\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\tAtella<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNina Rodrigues<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tHow did your relationship with Zumba begin?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIt started in 2012 because they would calling me to do projects, and I would produce for them. While I was with Universal Music, our relationship began, and I did projects with Juan Magan and Pharrell, among others. Then one day, Sergio Minski (head of music at Zumba) called me, offering me an opportunity. I started working with Zumba on April 4, 2022. It\u2019s a company where I feel there\u2019s a purpose beyond just music, and that\u2019s healing people through dance; something I didn\u2019t feel in the past. <\/p>\n \n\tWhen I joined Zumba, I made a significant change in the music department because today we have almost 80% original content. My bosses, including Beto Perez (Zumba founder), have been incredibly receptive and are always looking for innovation and ways to do things better. I\u2019ve dedicated myself to growing the music department, and our catalog has doubled. In April, Zumba will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and in the three years I\u2019ve been there, we\u2019ve doubled the catalog. Today we have more than 2,500 songs.<\/p>\n \n\tCan you explain the difference between Zumba Music Lab and ZML Records, if any?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tZumba Music Lab is a program for creating music for Zumba, and we work with over 150 producers and composers. Here in Miami, we are currently generating more musical content than the three major record labels combined, and we are creating more job opportunities for creative professionals. We have a different model where we respect the composer and ensure they feel comfortable working with us. Zumba Music Lab is a social program for music that not only benefits the creators but also connects with listeners on a deeper level. When you\u2019re listening to a song, dancing to it, enjoying it, and de-stressing, you\u2019re experiencing a unique energy. It\u2019s a fascinating connection, from zero to one hundred.<\/p>\n \n\tMeanwhile, ZML Records is the record label that releases the songs produced at Zumba Music Lab. Zumba Music Lab is the creative hub, and ZML is the record label.<\/p>\n \n\tYou mention a \u201cdifferent model.\u201d What\u2019s the business strategy that you\u2019ve seen has worked best for ZML Records?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tAll of this leads us to collaborate with renowned artists who are also licensed in music, such as Gente de Zona, Wisin, Nacho, Guaynaa, and Arthur Hanlon. We make song deals; our structure is a song business, and for now, it\u2019s not an artist development business. We are 100% focused on the songs, but eventually, we want to develop artists, and we are looking for artists who can carry the Zumba banner. I feel that will come very soon, but in this first stage, we are focused on these song deals.<\/p>\n \n\tRight now, we\u2019re doing it as a collaboration \u2014 it\u2019s a different kind of deal, quite special, because it doesn\u2019t exist in the music industry. It\u2019s unique: We take the song, we take care of providing all the resources at the A&R level, and we get involved in the musical aspect. We are a company where we dedicate ourselves fully, from choosing the songwriters and producers to the song itself, and we always try to find the best people for the job.<\/p>\n \n\tWe decided to create ZML Records, which is distributed by Sony Music Latin, and we have access to collaborate with Sony artists. I think this year we\u2019re coming with strong collaborations between the two companies, combining the forces of music and fitness, positive and danceable music, with established artists.<\/p>\n \n\tWhat makes a song Zumba-friendly?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tFor us, it\u2019s important that the songs are positive; that they generate a positive feeling. Another key element is that the songs are dynamic, with different sections and rhythms; and we also love bringing cultures together through multicultural music. When you\u2019re in a Zumba class, everyone comes from different backgrounds. When we create musical fusions, we subconsciously unite many bodies and minds. These three components are essential for a song to work properly in a Zumba class.<\/p>\n \n\tHow do you feel your past roles as producer and A&R have amplified your work with Zumba today?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tThe journey of being an artist first\u2026 of negotiating my own deals and building an artistic career where you learn about so many different areas. At the executive level, it\u2019s about understanding the business. I feel that at ZML Records, we\u2019re operating in a very solid way, taking the right steps, where we understand the creators, we listen to them, and we create deals that are fair. I believe that when a music business starts by properly respecting the creative process, the result has to be positive.<\/p>\n \n\tWhat\u2019s interesting and different is that, coming from a background in production and songwriting, I have the ability to offer suggestions \u2014 we can manage things much better. My background and experience foster a kind of mutual respect with the creators at the A&R level \u2014 I feel that this is quite rare, and that\u2019s where we differentiate ourselves.<\/p>\n![\"Atella\"](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-billboard-2021\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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