Sonido Distrito Sur: UMG and Warner Chappell launch in Ecuador
Universal Music and Warner Chappell have launched Sonido Distrito Sur to support Ecuadorian artists; the partners have not published ownership or financial terms.
Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell Music have launched Sonido Distrito Sur (SDS), a Quito-based company led by singer-songwriter Juan Fernando Velasco with executive Ricardo Ordóñez. The launch and SDS’s remit — investment, production, distribution, marketing, promotion, A&R and international collaborations — were reported by Billboard; the formal announcement took place during SAYCE’s Music Week in Quito (September 1–4, 2026), as Billboard noted.
SDS says it will target the Andean region and markets including Peru, Colombia and Central America. Neither Universal nor Warner Chappell has published the venture’s ownership structure or any financial terms.
What freelancers and small companies should do
Treat SDS as a potential commercial channel rather than a funding programme. Practical steps: register or check registration with SAYCE if you work in Ecuador; prepare a short bilingual pitch and recent tracks ready for streaming links; approach local A&R, sync and production contacts with clear rights and split documents; and monitor SAYCE events and SDS announcements for collaboration or open-submission windows. For regional work, prioritise catalogues and metadata cleaned for Peru, Colombia and Central America.
Figures checked 10 September 2026. Key reporting by Billboard.
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