peermusic and BMI Join Forces with the Government of Puerto Rico in the Launch of a New Music Channel

MIAMI, FL - February 12, 2018 An important collaboration between (the world's largest independent publisher), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), the government of Puerto Rico and the Institute of Culture culminated in a project in which the dissemination of 150 Puerto Rican heritage album recordings will be available for streaming with a new channel on the Pandora digital platform. The announcement was made on Thursday, February 8, at a press conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Governor Ricardo Roselló Névares, together with the executive director of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (ICP) Carlos R. Ruiz Cortés, announced the launch of "Puerto Rico Cultural", a new music channel of ICP on the digital platform Pandora Radio, a company that has more than 80 million users.

This initiative of the channel "Puerto Rico Cultural" will have 1,700 songs that span from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Ruiz Cortés declared that "the musical richness of our Puerto Rican artists such as Rafael Hernández, Pedro Flores, Juan Boria, José Ignacio Quintón, Familia Figueroa, Héctor Campos Parsi and Antonio Paoli will be accessible internationally through one of the most recognized channels in the world. “

The Vice President of the East Coast and Puerto Rico of peermusic Julio Bagué, represented the company at the press conference. As a music historian enthusiast, and Latin GRAMMY® nominated producer with works such as the restoration of Rafael Hernandez’s "Cofresí" and his latest GRAMMY® Latin winning project Jon Secada’s "To Beny Moré with Love", Bagué was invited by the government of Puerto Rico to participate on behalf of peermusic. peermusic, whose foundation began more than 90 years ago thanks to the visionary Ralph S. Peer is the world's largest independent music publisher with 32 offices in 28 countries and has more than a quarter of a million copyrights. peermusic’s catalog represents in its majority many of the precious songs that will be transmitted by the "Puerto Rico Cultural” channel. Without a doubt, it is an honor for them to represent these works.

"The fact that for the first time, these historical works will be broadcast globally through Pandora is of great importance, since we are talking about the foundations of Puerto Rican musical culture," expressed Julio Bagué.

Executive Director of BMI Joey Mercado was present as a spokesperson for the performing rights organization. Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) was founded in 1939 with the mission of representing emerging genre composers such as jazz, blues and, country. Currently, BMI represents around 8.5 million musical works and undoubtedly represents many of the author's selections included in the channel.

Ruiz Cortés summed up the importance of this project by stating, "The alliance between the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and Pandora will allow a new generation of Puerto Ricans and people around the world to know our native music. In addition, this alliance is a great example of projects between government agencies with private companies that can be replicated throughout the government."

(Left to Right) VP of the Latin Division East Coast & Puerto Rico peermusic Julio Bagué / Executive Director of The Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña (ICP) Carlos R. Ruiz Cortés// Secretary of State: Luis Gerardo Rivera Marín / Governor de Puerto Rico Ricardo Roselló Névares/ Joey Mercado Executive Director BMI / Eduardo Arosemena, Assistant Secretary of State