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 inspired by Los Lobos' blend of traditional Mexican music with punk rock, Gastelum found his calling in music management rather than performance.

His career path took several unexpected turns, including sleeping in his pickup truck for seven months and working in the mailroom at MCA Records. At A&M Records, he gained valuable experience working with both emerging and established artists before taking the unconventional path of going independent.

A pivotal moment came when he began managing David Garza, whose New York Times recognition as having the number-two Album of the Year was quickly followed by being dropped from his label. This led Gastelum to establish Cosmica Artists, taking out a loan and manually burning CDs to launch the label.

Working with FUGA, a Downtown Music company, Cosmica Artists found support that larger companies wouldn't provide to smaller labels. Gastelum continues to advocate for fair treatment of Latin artists, noting the disparity in marketing budgets despite equal sales potential.

Speaking about industry challenges, Gastelum observes that the music business often focuses solely on success stories while overlooking emerging talent. Despite these challenges, he remains inspired by musicians' ability to create something from nothing, turning their artistic vision into reality.

Now at 53, Gastelum runs Cosmica Artists with a clear vision: working with passionate artists who share his commitment to authentic music creation. His story exemplifies how determination and adaptability can lead to success in the ever-evolving music industry landscape.

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