Pedro Tovar Turns Streaming Royalties Into a Golden Corral Property

Pedro Tovar, the Central Valley-raised singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Eslabón Armado, has directed his historic streaming royalties toward commercial real estate, purchasing a Golden Corral Buffet & Grill property in Hesperia, California. The acquisition, completed in 2024, was prompted by advice from his mother.

Speaking on The De Los Podcast, hosted by Fidel Martinez and Suzy Exposito, Tovar said he was advised to reinvest touring revenue and song publishing royalties into commercial land that appreciates over time instead of concentrating his earnings in depreciating personal items. The property is located in Hesperia, within San Bernardino County’s High Desert region, and forms part of his effort to establish intergenerational financial stability alongside his recording career.

Public attention often centers on the luxury vehicles, high-end jewelry, and high-performance automobiles displayed by modern Latin music stars. Tovar said his underlying financial operations remain focused on real estate investments and long-term asset management as Eslabón Armado continues expanding its business portfolio alongside its active release schedule.

His path to that financial position began with music during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tovar had originally concentrated on writing traditional corridos, but he shifted his creative direction after watching the growing popularity of Natanael Cano and Junior H, artists pioneering modern blends of regional Mexican music. Looking for inspiration for romantic songwriting, he watched the 2004 film The Notebook for the first time and wrote the sentimental ballad “Con Tus Besos.”

Tovar’s musical roots reach back to elementary school, when he first heard the late singer-songwriter Ariel Camacho on regional radio. As frontman of Ariel Camacho y los Plebes del Rancho, Camacho popularized the modern sierreño format, characterized by acoustic requinto guitars, rhythm guitars, and a tuba. Camacho died at age 22 in a February 2015 car accident in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Camacho’s intricate guitar arrangements inspired Tovar to pick up the instrument and pursue music with support from his parents. Eslabón Armado was formed in Patterson, California, in 2017 by Pedro Tovar and his brother Brian Tovar, initially building an audience through digital self-releases before signing with DEL Records.

The group’s 2020 debut studio album, Vibras de Noche, quickly climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. Earlier that year, “Con Tus Besos” went viral across social media platforms during global lockdown measures and became Eslabón Armado’s debut entry on the Billboard charts, establishing the group as a prominent name in the modern sierreño subgenre.

In 2023, Tovar’s acoustic foundation led to a global chart milestone with “Ella Baila Sola.” He recalled beginning the composition with a personal prayer in Spanish for a major hit single. Weeks later, after a round of golf, he picked up his guitar at home and wrote the song’s arrangement before sending the demo to Mexican singer Peso Pluma, whose name is Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija.

Released in March 2023, “Ella Baila Sola” reached No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming the first regional Mexican single to enter the Top 10 in the chart’s 65-year history. The song spent 19 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, topped the Billboard Global 200, and accumulated over a billion streams globally. Its success triggered an industry-wide surge in mainstream radio play and streaming share for Mexican music formats.

Eslabón Armado released its ninth studio album, Nocturno, in June 2024. The project includes a new collaboration with Peso Pluma, “Amigos Con Derechos.” Tovar said Peso Pluma played the track 20 consecutive times during their initial listening session before agreeing to record it. He also dismissed online speculation about a rift between the two musicians after the success of “Ella Baila Sola,” clarifying that they maintain a close friendship.

Eslabón Armado currently features Pedro Tovar on lead vocals and guitar, Brian Tovar on bass, and Damien Pacheco on guitar.