Meet Our Team: Mariela Millan Ceballos

In the world of music, building the right relationships is just as important as building the right sound. That’s where our A&R and Client Development teams come in. At Symphonic, these team members are dedicated to discovering talent, expanding opportunities, and helping artists reach new markets around the globe. 🎙️ 🎸 In this spotlight, we’re excited to shine a light on Mariela Millan Ceballos, our Manager of Client Marketing & DSP Relations/A&R, based in Mexico. From supporting artists with creative campaigns to strengthening relationships with digital platforms, Mariela plays a key role in amplifying the voices of our clients. Get to know her here…

Meet Our Team: Mariela Millan Ceballos

📲 IG: @mariellamillan

What do you look for when signing new artists to Symphonic? / What genre do you focus on?

“I focus on the music first. That’s always the starting point for me. From there, I look at how the artist has been working so far, whether they have a team, how they manage their career, and how open they are to receiving support and guidance…”

“Coming from the indie music scene myself, I’m passionate about helping artists in that space reach a more professional level. Because of that, I generally focus on indie alternative, indie rock, and indie folk artists, but I’m open to any kind of genre! I’m passionate about all music.”

What’s one service or tool at Symphonic that you think more artists should take advantage of?

“I’ll give you a couple! First off, Transfer Track. Transfer Track is a fan-favorite among artists migrating their catalog, thanks to its speed, ease of use, and the peace of mind that all streams and data are preserved.”

“Next, SplitShare. In today’s industry, collaboration is key, and royalties are often split. Symphonic’s Split Share tool makes that process effortless and fully transparent, earning the trust and appreciation of both labels and artists.”

“Marketing Drivers. In the current music landscape, being an independent artist can be challenging, but DSPs value having more context around your music. That’s where marketing drivers come in.  They help artists know what to share, from confirmed press and visual assets to campaigns and the story behind the song. We pass this information along to our DSP partners, which has helped artists organize their releases more effectively and has increased our success in pitching.”

When talking to artists, what’s something you encourage them to prioritize for long-term success?

“I encourage them to always put the music first and stay true to themselves artistically, creating work that’s authentic and meaningful to them. From there, consistency in releases, strategic planning, understanding their audience, and genuine engagement with their community are key to long-term success.”

What’s a common mistake you see artists or labels make when trying to grow their audience?

“A common mistake is releasing without a well-defined plan, often with very little lead time, and not providing marketing drivers far enough in advance. Ideally, you need at least four weeks before release.”

What’s one trend you’re seeing in the industry that artists should be paying attention to right now?

“I’m seeing a growing emphasis on giving attention to all DSPs, and artists should take advantage of the fact that many platforms are actively looking to support and spotlight independent, developing talent, each offering different features, tools, and opportunities to help artists grow.”

What’s been the most rewarding part of working with independent artists at Symphonic?

“The most rewarding part is helping independent artists take their careers to a more professional level and seeing their growth. Being part of their journey truly makes me happy.”

What advice would you give an artist who’s just starting to think seriously about their music?

“Focus on building a strong foundation, develop your sound, plan your releases strategically, understand your audience, and start engaging with your community early. Consistency and patience are key.”

Who are you listening to/loving right now?

“Macario Martínez. An incredibly talented artist whose dedication, consistency, and passion for his craft truly stand out. His hard work has led to remarkable achievements, and being part of his journey and contributing to his success makes me truly grateful.”

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It’s time to take your music career to the next level… and we can help you get there.

Here at Symphonic, we pride ourselves on providing established and thriving artists, record labels, managers, and distributors with the team, music marketing, and business intelligence they need to grow revenue and brand awareness through music promotion and distribution to over 200+ digital music stores and streaming services.

Whether you’re just starting out or an established act, we have a plan tailored to your specific needs. Click the links below to check out our two available plans for artists at every level below…

Starter 🤝 Partner