WHERE WILL LEÓN LAND?

Carin León has remained steadfastly independent throughout his career, but the buzz about a major-label deal for the Mexican phenom is getting louder.

León and manager Jorge Juárez have been taking their time deciding where to sign. Some majors have thrown in the towel, claiming the price of poker is too high; rumor has it that it could cost as much as $40m to close the Latin country star. A few players are still in the game, as they see León as a generational artist capable of delivering global smashes and filling large venues. Sources expect a UMG or Sony company to close very soon.

In 2023 León mounted a North American arena tour produced by AEG. This year, he’s upped the ante—with UTA, led by partner and agent Jbeau Lewis, on board as well—to include a few stadiums, having now achieved the rare feat of performing at both Coachella and Stagecoach.

León’s music appeals to a more diverse audience than the trendy sad sierreños and narcocorridos that dominate the DSPs. In Latin America, he's viewed as country—he just happens to sing in Spanish. León is arguably the closest thing to Chris Stapleton en español.

Where will this one end up? Stay tuned and follow the dinero.