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07 May 2023

Billboard Latin Women In Music 2023: Photos From the Show

The first-ever Latin Women in Music, which took place Saturday (May 6) in Miami and broadcast Sunday (May 7) on Telemundo and Peacock, was filled with show-stopping performances, memorable speeches and emotional moments. From Thalia’s epic medley (including “Amor a la Mexicana” and “A Quién Le Importa”) to Shakira’s inspirational acceptance speech as Woman of the Year, Billboard captured the best moments from inside the inaugural event at the Watsco Center.  

Hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, the gala is the first of its kind for Latin music. Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.  

Shakira received the first-ever Woman of the Year award. Other honorees include Ana Gabriel, who was honored with the Living Legend Award; Emilia, received the Rising Star Award; Maria Becerra was awarded the Visionary Award; Evaluna, was honored with the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo, who received the Agent of Change Award, and Thalia, was honored with the Global Powerhouse Award. 

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole. 

Watch Mujeres Latinas En la Música on Sunday, May 7 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Telemundo and Peacock. 

07 May 2023

Maria Becerra at 2023 Billboard Latin Women in Music: ‘Thank You for Trusting My Vision’

Flaunting a ’60s-inspired dress and hairdo, Maria Becerra attended the inaugural Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música (Billboard Latin Women in Music), where she received the Visionary Award from newlyweds Lele Pons and Guaynaa.

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“First of all, I want to thank Billboard for this incredible recognition as a visionary. Thank you for joining so many talented women and for thinking of awards that recognize the effort and work all of us dedicate to our job each day,” she said during her speech on Sunday (May 7). “This tribute is not only for me. This award has a lot to do with the capacity to generate ideas, of not staying still for one second but also with a big team that accompanies and empowers everything I propose. Thank for you trusting in my vision and thank you for having a big vision as well, for your ideas, for your work, and for your love, above all. And I want to send a shout-out to all my colleagues and congratulate you for all your incredible work.”

Becerra, who started as a YouTuber as an adolescent and was later nominated for a Latin Grammy for best new artist in 2021, also took center stage to perform her uptempo urban-cumbia track “Adiós” joined by a nine-member band. “Adiós” reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart. 

Maria Becerra

Maria Becerra at Billboard Latin Women In Music held at the Watsco Center on May 6, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida. The show airs on Sunday, May 7, 2023 on Telemundo.

Gustavo Caballero

For Becerra, receiving the Visionary Award represents having confidence in her project and being surrounded by a supportive team. 

“I am a very active person, a person who shoots ideas, who wants to generate new concepts, who want to make new and different genres,” she previously told Billboard. “I think it goes more on that side, in the sense of not stagnating and always thinking about new things and looking to the future.”

The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, honors Latin women in music. Mujeres Latinas en la Música aired on Sunday, May 7 at 9 p.m. ET exclusively on Telemundo and Peacock.

A first of its kind for Latin music, the inaugural Latin Women in Music event is an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise and celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. Shakira will receive the first-ever Woman of the Year award. Other honorees, in addition to Becerra, include Ana Gabriel, who will receive the Living Legend Award; Emilia, who will receive the Rising Star Award; Evaluna, who will receive the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo, who will receive the Agent of Change Award, and Thalia, who will receive the Global Powerhouse Award.

Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

07 May 2023

‘The Queen is Here!’: Ivy Queen Wraps 2023 Billboard Latin Women in Music With Premiere of ‘Toma’

Ivy Queen, alongside Jacqueline Bracamontes, co-hosted the first-ever Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música (Billboard Latin Women in Music) on Sunday night (May 7). Flaunting a bedazzled boxing robe with a hood covering her face, Ivy (real name: Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez) also took center stage to exclusively premiere her new single “Toma” (Take It).  

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“The queen is here,” she kicked off the track as she removed the robe and showed off her curves in a fitted golden ensemble and knee-high boots. A hard-hitting reggaetón song fused with Middle Eastern melodies that later transition to an old-school perreo (produced by Young Hollywood), “Toma” is a reassurance of her “Queen of Reggaeton” title. 

“Toma reggaeton pa’ que sientan la presion,” she sings in the chorus, which loosely translates to “take reggaeton to feel the pressure.” “I’m the essence of PR [Puerto Rico] and New York City” and “they have to respect the ranks” are some of the many empowered lines in the tune, before it finishes off with the voice of virtual assistant Siri reminding everyone that “Ivy Queen became known as the Queen of Reggaeton, a singer with a fierce stage persona.” 

Watch Ivy Queen’s full performance here:

In March, the 50-year-old Puerto Rican rapper was honored with the Women In Music Icon Award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music gala.

A first of its kind for Latin music, Billboard Mujeres Latinas en la Música, an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise, celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Shakira will receive the first-ever Woman of the Year award. Other honorees include Ana Gabriel, who will receive the Living Legend Award; Emilia, who will receive the Rising Star Award; Maria Becerra, who will receive the Visionary Award; Evaluna, who will receive the Tradition and Future Award; Goyo, who will receive the Agent of Change Award, and Thalia, who will receive the Global Powerhouse Award.

Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

07 May 2023

Latin Women in Music 2023: Highlights From the First-Ever Event Honoring Shakira, Thalia, Goyo & More

Shakira, Thalia, Ana Gabriel, Evaluna Montaner, Goyo, Emilia and Maria Becerra reunited in one room — along with many other powerful women in the Latin music industry — where they were honored as the first class of the Billboard Latin Women in Music on Saturday (May 6) in Miami.

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Hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, the inaugural Mujeres Latinas en la Música, presented by Billboard in partnership with Telemundo, which aired Sunday (May 7), kicked off with a bang thanks to Thalia’s epic medley (including “Amor a la Mexicana” and “A Quién Le Importa”) that showcased her prowess onstage.

The exhilarating performance set up the vibe for the night, one that included not only riveting performances but also speeches that either made you tear up or feel like you could conquer the world. Take Goyo’s mother who stole the night with an emotional speech that really pulled at everyone’s heartstrings.

“Buenas noches, there aren’t words when emotions speak for themselves,” Nelfa Perea said about her daughter, who was awarded with the Agent of Change Award. “It’s an honor to give this award to my daughter, whom with lots of love we call Goyo. Ladies and gentleman, thank you Billboard, God for giving me this daughter and thanks to all of you for supporting [women] day after day.”

If that wasn’t enough, Goyo’s adorable daughter also said a few words to honor her mother. “I want to thank my mom for always inspiring me and encouraging me to chase my dreams. I love her, I love you mom and thank you Billboard for giving her this award, I really think she deserves it,” added Saba Perea.

Emilia, Maria Becerra and Evaluna all took the stage to sing and accept their awards. Emilia thanked her mother, Becerra thanked her team and Evaluna her family. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for la madre que me parió (the mother that birthed me),” the “Índigo” singer said.

Ana Gabriel, as the powerhouse that she is, gave one of the best performances of the night. She passionately sang the certified anthem “Simplemente Amigos,” in which she was joined by literally the entire crowd in attendance at the Watsco Center. She, of course, received a standing ovation and then was honored the Living Legend Award, which was given to her by Mexican duo Ha*Ash.

“I don’t mean to give a class but the word legend comes from the Latin ‘legenda,’ which refers to something that is meant to be read or seen,” Ana Gabriel expressed. The secret, she said, is her audience. “Thanks to you I have this career.”

The moment everyone was waiting for came towards the end: Shakira taking the stage. The Colombian singer-songwriter, who was honored as Woman of the Year, didn’t perform but she gave a nearly five-minute poignant speech that really struck a chord. After thanking Maluma for being the person to present her the award, Shakira spoke.

“The most important lessons I learned from other women, and for them I wrote what I wrote and I sang what I sang. Because only a woman can love until she’s ripped apart; can speak with the most brutal honesty; can sing with anger; dance in ecstasy and be brought to tears with emotion. Only a woman can do that.”

Read Shakira’s speech in its entirety here and watch a clip here.

And last but not least, to close the two-hour show, reggaeton icon Ivy Queen took the stage to sing her new single “Toma,” a hard-hitting reggaetón song fused with Middle Eastern melodies that later transition to an old-school perreo (produced by Young Hollywood).

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

07 May 2023

Hip-Hop Wired Presents: CRT FRSH [Certified Fresh] Playlist 5.5.23

HipHopWired Featured Video

Young man with red headphones and a notebook leaning against the wall, near the entrance door of the university.

What up, Hip-Hop Wired Nation? We’re back with CRT FRSH AKA Certified Fresh! Part of our duty as a publication and crew is to school the masses on who is doing what musically and there’s no better way to do that beyond our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) bi-weekly playlist.

Disclaimer:

The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the time of the listener. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.

Yes, we know CRT FRSH is supposed to be a bi-weekly endeavor but sometimes, life gets in the way. That said, we have 50 new, sort of new, and new to you joints for you to enjoy. Check it out.

We open the playlist with Scar Lip’s “This is New York,” one of the hardest songs to emerge in years in any region. We follow that up with “Mr. Gaulden” from YoungBoy Never Broke Again from his latest full-length, Don’t Try This At Home. Teen titan Luh Tyler checks in with his track, “First Show.”

Rising Philly rapper Armani White dropped his new album Road to CASABLANCO., and the remix to his hit song “Billie Eilish” features the talents of Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, and N.O.R.E.

Conway The Machine returns with another stellar full-length in WON’T HE DO IT and among the excellent selection of tracks, we went with “Stab Out” featuring the sharp stylings of Ransom on the helpout. Los Angeles-based rapper YUNGMORPHEUS has dropped some consistently great projects over the past four years and his latest set, From Whence It Came, is possibly his strongest work to date. We feature “Where It Goes” featuring the angelic vocals of Jimetta Rose.

Salute to iann dior, Moneybagg Yo, Sideshow (salute to DC), Kay Anthony, Stik Figa, Planet Asia, billy woods, Kenny Segal, Coi Leray, NLE Choppa, Jae Skeese, Skip The Kid (look out for this producer!), Lupe Fiasco, klwn cat, Backwood Sweetie, and more.

Check out the CRT FRSH playlist below.

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Photo: iantfoto / Getty

07 May 2023

Thalia Opens Latin Women in Music 2023 With Riveting Medley of Hits, Delivers Powerful Award Acceptance Speech

At Billboard’s first annual Latin Women in Music, Thalia testified her star power with a medley of hits. Spanning through an energetic set with back-to-back bangers, the Mexican pop star appeared in a sultry leopard one-piece and dazzling gold jewelry, looking like a queen amid neon lights, with her luscious brown hair flowing as usual. 

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She delivered her timeless songs “Amor a la Mexicana” and a bachata-driven version of her fierce clapback  “A Quién Le Importa.” “Desde Esa Noche” and the tender ballad “Equivocada” were also performed, leading the crowd through a wave of emotions. 

Later that evening, the beloved Latin pop star claimed her Global Powerhouse Award, given to her by Billboard’s content chief officer of Latin/Español, Leila Cobo. “She sings, check. She dances, check. She acts, check. She produces, writes, designs her own clothes, her own line of shoes; and then this woman is a super mom, a woman who has inspired generations with her music,” said Cobo. “This is a risk-taking, committed, powerful artist who is also a charming, and frankly, very funny person.”

“The word we’ve heard the most tonight is ‘empowered’ women. Well, for me, the word empowered falls short,” said Thalia. “I believe that we are all born with power. I believe we are strong, and no one is going to empower us. We already have it. It’s something that God gave us when he created each one of us, individually, unique, unrepeatable. To all of you chingonas with ovaries who are here, don’t get distracted, keep going for your goal, for your dreams, don’t let anyone steal them from you. It is yours. You have the strength, the power, no one is going to give you that. ¡Arriba las mujeres!”

The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, honored Latin women in music. A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. 

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

Watch Thalia’s performance here.

07 May 2023

Emilia & Ludmilla Deliver Dynamic Baile Funk Fusion at Latin Women in Music 2023

Emilia is Billboard’s Latin Women in Music’s Rising Star, and she certainly proved her star quality at the ceremony alongside Ludmilla Saturday night (May 6). 

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Arriving to the stage with a slinky leather crop top, baggy blue jeans and a slick, long ponytail, the Argentine singer began to belt out her latest single, “No_se_ve.mp3,” in pop diva fashion. She was soon joined by a troupe of energetic dancers who invigorated the scene with every single beat. Then the Brazilian powerhouse performer entered the scene, and the vibe further amplified with some baile funk. She was wearing a deep royal blue latex shirt with a Mad Max-style skirt and white knee-high boots. 

The Spanish-Portuguese-language cut saw the two femme fatales slice through a pop-driven baile funk fusion with boss-b—- attitude, thus solidifying the night as a powerful Latin Women in Music reverie. 

“[‘No_se_ve.mp3’] is a party,” said Ludmilla earlier on the red carpet. “We mixed our two musical styles, Emilia with hers and I brought a little bit of funk from Brazil. It was a great combination.”

Right after their show, Emilia walked over songwriter Elena Rose, who handed her her Rising Star award. 

“[I am] receiving this award alongside women I admire and whose lyrics marked my life. This is very special,” she said, teary-eyed. “I would like to thank all the powerful women who are part of my life and helped me become the person I am today. To my mom, who accompanied me tonight. To the women on my team… Each one of them has taught me something that has made me grow. Before I leave, I would like to say to those girls who are watching me from their homes with many dreams to fulfill, never stop dreaming and always believe in yourselves. Thank you Billboard and Leila Cobo for this recognition. It is truly a dream come true.” 

Watch Emilia and Ludmilla’s performance here

The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, honored Latin women in music. A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. 

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

07 May 2023

Evaluna Performs ‘If the World Was Ending’ With JP Saxe at Latin Women in Music 2023, Accepts Tradition & Future Award

The first-ever Billboard Latin Women in Music was full of emotions and striking performances by the honorees. Evaluna Montaner’s moment on stage was no exception.

The singer-songwriter took the stage to perform “If the World Was Ending” with JP Saxe, and it was if time had stopped. The stripped-down performance was powered by Saxe’s melancholic piano notes and Evaluna’s ethereal vocals. Following her collaboration with JP Saxe on stage, Evaluna accepted her Tradition and Future Award, which was given to her by fellow songwriter and good friend Nicole Zignago.

“It’s a real pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate the career of someone I admire for her achievements and the marvelous woman she is and someone I have the honor to call my friend, Evaluna Montaner,” Zignago said. “She started when she was very young but in 2020, she wrote and sang ‘Amén’ with her brothers, father and husband, Camilo, a mix of tradition and future. It’s inevitable to feel the light when Evaluna enters a room. She’s an enormous and unstoppable force. She’s shown me to find happiness in the smallest of things.”

“Thank you for including me,” Evaluna began her speech. “I feel very proud to come from the family I come from. I feel very proud to have started the family that I started. I give thanks to God for putting every person in my life who’s empowered me and accompanied me in becoming the woman I am today, who’ I’m also proud of. I wouldn’t be here today standing if it wasn’t for the mother that birthed me, she’s sitting over there. I dedicate this award to you, I love you.”

Watch part of her speech here.

The two-hour music special, hosted by Ivy Queen and Jacqueline Bracamontes, honored Latin women in music. A first of its kind for Latin music, Mujeres Latinas en la Música celebrates Latin female artists, executives and creatives who are proactively working for positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry. 

Throughout the night, Shakira received the first-ever Woman of the Year award. Other honorees included Ana Gabriel (Living Legend Award); Emilia (Rising Star Award); Maria Becerra (Visionary Award); Evaluna (Tradition and Future Award); Goyo (Agent of Change Award), and Thalia (Global Powerhouse Award).

The inaugural Latin Women in Music event was announced earlier this year as an expansion of Billboard’s Women in Music franchise. Billboard and Telemundo aim to further elevate Latin music globally and celebrate the women who have made a concrete impact on Latin music through their artistic achievements, or through tangible, noteworthy actions that have brought measurable recognition and opportunity to women, affecting positive change to the industry as a whole.

07 May 2023

Delayed Start Time Expected at Taylor Swift’s Sunday Night Show in Nashville Due to Storm

Due to a lightning advisory, Nashville’s Nissan Stadium issued a shelter in place warning Sunday night (May 7) just an hour before Taylor Swift‘s first opening act of the evening, Gracie Abrams, was to take the stage for that night’s Eras Tour concert.

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“For those in Nissan Stadium, please proceed to the shelter areas as directed by staff. Please remain calm and proceed to the covered and interior areas of the stadium,” the venue first posted in a severe weather alert on social media at 5:40 p.m. local time.

“At this time, lightning is approaching Nissan Stadium. Please move to the covered areas of the concourses or ramps, or shelter areas as directed by stadium officials. All guests currently in cars, please remain in your vehicle. If you are currently approaching the entrance of Nissan Stadium, please quickly proceed to any open gate and seek shelter immediately,” Nissan, an open-air stadium, followed up in another tweet.

The stadium then posted: “Hang in there, Swifties! We appreciate your patience as we wait out this storm. More updates to come. P.S. Keep singing your favorite songs in the concourse! We hear y’all and we love it!”

By 6:57 p.m. CT, Nissan Stadium communicated that a delayed start time for Swift was expected.

“Due to lightning in the area, Nissan Stadium will remain under Shelter in Place until the current storm passes,” a tweet read. “We anticipate Taylor Swift taking the stage at a delayed start time. More information will be released ASAP.”

Billboard reached out to a representative for Swift on Sunday night and will keep this report updated.

On The Eras Tour, Swift has historically been taking the stage at approximately 7:50 p.m. or just after. Her more than three-hour set follows two openers (on this night, it was to be Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers). Sunday night’s show is the last of three Nashville tour dates on her Eras schedule, and then she heads to Philadelphia next weekend.

At 7:54 p.m. local time on Sunday, Swift checked in with fans on social media, sharing live concert photos from this weekend. She performed at the venue both Friday and Saturday night.

“Even though we have one last show in Nashville tonight I just have to post these photos causeeeee… it’s been WILD. I got to announce Speak Now (my version) is coming on 7/7, got to perform ‘Nothing New’ with boss genius/baby angel face @phoebebridgers for the first time, and have been so moved by these beautiful, generous Nashville crowds!!!! I just can’t believe it. PS I know there’s talk of a rainy weather vibe tonight but I’m ready to play, see you sooon!!” she wrote in the update.

07 May 2023

Fans Choose Ed Sheeran’s ‘Subtract’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

Ed Sheeran‘s latest album, Subtract, has topped this week’s new music poll.

Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (May 5) on Billboard, choosing the British pop star’s sixth studio release as their favorite new music release of the past week.

Subtract brought in nearly 57% of the vote, beating out new music from Lil Baby (“Go Hard”), Megan Moroney (Lucky), Toosii featuring Khalid (“Favorite Song (Remix)”), and others.

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On Friday, Sheeran dropped a full visual album to accompany the emotional studio set. Featuring a music video for each of the 14 songs on the album’s standard tracklist, the 12 new visuals joined the previously released ones for singles “Eyes Closed” and “Boat” to tell the story of Subtract.

Subtract is the last installment in Sheeran’s decade-long mathematical album era, following 2011’s +, 2014’s x, 2017’s ÷ and 2021’s =.

The singer teamed up with The National’s Aaron Dessner — whom he met through pal Taylor Swift — to write and produce the upcoming album.

Trailing behind Sheeran on the poll is Lil Baby’s “Go Hard,” with 17% of the vote, and Moroney Lucky, with 13% of the vote.

See the final results of this week’s new music release poll below.