UMG’s Global Talent Services (GTS) Acquires Latin Music Management Company RLM

Universal Music’s little-discussed Global Talent Services (GTS) Latin artist services agency has officially acquired Rosa Lagarrigue Management (RLM).

Global Talent formally disclosed the buyout today, seven months and change after setting sail “independent of UMG’s local music labels.” As part of the latter pivot, GTS became “a standalone company” and tapped longtime Universal Music Spain exec Narcís Rebollo to serve as president and CEO.

Evidently, the GTS expansion isn’t stopping there. Founded decades back by the namesake Rosa Lagarrigue, RLM is now expected to operate under the UMG/GTS banner, the involved parties indicated.

That refers specifically to the just-sold entity’s being “integrated” into GTS, per the announcement. Long term, it’s unclear exactly what this means on the personnel front; among other things, RLM also owns a label called Sin Anestesia.

More immediately, RLM has between 11 and 50 employees, its LinkedIn page shows, and the team members are poised to come aboard GTS. So is the mentioned Rosa Lagarrigue, whose company is active in Spain as well as Colombia and counts as clients Mia Lardner, Miguel Bosé, and more.

Per the relevant businesses, Lagarrigue is signing on as GTS’ global EVP. “I have always believed that every artist needs unique and personalized support; one that combines listening, intuition, strategy, and honest work,” she added in a statement.

“I’m excited to share this project with Narcís, undoubtedly one of the most brilliant executives in the industry, and with his team. What we started at RLM not only continues, but it is amplified and strengthened alongside them,” concluded Lagarrigue.

Meanwhile, Rebollo in remarks of his own touted the deal as a step towards affording signed “artists the best service and strategic support to achieve their goals across all markets.”

In the bigger picture, today’s purchase has arrived against the backdrop of strong Latin revenue growth. When it comes to the States, the RIAA placed the streaming-powered space’s 2024 recorded revenue at a record $1.4 billion or so.

And on-demand listening is still fueling double-digit increases in markets including but certainly not limited to Brazil and Mexico.

Unsurprisingly, then, Universal Music isn’t alone in looking to secure a bigger piece of the Latin music pie. Hybe Latin America last month unveiled a Mexico-focused music-competition program entitled Pase a La Fama, to name one example. The reality series is scheduled to premiere on Telemundo in early June.