New York NY–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–June 28, 2007–MTV Tr3s has expanded its music programming strategy team by promoting Jesus Lara to Senior Vice President, Music and Talent and hiring Michael Galbe as Vice President, Music and Talent, it was announced today by Lucia Ballas-Traynor, Senior Vice President and General Manager for MTV Tr3s. Jose Tillán, recently promoted to the new position of Senior Vice President, Content and Music for MTV/VH1 Latin America, will continue playing a strategic role with MTV Tr3s.
In addition to overseeing the MTV Tr3s music programming strategy, Lara will also be responsible for the pan-regional music and talent strategy for MTV and VH1 in Latin America, reporting to Tillán.
In both roles, Lara will be the primary liaison between MTV Tr3s and MTV/VH1 Latin America and artists, record labels, management companies and talent agencies. Lara will oversee the talent needs for both MTV Tr3s and MTV/VH1 Latin America including events airing in both the U.S. and Latin America such as “Los Premios MTV,” and “MTV Unplugged.”
“Jesus is an accomplished, creative, and vision-oriented music executive who has a unique understanding of the passion Latino youth have for music. He has been integral to our efforts to position MTV Tr3s as a leading music authority and his expanded responsibilities will help us create even deeper relationships between our audience and the artists they love and want to know more about,” said Ballas-Traynor.
“Having Jesus head the Music and Talent Departments reinforces our commitment to music. He will play an instrumental role aligning synergies between the Latin American and the U.S. Hispanic markets,” said Tillán.
Galbe will manage MTV Tr3s talent and music initiatives, and liaison with the Latin and general market entertainment industries. He will help secure and supervise talent for MTV Tr3s programs such as “Mi TRL,” “Sucker Free Latino” and “Rock Dinner,” as well as managing and developing initiatives that reinforce the MTV Tr3 brand on and off the channel, such as concert tours, music events, and retail presence. Galbe will report to Lara.
About the individuals
Jesus Lara has been a key member of the MTV Tr3s strategy committee since 2005, helping to plan and launch the channel. As Vice President, Music Marketing and Talent/Artist Relations, he has helped develop and execute key multiplatform franchises such as “MTV Tr3s Artist of the Month” and “Descubre & Download.” He has also developed key music marketing campaigns between the network and artists such Enrique Iglesias and Maná. Previously, Lara was Vice President, Music Marketing and Talent/Artist Relations for MTV International where he researched, identified and developed international music marketing opportunities such as Coldplay Live launch , Shakira 5 Star, Tour de Franz Ferdinand and Sum 41 around the world in 14 days, among others. He created the first ever, international multi-platform (on air, online and mobile) music initiative MTV 5 Star, launched in November 2005, with Shakira’s Oral Fixation, Volume 2.
Before joining the MTV family in 2004, Lara was with EMI Music Latin America. During his tenure with EMI, he successfully oversaw the panregional marketing campaigns that established international artists such as Robbie Williams, Norah Jones, Gorillaz, Coldplay, Tiziano Ferro, Thalia, and Carlos Vives. For EMI Music Mexico, he led a crucial restructuring effort that resulted in the label’s renewed market competitiveness.
Lara’s music management career began in 1992 when he co-founded MATT Entertainment, an artist management company.
Lara earned an MBA with honors from the Thunderbird Garvin Graduate School of International Management and a BA in International Business from Florida International University.
Michael Galbe is joining MTV Tr3s from Jive Records/SONYBMG where, as Senior Director of International, he developed and executed worldwide marketing campaigns for superstar artists such as Britney Spears, Usher, Ciara, PINK, Nick Lachey, Backstreet Boys, N SYNC, and Justin Timberlake. Before Jive, he was Senior Marketing Manager at Warner Music Latin America, working with such artists as Maná, Café Tacuba, Laura Pausini, Alejandro Sanz and Luis Miguel.
Galbe developed his love for music in his native Miami, self-publishing and distributing a music magazine, Bizarre, which featured such groups as REM, Echo and the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, Forget the Name, The Cure and others. He graduated from Columbia University in New York with a BA in economics and a minor in New York club life.
MTV Tr3s is the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today’s bicultural Latino youth. MTV Tr3s’ programming is rooted in the fusion of American and Latino music, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos. In addition to music programming, MTV Tr3s programming slate also features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs that celebrate US Latino hybrid identity and culture.
MTV Networks Latin America, Inc., a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates MTV Latin America, Nickelodeon Latin America, VH1 Latin America, Viacom Networks Brazil and the MTV Networks Digital Suite, a package of five digital services – MTV Jams, MTV Hits, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mega Hits and Nickelodeon’s GAS (Games and Sports for Kids). MTV Networks Latin America also connects with its audiences interactively through its websites: http://www.mtvla.com, http://www.mundonick.com and http://www.vh1la.com, as well as through its broadband and community sites: http://www.mtvrevolution.com and http://www.lazona.com.
