Billboard’s Latin Power Players ceremony recognized Angel Kaminsky and Fono executive Ana Martínez for their label’s achievements, with singer Ela Taubert presenting the award.
Universal Music Latin executive Angel Kaminsky and Fono general manager Ana Martínez received the Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year award during Billboard’s Latin Power Players celebration in Miami on October 20, 2025. Colombian singer-songwriter Ela Taubert presented the honor, recognizing the label’s success in bringing regional Mexican music to radio audiences.
The ceremony took place at Casadonna restaurant as part of Billboard Latin Music Week. It brought together record executives, artists and music industry professionals to celebrate the people and companies contributing to Latin music’s international growth.
The recognition highlighted the accomplishments of Fono, a regional Mexican music label associated with Universal Music Latin Entertainment. Kaminsky accepted the award alongside Martínez, acknowledging the artists and industry professionals responsible for the label’s achievements.
Angel Kaminsky and Ana Martínez Receive Industry Recognition
Kaminsky and Martínez represented Fono during the presentation, which recognized the label’s performance in the Regional Mexican Airplay category.
The award focused on success in regional Mexican radio programming, an important part of the music business that connects artists with audiences throughout the United States and other markets.
For record companies, radio exposure remains valuable even as streaming platforms have become central to music consumption. Airplay can introduce performers to new listeners, support concert promotion and help songs reach audiences beyond their existing fan bases.
Kaminsky thanked Taubert during the ceremony and praised her professional development. He also emphasized that the recognition belonged to the broader team responsible for Fono’s work.
Martínez accepted the honor on behalf of the label and thanked the performers whose music contributed to its success. Her remarks reflected the collaborative relationship between artists and the companies responsible for recording, distributing and promoting their work.
The presentation was one of several moments during the gathering that recognized achievements across different areas of the Latin music industry.
Ela Taubert Presents the Award
Taubert, a Colombian singer-songwriter associated with Universal Music, delivered the award to Kaminsky and Martínez.
During her presentation, she recalled signing with Universal Music and the opportunities that followed. She credited Kaminsky and the company’s team with supporting her ambitions as her career developed.
Taubert described the importance of having people who believed in her goals and were willing to help turn ambitious projects into reality.
Her remarks offered a personal perspective on the work of record executives, whose contributions often take place away from the stage and recording studio.
Although Taubert is associated primarily with Latin pop rather than traditional regional Mexican music, her participation reflected Universal Music’s broader artist development activities across several genres.
She also expressed gratitude for the opportunities she had received through the company, including collaborations that had once seemed difficult to imagine.
Her presentation connected the award to a larger theme of the evening: recognizing the relationships between performers, executives and creative teams that help music reach wider audiences.
Fono’s Role in Regional Mexican Music
Fono has developed a roster connected to several established names in regional Mexican music.
The label’s October 2025 announcement highlighted artists including Alejandro Fernández, Banda Carnaval, Banda El Recodo, Banda Los Recoditos, Banda Los Sebastianes, Calibre 50, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón and Los Tigres del Norte.
These performers represent different traditions within regional Mexican music, including banda, norteño and ranchera. Their recordings have helped bring Mexican musical styles to audiences across generations.
Regional Mexican music includes several distinct genres rather than one uniform sound. Its traditions draw from different regions of Mexico and reflect a combination of instruments, vocal arrangements and storytelling approaches.
Banda music commonly features brass and percussion instruments, while norteño recordings frequently emphasize accordion and bajo sexto. Ranchera music has longstanding connections to Mexican popular culture and traditional vocal performance.
The continued popularity of these styles has created opportunities for established performers and newer artists.
Fono’s recognition reflects the importance of maintaining relationships with experienced musicians while developing ways to introduce their recordings to changing audiences.
Angel Kaminsky’s Expanding Responsibilities
Kaminsky’s career at Universal Music has included senior leadership roles involving artist relationships, recording strategy and the development of Latin music performers.
In March 2026, Universal Music Group announced that Kaminsky had been appointed president of A&R and artist relations for Universal Music Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.
The position expanded his responsibilities across multiple territories and placed him in a leadership role involving the company’s creative strategy and artist development.
A&R, which stands for artists and repertoire, is the part of a record company responsible for discovering performers, helping develop their careers and supporting the creation of new recordings.
The work includes evaluating musical projects, connecting artists with producers and songwriters, and coordinating creative decisions before recordings reach the public.
Kaminsky’s appointment was part of a wider restructuring of Universal Music’s Latin operations.
Alfredo Delgadillo was named chief executive officer and president of Universal Music Latin Entertainment, while Daniel Luna became general manager of Universal Music Latino.
The company said the appointments were designed to strengthen cooperation among its operations in Latin America, the United States and the Iberian Peninsula.
The leadership changes followed the recognition Kaminsky and Martínez received at the 2025 Latin Power Players event.
Leila Cobo’s Role in Latin Music Coverage
Leila Cobo has played an important role in developing Billboard’s coverage of Latin music and its annual industry events.
The Colombian journalist and author has spent years interviewing performers, examining music industry trends and documenting the expansion of Latin music beyond its traditional markets.
In January 2026, Billboard promoted Cobo to co-chief content officer alongside Jason Lipshutz. The position gave her broader responsibility for the publication’s editorial coverage and major events.
Cobo also remains closely associated with Billboard Latin Music Week, which brings together recording artists, executives, producers and other professionals.
The annual gathering provides opportunities for industry discussions, artist interviews, networking and recognition ceremonies.
At the 2025 Latin Power Players celebration, Cobo presented other honors, including recognition for Double P Records founders George Prajin and Peso Pluma.
The Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year trophy, however, was presented to Kaminsky and Martínez by Ela Taubert.
That distinction is important because some descriptions of the ceremony incorrectly identify Cobo as the presenter of Kaminsky’s award.
Regional Mexican Music’s Growing Industry Presence
The recognition of Fono reflects the continuing commercial importance of regional Mexican music.
The genre has become a significant part of Latin music programming, combining the enduring popularity of established performers with growing interest in contemporary styles.
Streaming services and social media platforms have made it easier for audiences outside Mexico to discover regional Mexican recordings. At the same time, traditional radio remains an important channel for promoting songs and building relationships with listeners.
Record labels must respond to these changes by developing promotional strategies that work across different platforms.
A song can gain attention through streaming playlists, short videos, radio programming and live performances. Each provides a different opportunity to reach listeners.
The success of regional Mexican music has also increased interest from larger record companies seeking partnerships with artists and independent labels.
For executives such as Kaminsky and Martínez, the challenge involves supporting established performers while responding to new listening habits.
The Billboard recognition acknowledged Fono’s airplay achievements during a period when regional Mexican music continued expanding its presence within the larger Latin music business.
Universal Music Latin Looks Toward Future Growth
Universal Music Latin Entertainment continued building its regional operations following the award ceremony.
The March 2026 management appointments established new responsibilities for executives overseeing artist development, creative strategy and label operations.
Kaminsky’s expanded position placed him in a role that reaches beyond one label or musical category. His responsibilities now include working with artists and creative teams across Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula.
For Fono, the Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year honor remains a recognition of the combined contributions of its performers, management and promotional staff.
The original award was presented on October 20, 2025, with Kaminsky and Martínez accepting on the label’s behalf.
Universal Music Latin Entertainment is also among the nominees for Regional Mexican Airplay Label of the Year at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards, scheduled for October 22. The nomination gives the company another opportunity for recognition in a category that has become increasingly important to its regional music business.
IMAGE: Banda El Recodo Cancún Source imagen en Flickr Author Mundocun This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.