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There are certain qualities that turn a song into a soccer anthem. First, its sense of euphoria to match the game’s twists, turns and rollercoaster of emotions. Second, the song’s ability to get everyone on their feet. So, it makes sense that “Sacúdete” became the Major League Soccer’s (MLS) pick to soundtrack its latest Our Soccer Is Calling campaign spot.
The hypnotic electrónica track by Afro-Indigenous-Venezuelan producer and songwriter Gotopo alongside producer Don Elektron (of Mexican group Kinky) was an unlikely choice given that the song was released last year and Gotopo is a relatively newer artist. However, it was the song that caught the attention of the MLS.
“We fell in love with the energy of the song,” says Jesse Perl, MLS’ VP of brand marketing, who worked with indie label Waxploitation Records to license the track for the campaign. “We think it’s great to use our platform to work not only with an established superstar producer like Don Elektron, but also emerging artists like Gotopo. This year, we wanted to make sure that our commitment to Latin culture came to life through sound, it’s something we really wanted to be intentional about.”
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It’s not the first time that the MLS works with Latin acts for campaigns, Prince Royce and Miguel have been tapped in previous years, but this latest song and campaign captures the zeitgeist of the fútbol movement and excitement with the arrival of Argentine soccer icon Lionel Messi to the league.
“Something really interesting is starting to happen, like it did back with hip-hop and the NBA in the 90s,” explains Perl. “There’s this marrying of Latin music and soccer in such an organic way. Peso Pluma is coming to games with Dr. Dre. Then you have Bizarrap is going to games in Miami. There’s all these people who are fans of the sport and now our league.”
It’s also a direct reflection of the league’s fans. According to data provided by the MLS, the league has the youngest and most diverse fans among the major sports leagues in North America with 30% of the MLS’ fanbase being Hispanic and 69% of the league’s fans are Gen-Z and millennial.
“Our soccer is calling is this idea of it being an invitation to bring people who are curious to discover, and we’re fortunate that there’s more curiosity about our league than ever before.”
Watch the “Our Soccer is Calling” spot, soundtracked by “Sacúdete,” below.
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BMG announced on Monday (Feb. 26) an exclusive recordings agreement with the estate of the iconic Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía. In a partnership with the Paco de Lucía Foundation, BMG is set to release Pepito y Paquito, an album featuring 21 previously unreleased tracks by Paco de Lucía and his brother Pepe, in May 2024.
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“We are delighted that these very special recordings, completely unknown until now, will finally be released with BMG on such a special date as the 10th anniversary of Paco de Lucía’s departure,” representatives of Paco de Lucía’s Estate said in a statement. “These recordings are an extraordinary document that reflects the first steps in the career of Paco de Lucía and Pepe de Lucía, and they are already part of the history of flamenco.”
According to a press release issued by BMG, the recordings — which date back to 1959 and 1960 — give flamenco fans an insight into the “early musical endeavors” of Pepe and Paco at the ages of 13 and 11, respectively. AI was used to help restore the recordings from a vintage Grundig TK46 tape recorder.
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“I never thought these recordings would ever see the light of day, but thanks to the tireless work of the team that has been part of this process, the tapes have finally been restored and are ready to be released,” added Pepe. “When I listened to the tapes again, more than 60 years after their original recording, I couldn’t believe that those children were my brother Paco and me. It is a wonderful recording that brings back fond memories of the happiest time of our lives and serves as a fitting finale to our careers.”
“It has been a privilege to work hand in hand with Pepe de Lucía and the Paco de Lucía Foundation for more than a year to document, restore, and finally publish these tapes that showcase the genius of these two brothers who changed the history of music in Spain and around the world,” said Javier Doria, BMG director A&R Spain.
The deal comes on the heels of a Paco de Lucía Legacy Festival, which took place in New York from Feb. 20-24 commemorating the 10th anniversary of Paco de Lucía’s death. A historical figure in flamenco and a key figure in the globalization of the music, Paco de Lucía was honored by more than 30 flamenco artists at the four-day event.
L to R: Francisco Sánchez Gómez (Paco de Lucía) and José Sánchez Gómez (Pepe de Lucía) with their mother Lucía Gomes Gonçalves
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There may have been more than 20 performances at the 2024 Premio Lo Nuestro on Thursday (Feb. 22), but a handful truly stood out. A show mainly centered on performances, the three special awards honorees, Don Omar, Olga Tañón and Ana Bárbara, gave the best performances of the night. Proving why he was this year’s […]
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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DannyLux Helps Street Vendor Retire
Mexican American artist DannyLux delivered a random act of kindness on Valentine’s Day. The sierreño singer teamed up with creator Jesús Morales to participate in one of Morales’ street vendor buyout campaigns. The pair met Pilar, an 80-year-old street vendor who sells fruit and “aspires to return to her family in Mexico to retire,” according to a press release. The special moment, when Danny and Morales give the woman $1,000 for the day so she can go home and rest, went viral on Instagram and TikTok amassing more than 2.5 million views. After starting a GoFundMe to help Pilar retire, the account has now raised more than $70,000 towards the cause.
Karol G Spreads Joy at Children’s Hospital in Mexico City
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Karol G’s Con Cora Foundation visited the Dr. Eduardo Liceaga General Hospital and the National Network of Shelters in Mexico City as part of the “Con Cora Tour Latam,” a tour that began last year in Colombia with a mission to bring joy, entertainment, and support to vulnerable populations, accoding to a press release.
“After the impact of the ‘Con Cora Tour’ last year, we are proud to be able to bring the joy of this tour to vulnerable communities internationally,” said Valentina Bueno, general director of the Con Cora Foundation. “Always driven by the social mission of our founder, we will continue our hard work of seeking and creating women’s empowerment projects regardless of borders.”
During the two visits, Karol G was able to share with women, patients, and their families, delivering an inspiring message of empowerment and resilience.
Nodal and Cazzu Share New Photos of Their Baby
Christian Nodal and Cazzu shared adorable new photos of their baby, who was born in September. The couple first announced the birth of their baby girl with a sweet photo of Nodal and Cazzu holding their baby’s tiny hand and captioned it with the date “14.09.23.” Cazzu revealed she was pregnant in April during a concert at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires.
See the precious new pics here.
Prudential Center Donates to Maestro Cares
Before Marc Anthony performed at Prudential Center in New Jersey as part of his Historia Tour on Feb. 10, Prudential Center executives Sean Saade and Matt Saril presented the salsa singer with a check for $25,000 to his Maestro Cares Foundation.
Since 2014, Prudential Center has donated over $400,000 to the Maestro Cares Foundation, according to a press release, as part of their community-focused commitment to the social programs that are important to the artists that regularly play at the venue.
The Maestro Cares Foundation is a non-profit organization that has built orphanages in various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Jay Wheeler’s Valentine’s Day Special
Jay Wheeler performed a two-night concert special, P.S. Para Siempre, at the Coliseo in Puerto Rico. The concert series, which took place Feb. 14-15, was a celebratory Valentine’s gift to his fans, his beloved Puerto Rico and his wife Zhamira Zambrano.
Across the three-hour set, Wheeler performed on a heart-shaped stage and visuals playing of him and his wife, with whom he performed three tracks. The urbano star also brought out other surprise guests including Angel Lopez, Bryatiago and Noreh, among others.
Jay Wheeler
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Colombian superstar Shakira will release her first new album in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women Don’t Cry Anymore), on March 22. The singer’s upcoming LP also marks her debut release on vinyl, featuring four distinct artwork editions, each paired with an exclusive colored vinyl variant (See the different covers here).
“Making this body of work has been an alchemical process,” Shakira said in a statement. “While writing each song I was rebuilding myself. While singing them, my tears transformed into diamonds, and my vulnerability into strength.”
The title of the album is a nod to the empowering lyrics from her Bizarrap session “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” where she declared, “las mujeres ya no llora, las mujeres facturan,” which loosely translates to, “women don’t cry anymore, they make money.”
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Speculation about a new album began when Shakira posted on a short video on Sunday that began with a shot of a diamond followed by clips from her previously-released singles, including “Copa Vacía” with Manuel Turizo, her Bizarrap-produced music session and “Monotonía.”
“Stay tuned,” she instructed her more than 90 million Instagram followers.
Shak’s new album follows her 2017 set El Dorado, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart, and included hit songs such as “Chantaje” with Maluma, “La Bicicleta” with Carlos Vives and the Prince Royce-assisted “Deja vu.”
Overall, the hitmaker has placed eight top 10 albums on the Top Latin Albums chart, six of those hit No. 1, including Dónde Están Los Ladrones? (1998), Fijación Oral: Vol. 1 (2005) and Sale El Sol (2010).
Last year, Shakira released back-to-back singles, including her hard-hitting “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” the aforementioned head-bobbing “Copa Vacía,” “El Jefe,” a riveting polka-tinged ska with Fuerza Regida, and her poignant ballad “Acróstico.”
Shakira had been mostly mum about her new album, but in a candid interview with Billboard for her September cover story, the global superstar — who is also a single mother to two young boys — shared why it had taken her six years to release a new album.
“The last time I released an album was six years ago. Now I can release music at a faster clip, although sometimes I think being a single mom and the rhythm of a pop star aren’t compatible,” she explained. “I have to put my kids to bed, go to the recording studio; everything is uphill. When you don’t have a husband who can stay home with the kids, it’s constant juggling because I like to be a present mom and I need to be there every moment with my children: take them to school, have breakfast with them, take them to play dates. And aside from that, I have to make money.”
Musicians launching a career in acting isn’t anything new.
In fact, it’s more common than ever, and Latin artists are no exception as they make their way to the big screen or score a role in a popular television series. Over the past four years, a handful of Latin artists — from Karol G to Bad Bunny, Maluma and Residente — have made their acting debuts.
In January, Karol G showed her acting chops for the first time on Netflix’s Griselda opposite Sofia Vergara, and Bad Bunny booked back-to-back film projects — Bullet Train and Cassandro — after making his acting debut on Netflix’s Narcos: México in 2021.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rican hitmaker Residente made his acting debut in the indie film In the Summers, which premiered earlier this year at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The project, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza, won the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.
As for Maluma, he starred alongside Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in Marry Me, which was released in 2022. “As a Latino from Colombia, Medellin, who was going to think that my first movie was going to be a Hollywood movie with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Lopez? We’re making history right now as a Latin community, and I feel very proud of being part of this big, big movement that we’re having right now,” he previously told Billboard.
A few other Latin acts, like Becky G, Leslie Grace and Lucero, who had already been part of a series or film before 2020, returned with new projects. Becky, who made her acting debut in 2017 as the Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers, had a few projects under her belt, including Good Mourning in 2022 and Blue Beetle in 2023.
Below, here are a handful of Latin artists who’ve scored major onscreen roles since 2020 (in alphabetical order):
Anitta
Image Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Yandel and Myke Towers celebrate a new No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Borracho y Loco” crowns the list dated Feb. 17. It’s the first collaboration by two Latin rhythm acts to top the chart in 2024.
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It advances from the runner-up slot with 10.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 8 (up 18%), according to Luminate. It sends last week’s No. 1, Xavi’s “La Diabla” down to No. 7 after one week in charge. The latter declined 26% to 7.1 million in audience.
“The truth is that it makes me very happy that with so many years making music my songs still reach the first places and top lists in the United States and other parts of the world,” Yandel told Billboard.
As “Borracho y Loco” lands at the summit, it becomes the pair’s second No. 1 team-up. The Puerto Ricans last ruled the overall Latin Airplay ranking through a Nio Garcia, Casper Mágico, Ozuna, Wisin and Flow La Movie collab, when “Travesuras” topped the tally for one-week in 2021.
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Thanks to “Borracho y Loco” Yandel scores his 16th champ on Latin Airplay. Further, he ties with Nicky Jam for the seventh-most No. 1s among male urban artists since the tally launched in 1994. Here’s a review of the winners:
36, J Balvin33, Ozuna28, Daddy Yankee24, Bad Bunny24, Maluma22, Wisin16, Nicky Jam16, Yandel
“I am beyond grateful for my fans, my producers and the artists I have had the joy of collaborating with,” Yandel adds. “Now another No. 1 arrives through ‘Borracho y Loco.’ Myke Towers, thanks brother! Here we go, another No. 1 for the books!”
For Towers, the rapper and singer-songwriter lands his 10th No. 1 with his 31st chart appearance. He last topped the chart with the viral TikTok hit “Lala,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 in September 2023.
“Borracho y Loco” takes over Latin Airplay in its 18th week, marking the second-longest climb to the top for both artists. Previously, Yandel placed three songs at the summit each one in its 20th week, including two featured roles: through Maluma’s “El Perdedor,” and in IAmChino’s “Ay Dios Miío,” which also featured Pitbull and Chacal, and with “Nunca Me Olvides,” all in 2016.
Tower’s, meanwhile, secured two songs at No. 1 in 22 weeks each: “Bandido” with Juhn, and “Bésame,” with Luis Fonsi, in June and Nov. 2021, respectively.
For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on Billboard’s social accounts, and all charts (dated Feb. 17) will refresh on Billboard.com tomorrow (Feb. 13).
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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Maluma, Octavio Cuadras & Marca Registrada, “BLING BLING” (Sony Music Latin)
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Colombian hitmaker Maluma is back with another regional Mexican banger. It’s a formula that’s worked for the reggaetón artist who has enjoyed success collaborating with the likes of Grupo Firme (“Cada Quien”) and Carin Leon (“Según Quién”). The former landed at No. 1 on both the Billboard Latin Airplay and Regional Mexican Airplay charts, with Maluma becoming the first urban artist to lead both rankings simultaneously since their inception in 1994. Now, he’s teamed up with Grupo Marca Registrada and Octavio Cuadras for the bright “BLING BLING,” which has a big-band vibe but falls under the new subgenre corridos felices — pioneered by Cuadras. Powered by a joyous trombone beat, the artists sing about a care-free lifestyle. “Bling Bling” is the first track off DON JUAN Season 2, a new season of releases by Maluma, according to a press release. — GRISELDA FLORES
Camilo, Un (Sony Music Latin)
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Colombian singer-songwriter Camilo gifts his Tribu (as he calls his fans) three new romantic songs. The EP, Un, highlights the elegance of live instruments such as a saxophone, trumpets, trombones, conga and güira with charming musical arrangements. All three tracks are appropriate for different relationship statuses — among them “Gordo,” a salsa song about seeing an old love with their new partner and “No Se Vale” a bachata for “dancing tightly” (as the singer-songwriter expressed on his social media). He also joins his wife Evaluna in “PLIS” to celebrate their love to the rhythm of salsa, the couple’s first collaboration since 2022 “Índigo.”
Un was recorded live with audio and video together, according to a post Camilo shared on social media: “17 musicians got together to play at El Taller Creativo. When we counted ‘one, two, three, four’ we all did one thing. That ‘un’ (‘one’) that broke the silence aligned all the hearts that were there, recording music and video simultaneously, in the same take.” — LUISA CALLE
Angélica Garcia, “Juanita” (Partisan Records)
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Pop auteur Angélica Garcia offers a flavorful taste of her upcoming first album, mostly in Spanish, with “Juanita,” a cumbia-inspired avant-pop song about a limitless woman. “Juanita, Juanita, Juani/ Why are you calling me?/ What is the force that motivates? / You made me wake up/ Your voice, the sound of stars/ Not even the gods can draw you,” the L.A.-born artist sings with an enveloping mystique over an evocative bass line.
According to a press release, the track’s roots date back to 2020, as Garcia was sitting before an altar that she constructed in her bedroom, looking into the past to inform the present with familial knowledge. “Many cumbias have lyrics about pain and longing … My intention was for the tension and confusion in the song to feel like remembering a past life. I wanted to capture what the shadow side of grief does to us,” she explains. The music video for the song, shot in black and white and directed by Puerto Rican award-winning documentary filmmaker Sonia Malfa, is as mysterious as it is captivating. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Los Ángeles Azules, Alejandro Fernández, “La Cumbia Triste” (Seitrack/UMG Recordings)
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In a first collaborative effort, Los Ángeles Azules and Alejandro Fernández unleash “La Cumbia Triste.” Penned by Aureo Baqueiro and Leonel García, the track finds the Mexican ranchera superstar using his powerful vocals to dedicate a few words to the hopeless romantic. “For those who do not sleep/ Because their soul hurts/ For those who do not dream/ Since that past love that stole their peace […] This is the sad cumbia/ The one that hugs you/ The one who understands what’s happening/ This sad cumbia is for you,” he sings. Though the lyrics are melancholic, the rhythm is opposite of a “sad cumbia;” in fact, the Rodolfo Lugo and Jorge Mejía Avante-produced track is a captivating cumbia that can get anyone on their feet –whether they can relate to the lyrics or not. — JESSICA ROIZ
Caloncho, “Ánimo” (Universal Music México)
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Caloncho’s music perfectly blends his lyrics and melodies, which always bring a sense of peace. This time, the Sonora-born singer-songwriter presents “Ánimo,” which translates to “cheer up” — a reminder to keep moving forward. The new song begins with a delightful drum rhythm that, along with the bass and electronic elements, supports a refreshing, spontaneous and sophisticated sound with a wave of smooth chords and a reflection between its verses. “I keep learning from my mistakes/ It hasn’t been easy/ Not everything is flowers/ If colors are missing on the road/ I’m sure better times will come,” he sings in the chorus. — INGRID FAJARDO
Mexican Institute of Sound, Algo-Ritmo: Mexican Institute of Sound Hits 2004-2024 (Soy Sauce)
Mexican Institute of Sound, the brainchild of Camilo Lara, commemorates two decades of exploratory Latin productions with Algo-Ritmo: Mexican Institute of Sound Hits 2004-2024, a compilation that encapsulates Lara’s illustrious career. This collection features 24 songs, including fresh collaborations with Ceci Bastida (the psychedelic cumbión of “Stop!”), Esteman and Foudeqush (the haunting ballad of “Bolero”), with a retrospective and vibrant narrative woven from the threads of Mexican cultural heritage, electronic beats and global rhythms.
M.I.S., a maestro of musical fusion, has consistently blurred the lines between genres, melding funk, cumbia and electronic music. From his early experiments with Méjico Máxico to the collaborative richness of Distrito Federal, his work stands as a testament to his pioneering spirit and his commitment to social justice, through the universal language of music. Algo + Ritmo 2004-2024 is an invitation to celebrate the past, present and future of a project that continues to define and transcend the boundaries of the varied Mexican sound. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
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Xavi’s sophomore hit “La Diabla” races to 17-1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart (dated Feb. 10), giving the Mexican-American singer-songwriter his first champ on a radio ranking.
The romantic corrido, released via Interscope, tops the overall Latin Airplay list with 9.6 million audience impressions, up 89%, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Feb. 1, according to Luminate.
Notably, it’s the first No. 1 by a regional Mexican artist on Interscope. The label was last on top with another song in the genre, Karol G’s “Mi Ex Tenia Razon” for two nonconsecutive weeks last October and November.
“’La Diabla’ has topped so many charts that it’s been hard to keep up, but this one is particularly special,” Manny Prado, VP of Marketing and A&R, Interscope Geffen A&M tells Billboard. “The fact that radio has embraced Xavi’s innovative sound is a significant statement and validates that he is successfully pushing the boundaries of Mexican music.”
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Xavi’s radio success follows the song’s domination on both Hot Latin Songs and Latin Streaming Songs. On the multi-metric tally, “La Diabla” spends a fifth nonconsecutive week at the summit, powered largely by 15.4 million streams during the same period. That’s enough to hold its No. 1 spot for a fourth week on Latin Streaming Songs and its No. 9 ranking on the overall Streaming Songs for a second week.
Back on Latin Airplay, “La Diabla” ejects another regional Mexican track from the lead: Fuerza Regida and Marshmello’s “Harley Quinn” falls to No. 3 after one week in charge with 8.2 million, down 9%.
Beyond its Latin Airplay domination, “La Diabla” surges 8-1 on Regional Mexican Airplay for its first week atop the 40-deep song tally; also, a first champ there for the Phoenix-born artist. Sales too, contribute to the song’s rise across Billboard charts: “La Diabla” sold 1,000 downloads for a No. 2 on Latin Digital Sales for a third week (topped the list for one week on the Jan. 20-dated survey).
Elsewhere, “La Diabla” remains steady at No. 4 on the Billboard Global 200 chart for a fourth week after its No. 3 peak in January. Plus, it remains at No. 3 for a third week on Global Excl. U.S. following its No. 2 high also in January.
Thanks to its gain in all metrics (streaming, sales, and radio), Xavi holds strong at its at No. 33 peak on the Billboard Artist 100 for a second week, which measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption- album and track sales, radio airplay and streaming – to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity.
Ricky Martin enters his high society era in new trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Palm Royale. The Puerto Rican star is set to play Robert in the comedy series that stars Kristen Wiig, Alison Janney, Laura Dern, Kaia Gerber, Bruce Dern and Carol Burnett, who will be making “extra special guest” appearances. Explore […]