
Freelance writer/Author, Professional Speaker, recognized music authority
San Antonio, Texas Area

Freelance writer/Author, Professional Speaker, recognized music authority
San Antonio, Texas Area
Ramiro Burr is a top Internet blogger, syndicated music columnist and arts & entertainment reporter covering rock/pop/country/Latin music. He is also a book author, a Billboard correspondent and a free-lance music writer published by Pulse, Rhythm Music, Cashbox, Latina, Performance and New Country Music magazines, as well as the Houston Chronicle and Austin Chronicle newspapers. His reviews also appear at Billboard.com, Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.
Burr's book, "The Billboard Guide to Tejano and regional Mexican music," by New York publisher BillboardBooks, (ISBN: 0823076911) is the genre's first-ever sourcebook. Burr also contributed chapters to "World Music," by the London-based Rough Guides, "Hispanic Almanac," on Visible Ink Press and "Puro Conjunto" on UT Press.
Burr's weekly music column, syndicated as "Ramiro Burr's Latin Music," has appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Austin-American Statesman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Laredo Morning Times.
A nationally recognized music authority, Burr is a regular panelist at major conferences such as Grammy in the Streets, SXSX, Texas Rhythm & Blues Asso., the National Asso. of Hispanic Journalists and industry trade groups. Burr is also an articulate, critical analyst quoted often by the national press including the NY Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NPR's Talk of the Nation, ABC News Radio, ABC's Primetime Live and PBS' Newshour with Jim Lehrer and international press such as the BBC's World Service, Mexico's Notimex and Spain's EFE wire service.
Through his experience, Burr has become a professional speaker whose insight and analysis of music, journalism, culture and the arts has been sought by colleges and civic groups including the Smithsonian Institution, Bowling Green University, University of Texas, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, DePaul, Southwest Texas State, Trinity, St. Marys and Rice universities and LULAC.
Latin arts & music coverage, online media writing, music technology reporting, insightful interviews, music industry access, industry trade reporting, mainstream music and arts industry coverage, blogging, book writing
(Online Media industry)
1999 — Present (10 years)
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Online Media industry)
January 1990 — Present (19 years 7 months)
Professional moderator, speaker – Organized promotions and marketing plan for “Billboard Guide” book and speaking circuit.
Traveled and presented insight/analysis of music, journalism, and the arts at colleges and civic groups including the University of Texas, the University of Houston, Texas A&M, DePaul, California State, and Rice universities and LULAC.
In 2001 and 2002 named "Speaker of the Year" by the Hearst/Express-News volunteer corporation.
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Newspapers industry)
January 1984 — Present (25 years 7 months)
Freelance Work
Correspondent – For Billboard Magazine, covered news and trends. Also wrote several 12-page Billboard Specials.
As a nationally recognized authority – Wrote features, interviews and reviews for Billboard.com, Latina, Amazon.com, Batanga.com Global Rhythm, Hispanic Magazine, Cashbox, Austin Chronicle, San Antonio Monthly, Miami Monthly. Also wrote for: Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Austin American-Statesman, Abilene Reporter-News, McAllen Monitor, Laredo Morning Times.
(Privately Held; 1001-5000 employees; Newspapers industry)
January 1993 — June 2008 (15 years 6 months)
San Antonio Express-News, 301 Ave E, San Antonio, TX
Blogger – 2/06 Created Latin Notes Now blog, recognized as the No. 1 blog on Mysa.com. The blog received “Online Impact” award for most hits in 2007.
Syndicated columnist – Expanded regionally syndicated Latin music column in several cities including Dallas and Austin.
Arts & Entertainment Reporter – Wrote major features, profile interviews, reviews, breaking news and general assignment stories, all designed to build loyal readership.
(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; Online Media industry)
January 1990 — January 2007 (17 years 1 month)
Wire, Spanish credits. I have also written for the Associated Press, United Press International and Hispanic Link, Mexico City's El Nacional, La Jornada and Los Angeles' La Opinion, and Novedades Magazine.
(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
June 2005 — November 2006 (1 year 6 months)
LAUNCH Radio Networks, New York City
Head Writer – Helped debut new LAUNCH en Español service. Wrote daily M-F music and celebrity news stories in Spanish and produced timely and exclusive digital interviews for radio prep service distributed nationwide.
(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Publishing industry)
May 1998 — 2001 (3 years)
Author – Wrote "Billboard Guide to Tejano & Regional Mexican Music," a ground-breaking book published by New York’s Billboard Books.
It’s the genre’s first-ever reference work. Organized 6-month promotional and marketing campaign and speaking tour to increase book visibility, sales.
Jan. 1997-present Other Published Works
Contributing Author: Wrote chapters for "World Music," London-based Rough Guides; "Hispanic Almanac," Visible Ink Press; "Puro Conjunto," UT Press.
(Online Media industry)
1991 — 1996 (5 years)
(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Newspapers industry)
December 1983 — January 1993 (9 years 2 months)
Syndicated columnist – Established regionally syndicated Latin music column, published in San Antonio, Houston and Laredo.
City desk reporter – 12/83-1/85: Police beat, general assignments/feature writer.
A&E Reporter – Wrote major features, profile interviews, reviews, breaking news and general assignment stories.
1974 — 1977
Took all the basics and advanced courses in news and feature writing, design and layout, for print, broadcast and PR.
Reading, watching history and A&E channels, investing,
2008: A Philip True Award from the San Antonio Express-News for online impact. My blog, Latin Notes Now, received 750,000 hits in 2007, more than any other Mysa.com blog including the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Cowboys, traffic and weather blogs. Mysa.com is San Antonio’s largest Web site, today registering over one million hits a month.
2001, 2002 : Named "Speaker of the Year" by the Hearst/Express-News volunteer corps.
Feb. 1984: Best Spot News coverage award - Hearst Newspaper Chain õõõ"Loose Bull Threatens Rodeo Crowd" - February