In July, Full Sail hosted a music business panel featuring leaders from NEON16, a talent and idea incubator focused on the Latin music industry. Lex Borrero (Founder and CEO) and Full Sail Entertainment Business grad Alejandro Vicuña (General Manager) shared stories about how they got started in the industry, how they found success, and NEON16’s goals and accomplishments.

Lex started his professional journey at 16, when he recorded an album with a classmate. After earning an internship in New York and handing out hundreds of CDs in front of Universal and Sony studios, he sold his first beat for $2,000. Lex got hired at Roc Nation and eventually became the company’s Executive Vice President.

After working with Latin music producer Tainy, Lex realized that there was an opportunity to create a Roc Nation equivalent in the Latin music industry. Lex started NEON16 as a production house with Tainy, then started investing in businesses that were beneficial to their music clients (like transportation companies). Today NEON16 has deals with Bacardi, Xbox, the NFL, and more.

Alejandro had one goal when he came to the United States from Venezuela: He wanted to work with the biggest Latin artists in the world. After he graduated from Full Sail, Alejandro learned the administrative ropes of the music industry by touring with Marc Anthony and working on his bookings and logistics. He later applied to work as a General Manager with NEON16. Lex admired his organizational skills and passion for Latin music and quickly hired him. Today Alejandro acts as an administrator and planner, while Lex focuses on developing creative ideas.

NEON16 is continuing to grow: In 2021, they were named the number-one most innovative music company by Fast Company magazine. Alejandro and Lex said told students during their campus visit that having specific goals, understanding the perseverance and sacrifice it will take to achieve those goals, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone are the most important steps to making your professional dreams come true.

For more information about NEON16, check out neon16.co.