Marshmello Scores First Entry on Any Latin Chart With Manuel Turizo Collab ‘El Merengue’
Written by djfrosty on March 13, 2023
There is a new face on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart: Christopher Comstock, better known as Marshmello, makes his first chart visit with “El Merengue,” with Manuel Turizo, as the song debuts at No. 4 on the March 18-dated ranking. It also becomes the EDM music producer and DJ’s first top 10. Colombian Turizo claims his third straight top 10.
“El Merengue” is a tropical tune peppered with electronic beats and was released March 3 via Joytime Collective/Sony Music Latin. It starts with 6 million in audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the March 3-9 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The song is the first pair-up by the electronic DJ and Turizo. The latter previously spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on Tropical Airplay (starting the August 6, 2022-dated list) with his first official tropical attempt, “La Bachata.” Prior to “La Bachata” Turizo secured a first No. 1 through his featured turn on Piso 21’s “Déjala Que Vuelva” (two weeks at No. 1, 2021), when Tropical Airplay was a station-based chart.
As mentioned, Marshmello lands his first top 10 through his first foray on a Latin chart. He also becomes the third non-Spanish-language-speaking act to secure a top 10 on Tropical Airplay this year. He follows Justin Timberlake and Lil Jon. Timberlake spent five weeks in the top 10 since January through his Romeo Santos three-week champ collab, “Sin Fin,” which debuted and peaked at No. 1 last Sept. Lil Jon, meanwhile, completed three weeks in the top 10 this year through “Let’s Get Crazy,” his partnership with Don Omar. The track peaked at No. 5 last October and held strong in the upper tier for a total of 15 weeks.
“El Merengue” also contributes to the individual Latin Airplay ledgers for Marshmello and Turizo: as the song bows at No. 14 on the all-genre ranking, it becomes Marshmello’s highest start following two English-language tracks that peaked outside the top 40 in 2018. Turizo concurrently scores his highest start there after the No. 25 debut of “La Nota,” with Myke Towers and Rauw Alejandro, in Oct. 2020 (the song later reached No. 1, in Jan. 2021). In total, the Colombian singer-songwriter has landed nine top 10s there, with five of those reaching No. 1.
Elsewhere on Latin charts, “El Merengue” makes its No. 9 debut on Latin Digital Song Sales; a first chart visit and top 10 for Marshmello there.
Further, Turizo makes his debut on the Dance charts as “Merengue” debuts at No. 6 on Hot Dance/ Electronic Songs with 2.7 million U.S. clicks logged in its first tracking week plus 500 downloads.
All charts (dated March 18) will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (March 14).