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Emilia, Big One and Callejero Fino’s “En La Intimidad” rules the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated March 18) for a fourth week. It joins Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” as the only other title to crown the ranking for at least four weeks in 2023.
Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” holds steady at No. 2 for a third week, encompassing its entire run on the chart. TINI’s “Cupido” rebounds 4-3, while BM’s “M. A. (Mejores Amigos)” climbs 5-4 for a new peak after it held strong at No. 5 for a four consecutive weeks. Plus, Lil Cake and Migrantes also make progress as “Mercho,” featuring Nico Valdi, rises to its No. 5 high.
Argentinian Ecko earns his first top 10 on the 100-deep tally as “Te Escapas De Mis Brazos,” his partnership with Callejero Fino and El Perro, ascends 14-10. The rapper had reached a No. 37 high with first entry “Matatan,” with Cazzu, Brray, Alan Gómez, Kaleb Di Masi and Dj Tao, in March 2022. While Fino ups his top 10 career count to five, El Perro secures his second top 10.
The week’s Greatest Gainer honors goes to Ke Personajes’ “Pobre Corazón,” featuring Onda Sabanera, which rallies 54-16. It’s the highest ranking for the Colombian cumbia ensemble, while Argentinian Ke Personajes reached No. 1 through their featuring turn on Luka Ra’s “Ya No Vuelvas,” which also features La K’onga, in February.
Nicki Nicole’s “No Voy a Llorar :’)” takes the Hot Shot Debut of the week, at No. 36. It’s her highest start since “Ya Me Fui,” with Bizarrap and Duki, opened at No. 15 in July 2021.
Elsewhere, seven other songs debut this week, starting with Wisin, Emilia and Lyanno’s “Tu Recuerdo” at No. 63. La Planta, Bm and Alejo Isakk’s “Discoteca,” featuring Locura Mix, follows at No. 72. Plus, Puerto Rican trap artist Young Miko achieves her first entry with “Lisa” at No. 74. Meanwhile, Mambo Kingz and DJ Luian make their comeback after almost four years with “Más Rica Que Ayer,” with Anuel AA, at No. 75.
Further, Mya and Cali y El Dandee’s “Legendaria” bows at No. 78. Lolo OG, Callejero Fino, and Alejo Isakk’s “Azote (remix)” debuts at No. 84. And lastly, Milo J scores his third entry with “Morning” at No. 97.
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors will feature a small group of new or relatively unknown artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover. In honor of Women’s History Month, our newest “On The Radar Latin” list includes up-and-coming mujeres that you should be listening to.
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See our recommendations below:
Artist: Cammie
Country: Brazil
Why they should be on your radar: Brazilian pop/soul singer Cammie may have just released her first single with L.A.-based indie record label Super Pop, “Baby I Love You,” but the 22-year-old is far from being new to music and the entertainment business. A semifinalist of The Voice Brasil 2016, the bilingual artist (Portuguese/English) from Rio de Janeiro with a powerful voice began her career at the age of nine, appearing in various musicals and as a voice actress in the Portuguese versions of movies including Toy Story. In 2012 she made her singing debut in a jingle, and last year she released the seven-song EP Doce Como Bala, with romantic mixes of samba-tinged soul, and guests like R&B singer Anchietx and samba vocalist Ferrugem. Throughout the deliciously funky “I Love You”, which Cammie co-wrote with producer Guilherme França, you can hear her undeniable influences of ‘70-‘80s-era Brazilian soul/funk. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS.
Song for Your Playlist: “Baby I Love You”
Artist: Ela Taubert
Country: Colombia
Why they should be on your radar: Thanks to a video that Feid reacted to on TikTok — where she’s singing a piano-heavy ballad version of his “Si Te La Encuentras Por Ahí“ — I discovered Taubert, a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Colombia. But far beyond a couple of covers on social media, Taubert holds a sweet potent vocal range that’s both melancholic and mesmerizing that can be heard in her own original music, such as her debut single “Salto de Fe” in 2019, as well as “¿Cómo es que tú?,” and “Crecer.” A well-rounded pop artist, Taubert has been taken under the wings of Latin Grammy-winning producer Julio Reyes Copello, and has already shared stages with renowned stars Diego Torres and Alejandro Sanz. Showcasing her vulnerability and maturity, amongst other qualities, Taubert sings about love, heartbreak and dreams. She forms part of the inaugural generation of Universal Music Latin’s Abbey Road Institute & Art House Academy. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Yo Primero”
Artist: La Favi
Country: The United States (Los Angeles via Bay Area)
Why they should be on your radar: On her latest bilingual EP, Para Ti, West Coast singer-songwriter La Favi brings her enigmatic allure to the dance floor. Yet it starts with her spellbinding serene croon against melancholy guitar arpeggios and dingy electronic beats. It’s a gripping contrast that straddles dreamy sad-girl lyricism, occasional flamenco melismas (“Wachu Did”) and glitchy reggaetón production. The five-track EP was produced by Ulises “El Licenciado” Lozano of Kinky fame, who has also been at the helm of helping cultivate the neoperreo (Ms Nina, Tomasa del Real) scene that’s been buzzing on SoundCloud and beyond. La Favi, whose of Spanish descent, is the newest signee to Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak En Fuego label, and she is beautifully repping the freaky urbano movement with ease, confidence, and a tinge of salacity for good measure. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Para Ti” feat. YAWNS
Artist: Michi Sanz
Country: Venezuela
Why they should be on your radar: Three years ago, Michi Sanz (real name: Michelle Valentina Sanz Mateu) dropped her debut single “123,” backed by hip-op beats and accompanied by artists Splitmusic and Dakeator. Her dulcet, high vocals set the tone for her next musical projects, all of which are innovative and experimental in their own right. Based in Miami, Sanz has explored ’80s retro funk as heard in “VIBES,” reggaetón-pop as heard in “+58,” and most recently, punk rock in her new single “FKN indirectas.”
She has composed music for other artists, including popular Peruvian act Leslie Shaw, and just performed at her first SXSW in Austin, Texas. “My lyrics define real-life situations and moments that we have all gone through,” Sanz, who describes herself as “super pana” (cool in Venezuelan slang), notes on her Spotify profile. “They are stories that will lead me to sing to the world that we can dream, love, cry, and dance.” — J.R.
Song For Your Playlist: “FKN Indirectas”
Artist: Tania Domínguez
Country: Mexican-American
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Mexican Music with a twist. Tania Domínguez’s refreshing take on the legacy genre is head-turning. While most artists from her generation have taken on the sierreño or urban-infused route, Dominguez is placing all bets on an almost jazz-like alternative sound to stand out from the crowd. At least that’s the route the Rancho Humilde-signed artist — who previously served in the U.S. Army and spent her days in South Korea listening to music and discovering artists such as Ariel Camacho and Junior H — has taken for “Enamorarse Suavecito,” No Me Puedo Detener” and “No Puedo Olvidarte” with label mate Ivonne Galaz. The new tracks are a departure from the sad sierreño songs the 23-year-old singer-songwriter first released, which showcase her slick guitar skills and gristly vocals. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Enamorarse Suavecito”
Armed with confidence, artistic prowess and infectious beats and lyrics, Nathy Peluso has quickly become one of the most fascinating artists of our time.
After releasing her first full-length album Calambre in 2020, which scored her a few Latin Grammy nominations, Peluso was catapulted to worldwide acclaim — thanks to a creative spirit that’s allowed her to thrive in different spaces, as a true chameleon in the industry. She’s taken genres such as salsa, bachata, R&B, pop and funk and effortlessly made them her own.
“The best advice I’ve received as a woman in music was from my mom, to never compromise my authenticity for anyone or anything,” the “Estás Buenísimo” singer tells Billboard.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Billboard kicked off its “Las Poderosas” series, featuring a select number of powerful Latinas who get real about the word “empowerment,” their space in Latin music, and more. The series launched Monday (March 20) with LALI, which you can read here.
Below, our exclusive Q&A with Peluso:
What does empowerment mean to you as an artist and as a woman?
Empowerment to me as an artist and as a woman means having the freedom to express myself, create my art, and make my own decisions without being constrained by societal expectations or prejudices. It’s about embracing my identity and my strength and inspiring others to do the same.
What does empowerment NOT mean to you?
Empowerment does NOT mean putting others down or diminishing their experiences. It’s not about being better than anyone else, but rather about recognizing and celebrating our unique qualities and using them to uplift and support each other.
What is the best advice you have received as a woman in music?
The best advice I’ve received as a woman in music was from my mom, to never compromise my authenticity for anyone or anything. Staying true to myself, my values, and my art has been key to my success and personal fulfillment.
Which woman has served you as a mentor or role model? Who do you admire and why?
I have always admired J.Lo for her incredible talent, work ethic, and multifaceted career. She has broken barriers for Latinas in music, film, and business.
Have things changed for Latin women in music in the last five years and how?
In the last five years, things have changed for Latin women in music in many ways. There is now more visibility, representation, and support for female artists in the industry. We have seen a rise in successful Latina singers and songwriters across various genres, breaking down stereotypes and challenging the status quo. While progress has been made, there’s still much work to be done to ensure equal opportunities and recognition for Latin women in music.
What is your favorite “girl power” song?
My favorite “girl power” song is “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. It’s a classic anthem that has inspired generations of women to stand up for themselves and demand the respect they deserve.
Just minutes before going stage for her Lollapalooza Argentina set on March 17, Rosalía gave her dancers the ultimate pep talk.
The Spanish star’s microphone inadvertently turned on just minutes before going on stage and her sweet words were heard by attendees. “This is the first show we’re doing and I hope you guys feel very proud of this [and] that you enjoy the show,” she said in English before going on stage to sing her hits “Saoko,” “Bizcochito” and “La Fama.”
“You know that I cannot do this without you. And I feel very happy, very blessed that you’re here. And I really, really, really hope that you enjoy this set tonight on stage. I learn a lot from all each one of you during this process. I want you to know that I admire you and I love you. I’m grateful for your presence. We’re gonna kill this s–t! Okay? Let’s go!”
Lollapalooza Argentina took place Friday-Sunday at the Hipódromo de San Isidro, with Drake and Rosalía headlining the first night; the “Despechá” singer also performed at Lollapalooza Chile over the weekend.
Most recently, Rosalía’s Motomami logo became the first to be featured on both FC Barcelona’s men’s and women’s teams home kits as part of the team’s partnership with Spotify. The limited-edition shirt will also be available for fans to purchase.
On Friday (March 24), Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro will drop a three-song project titled RR. The EP is comprised of three tracks: “Beso,” “Vampiros” and “Promesa.” It marks the first time that the couple has recorded songs together.
Nearly a year after Menudo Productions announced they were on the search for new members to form the next generation of Menudo, the band has officially unveiled the five boys that will comprise the group.
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On Monday (March 20), Nicolas Calero (10), Gabriel Rossell (13), Andres Emilio (14), Alejandro Querales (15) and Ezra Gilmore (12) were announced as the new faces of the eternally youthful boy band. And, in celebration of the announcement, the group also released their very first single “Mi Amore,” the first song off their upcoming debut album.
The process to find its new members kicked off in August when Menudo Productions, along with television personality Mario Lopez, began virtually auditioning talent between the ages of 12 and 16. The new members are multi-talented performers with experience in acting, singing and songwriting.
“Deciding on the final five was harder than we ever imagined because there was so much great talent to choose from,” Lopez said in a statement. “The five boys we selected gelled together instantly, and the music they’ve created have exceeded all of our expectations. I think we have several massive hits, and I’m more excited than ever to introduce these boys to the world in less than three weeks.”
According to a previous statement issued to Billboard, “unlike previous group incarnations,” the new Menudo members will be “sharing in all concert, merchandise, and music revenue.” Menudo’s management will be Miami-based.
The most successful Latin boy band of all time, Menudo was originally established in Puerto Rico in 1977 by Edgardo Diaz, releasing a handful of hit songs such as “Quiero Ser” and “Claridad” and launching the music careers of Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa, among many others.
Watch the “Mi Amore” music video below.
Mexican singer and saxophonist Rodolfo “Fito” Olivares has died. He was 75 years old.
Olivares passed away at his home in Houston on Friday (March 17), according to his wife, Griselda Olivares, The Associated Press reports. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2022.
Born in Tamaulipas, Mexico in 1947, Olivares spent the last 50 years as a musician making back-to-back hits that soundtracked households from weddings to quinceañeras and multigenerational households in Latin America and the U.S.
He was best known for his saxophone-powered cumbia anthems such as “Juana La Cubana,” “El Colesterol,” “Aguita de Melón,” “Cumbia de la Cobra” and “La Gallina.” Olivares got his start in music as a teenager playing with and writing music for groups such as Duet Estrella, Tam and Tex. He later formed his own band called Fito Olivares y su Grupo La Pura Sabrosura in Houston in 1980.
With his band, he scored 10 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, including one top 10. “El Colesterol” peaked at No. 4 on the tally (dated Dec. 24, 1994). Fito Olivares y su Grupo also entered seven titles in the Top Latin Albums chart.
Mexican norteño singer Ramón Ayala took to social media to honor Olivares with a heartfelt post.
“It is with great lament that I am finding out about your passing, my dear colleague, but more than anything my friend The King of Cumbia. Thank you for your music, your dedication and professionalism onstage. La Pura Sabrosura as your unique rhythm with your saxophone, with which you’re now serenading God. From king to king, rest in peace my brother. Light to your soul and your eternal rest.”
In the comments, fans reacted to the news with comments such as “only good memories thanks to his music” and “childhood memories, in all parties and in all homes we’d listen to cumbia by Fito Olivares.”
See Ayala’s tribute below.
What’s your favorite new Latin music release this week? Vote below!
This week, our New Music Latin roundup — a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors each week — is powered by new music from Elena Rose, Grupo Frontera and Lupita Infante, to name a few.
The list highlights Elena Rose’s first song of 2023, “El Hombre.” The Venezuelan singer-songwriter’s pop track describes an evolved man, one who isn’t scared to be vulnerable. “He’s different from the rest,” she sings. It’s not the man that opens the door for you but the one who doesn’t want to close doors for you.” Another song on the list is Luis R Conriquez and Grupo Frontera’s “Dame un Chance,” which marks their first-ever team up. The pair offer a fresh regional Mexican fusion that effortlessly combines traditional norteño sounds with the lively rhythm of cumbia.
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With a retro sound and very sweet, innocent lyrics, “Besarte Así,” written by Lupita Infante with Pedro Dabdoub, imagines what would be the perfect kiss with the perfect someone: “If I get closer, little by little, I feel my voice tremble/ When I say your name what I really want is kissing you,” she sings, in Spanish. The song is about “letting your imagination take you somewhere you’ve never been before.”
In an extended playlist, Billboard included other new Latin noteworthy releases including Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado’s “Ella Baila Sola,” Ramon Vega’s “Everest,” Lasso’s new album Eva and Carlos Jean and Villano Antillano’s “Kriptonita,” among others.
Listen to the complete playlist here
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.
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Manuel Turizo, 2000 (La Industria Inc./Sony Music Latin)
In 2000, named after his birth year, Manuel Turizo is more experimental than ever — and the first few songs are proof of that. Though he stays truthful to his reggaetón-pop core, the Colombian artist does not shy away from techno beats (as heard in “Triste”) fast-paced merengue (the Marshmello-assisted “El Merengue”) sultry reggae and dancehall fusions (“Jamaica”) and trap (“U Lala”). 2000 is a feel-good, summer-ready production that’s home to 15 track — including the previously released “Extasis” with Maria Becerra and “La Bachata,” which hit No. 1 on Billboard‘s Tropical Airplay Chart, Latin Airplay Chart, and most recently, the Argentina Hot 100.
Over energized rhythms and relatable lyrics, the Colombian artist also gets ultra-personal in the notable “Vacio” — a track where he opens up about chasing his dreams at such a young age (Turizo was 15 years old when he dropped his first hit “Una Lady Como Tú”). Further solidifying a very intimate set, the cover art is an actual photo of Turizo when he was a baby. — JESSICA ROIZ
Elena Rose, “El Hombre” (Warner Music Latina)
A groovy pop track is Elena Rose’s first single of the year, which also serves as a preview to her upcoming debut album. As ever, the singer-songwriter’s ethereal vocals — which adapt to whichever style will serve as her canvas — take center stage in this soon-to-be anthem. The sweet, yet poignant “El Hombre” describes an evolved man, one who isn’t scared to be vulnerable and has embraced his softer side. “He’s different from the rest,” she sings, introducing this unicorn of a man. “It’s not the man that opens the door for you, but the one who doesn’t want to close doors for you. A man isn’t the one that loves you but the one who teaches you how to love.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Lupita Infante, “Besarte Así” (Sony Music Latin)
In times when lyrics are getting more and more explicit, it’s refreshing to hear Lupita Infante’s utterly romantic “Besarte Así” (To Kiss You Like This,) the third single from her upcoming album Amor Como En Las Películas de Antes (Love Like in the Old Movies). With a retro sound and very sweet, innocent lyrics, the mariachi ballad (written by Infante with Pedro Dabdoub) imagines what would be the perfect kiss with the perfect someone: “If I get closer, little by little, I feel my voice tremble/ When I say your name what I really want is kissing you,” she sings, in Spanish. The song is about “letting your imagination take you somewhere you’ve never been before,” Infante says in the production notes, adding that the track “lets you envision that one kiss you have dreamed about your entire life, allowing yourself to embrace those loving feelings.” — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Isabella Lovestory, “Latina” (Isabella Lovestory)
Freaky urbano purveyor Isabella Lovestory doesn’t mind sharing alcohol, men and lipstick with her Latina comrades — after all, it’s a sisterhood. Buoyed by a glitchy, intoxicating reggaetón beat and her riot grrrl antics, the Honduran-born artist arrives with a powerful mission statement that’s filled with pride and conviction: “Latina.” Her first track of 2023 already sounds like an electrifying art-pop feminist anthem, one that’s empowering mujeres the web over (“I feel beautiful listening to this queen” or “I didn’t ask to be Latina I just got lucky,” commented some online users).
“Tongue-in-cheek and playful, [‘Latina’] is a song that celebrates being Latina without being cliché and ‘dove commercial’ about it,” she says in a press release. “It’s a commentary on the tokenizing of latinidad, reclaiming the uniqueness and poignancy of every experience each Latina has.” Produced by Chicken, Kamixlo and Nick León, the commanding neo-perreo song also coincides with the announcement of her upcoming tour, Laticonica. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Luis R Conriquez & Grupo Frontera “Dame un Chance” (Kartel Music)
Luis R Conriquez and Grupo Frontera team up to deliver “Dame un Chance.” The contemporary norteño band and the Mexican singer-songwriter offer a fresh regional Mexican fusion that effortlessly combines traditional norteño sounds with the lively rhythm of cumbia. Produced by Edgar Barrera, the song serves as a romantic plea to be given a chance, committing to change (and even to consume less alcoho)l if it would grant them an opportunity with the person they love: “I have a feeling that my life is better with you/ I know very well that they say that I am a mess/ And it’s true I admit it too, but I also know how to love you pretty/ I’ll go down and drink a little so that you can see that I need you.” The accompanying video showcases the artists performing live with an enthusiastic group of men dancing and partying. — LUISA CALLE
Lenier & Yomo, “Corazón Callejero” (Mr. 305 Records)
Cuban singer-songwriter Lenier recruits Puerto Rican artist Yomo to deliver a love letter in “Corazón Callejero.” With a blend of charming melodies and uptempo beats, the heartfelt track — a sweet confession of love — seamlessly balances Yomo’s signature vocals and Lenier’s raspy-yet-soothing voice. “Yo tengo un corazón callejero, un corazón bandolero que de ti se enamoró (I have a street heart, a bandit’s heart that fell in love with you),” they sing in the chorus. — INGRID FAJARDO
Below, stream Billboard’s New Music Latin playlist, also featuring other recent releases from the Latin world.
Tours by Latin artists have reached new heights in the past year.
Bad Bunny closed out 2022 with a record-breaking $435 million in tour grosses, thanks to his El Ultimo Tour del Mundo and World’s Hottest Tour treks. Rosalía graduated from clubs to arenas, becoming an international touring powerhouse with her global Motomami Tour.
And it’s not just current hitmakers that are riding the wave. It’s also legacy acts such as Los Bukis, who embarked on a historic reunion stadium tour in 2021. And newcomer Feid, who was able to sell out his first U.S. tour in a span of 24 hours.
Now, RBD‘s upcoming Soy Rebelde Tour is poised to be one of the biggest tours of the year. The Mexican pop group’s first trek in 15 years — produced by Live Nation and the band’s manager Guillermo Rosas (also CEO of T6H Entertainment) — the tour has so far sold more than 1.5 million tickets and is filling stadiums and arenas across the world.
The topic on the influence of Latin artists on global touring took center stage at SXSW this year during a panel moderated by Billboard‘s Griselda Flores, senior writer, Latin. In a conversation with Rosas and Hans Schafer, svp of global touring at Live Nation, the one-hour fireside chat examined how tours by Latin artists continue to reach new markets and new audiences.
Below, five takeaways from the panel:
Many factors have contributed to the surge in touring numbers for both established artists and newcomers
Schafer: “For me, this [growth] has been happening for the past 15 years. English radio stations playing Spanish-language music now. The ability to access music that’s happening across the country or across the world. All those factors have contributed to this growth. It’s an exciting time.”
Rosas: “Although television has changed so much, there’s also a value that we can attribute to television. Series featuring Latin artists, such as RBD, were being viewed by audiences who didn’t speak Spanish. It became a trend to learn how to speak Spanish so you could understand the show, and it opened a lot of opportunities for Latin music in general in countries like Brazil or Eastern Europe. There are many different variables but that’s definitely one of them.”
Big tours, not big “Latin” tours
Schafer: “You look at the tours and the results that they’re giving — sure you can break them out into their own, ‘This is the No. 1 Latin tour.’ But when you look at the top 10 [of all tours], they’re in there. They’re in there worldwide, in North America, they’re surpassing a lot of artists in South America, an area that generates a lot of money. When you talk about the importance of global touring for all acts, a huge chunk is in Spanish-language countries. We’re now able to capture the data. It’s giving us the respect and the place of how important those markets are, the purchasing power we have and the impact that the Latin acts have.”
Rosas: “We have as example, Mexico, Brazil and Colombia where you have major international acts like Coldplay that held records in stadiums in Latin America. RBD came and broke all of them. In Colombia, RBD is doing four stadiums in a row, sold out. No other artist in the world has done that. Latin artists are capable of doing massive numbers.”
RBD’s reunion tour: Go big or go home
Rosas: “It was one of those reunions that was bound to happen at some point. It’s a complex structure, because there are so elements surrounding it — their individual careers, independent careers. Hans and I always had a vision that it would be successful when the time came. Because we do believe in the size of it, the first strategy was to make it big. If you go to a small arena, then you give the impression that it’s a small tour — but if you have a partner like Hans that believed in it, then we announced stadiums, and people understand that it’s going to be a big tour. A lot of promoters are scared of doing that, but you only have one opportunity for a first impression in this business. Because it’s such a big cultural movement, we needed to do it like that: add to the excitement and emotion.”
Nostalgia tours are having a moment
Rosas: “It is a cultural movement — RBD is bigger than its music. It’s part of growing up with it, and [in terms of] friendship, it’s a big reunion. All these people will get together after 15 years, some that haven’t seen each other in years, and RBD is the connection. It brings you back to amazing memories of childhood or teenage years. And it makes you happy. Los Bukis has a similar story. People grew up with the music, and that’s all you listened to in Mexico back in the day. To bring it back, it brings those emotions back to life. Hans and I worked on the Versus Tour in 2016 with Alejandra Guzmán and Gloria Trevi — we played on nostalgia. It was massively successful.”
Promising markets for Latin artists
Schafer: “We’ve seen that Europe has shifted in terms of the ability of going a little bit outside the box of your traditional market would be. Spain is the anchor for a lot of these acts to go out there. More and more, the U.K., France, Italy. You’ve seen more stuff in Poland, we’ve done shows in Tel Aviv. It’s the best time for a Latin artist. Musically and from touring-wise, you have the ability to go pretty wide, and if you have the right team, you can build a real career outside of traditional markets. I’m also excited about Australia and Japan — really the outskirts of the world that we haven’t hit [where] I know there’s a market.”
You can listen to the entire conversation here.
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).