Xavi Signs With Universal Publishing

Música Mexicana star Xavi has secured an exclusive worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group following the massive success of his single "La Diabla." The deal highlights the continued global expansion of the Música Mexicana genre and the industry's focus on securing young talent with significant streaming footprints. This move, alongside several other major talent signings and strategic partnerships, underscores a period of active roster building across major labels and agencies.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has officially signed Música Mexicana breakout star Xavi to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. The 21-year-old artist, who recently became the youngest-ever recipient of the ASCAP Latin Music Award for Songwriter of the Year, has seen explosive growth with his sophomore album, "Dosis," and the hit single "La Diabla," which has surpassed one billion global streams. Alexandra Lioutikoff, UMPG’s president of Latin America & U.S. Latin, emphasized Xavi's role in pushing the genre forward with a fresh perspective, while UMPG CEO Jody Gerson was also present for the signing alongside other executives including Leslie Zigel and Ana Rosa Santiago.

In other major representation news, singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding has returned to WME for worldwide representation in all areas. Goulding, who holds the record for the most No. 1 albums by a British female artist, is preparing for the September 4 release of her sixth studio album, "I Know Too Much." Additionally, United Talent Agency (UTA) has signed the Filipino music group SB19 for global representation as they prepare for festival slots at Summer Sonic and Lollapalooza. Epic Records has also expanded its roster by signing Papa Jay, also known as Thaddeus J. Mixson, ahead of his debut single release, "Work Dat," and his Young Star award nomination at the BET Awards.

The industry is also seeing unique international strategic shifts, notably with American rock band Faith No More striking a global deal with Brazilian live entertainment company 30e. This partnership positions 30e as the strategic and operational hub for the band’s upcoming tours across five continents, a rare instance of a Latin American firm leading global planning for a major U.S. act. Meanwhile, Greater Music Group CEO Paula Moore has launched a business transformation initiative for electronic artist Bassnectar, also known as Lorin Ashton, shifting his business model from tour merchandise toward a broader direct-to-consumer and content-led strategy. This restructuring follows Moore's long history with the artist, dating back to signing his first album to Universal in 2005.