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Maná has become the first ever Spanish-language rock band to be nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inclusion – a historic and long overdue recognition for not only Maná but Spanish-language music in general.
With this nomination, Maná becomes the first Latin nominee for Rock Hall induction in nearly 10 years (since Los Lobos were nominated in 2016). Three Latin artists – who record primarily in English – have been inducted into the Rock Hall since its first edition in 1986, including Santana (1998), Ritchie Valens (2001) and Linda Ronstadt (2014).
“We’re four guys who grew up in Mexico listening to rock and roll — The Beatles, The [Rolling] Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Santana,” lead singer Fher Olvera tells Billboard, speaking on behalf of Maná. “We dreamed of sharing our lyrics and music with the world. We wanted to share the sounds and spirit of Mexico and Latin America. To be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is almost impossible to imagine. We’re honored and grateful.”
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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday (Feb. 12) this year’s nominees, unveiling 14 artists who are in contention to join the Rock Hall’s Class of 2025. Besides Maná, the list includes Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Oasis, Outkast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes.
Revolutionizing the rock en español scene, Maná – composed of Olvera, drummer Alex González, guitarist Sergio Vallín and bassist Juan Calleros – formed more than 30 years ago in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and have since become one of the most revered and successful rock bands out of Latin America.
Their debut on the Billboard charts came in January 1994 with Dónde Jugarán los Niños, peaking at No. 2 on the Top Latin Albums chart. But it was their 1997 set, Sueños Líquidos, that became Maná’s first album to hit No. 1 on Latin Albums, and seven more No. 1s came after that, making Maná the Latin rock group with the most leaders on that chart to date.
Furthermore, Maná holds the title for the Latin rock band with the most entries on Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay – with 33 and 36 total entries, respectively.
On the touring front, Maná remains active and relevant. While they’ve toured around the world through decades, in 2023, Maná accomplished an extraordinary feat playing more than 55 concerts, including 16 as part of a residency at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, where it sold over 220,000 tickets, according to Live Nation.
“Maná is one of my favorite bands,” says Bob Roux, Live Nation president U.S. concerts. “They’re a global touring powerhouse. They sell out everywhere they go from Los Angeles to Mexico City, Buenos Aires to Bogota, Madrid and even London. What I love most about them is every tour has a social cause. They’re always giving back to their community. They have worked tirelessly their entire career, making great records, performing live, and standing up for what they believe in. I can’t think of a more deserving artist to get this prestigious nomination.”
With anthemic songs like “Oye Mi Amor,” “Clavado En Un Bar,” “El Reloj Cucú” and “Rayando El Sol,” just to name a few, Maná has for decades been a fixture in multigenerational homes in Latin America and beyond. Its music has not only stood the test of time, but the band has also become a fierce advocate of environmental justice – launching Selva Negra Foundation in 1996 – and a protector of immigrant rights, most recently speaking out against President Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
“We want to share this recognition with all Latinos everywhere, especially the immigrants who are suffering right now,” adds Olvera. “Don’t lose faith. Our people always find a way. Maná loves you. We’ll always be here standing with you.”
Nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are voted on by an international panel of more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry players. Plus, a fan-voted element that impacts the final tally. The Class of 2025 will be revealed in late April, and the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall.
Alejandro Sanz is back in the top 10 on a Billboard U.S. chart thanks to “Hoy No Me Siento Bien,” his first team-up with Grupo Frontera. The song, which climbs 12-7 on the Latin Pop Airplay chart (dated Feb. 15), becomes the Spaniard’s first visit to the upper region since 2020.
“Hoy No Me Siento Bien,” released Jan. 24 on Sony Music Latin, climbs to No. 7 after a robust 51% gain in plays for the tracking week ending Feb. 6, according to Luminate. That increase translates to 2.7 million audience impressions in the U.S. in its second week on the chart.
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“This is not a song, this is a statement,” shared Sanz on his Instagram account, as he announced the Frontera collab on Jan. 24. The song, produced by Grammy and Latin Grammy winner Edgar Barrera, fuses Sanz’s characteristic pop and Frontera’s cumbia folk.
Sanz last scored a top 10 on Latin Pop Airplay through “For Sale,” with Carlos Vives in 2020, reaching a No. 5 high then. In between, he’s placed three other songs, among those, “Muero,” with Kany García, nearly missed the upper region, landing at No. 11 in 2022.
Frontera grabs its first top 10 on its first try. The group joined the Latin pop radio ranking last week, when “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” debuted at No. 12 on the chart dated Feb. 8.
Sanz, one of Latin pop’s earliest hitmakers, adds a 25th career top 10. The Spaniard first reached the upper region the with the No. 9-peaking “La Fuerza del Corazón” in 1995. He has since placed at least one top 10 on Latin Pop Airplay in every decade. Six out of those landed at the summit, including his featured role in Shakira’s “La Tortura,” which dominated for 10 weeks, tying with Juane’s “La Camisa Negra” for the longest-leading song in 2005.
Continued reception across Latin pop radio stations, takes “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” to a No. 43 debut on the overall Latin Airplay chart, Sanz’s first visit since “Muero,” with Kany García, in 2022.
“Hoy No Me Siento Bien” will appear on Sanz’s 15th studio project. It follows first single, “Palmeras En El Jardín,” a No. 13 high on Latin Pop Airplay (Dec. 2024).
It’s been a busy start of 2025 for Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart, with five acts occupying the No. 1 spot at least for one week across the year’s seven chart weeks thus far. The latest leader is Gerardo Coronel “El Jerry,” who slides to the top of the list with “CHSM El Hígado,” as […]
The 2025 Premio Lo Nuestro unveiled a new wave of performers on Tuesday (Feb. 11) that includes Alejandra Guzmán, Belinda, Edgar Barrera, El Alfa, Manuel Turizo, Reik, Shakira, Tito Double P, and Xavi.
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Billboard can confirm that Shakira will have an exclusive and unique performance straight from her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour that kicks off tonight in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Additionally, Belinda and Tito will perform their bonafide corrido “La Cuadrada,” and Xavi and Manuel Turizo will join on stage for their recent bachata-tumbado “En Privado.”
The artists join previously confirmed performers Ángela Aguilar, Arthur Hanlon, Camilo, Carín León, Danny Ocean, Darell, Kapo, Natti Natasha, Yami Safdie and Yotuel.
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This year, Becky G and Carín León lead the nominations with 10 each. They are followed by Shakira and Myke Towers with nine nominations, and the eight-time nominees Ángela Aguilar, Emilia, Grupo Frontera and Leonardo Aguilar. Nominations for the fan-voted awards “are based on airplay on Uforia stations and take into account airtime on Univision Radio, streaming data and evaluation by a Television Committee composed of music and entertainment industry experts,” according to a press statement.
Meanwhile, La India, Alejandro Fernández and Manuel Alejandro will receive special awards: Premio Lo Nuestro a La Trayectoria (Lifetime Achievement Award), Premio Lo Nuestro a la Excelencia (Excellence Award), and the Visionario Lo Nuestro, respectively.
Co-hosted by Laura Pausini, Thalia and Alejandra Espinoza, this year’s theme is “Uniendo Generaciones” (Uniting Generations), honoring the artists, songs and albums that connect the past, present and future of Latin music.
Premio Lo Nuestro 2025 will air live at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 20, via Univision, UNIMÁS and Vix.
Los Tigres del Norte has always been known for addressing political issues and social justice in its songs, with strong and direct lyrics, and for giving a voice to immigrants who have come to the U.S. in search of a better life. Amid recent immigration raids by President Donald Trump’s administration, the band’s latest single, “La Lotería,” is no exception.
“It always breaks your heart to leave your land because the tree no longer provides good shade … It’s not that they want to change their flag; although far away, they always long for their roots,” goes the song released on Feb. 6 under Fonovisa.
“I think it comes at a time when we were already seeing what was coming,” Jorge Hernández, lead vocalist and leader of Los Tigres del Norte, tells Billboard Español. “The song is narrated according to how life has led us.”
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Last year, during presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ campaign, Los Tigres performed at her rally in Phoenix. The appearance aligned with the Mexican band’s continued support for Democratic candidates during U.S. presidential elections. In the past, it has endorsed Hillary Clinton (2016) and Joe Biden (2020), and has used its platform to get Latinos to go out and vote.
“We had the opportunity to work on this Kamala Harris campaign, hoping that we would have the pleasure of having another type of government, but well, such is life. Now we have to adapt and do what we have to do,” Hernández says. “I think this moment is very important for all of us Latinos, it’s a crucial moment for everyone.”
“We also have to see what the Mexican government will grant to those people who for some reason have not been able to settle in the United States,” he adds about the fate of the people deported.
The norteño music band known for classics such as “De Paisano a Paisano,” “La Carta,” “Jefes de Jefes” and “Somos Más Americanos” left its native Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1970 — two years after the group’s foundation — and has established itself in San Jose, Calif., since then.
When asked if he fears any kind of retaliation from President Trump for being the voice of many immigrants in the U.S. and for having supported the Harris campaign, the musician stays focused.
“I don’t think negatively,” he says. “We have always participated when we are called not only in the U.S., in different countries and for different organizations. It’s part of our job. We have been identified with Latinos since the ’70s, so it’s nothing new for us. If there were to be something against us, well, we would have to see what process we would follow. For now, we are calm.”
“We did what we had to do as human beings and as citizens of this country and as citizens of our Mexican Republic,” Hernández concludes. “We will continue to move forward fighting for those people who have no voice.”
The 64th annual Viña del Mar International Song Festival, taking place Feb. 23-28, has announced a panel of nine distinguished judges across music, journalism and entertainment. This eclectic group, renowned in their respective fields, is set to evaluate the international and folk competition entries, determining the winners of the coveted Gaviota de Plata awards.
Leading the panel is Megamedia journalist Rodrigo Sepúlveda, known for his presence on Meganoticias Alerta and the daily radio program Alerta en Romántica. Joining him will be the Grammy-winning duo Bacilos, comprised of Jorge Villamizar from Colombia and André López from Brazil, who are also scheduled to take the stage on Feb. 23. They are known for their hits such as “Pasos De Gigante” and “Caraluna” which charted on Hot Latin Songs at No. 8 and 16, respectively.
Emilia Dides, a singer and Miss Chile 2024 who made significant strides at the Miss Universe pageant last year, brings her musicality to the jury. The jury also includes Catalina Edwards, a journalist, TV and radio host from Megamedia and Radio Infinita. Chilean artist and member of the group 4F (Los Cuatro Fantásticos de la Música) Kidd Voodoo joins as judge and will also take the mic on Friday, Feb. 28. The panel will also feature Chilean actor Jorge López, known for his roles in telenovelas such as Soy Luna and Élite.
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Claudio Narea, an iconic figure in Latin American rock music and a co-founder of the legendary Chilean band Los Prisioneros, brings a wealth of musical history and influence. His deep roots in rock music, and timeless hits such as “Tren Al Sur” and “Estrechez de Corazón” will make him a key judge. Adding a classical touch to the jury is Paolo Bortolameolli, an acclaimed conductor linked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a prominent figure in Chile’s and global classical music scenes.
Finally, Nicolás Oyarzún, an actor from Megamedia known for his roles in Chilean series, will bring the drama and emotive power of acting to the jury.
Superstars including Carlos Vives, Marc Anthony, Duki, Carín León and more will be gracing the stage at the 2025 Viña del Mar Festiva.
Spanish hitmaker Quevedo is set to return to Latin America with his Buenas Noches Tour, his first trek there in two years. His most ambitious tour in Latin America to date, the “Gran Vía” singer will launch his 14-date stint in Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes on April 23. He will then take his […]
Grupo Frontera is addressing the backlash following allegations of supporting Donald Trump.
On Friday (Feb. 7), the Mexican-American band shared a statement on their Instagram Story, clarifying that they do not align with any U.S. political party.
“We want to clarify that Grupo Frontera has NO affiliation not alliance with any political party that’s against immigrants and the Latino community,” Grupo Frontera wrote in Spanish. “Like many of you, our families and [group] members have fought and struggled for a better future, and we will always take our people’s side, defending our roots and values.”
The Texas-based Música Mexicana band added, “It’s important you know that the opinions of our friends and family don’t represent Grupo Frontera. We are immigrants, we are from the border, and Grupo Frontera will always be by and for the people.”
Grupo Frontera — which includes members Adelaido Solís III (“Payo”), Juan Javier Cantú, Julián Peña, Alberto Acosta, Carlos Guerrero and Brian Ortega — came under fire after a viral video showed the grandmother of a band member celebrating Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, according to The Latin Times.
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As fans began to react to the viral clip, Grupo Frontera remained largely silent on social media.
The controversy coincided with Trump’s promise to begin large-scale deportations when re-elected, a move that would heavily impact Latinos.
“i will no longer support grupo frontera because, how are you voting for Trump while being latino? mind you I live in their surrounding era and it’s heavily latino populated too like???” one fan wrote on X.
According to the LT, other various social media responses included: “Make music in English now,” “Never come back to Mexico,” “Latinos are the ones who listen to your music, and you’ve let us down,” “This kind of betrayal comes at a high price” and “We should cancel them all.”
Artists such as Residente, Selena Gomez, Lupillo Rivera, Becky G, Chiquis and Ángela Aguilar have spoken out against the deportations.
Grupo Frontera will be performing at Billboard THE STAGE during SXSW in Austin on March 14.
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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Rey del Carnaval
Jay Wheeler has been named the 2025 Rey del Carnaval de Miami (King of the Carnaval), joining past crownholders such as Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, and Chayanne, to name a few. The Puerto Rican artist will also headline the popular Calle Ocho street festival held March 9 in Miami, Fla. “Joining the list of so many legendary artists who have represented Miami Carnaval as kings and queens is an indescribable privilege,” Jay Wheeler expressed during a press conference held Thursday (Feb. 6) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “This is a special moment in my career and I am proud to represent our vibrant heritage as part of this incredible annual celebration of culture, music and community.”
Jay Wheeler
Kiwanis Club of Little Havana
Gente De Zona’s 25th Anniversary
Gente de Zona is turning 25 after kicking off its music career as a duo in 2000. To celebrate, Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom Martínez have released a two-part single. Titled “Cositas Bonitas de eso Se Trata,” the artists reeled in four new Cuban artists to tell the story of a long-lasting and healthy relationship. “Cositas Bonitas” in collaboration with El Kamel and L Kimii is about dating and getting to know each other, while “Se Trata” in collaboration with Dany Ome and Kevincito El 13 is about commitment and building a future together. The former is a saucy reparto and the latter, has more pop elements laced with the Cuban-urban genre. According to a press release, both songs are part of the forthcoming Reparto by Gente de Zona album, and are the most romantic tracks on the project.
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Intimate Night with Arjona
In a very rare appearance, Ricardo Arjona celebrated his new album, Seco, with an intimate showcase in Miami, Fla. The exclusive event, held for select press and a small group of fans, took place Tuesday (Feb. 4) at the Adrienne Arsht Center, where Arjona performed songs from his new set, such as “Mujer,” and timeless hits including “Historia de un Taxi,” “Te Conozco,” and “Fuiste Tú.” In the midst of the presentation, the Guatemalan singer-songwriter shared life anecdotes, the album’s creative process, and even his dream of owning a bar in New York City. See a small recap of the evening below.
Daddy Yankee’s Birthday
Daddy Yankee might be in a legal battle with his ex-wife Mireddys González, but he’s keeping positive in the midst of it all—at least that’s what he’s showing fans on social media. This week, the former reggaetón hitmaker celebrated his 48th birthday (Feb. 3) alongside family and friends in Puerto Rico. “The faith community surprised me by celebrating my birthday last night,” he said in an Instagram post. “Honestly, they caught me off guard and surprised me. What a gift from heaven! When you least expect it, God always finds a way to cheer you up and never lets you down. Thank you to all the pastors, evangelists and artists of the kingdom who volunteered for this surprise party. Also to my AYALA family, who never miss a dance. Blessings to all, we had an extremely good time.” Check out DY’s surprise party in the below videos and photos.
Bad Bunny can’t help but flash his pearly white smile in new Super Bowl ad for Ritz Crackers that also features Aubrey Plaza and Michael Shannon. But his positivity and happy-go-lucky attitude make him an outsider at the Ritz Salty Club, a lounge located in Utah’s salt flats where everyone is … salty. The ad […]