“NewGenSalsa” Mission Statement:
As most of you are well aware by now, the Salsa music industry has seen its better days. Far removed from the golden era of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s when the genre thrived with artists such as Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco, Ismael Rivera, and Tito Puente, Salsa now finds itself fighting to maintain its cultural relevancy in an ever-changing musical climate here in the United States and in Puerto Rico. With a dwindling popularity amongst today’s youth and little to no support from major record label distributors, national radio outlets, and music award bodies such as the Grammy’s, it is quite apparent that Salsa has reached a pivotal moment in its history.
As a DJ with over 30 years of experience I have witnessed Salsa music’s steady decline firsthand, and I am fully motivated to do all that I can to breathe life in to a genre that has grown stale and slow in adapting to the times. I realize that this will be no easy task, but with the help of the global Salsa community I believe that it is something that is certainly achievable.
With the creation of the “NewGenSalsa” FaceBook group page and the newly established NewGenSalsa.com, my hope is to serve as a key cog in once again elevating Salsa music to the heights of its glory days. The ultimate objective is to make NewGenSalsa the premier promotional forum for new bands looking to spread their music to the masses.
With the rise of the internet and advancements in social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr and SoundCloud, the consumption of music is at an all time high and the marketing possibilities for new and aspiring musicians have never been greater. In recent years artists in genres such as Hip Hop and Rock have used the worldwide web to build far reaching grassroots movements, and it is my belief that the potential exists for Salsa to duplicate that success in the way artists chooses to market their music and cement their brand.
Those of you who grew accustomed to my weekly playlists and album reviews as Music Editor of Salsa Magazine can rest assured that I will continue to shine a spotlight on new emerging artists, and do my very best to provide you with up to date content for your enjoyment. It is my hope that all my supporters and fellow Salseros will share in my vision for the future of our music and join me to make it a reality.
Musically yours,
“El Salsero Mayor” DJ Walter B Nice