The T.J. Martell Foundation for Cancer Research has announced the 4th Annual Martell in Miami charity dinner event to be held Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd in Miami, Florida. The event is presented by iberiaBank Sports & Entertainment.
Martell in Miami will honor Walter Kolm, CEO and Founder of Walter Kolm Entertainmentand Alexandra Lioutikoff, President, Latin America & U.S. Latin, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kolm will receive the Estefan Lifetime Achievemant Award and Lioutikoff will receive the Music Industry Trailblazer Award.
Walter Kolm is an influential figure in the Latin music industry. He started his career at 17 when he founded an independent record label. This led him to be named President at Universal Music, Argentina at the age of 25. He later went on to become Managing Director of the Mercury Division of Universal Music Spain and then President, Universal Music Chile. He became President of Universal Music Latino/Machete U.S. where he worked with artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Paulina Rubio, Juanes and many more.
In 2012, Kolm was looking for a new challenge and set his sights on creating his own company. He launched WK Entertainment. WK Entertainment is the largest US headquartered management and artist services company dedicated to Latin acts with an all-star roster that includes Carlos Vives, Maluma, Wisin, Silvestre Dangond, CNCO, Rombai and Emilia Mernes. He describes WK Entertainment as a “360 service” optimized for the streaming age and provides A&R, marketing and commercial opportunities. His artists have garnered hundreds of millions of streaming views, garnered television placements and commercial endorsements and have toured major arena shows. In 2018, Kolm was named Executive of the Year by Billboard Latin Magazine and Power Player Billboard.
Alexandra Lioutikoff was appointed to the role of President of Universal Music Publishing Group for Latin America and US Latin in 2019. She became the first woman to hold the post and is currently the only woman to hold the position of President for a multinational Latin music company. A 20-year music industry veteran she leads UMPG’s US Latin market and the Latin American region overseeing operations across 19 countries. Lioutikoff has been instrumental in growing the inclusion of Latin writers and songs into the global music market, including film and TV. Some of the songwriters, artists, producers and publishers she has signed to UMPG include Romeo Santos, Anitta, Espinoza Paz, Rvssian, Bruno Martini, Young Martino, MadMusick, Raymix, Christian Nodal, MonLaferte, IconMusic, Rich Music and their artist roster and Roc Nation Latin Publishing artists.
Lioutikoff served at ASCAP as head of the Latin membership department for 18 years. While there she expanded the scope of the operation to include urban and Latin-rock; helped lead a major reorganization of the Puerto Rico office and developed five Latin offices; and increased the organization’s market share to 60% of Billboard’s Hot Latin songs chart. During her tenure, she signed artists such as Lin Manuel Miranda, Luis Fonsi, Ricardo Arjona and many more. She also produced ASCAP’s annual Latin Awards show for 17 years.
Alexandra is a native of Malaga, Spain and longtime champion of the songwriting community. Billboard named her to their annual Latin Power Player List for numerous years. She was also named to the International Power Players list and the Women in Music list. She serves on the Latin committee of She is Music and in 2018 she received The Ralph S. Peer Publishers Award from the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. She also serves as a trustee of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Bruno Del Granado of CAA serves as Chairman of the Martell in Miami committee and Chairman Emeritus is Gloria & Emilio Estefan. For tickets or sponsorship opportunities visit www.martellinmiami.org or call 646-841-1394.
The Martell in Miami Executive Committee includes Frank Amadeo (Estefan Enterprises, Inc), Leila Cobo (Billboard Latin), Linda Ingrisano (T.J. Martell Foundation), Betsy & Rudy Perez (Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame), Ruben Rodriguez (Ruben Rodriguez Entertainment), Afo Verde (Sony Music Latin Iberia), Mariette Warner (Live Famously) and Inigo Zabala (Warner Music, Latin America & Iberia).