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Gloria Estefan is ready to return to her roots with her first Spanish-language album in 18 years. First thing Thursday (March 20) — the start of the spring equinox — the Cuban-American superstar released the first single from the set, written by her producer-husband Emilio Estefan and aptly titled “Raíces” (Roots).
“Always enjoy the moments because you never know what surprises life will bring,” Estefan sings, expressing how love and life are very much like planting seeds. “If you want a good harvest, you need to know how to sow/ With faith and dedication, that tree will grow roots.”
“The song ‘Raíces’ touched my soul the first moment I heard it,” Gloria Estefan tells Billboard Español. “Being a Virgo, my connection with nature is strong, and I see life as a garden, with love as the seed. I believe that what you cultivate with kindness, patience, and faith will one day bloom into joy.”
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She adds: “It is important not to miss the opportunity to express love because every sincere word and gesture plants the roots of a beautiful tomorrow — and that is what this song is all about.”
Recorded at their Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, “Raíces” is a tribute to the rhythms that have defined Estefan’s sound: salsa, tropical beats, classic Latin music. The song will also give its title to her new album — the 30th in a 50-year career — which will be released at the end of May under Sony Music. It will be her first fully Spanish-language album in 18 years, since 90 Millas, which debuted and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in October 2007.
“For me, recording in Spanish again was a contribution to our music,” Emilio Estefan tells Billboard Español, noting that they worked with “great musicians, engineers, and industry professionals” and that he personally wrote almost the entire album because “I wanted it to reflect our essence: Gloria’s sound and mine.”
“[When we started], I remember people telling us that our sound would never work and that we should change our last name. But we understood the value of our culture and our roots,” he explains, referring to their beginnings in the mid-1970s with the Miami Sound Machine. “When Gloria reached the top of the charts worldwide [singing in English], we took a big risk and decided to record Mi Tierra, an album that represented one of our greatest victories.”
The iconic first LP by Gloria Estefan in Spanish from 1993, which included hits like “Mi Tierra” and “Con Los Años Que Me Quedan,” spent a whooping 58 weeks at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums. More than three decades later, the renowned Cuban producer and musician along with the singer-songwriter present “a letter of gratitude to the fans, to the press, to those who believed in us, and to the city of Miami, which watched us grow and then allowed us to bring our music to the whole world.”
“It is a moment full of emotions for Gloria and me, a celebration of our culture and our audience,” Emilio Estefan says. “The most beautiful thing about a career is being able to leave a legacy of gratitude.”
Check out the music video for “Raíces” below.
Garbage, the iconic American alternative rockers who rose to fame in the ’90s, are in the midst of their first Latin American tour in a decade. The trek kicked off March 12 in Colombia, followed by stops in Chile and Argentina, before arriving in Brazil this Friday (March 21).
On April 6, after an 11-year absence from the country, Garbage will perform in Monterrey, Mexico, at the Tecate Pa’l Norte festival.
“It’s great to go back to Mexico, you know. And going to Pa’l Norte again is even better,” lead singer Shirley Manson tells Billboard Español about their participation on the festival’s second day, which will also feature stars like Olivia Rodrigo and Kings of Leon. “Each represents different generations, and their own music. We’re not the same side of the coin. Having many options at the same place is fantastic.”
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Since the band’s inception in the early ’90s, Garbage has been beloved among Latin American audiences. Tracks like “Stupid Girl,” “Only Happy When it Rains” and “I Think I’m Paranoid” have transcended the years, creating a strong bond with fans in the region.
When asked about the growing globalization of Latin music, Manson shares: “Latin music is developing and expanding so quickly. Now, listening to music in Spanish is something we are used to. That’s so great, it’s wonderful.”
The reunion with their fans has been overwhelmingly positive. At the Festival Rec, recently held in Concepción, southern Chile, the band shared the stage with acts like Los Tres, Suede and Julieta Venegas, along with 40 other talents that brought together an estimated 360,000 attendees, according to Chile’s Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Obras Stadium was packed with fans who had been waiting for the band since their last performance at the legendary Luna Park in 2014. Shirley Manson has a special connection with Argentina, particularly with its feminist movements; the singer even participated in a colloquium there in 2019.
For their performance at Parque Fundidora in Monterrey, where Tecate Pa’l Norte will take place from April 4–6, daily attendance is expected to reach at least 100,000 people. The eclectic lineup includes Green Day, Massive Attack, Justin Timberlake, Caifanes, Foster the People, Benson Boone, El Tri and Eden Muñoz, among others.
Garbage, comprised of Shirley Manson, Butch Vig, Duke Erikson and Steve Marker, has released several covers over the past two years, including David Bowie’s “Starman,” U2’s “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,” Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Cities in Dust” and Patti Smith’s “Because the Night.” Fans are eagerly awaiting new music from the band, as their eighth studio album, Let All That We Imagine Be the Light, is set to drop on May 30.
MADRID — After a successful First Spanish Music Encounter at the WiZink Center in 2024, Billboard returned to Madrid on Tuesday (March 18) with “Leaders of Music in Spain,” an event that reaffirms its commitment to the country’s music scene. The cocktail event, held at the Hotel VP Plaza España Design, gathered more than a hundred executives, artists, and key industry figures to strengthen ties and boost the global projection of Spaniard music.
Among the attendees were Pino Sagliocco, president of Live Nation Spain; José Luis Sevillano, CEO of AIE; Sandra García-Sanjuán, executive president of Grupo Starlite; Claire Immoucha, head of Amazon Music Spain; Mar García, marketing director of Warner Music Spain; Narcis Rebollo, president/CEO of global talent services at Universal; and José María Barbat, president of Sony Music Iberia. Artists like Rosana, Lela Soto, Natalia Lacunza and Álvaro de Luna also joined the event, sharing their thoughts on the present and future of music in Spain.
On Billboard‘s behalf were Leila Cobo, chief content officer for Latin/Español; Pamela Bustios, senior chart and data analyst for Latin/Español; and Marcia Olival, sales director for US Hispanic, LATAM, and Iberia.
“I’ve always said that Billboard is a bridge between Spanish-language music and the Anglo market. We tell these stories to an audience that doesn’t speak Spanish, but also in Spanish, and with Spain, this idea of a bridge is literal,” Cobo emphasized during the event. “Spain has more streams than ever, ticket sales are extraordinary, and it’s the world’s top music tourism destination. We want to amplify what you do, celebrate you, and be part of your story.”
This expansion of Spaniard music beyond its borders is a reality that resonates within the industry. Alicia Arauzo, general manager of Universal Music, highlighted the importance of these networking spaces to continue building international connections. “Without a doubt, these are great initiatives because, in the end, that’s what it’s all about: Spanish artists are going further and further. It’s something that didn’t happen years ago, and it’s fantastic to be able to cross bridges and have our music reach other territories,” she said.
José María Barbat, president of Sony Music Iberia (left) and Bernardo Miranda, vp A&R at Sony Music Iberia during Billboard’s “Líderes de la Música en España” event on March 18, 2025 in Madrid.
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Held at the Ginkgo Sky Bar — with panoramic views of the Royal Palace, the Almudena, and Plaza de España — the gathering served as a space for networking and dialogue about the industry’s challenges and opportunities.
In conversation with Billboard, Melanie Parejo, head of music for Spotify in Southern and Eastern Europe, emphasized Spain’s importance as a key point within the global ecosystem. “Billboard anchors here, in a country that is the gateway to Europe,” she noted. “Spanish-language music is more interconnected than ever. Gen Z doesn’t care if an artist is from Tenerife or Venezuela, and that’s incredibly powerful.”
For attendees, Billboard‘s presence in Spain represents a validation of the market’s growth and international projection. Rosana, one of the invited artists, expressed her gratitude. “Billboard opened its doors to me 15 days after releasing my first album in the U.S. and Latin America. Now that it has decided to come here, all they makes me want to do is make them feel at home,” she said.
From the business side, Blanca Salcedo, general manager of Sony Music Spain, highlighted the importance of the visibility provided by the platform. “I’d love for this to happen more in Spain,” she said. “The digital world has achieved unity and eliminated barriers.”
Attendees listen to Leila Cobo during Billboard’s “Líderes de la Música en España” event on March 18, 2025 in Madrid.
Aldara Zarraoa
For Álvaro de Luna, being part of this celebration was a personal milestone: “Seven years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined being mentioned in anything related to Billboard. It’s a dream.”
The event was made possible thanks to the support of Hotel VP Plaza España Design, Mahou, AIE, Santander SMusic, and Tequila Patrón, which prepared the evening’s special cocktail, the Paloma Patrón.
With “Leaders of Music in Spain,” Billboard continues to bet on strengthening its presence in the country and amplifying the impact of Spanish music globally. “We have total commitment to Spanish-language music, to Spain, and to its industry,” concluded Cobo.
Colombian reggaetón star Ryan Castro has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, the company tells Billboard. Born in Medellín, Castro released his debut album El Cantante del Ghetto, a nod to his journey from street busking to bona fide hitmaker, last year. “Joining Warner Chappell is a big step in my career as an […]
The Latin Recording Academy has announced several major updates to its eligibility guidelines on Wednesday (March 19) for the 26th annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Among the updates is the addition of a new field for visual media and the introduction of two new categories: best music for visual media and best roots song — singles or tracks only, with the latter falling under the traditional field.
These changes aim to reflect the Latin Academy’s “commitment to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape, and to best serve its membership body of music creators and professionals,” as noted in the press release. These updates take effect immediately for the awards scheduled for November.
The category of music for visual media will recognize “original music created to accompany and enrich the storyline of movies, television series, video games and other visual media.” To qualify for this category, a project must either incorporate Latin rhythms that are recognized as eligible genres for the annual Latin Grammy Awards, or be composed by an individual of Ibero-American heritage.
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Meanwhile, the best roots song award will be given to the songwriters of “new, unpublished recordings, both vocal and instrumental, that reflect the traditions and roots of various communities, cultures, or social groups, especially those of Hispanic American origin, whether in Spanish, Portuguese or in indigenous languages or dialects,” notes the release. It will highlight works in genres like tango, folk, flamenco, and other traditional subgenres.
Other amendments include category renaming. In the pop field, “best pop vocal album” will now be called “best contemporary pop album”; in the children’s field, “best Latin children’s album” is being renamed to “best children’s album”; and in the urban field, “best urban fusion/performance” will be named “best urban/urban fusion performance.” The later category will now require 60% urban elements for eligibility, rather than 51%. “Remixes are eligible only if the original version of the song was released within the same eligibility year,” states the official announcement regarding the urban field.
Additionally, the songwriter of the year category reduced its minimum song threshold from six to four, while producer of the year will now undergo screening “by a specialized committee in addition to the membership screening and voting process.”
For more information, visit LatinGRAMMY.com.
Shakira will have her own museum in Mexico and sooner than you think. The pop-up “Shakira Estoy Aquí Experience Mexico City” will open its doors this Friday (March 21) in the Mexican capital.
Located in Roma Norte, on Frontera 88 Street, Shakira’s museum — which celebrates her career through different experiences — will remain open for 10 days (until March 30) with free admission. It coincides with the Mexican leg of the Colombian superstar’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran tour, which kicked off on March 12 in Monterrey, Nuevo León and arrives Wednesday (March 19) at the GNP Seguros Stadium for a historic series of seven concerts at the capital’s venue (formerly known as Foro Sol). It is Shakira’s first visit to the country in almost seven years.
Exclusively for Billboard Español, Juan Martín Salazar, CEO and creative director of 9F, the company in charge of setting up this experience, tells us in detail what fans will be able to find in each room of the exhibition, from costumes to photographs and instruments, and more.
“There’s something very particular about Shakira,” says Salazar, who was featured this month in our “Stars Behind the Stars” franchise for planning creative campaigns for artists that also include Bad Bunny, Karol G and Beyoncé. “There is a difference or in comparison with other artists. It’s that she is very fond of knowing how to play the instruments, so we wanted to elevate that part.”
Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour — in support of her album of the same name — kicked off on Feb. 11 in Brazil and has passed through Peru, Colombia, Chile and Argentina. Following her engagements in Mexico, the artist will begin the North American leg of the stadium tour on May 13 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will make stops in Montreal, Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and other cities, concluding on June 30 in San Francisco. (To see all dates in the U.S. and Canada, click here.)
Below, Salazar describes the new “Shakira Estoy Aquí Experience Mexico City” museum room-by-room:
First Room
Tropical hitmaker Elvis Crespo is back on the Billboard charts as “Nuestra Canción,” with Jerry Rivera, debuts at No. 10 on the Tropical Airplay chart (dated March 22). The new version of his 1998 track marks his return to the ranking’s top 10 after more than five years.
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“I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to experience this new life and feel the love of radio” Crespo tells Billboard upon his first top 10 since 2019. “Being back and sharing a song with an artist like Jerry Rivera is an honor that fills me with emotion, due to the respect and admiration I have for him. Without a doubt, this new chapter begins in an incredible way.”
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“Nuestra Canción” debuts at No. 10 on Tropical Airplay with 2 million audience impressions registered in the U.S. during the March 7-13 tracking week, according to Luminate. It gives Crepo his first top 10 since 2019 and 34th overall.
For Rivera, the collab brings rewarding results. He achieves his third top 10 so far in 2025. Previously, “Te Buscare” peaked at No. 8 in February. Meanwhile, “Volver a Enamorarnos” matches his previous best at No. 8 high and meets “Nuestra Canción” in this week’s top 10. Overall, the Puerto Rican amasses 35 top 10s spanning four decades of career entries, dating back to his first top 10, “Me Estoy Enloqueciendo Por Ti” in 1994. (No. 2 high).
The New York-born, Puerto Rican-raised vocalist first came to prominence with the 1999 hit “Suavemente,” which held strong at the summit on Tropical Airplay for nine consecutive weeks then. That same year, he broke the barriers as one of merengue’s most successful singer-songwriters, placing two other radio top 10s, including the five-week ruler “Tu Sonrisa.”
Crespo followed suit in 1999, positioning four other songs on the tally. While he spent one week at No. 1 with “El Cuerpo Me Pide” with Victor Manuelle, seven-week champ “Píntame” earned him a first Grammy for best merengue performance that same year.
Among those four ranked Tropical Airplay songs, “Nuestra Canción,” composed by Homero D’ Rodríguez, took him to a No. 17 high in April 1999. The song was the fourth single from Crespo’s debut studio album Suavemente, his first No. 1 on Top Latin Albums, which also gave him his first appearance on the all-genre Billboard 200 in 1999, where it remained for 43 weeks.
The new version of “Nuestra Canción” is composed by Crespo and Francisco “Pulpo” Barbosa. It has already become a new favorite across tropical stations. The song will become available across digital platforms on March 20 as announced by Crespo on TikTok.
While Crespo’s resurgence on Tropical Airplay earns him a 35th top 10 overall, Rivera enters a tie with Prince Royce for the fourth-most top 10s since the tally launched in 1994, both with 35 top 10s. They trail only Victor Manuelle (65 top 10s), Marc Anthony (57) and Gilberto Santa Rosa (37).
Crespo’s new achievement sets as the Puerto Rican prepares for his Poeta Herío Tour, which begins at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico on June 21.
Natti Natasha isn’t taking for granted working alongside Romeo Santos for her latest album, Natti Natasha en Amargue, entirely produced and penned by the Aventura frontman. “It’s a balance of hard work, giving the best of me and good luck,” the Dominican artist tells Billboard‘s Leila Cobo about how the opportunity came about. Released in […]
Natti Natasha has returned with a bachata-filled album, Natti Natasha en Amargue. The Dominican singer shares why it took her so long to release the album, working with Romeo Santos as her composer and producer on the new project, recounts the story of Romeo Santos nearly dying on set during the music video shoot for […]
Carín León expands his radio reach with his third No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “El Amor De Mi Herida” rises 2-1 on the March 22-dated list. The song also adds a second week atop the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and […]