Juan Naranjo
Gibson
Panel: How to Pick the Right Music Partner for Your Career Stage
Juan Sebastian Naranjo is the Special Projects Manager for US Hispanic and Latin America at Gibson Brands, the American guitar manufacturer behind legendary instruments and pro audio brands like Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, Mesa/Boogie, Maestro, and KRK, among others. He's part of Gibson's Cultural Influence Department, a group whose sole purpose is to develop relationships, partnerships, and strategies with artists, festivals, record labels, recording studios, and other music business actors to keep guitar music culture alive and kicking. Born and raised in Colombia, Naranjo started a career within the entertainment industry as the lead singer, guitar player and main songwriter for alternative rock band Gatoblanco, which took him to sign a major record deal, tour his home country; and get radio airplay in the United States. Before working for Gibson Brands, Juan managed Art House Records, an independent label founded by Grammy and Latin Grammy winning producer Julio Reyes Copello. While in Art House, Juan worked in the development of musical projects that included Juan Pablo Vega, Paula Arenas, Brika, and Ela Taubert. Juan is also the co-founder of Miami-based independent label South Mountain Music, with Latin Grammy winning producer and engineer Maria Elisa Ayerbe.