Inside Sony Music
- Sony Music Group Celebrates Hispanic Latin Heritage Month ’23
- Oct 16, 2023
During Hispanic Latin Heritage Month, Sony Music Group proudly embraced this year’s national theme “Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.” Our nation’s economy, culture, cuisine, entertainment and so much more are greatly influenced by the many contributions and strides made by the Hispanic Latin community.
We celebrated and honored the Hispanic Latin community through programming and events designed to recognize their versatility and broad cultural impact.
Highlights from Our Hispanic Latin Heritage Month Celebration
We kicked off our recognition for the month with a leadership development workshop featuring guest speaker Refugio Atilano—an author and career mentor/coach for Latino professionals. Throughout the workshop, he imparted actionable skills for enhancing impact and value within the professional community. Links to the virtual launch of his book, The Latino Leadership Playbook, were also shared with attendees once the event concluded.
Atilano discussed topics ranging from advocating for yourself in the workplace to practical guidance for how non-Hispanic or non-Latin employees can support their Hispanic and Latin colleagues. In addition, he gave a list of action items to help bring the concepts he covered to life, like following the free templates found on his website regarding personal development and activating a Latino Leadership Club where employees can discuss topics that aid in changing the paradigm within the workplace. As a closing statement, he relayed this advice to participants:
“If we want to move the needle on representation … if we’re all serious about it … take these steps. Hold yourself accountable and drive yourself forward.”
Later in the month, we held a special class to help master the art of Reggaeton movement with dance performer and instructor, Sofía Dallal. Reggaeton is one of the most popular dance styles originating from Latin America. Born in Panama and popularized in Puerto Rico, it has traveled across the region and the globe. Evolving from dancehall and influenced by U.S. hip-hop, Latin American and Caribbean music, it’s a vibrant fusion.
Dallal described her experience with the team at Sony Music as being both “comfortable and happy” as she was in a space “with people interested in getting to know more about…Latin culture.” She explained that “everybody had very good energy” and were “focused on getting the steps” while simultaneously keeping it “light and super fun.”
To conclude the celebrations of Hispanic Latin Heritage Month, we held a mixer in our New York City office with special guest—and Sony Music Latin singer and songwriter Beéle. Beéle infused the atmosphere with sounds from Colombia through his performance.
A special thank you to all the SMG employees who participated and attended our Hispanic Latin Heritage Month events and activities. Huge shoutout to Refugio Atilano, Sofía Dallal, and Beéle for all the time and effort they contributed. And thank you to SOMOS—a Sony Music Group Talent Advisory Group—for helping host this month’s events and making it such a memorable one.
Our Ongoing Efforts to Support the Hispanic Latin Community
In honor of Hispanic Latin Heritage Month, Sony Music Group, alongside SOMOS, supported causes important to the Hispanic Latin community, including those listed below:
- Hispanic Unity Of Florida Inc.: Empowering immigrants and others to become self-sufficient, productive and civically engaged.
- UnidosUS: UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to build a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos.
- Maestro Cares Foundation: Maestro Cares Foundation improves the quality of life of disadvantaged children and communities in Latin America and the United States. We do so by providing housing, educational programming and the essential resources to support their growth and development.
- Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation: To further international awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions of Latin music and its makers to the world’s culture through college scholarships, grants and educational programs.
