Ignacio Peña v. Don Omar: Round 1

In one corner, we have the Afro Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper Don Omar claiming the title of first Latin artist to release an iPhone application. In the other corner, is the ultra opinionated futurehead, Puerto Rican rocker Ignacio Peña defending his title. Funny that Omar can make claims on the title when he hasn't even released his app yet. Go ahead, open your iTunes and check. It's not there. Peña's was released two weeks ago for which I happily distributed the press release. (See previous blogs below)

Two weeks ago, when we were prepping the press release, I checked with several of my contacts at Apple, none of whom could name a Latin artist who'd yet to release an app. One person informed me that Omar had submitted one for approval, but apparently it hasn't been approved yet because it's nowhere to be found in the iTunes app store. Maybe it's not worthy of approval.

Yesterday I was told that Omar is being introduced to the concert stage in Puerto Rico as "the first Latin artist to release an iPhone application." What a joke! Is that really how you want to be presented to the world? How about, "Grammy nominated" or "platinum selling artist"? Or maybe "highest charting debut album"? But first iPhone app? Seriously people, get a grip. You should definitely be proud to be the first Latino to do anything in the music business considering it's such a tough market to penetrate but to claim the title of first app? Is this what we've come to? Besides, how can you present yourself as having done something you haven't even completed and steal the title from the artist deserving of it? That's a bold-face lie! Does he need the title that badly? Is it going to make or break his career?

Peña has struggled to make a name for himself in both the Latin and American markets, creating music which isn't "radio friendly" with his sometimes controversial lyrics and often heavy tones. His music charted in Radio & Records Magazine over a two year period, his song “Velocidad de escape”, a duet with Gustavo Laureano lead singer of La Secta All Star, one of the 15 most heard rock songs in the US as reported by the Latin Rock/Alternative charts of the magazine. Peña debuted at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin in 2005 where he won the first-ever iTunes Jukebox Jury competition. As a result, his album "Anormal" was featured in the iTunes music store where it jumped up the "Top Album" chart to #4. What more does he have to do in order to prove himself to radio, or even more, to the labels?

Omar's record label, Universal Musica, ironically Peña's first label, states in a press release posted on its website, "Later this month, Don Omar will launch the IDON application for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. In doing so he will become the first Latin artists to ever release this type of application and will open up a new level of interactivity with his millions of fans." So now the record label is misleading its consumers and claiming the title on his behalf? I'm not surprised. This is Universal we're talking about. I just have one question for Universal and Omar: "Where is this so-called first Latin artist iPhone app?" Funny, I still can't find it. Oh yeah, that's right. It's called the Ignacio Peña app. See for yourself. The proof is in the pudding.

Round 1: Ignacio Peña KO