After almost a decade signed to Universal Music Latino, J Balvin has signed a new record deal with Capitol Records. Sources tell Billboard that Balvin’s highly anticipated new album will be released through Interscope Capitol Miami, the newly created division of Interscope chaired by Nir Seroussi in Miami.
Balvin’s album is expected to be released this year, although a date has not yet been announced. Balvin is the second high-profile artist to move from Universal Music Latin to a sister label within Universal in the last year. Last year, Karol G, who also spent a lot of time with Universal Music Latino, signed with Interscope Capitol, which is also home to rising regional Mexican stars Xavi and Iván Cornejo and is managed by Seroussi.
Now, that division is renamed Interscope Capitol Miami after Interscope and Capitol merged earlier this year. Interscope Capitol declined to comment, but sources say Balvin’s project will be worked on by the Interscope Capitol Miami team along with Tom March’s Capitol team.
For Balvin, it is in some way returning home. Early in his career, he was originally signed to Capitol EMI, which was acquired by Universal, leading to his move to Universal Music Latin. Under that label he rose to international fame.
In 2017, Balvin’s “Mi gente” became the first Spanish-language song to top Spotify’s global charts and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, helped by a remix with Beyonce. In 2018, she hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Like It,” her bilingual collaboration with Cardi B and Bad Bunny.
It’s a big moment of change for the Colombian star, who hasn’t released an album since 2021’s José. After a brief stint as the first Latin artist on Scooter Braun’s management roster, he signed last year as a Roc Nation client. and, after performing an acclaimed set at Coachella this year, he is currently touring Europe.
In addition to Balvin, this month Mon Laferte, who also spent years at Universal Music Latino, announced his signing with Sony Music Latin.
