Strategic alliance between FC Barcelona and Sony Music for the creation of engaging entertainment experiences
FC Barcelona have signed a collaboration agreement with Sony Music, the leading record company in the creation of audio and video content as well as entertainment experiences. Through their collaboration, both entities will work together for the next two seasons to promote the creation of entertainment experiences that combine two activities about which Barça fans and people of all ages are especially passionate: music and sport.
The two parties met on Sunday before the Joan Gamper Trophy game at the Camp Nou, to lay the foundations for their future alliance, at an event attended by Josep Maria Bartomeu, President of FC Barcelona; Òscar Grau, CEO of the club; Afo Verde, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Latin Iberia; and José Mª Barbat, President of Sony Music Entertainment Iberia.
Besides, to celebrate the agreement, Sony held a reception in Miami on Monday that included renowned artists and Barça players, which are currently in the United States to close its 2019 preseason playing two friendly fixtures against Napoli. The event signalled the beginning of the agreement, and among those in attendance were were musicians such as Carlos Vives, Becky G, Pedro Capó, Nicky Jam, and ChocQuibTown. From FC Barcelona, the players Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Ousmane Dembélé, Antoine Griezmann, Arturo Vidal, Rafinha, Samuel Umtiti and Jordi Alba were on hand, as well as the Club's president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and the directors Marta Plana and Javier Bordas, the board's Cultural Delegate Teresa Basilio, the technical secretary Eric Abidal, and Barça ambassador Juliano Belletti.
Sport and Music
The collaboration agreement encompasses the world of sports and music; two different worlds but with a common ability to unite people and touch their senses and emotions. It features the best in their fields: FC Barcelona, in sport, and Sony Music in music.
This new venture with Sony Music is part of the club's goal of proactively partner with entities that share its values and philosophy. It also reinforces the strategy of establishing alliances with leading brands that allow FC Barcelona to continue at the forefront of the sport and entertainment industry. Through this initiative Barça will have the opportunity to connect with its fans through multiple types of experiences that will combine football stars and big-name music artists.
Joint actions have already allowed the club to imagine the future scope of this alliance, such as the performance by Sony Music artists at the Joan Gamper Trophy game. In addition, as part of the FC Barcelona US Tour, the Barça Fest Miami will be held on Tuesday at BayFront, an event aimed at fans featuring two artists from the record label: Play-N-Skillz, and Pedró Capó, who wrote ‘Calma’, one of the hits of the summer.
In the coming months, other specific projects will be revealed, involving the presence of artists at events organised by Barça; shared contents with participation of artists from the Sony Music label and the club’s players; in addition to the use of the Sony Music catalogue for content produced by the club’s different channels.
Statement by Josep Maria Bartomeu, president of FC Barcelona:
“We are very proud to be joining forces with Sony Music, one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world. With this initial collaboration agreement we intend to improve the fan experience for our supporters through musical content and innovative audiovisual materials."
Statement of Afo Verde, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Latin Iberia
“We are very excited and looking forward to our prestigious partnership with the FC Barcelona organization. It gives both parties a unique platform to tell stories by combining music and sports. I’m sure that music and Barça fans will enjoy this amazing collaboration”.