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.
Stephanie Chopurian, Founder & CEO, SCV Management, LLC
Stephanie Chopurian has been a prestigious entertainment attorney for the past 11 years, that has graced Billboard’s Top Music Lawyers list for 4 years in a row and she’s now gone on to become a manager/consultant in the music industry. As an Entertainment Attorney she has represented over the past 11 years some of the biggest Latin artists, top-line producers, songwriters and Independent Labels in the music industry including: Arcangel, Karol G, Yandel, De La Ghetto, Myke Towers, Sech, Prince Royce, Chencho Corleone, Zion y Lennox, Tainy, Bull Nene, Keityn, DJ Maff, Reykon, Big Ligas, One World Music, Fergie and many many more.
Stephanie Chopurian also represented and managed the #1 Top Billboard Latín Music Producer Ovy On The Drums (Karol G’s Producer) for many years up until last year, and at the end of last year she closed Ovy On The Drums catalog acquisition deal with Kobalt Music Publishing as well as his sponsorship deal with Heineken & Desperados that launched two years ago and continues throughout this last year.
Stephanie Chopurian is currently representing the Mexican Icon Pop Star BELINDA with Belinda’s Brand Ambassador deal with LEVI’s Jeans GLOBAL LATAM CAMPAIGN, which recently Belinda was featured in VOGUE MEXICO & VOGUE LATAM DIGITAL COVERS TWO-FOLD AUGUST 2026 Edition. She’s also representing & managing another top-like producer DJ Maff that produced “Gatubela” by Karol G & Rauw Alejandro & Romeo Santos hit single “Khe?”, as well as working with top latin music artists like Sech, Ryan Castro, Boza, among many more. Stephanie Chopurian also recently previously managed the up and coming latin artist “La Guru”, who has had significant success with her single “Perra Melancólica”, & co-wrote Karol G’s hit single “Latina Foreva”, and working on many more collaborative projects.
Guadalupe Alvear, CEO & Founder, The Creators Mgmt
With over 14 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry, Guadalupe Alvear is a leading executive specialized in artist management, live production, and international project development. As the Founder of The Creators mgmt, she plays a key role in shaping and driving the careers of the artists she represents.
Her career spans large-scale concert production, global touring, and strategic artist development across key markets. Bridging the creative and business sides of the industry, she focuses on long-term positioning and sustainable career growth.
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
