Ryan Castro Buys Stake In Colombian Basketball Group Paisas

Upload a brand new line to Colombian reggaetón big name Ryan Castro’s resume: skilled sports activities staff proprietor.

Castro introduced that via his corporate AWOO Group, he has got a vital fairness stake in Paisas Basketball membership, a qualified staff in his fatherland of Medellín. The purchase makes Castro the primary Colombian track artist to possess a stake in a basketball staff, and in addition makes him one among just a handful of Colombian artists vested economically in sports activities.

“It’s every other aspect for us as marketers. Supporting sports activities, since the children within the barrios have the similar goals as us, the artists,” mentioned Castro, who rose to stardom from the slums of Medellín, tells Billboard.

The Paisas, he provides (the time period “Paisa” is slang for other folks from Medellín), are from his fatherland, plus, “I really like basketball. Each time I am going to the U.S., I love to visit NBA video games. So, all of it got here in combination and the chance arose to make stronger a staff from my town to proceed rising the basketball motion, generate extra task and make stronger younger people who find themselves into sports activities.”

Whilst basketball isn’t just about as distinguished as football in Colombia, it’s on the upward thrust. Castro’s acquisition coincides with Paisas Basketball debut within the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA0, which contains most sensible groups from around the continent). The staff additionally competes within the Betplay skilled league in Colombia below Venezuelan trainer Daniel Seoane.

On his finish, Castro isn’t any stranger to sports activities.

Ultimate 12 months, he launched “El Ritmo Que Nos Une,” the authentic anthem for Colombia’s nationwide football staff throughout Copa América. The video, which has been seen greater than 110 million occasions on YouTube, displays Castro striking out and enjoying football with participants of the Colombian squad.

Alternatively, Castro wasn’t actively having a look to spend money on sports activities. The chance got here to him by means of an in depth affiliate who works actively with basketball and the NBA. “He advised me this used to be an opportunity and me and my staff accrued the entire data shall we about Paisas,” says Castro.

Past making an investment within the staff, partnering with Castro additionally offers the Paisas the chance to leverage the musician’s platform as a well-liked Colombian artists with thousands and thousands of fans on social media (4.5 million on Instagram by myself). Plus, he says, “Taking into my account my existence tale, additionally take that message of empowerment, of running in your goals to different children. That’s the goal. Many children dream of basketball and sports activities so to get forward and feature a greater existence, and my tale is identical, however with track. So it’s about additionally taking that motivation, and, as a businessman, I wish to undertaking into sports activities.”

Castro is about to formally announce his partnership Tuesday (Jan. 14) at a press convention in Medellín. On the identical time, he’s freeing his first unmarried of the 12 months, “Ni x el Putxs,” that includes Colombian lure big name Kris R.

Castro’s track is sent by means of Sony Latin by means of his corporate AWOO Corp. He additionally has a strategic partnership and label products and services care for WK Data with Leo Arango as his supervisor.