Global pop superstar Enrique Iglesias has officially signed a new deal with Sony Music, bringing to an end a long-established and highly successful partnership with Universal Music Group. The deal with Sony is one of the highest-paying recording contracts presented to an artist in many years, featuring substantial advances and royalty rates, industry sources report.
A New Era with Sony: Dual Language Strategy
The new partnership signifies a strategic bilingual approach for Iglesias’ music. Future Spanish-language albums will be handled by Sony Music Latin, while English-language albums will be distributed under RCA Records, also a member of the Sony Music family. This enables Iglesias to ride the maximum bilingual popularity as well as global fans.
Closing a Decade-Long Chapter with Universal
Enrique’s career at Universal lasted over a decade, where he recorded a string of number-one albums in both Spanish and English. His last studio album under Universal, “Sex and Love” (2014), featured global hits like “Bailando,” which dominated the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart for a record-breaking duration.
Although there was an amicable split, sources indicate that Sony’s worldwide presence, resources, and promise of a lucrative deal were determining factors in Iglesias’ transition.
Collaboration with Nicky Jam: A Taste of Things to Come
Previous in the year, prior to signing with Sony officially, Iglesias collaborated with Nicky Jam, a signed artist at Sony, in recording the record hit “El Perdón.” Released by Sony Music U.S. Latin, the hit reached the #1 ranking on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, surpassing “Bailando.” An English version of the single was also released in July, with RCA spearheading its marketing campaign—foreshadowing the collaborative efforts currently in full swing between Iglesias and Sony’s English-language wing.
Looking Back: From Fonovisa to Global Stardom
Enrique Iglesias launched his music career with Fonovisa, a Mexican independent company, in the 1990s. His initial success as a Latin ballad singer later paved the way for his historic crossover into English-language pop on Universal/Interscope. Throughout his professional life, Iglesias has all along provided hits that crossover successfully in both linguistic markets, establishing him as a genuine global crossover star.
Record-Breaking Sales and Streaming Success
With over 10 million albums sold in the United States alone and over 100 million globally, Enrique Iglesias is one of the best-selling recording artists in history. His most successful album commercially, “Escape”, has sold over 3.5 million copies in the United States alone, making him a pop legend.
In the streaming age, Iglesias remains on top. His popular “Bailando” came out in four language versions, and its Spanish and English music videos both crossed the 1 billion mark on Vevo, an indication of his vast appeal among different audiences.
What’s Next? Fans Expecting a New Album
No official word has been issued for a forthcoming studio album as of yet. With that said, it seems likely to happen given the recent moves and strategic alliances; fans and industry analysts alike are looking forward to what Enrique Iglesias has to offer under the banner of Sony.
A Powerful Alliance in the Music Industry
Sony Music and Enrique Iglesias’ partnership is not just a deal—it’s a daring move towards increasing global reach through music that knows no borders or languages. Despite neither Iglesias’ camp nor Sony Music having released public statements about the agreement, the music community is already abuzz with anticipation over what lies ahead.
