State Champ Radio genre latin
Trending on Billboard Trueno talks on working with Young Miko and going on tour with Damon Albarn. Trueno: Well, precisely, the collaborations I have are with two friends, one female and one male, who I consider to be two of the strongest hip-hop representations that Latin America has to offer. Young Miko is a beast, […]
Trending on Billboard
Music executive Ángel Del Villar will remain a free man while he appeals his convictions for doing business with Mexican drug cartels, a federal judge said.
Del Villar was scheduled to report to prison on Dec. 1 to begin serving his four-year prison sentence on the cartel-ties convictions, but Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong granted his request to stay out on bond during the appellate process. Such appeals can take a year or more to resolve.
Related
Siding with arguments last month by Del Villar’s attorneys, the judge said the convicted executive had cleared the low bar for remaining free: that his appeal raised sufficiently arguable points about her jury instructions that an appellate court might be persuaded.
“Del Villar need only show that his appeal raises a fairly debatable question,” Judge Frimpong wrote. “The Court finds that—although the Court does not see any error in its trial rulings or in its jury instructions—that at least the question of the deliberate ignorance instruction is a ‘fairly debatable’ one.”
Del Villar, who founded his Del Records in 2008, built the label into a powerhouse for regional Mexican music, home to supergroup Eslabon Armado, Lenin Ramirez and other chart-topping artists.
But in June 2022, federal prosecutors unveiled charges against Del Villar, 41, CFO Luca Scalisi, 56, and Del Records under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act – a statute that allows the U.S. to impose targeted sanctions on foreign individuals involved in the illegal drug trade and ban U.S. residents from doing business with them.
The feds claimed that Del Villar had repeatedly arranged concerts with Jesus Pérez Alvear, a Guadalajara-based promoter with cartel ties. And at a March trial, superstar Gerardo Ortiz took the stand to testify against Del Villar, saying he had seen Pérez Alvear at the Del Records offices and had himself performed at one of the promoter’s concerts.
Related
Del Villar’s defense attorneys argued back that he had been “manipulated” into working with Pérez Alvear by a “trusted” former employee. But the jury didn’t buy it, finding him guilty on 10 counts of violating the Kingpin law, as well as one conspiracy charge. In August, Judge Frimpong sentenced him to 48 months in prison on those convictions.
With that sentence looming and his appeal still in the earliest stages, Del Villar’s attorneys urged the judge to postpone his December prison report date. In the process, they also previewed how they will likely challenge the verdict on appeal.
They say they have a particularly strong argument on how the judge instructed jurors that they could convict Del Villar by finding that he willfully blinded himself to Pérez’s shady connections. They say prosecutors couldn’t prove he took concrete actions to avoid such knowledge, but that Judge Frimpong gave the jurors that option anyway.
“The government pointed to no evidence — and the record contains none — from which a jury could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Del Villar took ‘deliberate actions’ or made ‘active efforts,’ his lawyers wrote, later adding that the judge’s instruction “went to the heart and most hotly contested aspect of the case.”
Trending on Billboard Rosalía appeared on The Tonight Show on Sunday night (Nov. 16) to deliver a captivating performance of “La Perla,” drawn from her latest album, LUX, originally featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia, who were not present for the performance. Explore See latest videos, charts and news The Spanish superstar stunned as she brought […]
Trending on Billboard
Pop star Chappell Roan turned to Duolingo to surprise her fans with some Spanish during her debut in Mexico on Saturday (Nov. 15) night at the Corona Capital festival.
“¡Hola, buenas noches! Me llamo Chappell Roan,” said the singer-songwriter to the 75,000 people (according to promoter Ocesa’s figures) gathered around the main stage at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. “Are you ready to get ‘Naked in Manhattan?’” she added in English, referencing her song of the same name.
It was the prelude to a grand celebration filled with the dance and synth-pop hits that have made the young singer one of the most celebrated stars today.
Later, seated on a giant throne while holding a gremlin-shaped toy, she revealed more about her attempts to learn the language. “I’m on day 55 of my Duolingo for Spanish, and I practiced saying that sentence in Spanish, and I’m too embarrassed to try and speak it,” she said shyly before performing “Coffee.”
Hundreds of fans responded by chanting “¡Sí se puede!” (Yes, we can!) in unison to try to encourage her. “Chappell, sister, you’re already Mexican!” shouted another group of supporters to applaud her effort, also in Spanish.
On several occasions, Roan interacted with the audience that eagerly awaited her during the marathon day of the musical feast, which also marked the 2025 closing of her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things Tour, a title that is reflected in her fairytale gothic aesthetic.
“I was really nervous to play this show because I’ve never played in Mexico before,” she confessed. “I wasn’t sure, honestly, what the turn out was gonna be, so I’m glad, thank you for showing up, and this is so awesome!”
Throughout the performance, the singer was literally the queen of a castle that filled the stage. Her often theatrical performance reached a surreal climax when the 27-year-old artist also paid homage to the famous Mexican celebration of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), which is held on Nov. 1 and 2 to honor deceased loved ones.
“I wanted to be a screaming banshee, and so I was like, Il’l be scary cause I feel like Mexico City can handle it,” the artists said. “I literally think this is the only place that can handle me looking like this,” she added about her outfit: a bridal gown with veils and lace, her mouth and teeth stained red to simulate blood. (Banshees are female spirits from Irish folklore, described as messengers of death whose wailing or screaming announces the passing of a close relative.)
An enthusiastic audience sang along to every word of her hits, from “Pink Pony Club” to “Good Luck, Babe.” Even the unreleased single “The Subway” and her cover of Heart’s “Barracuda” were a resounding success. The emotion conveyed by the 2025 Grammy winner for best new artist brought tears to the eyes of many of her fans, who expressed their gratitude for her visit. Roan is set to visit other Latin American countries in 2026 when she participates in the Lollapalooza festivals in Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
The second day of activities at the Corona Capital festival also included performances by acts such as Vampire Weekend, Aurora, Marina, Mogwai, Alabama Shakes, Jehnny Beth, Haute & Freddy y Half-Alive. Italian star Damiano David canceled his participation last minute due to health reasons, according to a statement released on his social media.
The program was set to continue on Sunday with Linkin Park, the much-anticipated return of Deftones to Mexico, James, AFI, Weezer, Jerry Cantrell, TV on the Radio, and more.
Trending on Billboard
The first day of the 2025 Corona Capital festival took place on Friday (Nov. 14), marking the grand return of Foo Fighters to Mexico City after a three-year absence. The explosive and unforgettable performance turned into a celebration filled with hits from Dave Grohl’s rock band’s 30-year career.
On day one, the musical feast — which is celebrating its 15th edition — was filled with 1990s nostalgia but also showcased new talents from genres like indie, soul, electro-pop, and folk. It drew over 78,000 attendees (according to promoter Ocesa) who enjoyed performances by Queens of the Stone Age, Franz Ferdinand, Garbage, Kaiser Chiefs, 4 Non Blondes, Jet, Lucy Dacus, Bad Bad Hats, Debby Friday, and other acts. The audience, demanding yet warm, kept the energy and good vibes throughout the day, which stretched into the early hours of Saturday at the Curva 4, the Formula 1 venue in Mexico City.
One of the surprises this year was the performance by veteran band 4 Non Blondes, who won over both old and new fans following the viral trend of the Nicki Minaj mash-up “Beez in the Trap” fused with “What’s Up?” The new song has been used in hundreds of thousands of TikTok videos and brought the ’90s anthem, written by singer-songwriter Linda Perry, back onto the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.
The program continues on Saturday (Nov. 15) with performances by U.S. star Chappell Roan, whose appearance at Corona Capital marks her debut on Mexican stages, as well as shows by Vampire Weekend, Damiano David, Aurora, Mogwai, Alabama Shakes, Jehnny Beth, Haute & Freddy, Half-Alive, and more.
Find out which were our favorite five acts from the first day of the 2025 Corona Capital festival below.
Foo Fighters, the Best of the Best
Trending on Billboard
Edgar Barrera, composer and 24-time Latin Grammy winner, says that finding the next hit is a rush of adrenaline. He recently sent Carín León a song that he’s incredibly excited about.
Edgar Barrera: I think it’s the result of a whole year of a lot of work. A few days ago, we were talking about that, about how I keep a calendar where I schedule all my sessions and log the songs I write every day. On my way here, I was looking at the calendar. Everything in it, it’s just packed. I’d turn the page and see the whole month, and every single day there would be one song, two songs, sometimes even three songs created in a single day.
I think it’s something people don’t often see. They don’t see the effort and work that happens behind the scenes. So, when these nominations come out, when I receive ten nominations, it’s because I’m in the studio all day, almost every day, writing one, two, or even three songs daily, just like I’m telling you. Every week, every month, I collaborate with different artists like Peso Pluma, Frontera, Carín León, just last week, I was working with Carín León. It’s this crazy pace. I was with Carín for three days, and in that short time, we recorded seven songs. It’s a result of relentless effort, I think.
Seven songs in how much time?
In just three days. Actually, there were nine songs. Two of them were pre-written, and together we created seven more during those days.
Incredible. Honestly, the process of creating songs seems so fascinating to me—the way you guys handle it. But obviously, when you first started teaching and sharing your songs, how many songs did you already have?
When I began sharing my songs? Well, I’ve always written music. I’ve been making music since I was around fourteen or fifteen years old, just writing and writing. It’s something I’ve been passionate about for a long time.
Keep watching for more!
Trending on Billboard Arcángel opens up about how he stays true to himself and explains the differences between Austin Santos and his on-stage persona. Arcángel: In fact, I consider myself more of a person than an artist. I’ve always been like that because every time I have to give an opinion, I speak as Austin […]
Trending on Billboard This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features new music, including fresh picks by Laura Pausini and Yami Safdie, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón in a collab with Juanes, HUMBE and DannyLux and more. Música mexicana continues to expand, attracting artists across genres to dabble in the style […]
Trending on Billboard
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
Laura Pausini & Yami Safdie, “Eso y Más” (Warner Music Italy)
Italian superstar Laura Pausini reimagines Joan Sebastian’s ballad “Eso y Más,” and recruits rising Argentine artist Yami Safdie for her version. Pausini and Safdie inject pathos in their delivery to match Sebastian’s emotionally-charged rendition of this classic, which was featured on his album Más Allá del Sol and peaked at No. 6 on Hot Latin Songs in 2007. Pausini and Safdie’s vocals soar as they sing this Mexican music anthem that captures unconditional love and a deep sense of devotion for a significant other. Pausini expressed admiration for Sebastian at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week, and said this version of “Eso y Más” will be part of her upcoming album, Yo Canto 2. — GRISELDA FLORES
DannyLux, Leyenda Deluxe (VPS Music / Warner Music Latina)
While DannyLux stays true to his signature sadboy-loverboy sierreño style, Leyenda Deluxe dares to venture into exciting new terrain. The four new tracks build on the fantastical energy of Leyenda (released in May) that blends poetic lyricism with inventive arrangements. “Yo Mismo Soy Culpable” pairs steely acoustic guitars with a flicker of an electric one. “preguntalealaluna” brims with melancholic allure, unfolding as a vulnerable conversation with the moon, while the breezy “¿Qué Sucedió?” reflects the artist’s realization that love isn’t always enough to make someone stay. But it’s the magnetic focus track “Quizás” that steals the spotlight, channeling ’90s alt-pop elements as the SoCal artist trades heartbreak for flirtation. By stitching these new sonic textures into the richly emotional sierreño soundscape, the star further solidifies his place as a boundary-pushing storyteller. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho & Juanes, “Una Noche Contigo” (Fono)
This is a collaboration that we never imagined could happen, and that makes it even more powerful. The soft sounds of the trumpets from the opening bars anticipate a love song in the style of one of the greatest bands in the Sinaloa genre. The voice of Julio Haro from La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho blends perfectly with that of Juanes, who, without abandoning his style, adds the intensity that characterizes a regional Mexican performance. While an unorthodox collaboration, the purpose is clear: to convey a romantic story, albeit from a different perspective. Music has no borders, and this is an example of that. You can have the best of both worlds without forcing anything. — TERE AGUILERA
HUMBE, “Morfina” (PARASIEMPRE.wav Records)
If you discovered HUMBE thanks to “Fantasmas,” a beautiful mariachi song that went viral on social media, you will truly appreciate the Mexican star’s new track, titled “Morfina.” While the former embraces a more roots style that gives it that ranchera sensibility, this new one thrives on a more subtle nu-pop sound but equally effective in lyricism inspired by spirituality, healing and eternity. “Morfina,” that ends with a gorgeous classical arrangement, previews HUMBE’S upcoming new project, due in weeks. — G.F.
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
Trending on Billboard The 2025 Latin Grammys were full of big wins and hot performances from Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, CA7RIEL and Paco Amoroso, Karol G and more! Keep watching for the full breakdown of the award show! Jessica Roiz: Big winners. And incredible performances. Hi, I’m Jessica Roiz for Billboard and this […]
