00:00Sorry guys, I didn't get the memo that there were teleprompters, so I'm a bit old school
00:05with my speech. I don't usually write speeches, but I wanted to make sure I got it right for
00:10Nir. I don't speak much Spanish, but I feel like Noah should have been giving the award.
00:17Such a nice thing that you said about him. It's an honor to be here tonight in Miami,
00:23surrounded by so many people who continue to redefine what Latin music and culture means
00:28to the world. Tonight, we celebrate someone who embodies what this business is truly about.
00:35Artist development, entrepreneurship, disruption, and building culture from the inside out.
00:41When we started shaping the idea for Interscope Miami, we had a vision. To create a home where
00:46Latin artists could build global brands. Where their voices, creativity, and ambitions could
00:52be supported by the full weight of the collective expertise. Nir was at the center of that vision
00:57from day one. He's an entrepreneur at heart. Someone who builds things that last, whether
01:03it's signing groundbreaking artists, helping shape their stories, or forging partnerships
01:09that expand what a label can be. Nir operates with the same spirit that built this industry.
01:14One that believes in betting on great music and great people, even when the path isn't obvious.
01:20He's also a culture builder. He doesn't just develop artists, he develops teams. He brings
01:25people together, creates trust, and sets a tone that's collaborative, creative, and forward-thinking.
01:31That's how you build something that lasts longer than any single hit. It's how you build a movement.
01:36In a business that's always changing, Nir's impact has been to stay rooted in what doesn't change,
01:43the belief that art can move culture and that great artists, when nurtured the right way,
01:48can change the world. So tonight, on behalf of all of us who've had the privilege of working with him,
01:53and as his friend, I'm proud to celebrate this incredible milestone in Nir's career.
01:59Now, I'd like to introduce two artists who have worked closely with Nir.
02:03Please welcome Interscope Capital Miami artist Javi and J Balvin.
02:07Good evening, how are you?
02:19Good evening, how are you?
02:23How are you?
02:24First, I want to thank you to Nir for believing in me and guiding me in this industry.
02:35Because I remember when I was 16 years old and we were in a cafeteria and...
02:40O sea, no se me va.
02:42Thank you, Nir, you deserve this.
02:43Thank you, Nir.
02:45Good evening, how are you?
02:49Good evening, how are you?
02:51Good evening, how are you?
02:53It can be very long, but I'm going to go faster.
02:57When I was one of my best moments in my career, Nir was my great competition.
03:03And I couldn't be more proud of you than Nir for my competition.
03:09Because the great person you are always will be much bigger than what you represent in the business.
03:16When you left to Sony, it was for me like a funeral, my brother.
03:20It was very hard because I needed a person like you with whom you compete.
03:23And after that, I saw you in a moment where we were in a airport, if you remember, if you remember, you remember, there was a lot of uncertainty in me.
03:36And where I was going to know where he was going to be.
03:37I was going to know where he was going to be.
03:39And finally, we got to know where he was going to be.
03:41And we met him where he was going to be.
03:43a person who is the best.
03:45That is not only to talk about power in music,
03:47but to be a great human being.
03:49You are like a friend for me, you are a mentor.
03:51Like Noah also said,
03:53he taught us a lot.
03:55I love you, brother.
03:57And for more people like you.
03:59Happy to come here.
04:43Yes, I switched things up, of course.
05:07Photo first.
05:09Yeah, like John, I never write these things,
05:17and I'm going to do this in English,
05:19and it's freaking hard to follow the kind words of my family here.
05:25I've had 30 years to think about what I was going to say tonight,
05:33but I know nobody wants to be here until midnight,
05:35so I'll keep it tight.
05:39I'm proud and humble to share this honor with all of you.
05:45Many I've known for decades.
05:47Friends I've grown alongside and learned so much from.
05:53I look around and I see so many people that raise the bar.
05:59Sometimes by design.
06:01Sometimes by accident.
06:03But always with heart.
06:05If we're here, it's because we've played the long game.
06:11We've embraced change.
06:13But we never let innovation stand in the way of what's really important.
06:19That we're not the stars.
06:23We build the stage.
06:25We've shared the same mission.
06:29To push boundaries, open doors, and prove that Latin music isn't a wave.
06:35It's the tide.
06:37And prove...
06:41Wow, now it's getting to me.
06:43Oof!
06:45Together we've created something bigger than all of us.
06:48And I'm proud and grateful to be part of this crew.
06:51And I'm especially grateful for the one person who's been there through every high, every low.
06:58My beautiful wife, Sandra.
07:06She's the heart of everything I do.
07:08The real executive of the year.
07:10And the only person who tells me what I need to hear, not what I want to.
07:16She keeps me honest.
07:18She keeps me grounded.
07:20And somehow she still keeps me around.
07:24I've always said that she could do this job better than me.
07:29And honestly, most days, she already does.
07:32And let's be honest.
07:34She's the only one in the room who actually fired me without HR.
07:37And she's probably writing my performance review right now as we speak.
07:40And I'm looking forward to hearing it when I get home.
07:44Thank you to Leila, Hannah, and Tom for recognizing what we've accomplished these past six years.
07:51My name may be on the award, but this truly belongs to the entire team.
07:55They want to turn ideas into reality and keep this whole thing moving forward.
08:00John, thank you for existing, man.
08:05I could have, like, stopped there.
08:08Like, you're a unicorn in this business.
08:11You restored my faith that big corporations can still be driven by passion and purpose.
08:16Thank you for believing in our vision, backing us without conditions,
08:21and helping us build a home where artists from our community can thrive at the highest level.
08:27Balvin, Maji, I love you to pieces, man.
08:34It was like bromance at first sight.
08:36Yes.
08:37Yes.
08:38We've been friends for so many years, but the highlight of the past six years has been being able to finally be on the same team.
08:48You embody everything that matters, discipline, resilience, curiosity, empathy, humanity.
09:00You're a walking masterclass for every artist in the business.
09:05Javi, I remember our chat at Starbucks when you were 16 and looking at each other and saying,
09:13we're going to do this.
09:14We're going to go.
09:17You've come such a long way, and I couldn't be prouder.
09:21I feel like the world has seen only the tip of the iceberg of your talent,
09:24and I can't wait for them to discover everything more, everything that there is about your talent.
09:31I mean, this is just the beginning.
09:34Jose Sedeño, my partner in crime.
09:39It's been an honor to share this thing with you.
09:42I always say that I'm the guy that comes in with the passion and all the chaos, and he's the guy who gets shit done.
09:49You're the pilot.
09:50I am just a guy in the cockpit playing the music too loud.
09:53That's the best way to describe it.
09:55To our team, every one of you plays an essential role in what we do for our artists and their dreams.
10:01Through the heartbeat of everything we've done, none of this happens without you.
10:05To all of our artists, or artists like Manny says, and label partners, thank you for trusting us with your music and your vision.
10:18You remind us why we do this.
10:20Because when you win, when your stories connect, we all rise a little higher.
10:27And after 30 years, I still believe that being the artist is the hardest job in the freaking world.
10:34Helping them chase that impossible dream, that's the greatest privilege there is, and it never gets old.
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