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Myke Towers and Benny Blanco take “Degenere,” their first ever collaboration, to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart (dated May 3). The song, rising 5-1, marks Blanco’s first champ on the overall Latin radio ranking after two chart visits and the 14th No. 1 for Towers.
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“Myke’s such a talent and a star,” lanco tells Billboard. “He knew exactly what to do on this song the moment I turned the beat on in the studio… he’s like a magician sometimes… the song just appears out of thin air… he’s incredible.”
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“Degenere,” added to the deluxe edition of of Towers’ album La Pantera Negra, was released on Oct. 17, 2024, via One World International/Warner/Warner Latina. The original version of the album was released on Aug. 22, 2024, and earned Towers his fifth top 10 entry on the Top Latin Albums chart, where it debuted and peaked at No. 7.
“It’s an honor to achieve another Billboard No. 1, especially with a song like ‘Degenere,’ created alongside a genius like Benny Blanco,” Towers adds. “His vision and creativity were essential in the shaping of this song that continues to bring us so much satisfaction. Thanks to my team, the fans, and everyone who makes these dreams possible. We keep writing history.”
“Degenere” reaches the summit in its 21st week, after two weeks in the top 10, thanks to a 20% boost in audience impressions, to 7.8 million, earned in the U.S. during the April 18-24 tracking week, according to Luminate.
With the track, Towers secures his 14th No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart. It’s the second hit from the deluxe edition of the Pantera album to reach the top spot, following “Otra Noche” featuring Darell, which spent one week at No. 1 in February.
Blanco, meanwhile, secures his first ruler, after “I Can’t Get Enough,” with Tainy, Selena Gómez and J Balvin, reached No. 37 high in 2019.
“Degenere” also ascends 3-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay. On that list it marks Towers’ 14th No. 1 and gives Blanco his first chart-topper.
Shakira is gearing up for a monthlong takeover on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Billboard can announce Tuesday (April 28). With three confirmed appearances, the Colombian superstar will first perform her global hit “Hips Don’t Lie” in honor of the song’s 20th anniversary on Tuesday, May 6. A sit-down interview with Fallon — during […]
On her new album, Cosas Que Sorprenden A La Audiencia (Things That Surprise the Audience), Vivir Quintana uses the strength of her voice and the power of her words to tell real-life stories of women who were imprisoned after killing their abusers in self-defense. She does so through the corrido, a traditional Mexican genre often associated with glorifying violence and misogyny — but transforming it into a narrative of denunciation, dignity, and justice.
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Told in the first person, Quintana’s sophomore LP is the result of a decade of research and collaboration with women who shared “their hearts, their homes, and their cells” to recount their stories and the reasons that led them to defend themselves against their abusers, ultimately losing their physical freedom after being accused of “excessive self-defense.”
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“Fifteen years ago, a friend of mine was a victim of femicide, and it made me incredibly sad — I didn’t know who to blame or how to cope,” the Mexican singer-songwriter shares in an interview with Billboard Español. “For a long time, I kept thinking about what would have happened if my friend had killed her abuser instead of him killing her.”
Her friend’s femicide inspired her popular 2020 release “Canción Sin Miedo” (Song Without Fear), the powerful feminist anthem that accompanies marches and protests against gender violence in Mexico, as well as the fight of mothers searching for their missing children.
But in her album Cosas Que Sorprenden A La Audiencia, released last Thursday (April 24) on digital platforms, the artist, originally from the northern state of Coahuila, goes further by reflecting deeply on the causes of machista violence — the same that results in the killing of 10 women every day in Mexico for gender-based reasons, according to reports from UN Women.
Released under Universal Music, the album features 10 corridos, a genre that emerged during the Mexican Revolution (191–1917) as an alternative account to official history, according to experts consulted by Billboard Español.
With resonant guitar sounds and a powerful accordion, Quintana uses this musical style — characteristic of the region where she was born and raised — to tell stories like that of Yakiri Rubio, the protagonist of the song “La Nochebuena Más Triste” (The Saddest Christmas Eve). In 2013, Rubio was kidnapped by two men who took her to a hotel to sexually assault her, and she ended up killing one of her attackers in self-defense.
Another example is the corrido that opens the album, “Era Él o Era Yo” (It Was Him or Me), which narrates the story of Roxana Ruiz, who was sentenced to six years in prison for killing her attacker in 2021. “Files and more files/ With my name and the names of other women/ Who fiercely dodged death/ Justice destroyed our luck,” goes part of the lyrics.
The album also includes titles like “Mis Cuarenta” (My Forty), “Mi Casita” (My Little House), “Más Libre que en Casa” (Freer Than at Home), “Mi Cobija” (My Blanket), “Claro Que No” (Of Course Not), “Kilómetro seis” (Kilometer Six), “Al Tiro” (At the Ready), and “Cosas Que Sorprenden a la Audiencia,” the album’s title track, inspired by Marisol Villafaña, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for defending herself against her abusive husband.
“That’s why the album is named this way,” Quintana explains, “because we’re so surprised when a woman defends herself, but we’re not surprised when a man receives an exemplary sentence for committing femicide.”
Recognized in 2024 as one of the Leading Ladies of Entertainment at the Latin Grammys, the 40-year-old artist is one of the new faces of corrido music in Mexico, although she has revolutionized the genre since her debut over a decade ago, by using music as a tool for activism and denunciation. In addition to “Canción Sin Miedo,” she is the author of “El Corrido de Milo Vela” (The Milo Vela Corrido), a tribute to journalist Miguel Ángel López, who was murdered in 2011 along with his wife and son in Veracruz. In 2024, she also wrote “Compañera Presidenta” (Madam President), a letter dedicated to the then-possible first female president of Mexico, a position now held by leftist Claudia Sheinbaum.
“With this album, I hope people open their hearts — but beyond that, I hope they open their minds to understand that gender violence needs to be addressed by all of us,” Quintana says. “And may we never forget that the voices of women deprived of their physical freedom also matter.”
Regarding the controversy surrounding corridos that glorify drug trafficking — subject to bans and restrictions in public spaces across ten Mexican states, though not officially prohibited by the federal government — Quintana believes that prohibition “is not the solution.”
“The children born into a world of organized crime, where their social context is that, where their family members are part of that life, and one day they realize they want to sing or play the guitar — what are they going to talk about?” Quintana questions. “Music is nothing more than a reflection of the reality or social context you live in, so narcocorridos should be regulated, but through education. That way, we can distinguish between reality and fiction, between good and bad.”
Cazzu’s Latinaje album has topped Billboard’s latest new Latin music poll published on Friday, April 25. In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, music fans voted for the Argentine artist’s new studio album as their favorite music release of the week.
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The 14-track set, helmed by her longtime producer Nico Cotton and released via Dale Play Records and Rimas Entertainment, generated more than 93% of the vote, beating out other new album releases last week including Boza’s San Blas, Natalia Lafourcade’s Cancionera, Javiera Mena’s Inmersión, and Bunbury’s Cuentas Pendientes.
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Latinaje is home to the previously-released singles “La Cueva,” “Dolce,” and “Con Otra”—the latter two also won the fan-related poll on Billboard.
If these tracks were any indication, lyrically and musically, Cazzu has evolved since her 2022 set Nena Trampa. On Latinaje, the artist born Julieta Cazzucheli is vulnerable and mature, singing about overcoming a heartbreak, finding her self-worth, but most importantly, motherhood—”Inti” is a sweet dedication to the daughter she has with ex-boyfriend Christian Nodal.
The very diverse album is home to trap, cumbia, salsa, merengue, flamenco, and tango melodies, and collaborations with Elena Rose, Maka, and WIU.
On the previous New Music Latin poll, Kenia OS and Anitta’s “En 4″— a provocative fusion between perreo and Brazilian funk— won the fan-related music poll. See the results of the latest one below that also included new songs by Elena Rose, Camilo, and Los Ángeles Azules; Juanes; Ivy Queen; and Young Miko.
See the complete poll results below:
Anuel AA is hitting the road (and resuming) his Real Hasta La Muerte 2 tour this year, presented by CMN Events. The 20-date stint — which started last November in Argentina and was originally meant to end this March in Miami — will officially kick off at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on […]
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.
RIAA Honors Selena Quintanilla
The tejano superstar was honored with an RIAA Lifetime Achievement plaque in recognition of 17 million certified units across her career, including 62x Platino Dreaming of You — marking the highest certified Latin album. The honor was presented at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on April 21, “paying tribute to the enduring impact of her music and cultural legacy,” according to a press release.
“The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) believes music can change lives, connecting generations and unifying those who speak different languages through shared emotion,” RIAA svp, state public policy & Latin music Rafael Fernandez Jr. said in a statement. “We have seen this as Latin Music in the US gains popularity as the fast-growing genre and through Selena’s legacy.This special moment with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ahead of Dia del Niño (International Day of the Child) reminds us of Selena’s passion for bettering the lives of children and encourages each of us to make an impact wherever we can.”
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Jimmy Humilde Goes to Harvard
The founder and CEO of powerhouse indie label Rancho Humilde was the keynote speaker for the event Into the Music, which took place at Harvard University last week. Organized by Harvard-Radcliffe Raza and NEON16, the West Coast-based executive shared his vision regarding Mexican music, Chicano identity, and the role of the Latin community in the United States.
“I didn’t go to college, but I totally understand the crucial role that academia fulfills in our society,” Humilde said during his speech, according to a press release. “As Latinos, we all have a responsibility in the fight for the recognition of our roots, our traditions, and our culture. It’s critical that more young people in our community access quality education at universities such as Harvard. That not only opens doors on an individual level, but it also makes us stronger as a community.”
Ivy Queen Teams Up With Wendy’s
Ivy Queen’s trailblazing trajectory in the industry has recently inspired Wendy’s latest campaign in Puerto Rico, which seeks to inspire authenticity. The reggaetón icon is the new voice of Wendy’s Presents the Breakfast Baconator with next-level ‘flow.’
“Ivy Queen represents a milestone in the world of urban music,” Wendy’s chief marketing officer Lizmarie Medina said in a statement. “She’s the undisputed ‘Queen’ who paved the way for other women and is recognized for her impact and legacy in the genre, for being ‘real,’ daring, and authentic, similar to what we do at Wendy’s. We break molds and make bold decisions in the face of industry challenges.”
Check out the commercial in Spanish here.
Noel Schajris at Barnes & Noble
As of May 2, Noel Schajris’ recordings will be available exclusively at Barnes & Noble throughout the U.S., including vinyl and collector’s CDs. According to a press release, the Argentine singer-songwriter becomes the first artist with an independent label to have national distribution at the bookseller.
“For me it is an immense honor to be able to present my album work alongside a brand like Barnes & Noble,” Schajris said in a statement. “To be able to bring these albums to those fans who love the physical product, the art, the booklets, the smell of the paper… that’s priceless. It’s a way to keep the essence of music alive as a tangible experience.”
2025 Latin Women in Music is a Wrap
The third annual Billboard Latin Women in Music took place Thursday (April 24) where Anitta, Belinda, Celia Cruz, Chiquis, Ha*Ash, Natti Natasha, Olga Tañón and Selena Gomez were honored for their groundbreaking careers and contributions to Latin music.
Watch the pink carpet livestream here and check out all things 2025 Billboard Latin Women in Music here.
Bad Bunny takes viewers on a heartfelt and surreal journey in a music video released Friday (April 25) for “BOKeTE,” a melancholic track from his Billboard 200 chart-topping album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. With a blend of cinematic nostalgia and haunting vulnerability, the Puerto Rican superstar’s video digs deep into the pangs of heartbreak, using […]
This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including new albums by Boza (San Blas), Cazzu (Latinaje), and Natalia Lafourcade (Cancionera).
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In an unexpected but much-needed collaboration, Elena Rose teamed up with Los Ángeles Azules and Camilo for “Carteras Chinas.” The Venezuelan songstress and Colombian crooners melodic and soothing vocals pair perfectly with Los Ángeles’ hip-swiveling cumbia tune. “There are so many fake things, there are more Chinese bags than people who love with their hearts, but that’s what you and I are for,” they sing a song that celebrates real love.
Juanes, on the other hand, taps into the vintage sounds of the ’60s and ’70s for “Una Noche Contigo.” Fusing vintage soul, blues, and rock influences from Otis Redding, Juan Gabriel, José José, and The Beatles, the ballad describes the magic behind falling in love unexpectedly: “I wasn’t looking for you/And I found you unintentionally/Among the people dancing/I approached without thinking,” he sings.
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Meanwhile, Boza dropped a nine-track album called San Blas, where he remains true to his signature reggae plena sound but incorporates a lot of afrobeat and amapiano rhythms. His new era is notably heard in his two previously-released collaborations, “Orión” with Elena Rose and “Todavía” with Greeicy.
Other new releases this week include Young Miko’s “Wassup,” Fariana and Kiko El Crazy’s “Me Muevo,” and Ivy Queen’s “Casi Casi.” Last week, fans crowned Kenia OS and Anitta’s “En 4” as their favorite release, garnering over 70% of the vote.
Which release this week do you think is best? Give these new releases a spin and vote for your favorite new Latin music release below.
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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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Elena Rose, Camilo & Los Ángeles Azules, “Carteras Chinas” (Kira Records/Warner Music Latina)
Collaborating with Los Ángeles Azules is almost a rite of passage at this point: over the years, the cumbia institution has teamed up with a hefty catalog of both new and veteran artists, and this time, it’s Elena Rose who taps Los Ángeles and Camilo for “Carteras Chinas.” It’s a match made in heaven, as Rose and Camilo’s soothing vocals pair perfectly with Los Ángeles’ hip-swiveling cumbia tune. “There are so many fake things, there are more Chinese bags than people who love with their hearts, but that’s what you and I are for,” the pair sing in the song that celebrates real love. — GRISELDA FLORES
Boza, San Blas (Sony Music Latin)
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Boza is ending the month with the release of his new studio album, San Blas, home to nine tracks that best represent his current personal and musical stage. Mainly crafted by his longtime producer Faster, the set stays true to Boza’s signature reggae plena sound, but incorporates Afrobeat and amapiano rhythms — notably heard on his two collaborations, “Orión” with Elena Rose and “Todavía” with Greeicy. The former peaked No. 2 on the Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart last year.
Lyrically, the Panamanian artist sings about falling in love (“energiaS”), letting go (“fluir”), and the life lessons along the way (“yaya”) — combining into a personal healing process. Moreover, the album’s name (as well the focus track) was inspired by Maná’s “En El Muelle de San Blas”: “I love the woman I’m with very much, and with this song I wanted to tell her that I’m only there for her, that I always want to show her off, to show everyone that I’m with an excellent woman, a beautiful woman,” he said in a statement. — JESSICA ROIZ
Juanes, “Una Noche Contigo” (Universal Music Latino)
Juanes delivers a magical bolero with his new single, “Una Noche Contigo,” marking his first release in two years. Fusing vintage soul, blues and rock influences from Otis Redding, Juan Gabriel, José José and The Beatles, the heartfelt track serves as a modern serenade that describes the magic of unexpected love: “I wasn’t looking for you/And I found you unintentionally/Among the people dancing/I approached without thinking.” The idea for this song began to take shape when producer Sebastián Krys introduced Juanes to a classic tune by Otis Redding. The Colombian powerhouse later developed the concept with Edgar Barrera and Julio Reyes, culminating in this vibrant tribute to timeless sounds. — INGRID FAJARDO
Adrian Quesada, Angélica García, “No Juego” (Electric Deluxe Recorders / ATO Records)
With “No Juego,” Adrian Quesada and Angélica García craft a hypnotic bolero that drips in sensuality and analog richness. The song resurrects the romantic decadence of the early ’70s crooners — evoking icons like José José and Camilo Sesto — while infusing it with cool, sophisticated beats that feel intimate and cinematic. García’s vocals are gripping and unfiltered, a soulful cry that pierces through Quesada’s lush production, which seamlessly blends psychedelic grooves and subtle nods to hip-hop. As the second preview of Quesada’s upcoming Boleros Psicodélicos II, due June 27, “No Juego” confirms his role as a sonic alchemist of unparalleled vision. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Fariana, Kiko El Crazy, “Me Muevo” (La Commission)
Following the line of her ultra-viral hit “El Caballito,” Fariana drops a new merengue tune in collaboration with Kiko el Crazy. Produced by Gangsta, the summer-ready “Me Muevo” samples La Makina’s 1999 timeless tropical tune “No Me Digas Que No.” On her version, Fariana sings from a woman’s point of view who’s ready to move on and mingle with the men who are after her. “If you don’t want me, I’ll replace you/It’s your loss and my win/The same way you left, the same way they come,” she boldly chants. Meanwhile, her Dominican collaborator adds saucy rap verses, trying to save the relationship: “Relax, Fariana, I’m the crazy guy you love.” — J.R.
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
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