• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, January 21, 2011

Audio Network, which creates and syndicates music for use in broadcast programming, has struck a deal with Disney Latin America and renewed deals with a number of leading Hispanic broadcasters and content creators, including Telemundo, Claxson, Warner, SiTV, HBO Latin America and Cinelatino. The alliance gives these companies access to its library of songs, jingles and other music content.

Disney Latin America's new deal with Audio Network will make it easier for the media company to create and distribute content across media markets in different countries.

Audio Network has already done the legal and technical footwork to protect copyright issues and multiplatform distribution. The partnership will facilitate the creation of region-specific programs as well as wide multi-region distribution.

In a related move, Audio Network said it is augmenting its current library of 40,000 tracks with authentic and regional music, including styles from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Chile and Spain.

Much of this content is being originally produced for Audio Network by composers who have worked with big names in Latin pop, including Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Marc Anthony, Celia Cruz and Enrique Iglesias.

Telemundo's manager of music affairs, Jaika Lara, praised the quality and suitability of Audio Network's content for the Latin American market, noting that previously "we struggled to find that 'true' Latin sound in production libraries."

Latin America economies are proving remarkably resilient after the global economic downturn -- some South American countries never experienced a recession -- and the media business is expected to grow at a double-digit-percentage pace over the next couple of years, according to the latest forecast from Magna Global. With 2010 ad revenues estimated at $19.6 billion, Magna sees the Latin American media business growing 14.3% in 2011 and an average 12.3% per year over the following five years.