During a working session organized by YouTube in Madrid, platform executives held a strategic lunch meeting with representatives from the independent record label sector. The gathering brought together YouTube’s music leadership and professionals with experience in publishing, distribution, and phonographic content curation.
Among the invited guests was Federico Scialabba, president and co-founder of Music Brokers, an independent company active in Latin America with international expansion. The meeting served as a bridge between those who shape global content policies from a high-reach platform and catalog operators with editorial approaches distinct from those of major labels.
Music Brokers and Its Position in the Editorial Market
Scialabba’s presence at the event signifies recognition of a management model based on editorial autonomy, content specialization, and the identification of niche markets. Founded in Buenos Aires in 1997, Music Brokers has built a strategy focused on revaluing catalog works, themed compilations, and projects that combine curatorial vision with commercial efficiency.
Over the past two decades, the company has expanded its operations with offices and distribution networks across Europe and Latin America, developing product lines such as Bossa n’, Jazz and ‘70s, and alternative soundtracks, chillout, and ambient music editions. Its catalog blends original productions with licensed content. The publishing arm is integrated into the company’s structure, handling synchronization rights and representation on digital platforms.
Scialabba’s market vision goes beyond operations. He explores technological tools to optimize traceability, metadata management, and rights holder compensation. In interviews, he has emphasized the need for transparent structures that balance artistic values with technical efficiency.
Exchange Between Global Executives and Independent Labels
Also attending the lunch were Dan Chalmers, YouTube’s Head of Music for Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Tasha Taylor, Head of Music Partnerships in the same region; and Paul Smith, Managing Director of YouTube Music for Asia-Pacific. All are part of the team that manages institutional relationships between YouTube and the music industry.
The exchange took place at a time when the business model of on-demand video and multi-window monetization demands flexible agreements, sustainable editorial formats, and a fluid relationship between platforms and rights holders. The presence of Scialabba and Music Brokers exemplifies how independent structures can engage directly with global players without compromising their editorial identity or delegating creative control.
Niche Content and New Distribution Models
A key pillar of Music Brokers’ model is its focus on non-mainstream repertoires with long-term circulation potential.
Rather than chasing short-lived trends, the company curates a catalog built on durability, conceptual integrity, and reusable licenses.
This approach aligns with digital environments, where content life cycles are not solely tied to release schedules.
In addition to physical editions, Music Brokers maintains an active presence on streaming services, synchronization markets, and third-party label partnerships. Its integration of music publishing and phonographic management allows for efficient coordination with digital platforms, where rights control is essential for monetization.
Federico Scialabba’s participation in this high-level meeting in Madrid reflects the growing professionalization of the relationship between tech platforms and independent content developers. In this dynamic, technical, legal, and artistic aspects demand mutual understanding, adaptability, and multi-level management.