Federico Scialabba of Music Brokers at the Global YouTube Meeting in Madrid

A working session organized by YouTube took place in Madrid, bringing together members of the platform’s international music team with representatives from the independent music sector. The meeting focused on current challenges in digital music distribution, rights management, and the role of curated content in a global streaming environment.

Among the participants were Dan Chalmers, Director of Music for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Tasha Taylor, Head of Music Business Development and Partnerships for EMEA; and Paul Smith, Managing Director of YouTube Music for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. All three are part of YouTube’s senior music team, responsible for designing partnerships, managing editorial strategies, and maintaining industry relationships across key global markets.

Representing the independent label sector were Federico Scialabba, President and Co-founder of Music Brokers, and Charlie Sánchez, Founder of the Spanish label Metales Preciosos Música & Discos S.L. Both lead companies that focus on catalog development, editorial autonomy, and international distribution strategies that differ from those of the major music corporations.

The event was designed as an open working session rather than a formal presentation. It allowed for direct dialogue between YouTube’s strategic leadership and professionals involved in music publishing, licensing, and digital curation. The discussion included topics such as metadata standardization, royalty tracking, content discovery algorithms, and the inclusion of niche catalogs in mainstream distribution workflows.