Meet Dennis Del Corro

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dennis Del Corro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dennis, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. Over the years, I’ve tried small businesses on my own, some with partners, all while maintaining a traditional 9–5. Even as a full-time lab scientist, my mind was constantly exploring new ideas, thinking about systems, talking to people about collaborations, and looking for concepts that could grow into something meaningful.

Before science, I actually came from an IT background, and that foundation shaped the way I think today. Systems, organization, structure. Those things have always come naturally to me. At the same time, music has always been part of my life. I’m not a professional musician, but I grew up playing guitar, piano, and drums, and performed a few times when I was younger or occasionally at work events. So even as my career shifted into science, that creative connection never went away. In the lab, precision is everything. One decimal place can change an entire result and that level of detail naturally influenced how I approach business and problem-solving.

When Ralph and I began discussing the idea of starting something together, our intention wasn’t to build a global music company. We simply wanted to introduce the unfamiliar world of sync licensing and publishing to our friends, family, and local community. Many independent artists, especially in our circles, had never heard of sync licensing or understood how music actually makes its way into film, television, and advertising. Our early goal was to bridge that gap and give people a chance to explore opportunities they didn’t know existed.

As we learned more and started building, the mission evolved. Word spread, and artists began approaching us as well as radio stations, other publishers, and businesses, not just from our original community, but from across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Some were seasoned composers with extensive placements, some were award-winning producers, and others were emerging talents looking for proper guidance. The growth wasn’t something we forced. It happened naturally as people recognized the care and structure behind what we were building.

Like any startup, we experienced challenges, setbacks, and delays along the way. We were learning in real time while balancing full-time jobs and family responsibilities. But we approached everything with intention, precision, and integrity, and that consistency helped the company gain momentum. Today, with around 500 artists and counting, we understand the responsibility that comes with what we’re building.

My role at Likha Music International naturally fell into the operational side, organizing the catalog, supporting rights management, helping establish workflows, and creating a stable foundation as we grew. I’m not the face of the company, but I’m the one who thinks in systems. Ralph brings decades of industry insight; I bring the structure that helps make everything functional and scalable. Together, that balance allows Likha to serve artists in a real and meaningful way.

As the company continued to grow, we were fortunate to align with Downtown Music as our global distributor, an important milestone that allows our artists’ work to reach audiences and platforms all around the world. And as we move forward, we’re always excited to connect with creators,musicians, producers, vocalists, rappers, and songwriters, who are looking for a publishing home that values both craft and integrity.

What should our readers know about your business?
Likha is a Filipino word meaning “to create,” and that spirit shaped the foundation of our company. We started Likha Music International because we saw how confusing and inaccessible the world of publishing and sync licensing can be for independent artists. We may not be artists ourselves, but we’ve spent enough time alongside creatives to understand the questions, gaps, and uncertainty they face when trying to navigate the industry.

My partner, Ralph Buado, spent nearly 25 years as a Music Strategist and Creative Producer at ViacomCBS and ABC, working on Promax Award–winning promos and shaping music choices for major network campaigns. His experience became the backbone of our quality control. We didn’t want to build a huge, impersonal library. we wanted a boutique catalog where every track is intentionally curated and creatively directed with purpose.

What sets us apart is the combination of deep industry experience and a hands-on, community-centered approach. Even as a relatively young company, we’ve already partnered with Downtown Music for global distribution an achievement many publishers work toward for years. We’ve also been steadily releasing albums on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other digital platforms, which has been both exciting and gratifying to see. At the same time, we stay involved with our roster on a personal level: offering guidance on what works for sync, discussing creative direction, explaining the business side, and helping artists understand how to build a long-term catalog that actually has value.

The journey hasn’t been simple. We’ve faced setbacks, industry challenges, and moments where our integrity was tested, dishonest collaborators, life circumstances, and the difficulty of building a company while still working full-time jobs and supporting our families. What carried us through was staying grounded, listening to our community, and holding firmly to our values. When an artist trusts us with their work, we treat that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.

What I want the world to know about Likha is that we’re intentional, we’re contemporary, and we understand the landscape artists are stepping into today. The industry is evolving fast, and many decision-makers at networks, studios, and agencies come from the same generation and cultural moment as we do. That gives us a natural instinct for what resonates, what feels current, and what today’s creatives and clients are actually looking for.

Likha was built to meet that moment combining experience with a fresh, modern perspective. We’re committed to helping global creatives navigate an industry that can feel closed off, and we’re constantly learning, growing, and refining what we do. We see this as just the beginning of what we’re building.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m based in the Bay Area, but I visit Los Angeles from time to time, and there are a few places I always enjoy going back to. If a close friend were visiting and I wanted to show them a good week in LA, I’d keep it pretty relaxed and simple.

I’d start with Santa Monica and Venice Beach—walking around, enjoying the ocean, and just taking in the atmosphere. It’s an easy way to settle into the LA vibe.

From there, Griffith Observatory is always a must for me. The view of the city, especially around sunset, is something you can’t really get anywhere else.

I like checking out different food spots too, so we’d probably explore Koreatown, Little Tokyo, or anywhere people recommend at the moment. LA has so many great restaurants that I usually just ask friends or locals what’s good.

We’d also take a day to explore the artsy side of the city. the murals, small shops, and cafés around the Arts District or Melrose. It’s a fun area to hang out, walk around, and see the creative energy LA is known for.

Other than that, the rest of the week would probably be spontaneous, trying new places, enjoying the weather, and catching up with friends. LA has a lot to offer, and sometimes the best days there are the unplanned ones.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are several people and I’m grateful for everyone of them. My friend Karen was the one who originally connected me to her husband Ralph, which eventually led to the partnership that became Likha Music International. I thank my wife for her support and encouragement to pursue the things I’m passionate about. Beyond that, my family and even extended family have always been a source of inspiration. We come from similar backgrounds and struggles and that keeps me grounded. It reminds me why I work hard and why I believe in paying it forward. Seeing the small success of others genuinely brings me happiness and keeps me motivated. I also had some influences from books and contents from entrepreneurs and leaders who share their journeys. I’ve always been driven by the idea of constantly learning and becoming better, helping others, creating opportunities for my self and others (people around me).

Website: https://www.likhamusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likhamusicinternational

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/likha-music-international

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/likhamusicintl