Gil Gastelum's journey from record shop worker to founding Cosmica Artists is a testament to perseverance in the music industry. Growing up with Tex Mex music and artists like Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly, his musical perspective transformed after discovering Los Lobos, who successfully merged traditional Mexican music with punk rock.

After abandoning his dreams of becoming a musician, Gastelum immersed himself in the music industry, starting at record stores and developing a deep understanding of music production. His career path led him through various roles, including:

• Touring with punk artist El Vez
• Working in MCA Records' mailroom
• Holding a marketing position at A&M Records
• Collaborating with filmmaker Robert Rodriguez
• Managing Grammy-winning musician David Garza

The founding of Cosmica Artists came from necessity when Garza refused to continue showcasing for labels. Despite having to take out a loan and manually burn CDs, Gastelum established the label, eventually partnering with Redeye for distribution.

Gastelum highlights several industry challenges:

• Limited promotion for emerging artists
• Disproportionate marketing budgets for Latin artists
• Industry focus on success stories rather than developing talent

Now at 53, Gastelum continues to champion artist development and innovation, particularly through partnerships with companies like FUGA (owned by Downtown Music) that support smaller industry players.

His story reflects the evolution of the Latin music industry from its segregated past to its current integration with mainstream pop culture, while highlighting persistent challenges in marketing and representation.

His admiration for musicians remains unchanged: "These people can barely function in society — barely tie their shoelaces. But put a guitar in their hand or a piano in front of them? They become absolute masters at what they do."

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