BBLatin
Page: 16
The nominees for the 2023 Latin Grammys were announced on Tuesday (Sept. 19) with Mexican producer-songwriter Edgar Barrera as the most nominated person with a total of 13 nominations. Barrera is followed by Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations. Argentine producer and DJ […]
Shakira is set to release a new song in collaboration with Fuerza Regida.
The Colombian superstar took to social media on Friday (Sept. 15) to announce “El Jefe,” which is set to drop Wednesday (Sept. 20). When talking about her upcoming new track during an interview with ET, Shakira didn’t reveal much and only teased, “I”m not the boss in this song, but wait and see.”
Then, she posted a snippet of “El Jefe,” Shakira’s first venture into música mexicana, that’s about someone who has the mentality of a millionaire but doesn’t actually have money. “You’re dreaming of leaving the barrio, you have everything it takes to be a millionaire, expensive taste, the mentality, you’re just missing a salary,” she sings over a fast-paced beat.
Shakira’s collab with Fuerza Regida is a reflection of Mexican music’s dominance and influence on Latin music today. With acts like Fuerza at the forefront, the genre is having a record year growing in popularity in the United States and beyond. In May, Billboard reported that regional Mexican music consumption in the U.S. jumped 42.1% year to date through May 25, outpacing gains in the Latin genre overall, as well as country, dance/electronic, rock and pop, according to Luminate.
The new song announcement arrives just days after Shakira’s show-stopping performance at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 12, where she sang a medley of her hits, including “She Wolf,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Objection” and newer ones such as “Te Felicito” and “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
The singer-songwriter also made history at the VMAs, becoming the first South American artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award. She is the second Latin artist to receive the award; Jennifer Lopez, the first performer of Latin descent, received the honor in 2018.
Check out a teaser of “El Jefe” below:
Edwin Luna y La Trakalosa de Monterrey capture their fourth champ on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart with “No Se Vale.” The group’s latest single rises 3-1 to lead the chart dated Sept. 16.
“No Se Vale” crowns Regional Mexican Airplay in its 10th week with 6.37 million audience impressions. That’s less than a 1% gain from the week prior, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Sept. 7, according to Luminate.
“No Se Vale” gives Edwin Luna and La Trakalosa their fourth No. 1 and first in almost two years, after the two-week coronation of “Saludos a Mi Ex” in March 2021. The group achieved its first Regional Mexican Airplay ruler through “Dormida” which dominated for three weeks in 2020. In total, Luna and La Trakalosa have placed nine top 10 entries dating back to 2017 when “Aplauso” reached its No. 4 high.
Beyond the new Regional Mexican Airplay No. 1, “No Se Vale” holds at No. 10 (its peak) on the overall Latin Airplay chart for a second week.
[embedded content]
Mora’s Fourth Straight Top 10: Over on Top Latin Albums, Mora picks up his fourth straight top 10 with his fourth album, Estrella. The 15-track set, released via Rimas Entertainment on Aug. 28, advances 12-8 with 9,000 equivalent album units, up 19%, earned in the U.S. during the Sept. 1-7 tracking week.
As with most Latin rhythmic efforts, the bulk of Estrella’s activity comes from streaming equivalent album units. That figure equals to 12.2. million official U.S. on-demand streams of the album’s songs. Album sales and track-equivalent album units, meanwhile, account for the negligible remaining units.
Estrella follows three other top 10s, two No. 4-peaking sets which landed in 2022: While Microdosis endured for 33 weeks, Paraiso’s run completed after six weeks on Top Latin Albums.
Elsewhere, Estrella jumps 6-4 for a new peak on Latin Rhythm Albums. It also debuts at No. 167 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
As Estrella arrives, two songs debut on the Global charts. On Billboard Global 200, “Reina,” with Saiko, debuts at No. 149 after drawing 15.18 million global streams, while “Dónde Se Aprende a Querer” starts at No. 156 with 14.4 million worldwide streams. The former concurrently logged 13.7 international streams with a No. 87 start on Global Excl. U.S., while the latter launched at No. 99 with 12.62 streams outside the U.S.
Throughout almost four decades, Los Auténticos Decadentes have been able to get the party going with joyful and irreverent classics such as “Entregá el Marrón,” “La Guitarra” and “El Murguero.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Starting today (Sept. 14), fans of the Argentine ska and alternative rock band will be able to see them play in five U.S. cities, kicking off at the Palladium Times Square in New York and ending at the iconic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, where they will close, along with Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, the KCRW Festival on Sept. 24. They will also perform in Washington, D.C., as well as Napa and San Diego in California (more details here).
“We invite everyone,” Jorge Serrano, who has been part of Los Decadentes since its inception, tells Billboard Español. “Those who know us know they’re going to have a good time. Those who don’t know us will be surprised,” he adds with a smile.
The show they will be performing was presented last month at a sold-out concert in Buenos Aires in front of more than 15,000 people, according to a statement, which was also streamed in North and South America on the Star+ platform.
In the last three years, Los Auténticos Decadentes released A D N (2021, 2022, 2023, respectively), a trilogy of albums with covers of well-known Spanish-language songs, mostly recorded with guests such as Natalia Lafourcade, Panteón Rococó, Andrés Calamaro, Beto Cuevas and Diego Verdaguer. The most recent installment, N, was released last July, with eight songs — including versions of “Golpes En El Corazón” by Los Tigres del Norte, “Oro” by Bronco, “Costumbres Argentinas” by Calamaro and “La Ladrona” by Verdaguer.
“We’ve known those songs for a long time,” Serrano tells Billboard, explaining how they are part of the band’s DNA. “Many of them we play at our family parties, like Los Tigres’, or Bronco’s.”
[embedded content]
Comprised of 12 musicians, of which 10 are still founding members, Los Auténticos Decadentes was formed in 1986 and became known with the hit “Vení Raquel,” which set the tone for the irreverence and ironic humor of their future songs. While they have not entered the Billboard charts in the States, they have placed six songs from their A D N trilogy on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100, including “Golpes En El Corazón” featuring Natalia Lafourcade (November 2021), “La Ladrona” (August 2022) and, most recently, “Costumbres Argentinas” (May 2023).
Below, Serrano talks with Billboard Español about the group’s recent covers project, and how they’ve managed to stay relevant across the decades.
When you hear Auténticos Decadentes, you think of ska, rock, irreverence, joy. But then you see that in your DNA there are songs like “Costumbres Argentinas” by Andrés Calamaro or “La Ladrona” by Diego Verdaguer. How did this project come about and why do you consider that these songs are part of your DNA?
The album began as a whim when we said, “How nice it would be to make an album with songs by people we admire, that we like … not our songs, but songs by other people.” And we had started to do it in Mexico in a Sony studio where we had some few hours left, so we took advantage of it, so we took advantage of it and said, “Well, this is the moment.”
Then the pandemic caught us — so we continued it, each one of us in our own home studios, sending vocals and different things; the [plans] were more or less already laid. It was something that kept us active and connected and songs and songs and songs and songs followed one after the other until it ended up being a triple [album]. Because when you make your own album you somehow have the limit of the songs you have done so far — but when you do a tribute album, a covers album, you can never finish, because there are millions of songs.
And well, our DNA… you say “La Ladrona,” for example — or songs that are somehow more popular than rock or ska, which is where we really came from — were always part of our style, because somehow one of the things that Los Decadentes did and contributed was to make a kind of crossover with what is popular music that at that time was not well received. As if rock was one thing and popular music was the music of adults or other people, but not of rockers. With affection, with love and because we liked it and enjoyed it, we incorporated it into our music. We have known those songs for a long time: Many of them we played in our family parties, like Los Tigres, or Bronco. And well, that’s how it was done.
[embedded content]
And did all 12 of you have a say in the selection of songs for the three albums?
Always. The 12 of us always have a say in everything we do. We are a cooperative, we are a horizontal group. When we make albums, we vote on the songs we choose. In this case, we didn’t vote on them, because we mostly suggested a song and in general we knew it and liked it and it was more like a “yes.” We didn’t have to vote a lot to decide whether to do it or not. We would say, “Yeah come on, let’s go!”
With Diego Verdaguer, who died last year — did you record together?
Yes, although not the vocal part, because we did the version of the song ourselves. But we did go to the house, he invited us to a barbecue, and there we did a little bit of the images that you see in the video.
After so many years, you have managed to stay relevant as a band. To what do you attribute your longevity and multi-generational success?
It’s usually a mystery, isn’t it, why people choose you and not the one next to you? But I think that continuity has a lot to do with it. We have been playing for 37 years, we are already very much part of people’s memories, of many people’s lives. We have transcended generations and we have never separated, we have always been present.
We were fortunate that we always had a song that was being listened to at the time, that people accepted us, even though we were getting older. We kept renewing our audience. We keep going to places where we are surprised that people from 15 to 25 years old know us and listen to us. We are grateful. It is beautiful and we do our best to respond to that. When we go to play, we do our best to make sure they have a good time at the show. I think all those things add up to that [longevity].
It’s interesting, because the music industry and people’s taste have changed so much, especially in the last decade. What would you say has been the key to navigating these changes?
We somehow continue to do the same thing. What survives is a style of music, what survives are the memories, the affection that people have for this type of songs. And what we contribute in some way – I don’t know if we’ve been getting better and better or rather we are a testimony to our analog era of songs and this type of music, that if we are unplugged we can continue playing. We don’t depend on computers or things like that, although we use them.
It is also striking that after so many years, 10 out of 12 are still founding members. What is the dynamic among you? I imagine you are a family.
Yes, our children are also friends with each other, we have always had that multigenerational family spirit. On the other hand, we are a horizontal group, because we vote on the decisions, the songs we choose. We are a cooperative. All these things help us to live together. And also, being a group of friends before being musicians, we stayed true to ourselves — knowing how to value that somehow for all of us, who were like a herd of losers, the group got us out of where we were and the group is so much more than the sum of us. We value it and we know it. We take care of it.
A D N has had you doing covers for the last three years. Are you planning to release original music soon?
That’s what we’re focused on. We’re going to do it very quietly, without the pressures that albums usually [generate]. This one we want to do at our own pace, but I guess it will be for the next year or so.
In another three years the group will be 40. Do you already know how you want to celebrate?
We haven’t thought about it. At one point we celebrated our 10 years, then we celebrated 15, 20, 25. I don’t know if we celebrated 30, but we said, “Let’s stop a little bit to celebrate more [like] every now and then.” [Laughs.] But 40 is going to be unmissable!
Colombian superstar Karol G will be honored with the Spirit of Hope award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Billboard and Telemundo announced on Thursday (Sept. 14). The special award — which was established in 1996 in honor of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla — will recognize Karol for her exceptional commitment to civic, community and humanitarian causes beyond their artistic success.
“I am grateful for this special recognition,” Karol G said in a statement. “My commitment with Con Cora Foundation is a fundamental part of my life and I am proud to be able to help the women who need it most.”
The “Provenza” singer’s impact extends beyond music. In 2022, Karol G founded the Con Cora Foundation, which aims to support the economic, social, psychological and artistic development of underprivileged women. Her philanthropic work will be recognized with the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will broadcast live on Telemundo on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
Con Cora Foundation has partnered with She Is Foundation, dedicated to empowering women and girls through education in science, technology and entrepreneurship. Together, they aim to help one million women and girls by 2030. In addition, Karol’s foundation has teamed up with Fundación Acción Interna to offer scholarships — which provide skills and knowledge necessary to secure employment and reintegrate into society — to older female inmates in Bogotá and to female family members of those inmates.
A 13-time finalist at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, earlier this year Karol made history with Mañana Será Bonito, becoming the first woman to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with an all Spanish-language album. Currently, she’s on her U.S. stadium tour, which wraps up Sept. 28 in Boston.
This year, Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories, including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and Top Latin Album of the year. See the complete list of finalists here.
As has been the case for more than 20 years, the Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard’s annual Latin Music Week, the single largest and most important gathering of the Latin music industry, taking place Oct. 2-6. The event will feature panels, conversations and workshops at the Faena Forum and exclusive performances and fan experiences throughout the week in Miami. Artists Shakira, Myke Towers, Vico C, Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma, Nicki Nicole, RBD, and many more, are confirmed to participate.
Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.
Mexican music singer-songwriter Ivan Cornejo has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the company announced Wednesday (Sept. 13). The deal with UMPG comes just weeks after Cornejo joined Interscope Records’ roster — he had been signed to indie label Manzana Records since 2021. “I’m incredibly grateful about my signing with […]
Karol G‘s Mañana Será Bonito stadium tour is in full swing, visiting major markets across the United States. So far, artists such as Young Miko and Bad Gyal, who’ve opened up for Karol in different cities, have also joined the Colombian superstar on stage to sing their respective collaborations with her: “Dispo” for Young Miko […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Caleb Calloway & Saiko, “Carnet” (The Wave Music Group)
[embedded content]
Powered by a classic reggaetón drum pattern, “Carnet” sees Caleb Calloway and Saiko revving up the engine — and the vibe — on “Carnet.” A riveting farewell-to-summer track, the Puerto Rican producer and singer join forces to deliver passionate vocals backed by a powerful tropical-laden thump over moody keyboards. The single follows a girl on a motorcycle with no license, but that doesn’t stop her from crossing international borders to hit up the clubs for a night of debauchery. “She doesn’t have a carnet, but she brought her friend,” belts out Saiko. “For me, this song is the close of summer and opens the season of breaking all the clubs with a perreo that will be a classic,” said Caleb Calloway in a press release. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Farruko, Manolo Ramos & Ghetto, “Calor” (CFMB Records)
[embedded content]
We feel the heat in Farruko’s “Calor,” a melodic reggae groove alongside tropical/pop newcomer Manolo Torres and longtime collaborator Ghetto. Pulling from Farruko’s many connections in Puerto Rico, the track open with actual broadcasts ruminating about the heat from the likes of radio personality Molusco, then goes into that catchy reggae beat Farruko does so well, lamenting the intense heat of the day (“Y la calor está de madre, Me he bañado cuatro vece’ y no son ni las 2”) but also celebrating. Though perhaps a tad late to be a summer anthem (if only), Torres’ strong vocals and touches like the opening guitars and the saxophone solo give this summer song lasting appeal. — LEILA COBO
Yahritza y Su Esencia, Obsessed Pt. 2 (Lumbre Music/Columbia Records)
A year after unleashing their debut EP, Obsessed, Yahritza y Su Esencia delivers part two, which includes three brand new tracks “Dos Extraños,” “Dubai” and “Rositas.” Like its predecessor, Obsessed Pt. 2 is packed with heart-wrenching, deep lyrics on love and heartbreak. An emotions first song, “Dos Extraños,” powered by a requinto and a subtle trumpet note, finds Yahritza belting lyrics about unrequited love. The opening track is followed by the corrido “Dubai,” with complex and melodic guitar notes serving as the perfect canvas for this more upbeat song. Rounding out the three new songs is “Rositas,” where Yahritza slows things down again to sing this ultimate declaration of love. The sibling trio — composed of Yahritza, Mando and Jairo — teamed up with renowned songwriter-producer Edgar Barrera for the new tracks. The EP also includes previously released songs such as “Frágil” with Grupo Frontera and “No Se Puede Decir Adiós.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Natalia Jiménez, “El Pobre” (Sony Music Latin)
[embedded content]
Once again, Natalia Jiménez lends her powerful voice to regional Mexican music in this joyous ranchero-tinged huapango. “El Pobre,” the second single from her upcoming album Antología 20 Años, was written by Jiménez with Mario Domm and Cheché Alara, and features Alara’s Mariachi San Telmo. The song counters material wealth to the poverty of the soul: “Because you are poor, you only have money/ Bad luck, that’s not what I want/ You have everything, everything except me,” belts the Spaniard artist. In the music video, recorded at the iconic Lienzo Zermeño in Guadalajara, the singer appears surrounded by horses, the Alteñitas de Guadalajara skirmishes, the New Jalisco Folkloric Ballet, and multiple charros and Adelitas. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Juan Gabriel, “Méxxico es Todo” (Virgin Music US Latin)
[embedded content]
Juan Gabriel sings to his homeland in “Méxxico es Todo,” the first single from the superstar’s second posthumous album after 2022’s Los Dúo 3, and the first with original, unpublished songs. Produced by Rodrigo Cárdenas, the song maintains the distinctive musical stamp of Juan Gabriel, with festive melodies to the rhythm of trumpets, and sounds that flirt with traditional Mexican music, this time with hints of pop. The music video, created by Juan Gabriel’s former collaborator David Tames, is a collage of images of iconic places and symbols of Mexican culture such as the Zócalo in Mexico City, the Basilica of Guadalupe, the Pyramids of Teotihuacán, the Aztec calendar and the tricolor flag with the shield of an eagle devouring a snake. — NATALIA CANO
Carlos Rivera, “Para Ti” (Sony Music México)
[embedded content]
Mexican singer-songwriter Carlos Rivera gives us a moving romantic ballad titled “Para Ti,” with a very special dedicatory. The emotional song expresses deep love and gratitude towards that unconditional person who accompanies us both in happy moments and in challenges and can even restore hope for life. In a live broadcast on Instagram, after the release of this single, Rivera shared with the public that the song could well be called “Para Cy”, in reference to his wife, Cynthia Rodríguez.
“You were hope, the one that saved me/ the one that restored the desire to live in me,” he intones in one of the verses. “And this is for you, all my emotions, my songs for you/ All my dreams, today I want to fulfill them with you/ I belong to you, without you I don’t want anything,” he states with devotion in the chorus. If the lyrics of the song have the power to bring a tear to more than one person, the video, which tells the love story of a couple facing the tough battle against cancer, will undoubtedly touch the hearts of many. — LUISA CALLE
Alejo & Yandel, “Trajecito XS” (Warner Music Latina/Y Entertainment/Square Houze)
[embedded content]
Just months after Alejo paid tribute to Wisin y Yandel at the 2023 Premios Tu Música Urbano, the rising Puerto Rican act joined forces with Yandel on “Trajecito XS.” Loosely translated to “size XS,” the catchy reggaeton fused with deep house beats references a girl who everyone likes but she only has a good time with one particular person. The track was produced by Huertas & Baezmadeit and penned by Fantasma (Joan Manuel Ubiñas). “Yandel approached me [at the Premios Tu Música Urbano] and it was an incredible moment to have a reggaeton living legend want to collaborate with me. Together, we’ve created a track that seamlessly blends our styles,” said Alejo in a press statement. The vibrant collab also marks the inception of Yandel’s creative hub Square Houze, a new division of his label Y Entertainment. — JESSICA ROIZ
Mario Bautista & Ana Mena, “Antes de Novios“ (Warner Music México)
[embedded content]
Mario Bautista dips his toes into the sweet sounds of bachata with “Antes de Novios,” a collaboration with Spanish singer Ana Mena. The song is a rich mixture of Bautista’s signature pop and bachata, backed by infectious percussions. Penned by Bautista, Yera and Keityn, the lyrics narrate a phase that comes after a breakup — one where you tend to reflect about the bond and positive aspects of the friendship, which was at the root of the relationship. Is there still a chance to repair it? “When you feel that life is not in your favor, please do not hesitate to look for me; I know we are nothing anymore, but I still have love for you — please do not forget that before I was your boyfriend, I was your friend and that will never change,” Bautista sings. — INGRID FAJARDO
Listen to the New Music Latin playlist below:
Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.
Argentine singer-songwriter Abel Pintos has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), the company announced on Thursday (Sept. 7). Known for his folk-tinged intimate heartfelt songs, Pintos’ career spans over nearly three decades. Since debuting at age 13, the Gardel Award-winning artist has released 14 albums (12 studio albums and two live albums). […]
Just a few blocks from the Guaranteed Rate Field, the stadium home to the White Sox located in the South Side of Chicago, concertgoers were spotted clad in Rebelde uniforms — denim skirts (or pants), crisp white button-ups, red blazers and, of course, the red striped tie.
On Thursday (Sept. 7), a sea of multigenerational fans made their way to the venue, where RBD was set to perform as part of their Soy Rebelde Tour — the band’s first show in the city in over 10 years — where fans would get to see Anahí, Christian Chávez, Dulce María, Maite Perroni and Christopher von Uckermann onstage again.
The ultra-successful Mexican pop group, which disbanded in 2008 after conquering the world in the early 2000s with massive pop hits such as “Sálvame,” “Rebelde,” “Nuestro Amor and “Sólo Quédate en Silencio,” is back together for one of the most momentous reunions in Latin music history.
Earlier this year, RBD announced their highly anticipated reunion tour, the band’s return to the stage in 15 years. As an RBD fan myself, it’s safe to say that it was worth the wait. Before performing an ultra-emotional two-hour set covering their extensive pop catalog, a few of the members shared some words of gratitude. “To see you again after many years, it’s very impressive,” Dulce María told zealous fans. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.” Maite, who couldn’t help but get emotional added, “RBD never left. Thank you for being here. Thank you for all the years of love.”
Last month, RBD was Billboard Español’s digital cover story subject, where five out of the six original members (Alfonso Herrera declined to be part of the reunion) spoke about coming back together for a new tour and new music. “All five of us have very different personalities, and with the years, we’ve learned to embrace our differences. But in the end, it’s when we come back together that this grows and this magic explodes,” Perroni said about the reunion. The key is, back then, we came together as the result of an audition; this time, it’s something we chose to do.”
RBD is due back at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday (Sept. 8) for a second show. Here are the best moments from RBD’s first show in Chicago.
School is in session