Today we’d like to introduce you to Marlene Maseda.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Marlene. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally, my plan was to be a psychologist, then, when I was 18, I landed a job a Terremark Bank in Coral Gables and had a boss by the name of Mireya Marrero who realized I loved music, being that I came from a household where my mom was a back up singer to many Latin Artists and I had music on in the office the whole day. Her husband Manuel Marrero was the head of what was the Miami Arena (now the AAA) and was offered a position at the James L. Knight Center, and was looking for an assistant, she recommended me and he gave me the job. I worked there for about four years, and for the last three of those years, I was booking concerts for the venue for artists such as Sting, Luis Miguel, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, to name a few. While at the JLK center, I met the strongest concert promoter in the Latin market, Arie Kaduri, and he offered me a job, where I worked for three years and learned the concert promoting side of the business, my passion was always to work in a record label and Arie Kaduri was able to get an interview with Sony Discos, particularly Alba Eagan, and she offered me the job on the spot, I work there for five years as a production manager, then marketing manager.
I, then, decided to venture out on my own as a publicist, I had strong contacts with media, record labels, and artists, and I was the first publicist for Reggaeton Music back in 2005, where I had at that time a one year contract with Machete Music and worked artists such as Don Omar, Hector El Father, Wisin y Yandel, Magnate y Valentino, Luny Tunes, Glory, to name a few. My business continued growing and I expanded to other genres with La Kalle Records and worked artists such as Tito Nieves, Issac Delgado, Yolandita Monge, Xtreme, Myriam Hernandez, etc.
A few years later, Mega TV was looking for a Head of Talent relations and had offered me the job several times, but was not sure if I wanted to return to corporate setting, but I did and worked with shows such as “Esta Noche Tu Night with Alexis Valdes”, “Jaime Bayly”, etc… where I was for about eight years.
In 2014, Alexis Valdes did not renew his contract and I left and have been full time with my company Fusion 4 Media ever since.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not been smooth by any means, I think for a woman in this business it has gotten easier now, but back then it was not. This business is primarily dominated by men, although I must say that I have learned a lot from the men that I have had as bosses, I am happy that women now have been given the chance to shine as well. I think, however, that if you are good at what you do, and command respect, your value increases, your opportunities increase and your business thrives.
I am not one to take the easy road ever, I love seeing the dreams of my clients come true, and I will do my best, within reason to make that happen. Yes, there have been plenty of tears along the way, sometimes you encounter mean managers, mean artists, long work travel days, disappointments, but keeping a positive attitude is key.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the FUSION 4 MEDIA story. Tell us more about it.
Fusion 4 Media is my Press & Publicity agency. We specialize in Latin talent, mainly recording artists, but have also worked with comedians, actors, actresses, and personalities. We work the United States and for promotional tours also focus and work Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the main cities in the US for the genres we work, such as NY, LA, Miami.
We have had clients for many years and I think what sets us apart is our personalized service, where we don’t take on too many clients at once especially of the same genre, in order for them not to have to compete with each other on available media spaces. We work everything from Latin Urban to Bachata, Salsa, Merengue, Pop, Regional Mexican. For a while, we were the only agency working Cuban artists because we understood the concept and had experience working at Mega TV with the Alexis Valdes show, where I got the chance to meet the artists that would come from the island for the first time to the United States and formed a friendship with them.
We are very proud that we have been able to develop artists from the beginning, turning them into superstars. Now, we are working the following artists: J.Alvarez, Tempo, Osmani Garcia, Jon Z, Baby Rasta, Divan, Chiquito Team Band, Los Adolescentes Orquesta, Marger, Andy Andy, Raulin Rodriguez, Tony Succar.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were just starting out?
Nothing, I think everything that I have gone through has been necessary in order for me to arrive at the point where I am now. I don’t believe in skipping steps, I believe that struggles make you better and help you to also appreciate the good times.
Contact Info:
- Address: Fusion 4 Media
7500 NW 25 Street
Suite 237
Miami, FL 33122 - Website: www.fusion4media.com (under construction)
- Phone: 305-890-4188
- Email: Marlene@Fusion4Media.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Fusion4Media
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fusion4Media/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Fusion4Mediapr/
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