PANEL - Music Managers: The New Power Brokers
Let’s be honest: the center of gravity in the music industry has shifted. In 2026, the people shaping careers, controlling budgets, and driving long-term strategy aren’t sitting exclusively inside labels or platforms. They’re managers. What began as a cottage trade is now a global profession, with managers serving as the industry’s central power brokers. They are the only role structurally positioned to operate across every sector of the ecosystem on behalf of the artist - translating artistic vision into strategy, deals, and sustainable careers. Modern management is about leadership, leverage, and long-term value creation in a decentralized, global marketplace. This panel dives into how that influence is exercised, how power is stewarded responsibly, and how managers are shaping the future of the global music economy.
Featured Speakers:
Sebastian Taboada, SVP of Artist Management and Operations, Lionfish Entertainment
Sebastian Taboada is SVP of Artist Management and Operations at Lionfish Entertainment, part of Live Nation's Artist Nation Management Group, where he leads management strategy and business operations across the company's roster. Over 15+ years working between the U.S., Latin America, and Iberia, he has closed and executed on more than $125M in touring, sponsorship, recording, publishing, and endorsement deals for artists including Anitta, Danny Ocean, Rosalía, J Balvin, Juanes, and Lunay, and helped structure Lionfish's acquisition by Live Nation. He is based in Miami.
Matthew Limones is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prediction Enterprises, one of the leading firms in Latin music focused on music rights management, catalog acquisitions, and business development. Prediction helps artists, rights owners, labels, and music companies maximize the value of their music and intellectual property, while brokering strategic acquisitions and transactions across the music ecosystem.
Since launching Prediction in 2022, Limones has helped facilitate music-rights transactions, neighboring-rights deals, catalog acquisitions, publishing agreements, and strategic partnerships across the global music ecosystem. Most recently, Prediction client and acclaimed producer Lauro signed with Roc Nation Publishing, marking another significant milestone in Limones’ work connecting leading Latin music talent with global music companies.
A veteran music-industry executive with expertise spanning rights management, music revenue streams, artist relations, marketing, and business development, Limones previously served as Vice President of Artist Relations at RichMusic, where he oversaw artist relations and project management for one of the leading independent Latin music companies. He previously held roles at Universal Music Group/Capitol Latin and SoundExchange, as well as positions at Shazam and TuneIn Radio.
Limones has been recognized by Billboard as one of its 40 Under 40: Music’s Top Young Power Players, a Billboard Latin Power Player, and a 2025 Billboard Pride Power Player. He has also been named a HITS Noisemaker and published in the Berklee College of Music Business Journal. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major music-industry events.
Limones serves as Chair of the Miami Chapter of Music Managers Forum–US, bringing together artists, managers, executives, entrepreneurs, and other industry leaders to advance the business of music. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Miami.
Moderator:
Matthew Limones, CEO & Co-Founder of Prediction Enterprises and Chair of the MMF-US Miami Chapter
