the first single and video
"Retírate,"written by the band's
lead singer and accordion player, 18-year-old José Zamora.
Zamora's peers round out La Costumbre: Edgar Luján on lead
vocals and bajo sexto, Efrain "Pin" Morales on bass,
Karl Moreno on drums and Manuel Jasso on tumbas.
Elsie Muniz thinks its love she sees in "Your Eyes"
University Music/Interscope Records has released the first single entitled "Your Eyes," and self title debut album from 22 year old R&B artist Elsie Muniz. "Your Eyes," "Tus Ojos" is sung in both English and Spanish. The English version features James "de Barba" de Jesus from the successful hip hop Latin trio DLG.
Elsie Muniz incorporates many styles in her music. She is an R&B singer who takes pride in her Latin heritage, but credits her ability to mesh both Black and Latin culture so well to growing up in a primarily Black neighborhood.
"I got to experiment with
both Latin and African-American influences. I consider myself
part of both cultures. I'm bicultural, so you get everything you
need. I'm an R&B artist, who happens to be Puerto Rican,"
Elsie Muniz.
Fama Records releases Five-Time Grammy-nominated Artist Tony Coronado's "12 Exitos A La Brava"
Discos Fama Records and Agave Music release five-time Grammy-nominated artist Tony Coronado's latest CD album, "12 Exitos a La Brava." Coronado is viewed as "one of the best in Norteno music." The artist interprets hit songs originally recorded with his former band, Los Bravos del Norte.
Working with a variety of independent labels for over thirty years, Coronado has recorded dozens of very successful albums. In 1974, his teen boy-band Los Norteños de Santa Cruz became popular in the local social scene of Mexicali. His California Norteño band Los Caracoles de Durango recorded regional hits such as "La Celda 27"and "La Sutana Negra."
Coronado's found most of his success when he joined Los Bravos del Norte. With eight recorded albums and nearly six years of continuous successful U.S.-Mexico tours, the band was nominated for a Grammy Award on Five occasions with such songs as "La Rama del Mesquite," "Tristes Recuerdos" and "Un Puño de Tierra." In 1995, the band won the Tejano Music Award "Conjunto Norteño of the Year" for their album, "Mi Acordion y Yo."
Coronado has returned to his musical roots and prepares for the new millennium while he enjoys a new artistic era with his current band Tony Coronado & Los Sultanes de Nuevo Leon. Together, they have recorded five successful albums. He aspires to conquer a new audience and to keep his faithful admirers happy and content with his new Fama CD release.
Aqui esta nuestro TOP 15 + 10 para el mes de Noviembre de 1999!!!
What else is making noise??? (Que mas esta pegando???)
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