 Shakira 's record label at that time , Epic Records , opposed the decision to release and commission Laundry Service as they " wanted her just to throw a couple of songs in English on a Latin record . " Estefan argued with Tommy Mottola , then head of Sony Music Entertainment ( the parent company of Epic Records ) , and convinced him to release the album , arguing that an " American audience " would not buy a Spanish record simply due to its inclusion of a few English tracks . In an interview with Latina , she said " I got in the trenches there with Tommy [ Mottola ] - I fought for that . Because they didn 't believe it . Just like they told us [ her and Emilio during the Miami Sound Machine days ] . They were trying to think in the box and I wanted to take her out of the box . And fortunately , Tommy , whom I love and adore and is a good friend , he really listened to me . " 
