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Don Omar’s Back to Reggaetón tour made a remarkable stop at New York’s Barclays Center on Saturday night (March 9), showcasing the undiminished prowess of the Puerto Rican legend. His performance, filled with energy and nostalgia, underlined his title as the King of Reggaetón, engaging the audience with a mix of his greatest hits and a captivating stage presence.
The Back to Reggaetón U.S. tour, produced by CMN, marks his much-awaited return to the stage, celebrating two decades of influential hits that have cemented his status as a global superstar. The tour, which launched in Reading, Pennsylvania, on March 7, will also include stops in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, and Houston.
The stage was set ablaze with reggeatón pioneer DJ Nelson behind the turntables, featuring classics that took the audience on a journey through the genre’s history. He kicked off with his own hit, reggaetón’s breakthrough “Vengo Acabando,” originally also sung with Alberto Stylee. He also spun “Noche de Travesuras” by Nicki Jam, “Lo Que Pasó Pasó” by Daddy Yankee, “Yo Voy” by Zion & Lennox, “Saoco” by Wisin, and “Tusa” by Karol G with Nicki Minaj, priming the crowd for the main event.
Don Omar’s entrance was a spectacle in itself, with a gigantic, rotating skull serving as his dramatic lift onto the stage. The audience erupted into a standing ovation as he appeared, his figure accentuated by a striking black snakeskin trench coat trimmed with red fur, and rocking his iconic cornrows. His performance was both a homage to reggaetón’s legacy and a celebration of his monumental career.
He ran through two-hours of bangers such as “Salió El Sol,” “Hasta Abajo” and “Dile.” “Pobre Diabla’ is a hit because of this city in the U.S., he shouted after performing it. “This song means New York to me,” he told the crowd.
Here are five best moments at Don Omar at Barclays Center.
A Post-Apocalyptic Spectacle
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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Alicia Villarreal visits inmates in Mexico
For International Women’s Day, Mexican singer Alicia Villarreal paid a special visit to female inmates at a women’s reintegration center in Guadalajara, Jalisco. There, she spent around three hours touring new installments, including a library, a chapel and workstations, and gave an empowering speech. She also performed for the inmates two of her greatest hits: “Te Quedó Grande La Yegua” and “Te Aprovechas.”
Karol G is Woman of the Year
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The Colombian hitmaker was honored with Woman of the Year at the Billboard Women in Music event on Wednesday (March 6). After receiving the award from Colombian actor and producer Sofía Vergara, Karol went on to give a passionate acceptance speech. “In the midst of my desire, in the midst of wanting to make music even if it was just for me, I decided that if my environment did not change, I was the one who had to change and I was the one who was going to do it,” Karol said. “And that I wasn’t going to let being a woman be an obstacle or define my capabilities, but that it was going to be my strength, it was going to be my motive and my reason.”
She also performed a salsa version of her hit song “Amargura.” See her performance here.
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Girl-power anthems
In the spirit of Women’s History Month, Billboard has compiled a list of the best Latin female anthems. From Jenni Rivera’s “Ovarios” to Shakira’s Bizarrap session and Paulina Rubio’s’ “Yo No Soy Esa Mujer,” these are the songs that continue to make us feel empowered. The list includes impactful songs across different music genres that may have marked a before and after in the artist’s career but also became a timeless staple for their fans. See the list here.
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Carlos Vives’ special award
The Colombian singer-songwriter will be honored with this year’s ASCAP Founders Award, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced. “Carlos has led a new generation of Latin artists bringing Colombian music sounds to music fans around the world,” said Paul Williams, ASCAP chairman of the board and president, in a statement. “His talent and passion for Latin music and culture are unmatched. His accomplishments have paved the way for so many others and we are thrilled to present him with our highest honor, the ASCAP Founders Award.”
The presentation of the award will take place April 2 at the 2024 El Premio ASCAP in Miami, an invitation-only event that celebrates this year’s ASCAP Latin Music Award winners.
The Montreux Jazz Festival Miami is a wrap
The Montreux Jazz Festival Miami — headlined and co-owned by Jon Batiste — made its grand debut at The Hangar in Coconut Grove on March 1. The three-day festival included sets by Cuban musician Cimafunk, Emily Estefan — daughter of Gloria and Emilio Estefan — Daryl Hall, Cuban piano legend Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and The Wailers, among many more. Special guest appearances included Brazilian chanteuse Lia de Itamaracá, who performed alongside Batiste marking her first-ever set outside of Brazil. And Will Smith, who had a cameo rap performance.
Bad Bunny is a bonafide hitmaker who has the numbers to prove it. The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio turns 30 years old tomorrow (March 10) and in celebration, Billboard has compiled all of his 14 songs to have topped the Hot Latin Songs chart. The chart ranks the most popular Latin songs of the week, blending airplay, […]
This week, Billboard‘s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — feature fresh new releases from artists like Eden Muñoz, Young Miko, Thalía, and more. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In their first collaborative effort, Thalia and Ángela Aguilar […]
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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Edén Muñoz, Fuerza Regida, “Money Edition” (Sony Music Entertainment México)
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Edén Muñoz and Fuerza Regida electrify in their joint single, “Money Edition,” a corrido that encapsulates the essence of triumph and the realization of the Mexican American dream. A bold declaration of success, the song blends Muñoz’s melodic prowess with JOP’s dynamic energy to create an exhilarating track over vibrant guitars and soaring trumpets. Lyrics like “Perdón, amá, si le fallé / Ando persiguiendo el sueño” showcase a journey of perseverance and the relentless pursuit of wealth, framed by a cultural narrative that champions the fearless chase of one’s dreams against all odds. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Young Miko, “Curita” (The Wave Music Group)
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Steering away from her saucy trap sound, Young Miko delivers a mid-tempo reggaetón groove backed by an infectious piano melody in “Curita.” Meaning “bandage” in English, the Puerto Rican artist sings about curing the girl she likes over the Mauro and Jota Rosa-produced track: “I know you just broke up/and that’s why I came when you called/today I’ll make sure you forget him.” Miko premiered “curita” at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music event on Thursday (March 7), where she received the Impact Award. The melodic single is part of her forthcoming debut studio album, att. — JESSICA ROIZ
Thalia & Ángela Aguilar, “Troca” (Sony Music Latin)
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Thalia has teamed up with Ángela Aguilar for a fun and playful collaboration called “Troca,” which is slang for “truck.” The song features a blend of acoustic guitars and both the pop star and Regional Mexican singer’s high, sweet, dreamy vocals. Marking the third single off of Thalia’s A Mucha Honra album, the lyrics encourage women to break free from traditional norms and express their sensuality subtly and innocently. “Lend me your lips for just a moment/ And if you don’t like them, my love, I’ll return them to you,” they sing in the chorus. — INGRID FAJARDO
Alex Ubago, “Si Es Por Los Dos” (Warner Music Spain)
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Spanish singer-songwriter Alex Ubago remains faithful to his essence with his latest single “Si Es Por Los Dos” (“If it’s for both of us”). With the romantic pop ballad and his signature voice, Ubago declares that he will not hold back on all the efforts he can make to win back the person he loves. “If it’s for both of us, I surrender to luck/ I apologize for not being the strongest/ I’m dying to see you again in my life/ When you’re not there, the fall hurts more” he sings in the heartfelt chorus. Additionally, to commemorate two decades of musical career, the Spanish artist will take his 20 Years Tour to the United States in the month of April, visiting cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Houston. — LUISA CALLE
Ivonne Galaz, Tania Dominguez, Estilo Sin Limite, NXNNI & Designó Celestial, “Fumar Beber” (Rancho Humilde)
Nothing screams “girl power” on this International Women’s Day quite like this epic team-up from emerging regional Mexican acts. In a genre that continues to be dominated by male artists, “Fumar Beber” is a breath of fresh air with women taking the lead on an electro-corrido — one of the trends fueling música mexicana’s global takeover. The track starts off with prickly guitar notes that lead into a head-bobbing, club-ready beat, which powers the entirety of the song. “Smoking, drinking, don’t call me anymore I don’t want to see you/ Yes, you’re my ex but you’ve fallen and I won’t pick you up,” the artists — rising corrido and/or sierreño acts — sing defiantly. — GRISELDA FLORES
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Just after performing a fascinating salsa version of “Amargura,” Karol G took center stage at YouTube Theater on Wednesday (March 6) to accept her award for Woman of the Year at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
Colombian actor and producer Sofía Vergara presented Karol — who made her acting debut alongside Vergara in Netflix’s Griselda earlier this year — with the special award.
Here’s Karol’s full speech, with everything after the first paragraph translated from Spanish to English.
“First of all, it’s an amazing surprise that Sofía Vergara is giving me this award, I love it. Buenas noches a todos. I’m super honored to be here today. Oh my God, [this] might be the most significant and important recognition of all my career, this is super special. This is Woman of the Year but this is the first time ever a Latina is named the Woman of the Year. So, I have to give my speech in Spanish, of course.
“Well, this is Women in Music so I’m going to talk about us. I have to start first by telling you that for years and years I lived very disappointed with the fact of being a woman. I found myself on the road with so many rejections and so many lost opportunities. Because of that, I wondered why I was not born a man to exploit all this love, this desire and passion I felt for music. Where would all this desire I had to eat the world have gone if it was assumed that as a woman I could not achieve it? For a long time I believed that story. I believed that this was not for me. So many times I was told that I could not make it and I always think of the number of people who leave their dreams behind and leave their dreams aside for that reason, for the perception of others but not for the real dream they have and the desire they have inside. In the midst of my desire, in the midst of wanting to make music even if it was just for me, I decided that if my environment did not change, I was the one who had to change and I was the one who was going to do it. And that I wasn’t going to let being a woman be an obstacle or define my capabilities, but that it was going to be my strength, it was going to be my motive and my reason. And every time I was told no, I found the strength and the desire and everything I needed to say, yes I can. In my mind I changed the ‘a woman can’t do it’ to ‘look at this woman how she does it, look how a woman does it.’
“Three fundamental things happened in order for me to be here tonight. One, I stopped trying to be perfect for everyone. I accepted myself as a person, actually it was something that took me a long time, to accept myself as a woman, as a person, to stop hiding the things that for people were a defect and that probably now are all my qualities. Number two, I completely ignored and still completely ignore the comments of, ‘she owes it to this one,’ or ‘it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for this person’ or ‘because she recorded with this other one,’ or ‘she did it because she gave it to that one.’ The eagerness to find justifications for the achievements and successes of a woman, mmm no. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone when you know how much you have killed yourself to achieve everything you have achieved in life. And number three, I understood that it was not the respect of others that I had to earn but respect for myself. To work hard to the point where I could see myself and admire the person I had become. Studying, working, working on my voice, being clear about what I wanted to communicate. How I wanted to connect with people, improve my lyrics, spend many hours in the studio. To really prepare myself to be the best and when I would see myself, I would say, wow, she’s tough, how great, and that’s the respect you have to look for.
“I look back now, all the time it has taken me to be here, 16 years, and I feel very at peace with myself because I followed my heart, [you] follow your heart. I see the process, I wouldn’t take anything away. All the things, from the most beautiful to the most difficult, I am grateful today and they have made me the person I am. I don’t see pain, I see a lot of opportunities created, I see learning, I see goals achieved and a lot of hearts inspired. That is the coolest award I can receive, I love you. Really, thank you.
“Today, as I receive this award, I want to say [to myself] Karol G you’re incredible, congratulations. This is not only for me. I want to thank all the people, all the women who also work every day, who also open a path that we are not aware of, all those who have been working. To the women who work in my team, there are a lot of them. And to the women who are coming in the future, who are also working very hard already. I didn’t want to stand here and say all the things that I have done, I’m really just standing here to say that just like I did, all of you can do it too. And never, never give someone else the authority to decide on your own decisions, to say whether something you are doing is bad or good, has value or has no value. No one can put value on you as a person, not as a woman, not as a professional. It is you yourself who works for it, sweats for it, gets it and earns it. And, how chimba [great] that they gave me [the award] this year. Thank you, Billboard, I love you all.”
A barefoot Karol G performed a riveting salsa version of “Amargura” at Billboard Women in Music on Wednesday (March 6) at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. And, as she promised during her interview with Billboard on the red carpet, her performance got people on their feet dancing along with her — including Katy Perry.
“Hi, everyone! For this special night I chose what I think is the favorite song of all of you, my fans,” Karol said speaking into a microphone stand that had a Colombian flag wrapped around it. “Not the most popular, but I know it’s your favorite. I brought so many talented girls with me to do a special version that represents my roots and my Latin community, and I want everyone to enjoy it.”
Wearing a white flowy two-piece that encouraged her free-spirited performance, Karol sang live and danced up a storm with an all-girl salsa band (13 musicians in total) in tow, including Emily Estefan (Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s daughter) on percussion. The women in the band were also dressed in white, many wearing the long, traditional Colombian cumbia skirts. Karol’s salsa number was arranged and produced by Sergio George along with her longtime musical director Rob Trujillo.
Karol G — who received the Woman of the Year Award – closed out the ceremony, which also included performances by Victoria Monet, NewJeans, Maren Morris, Young Miko and more.
It’s not the first time Karol was honored at Billboard Women in Music. In 2022, the Colombian hitmaker received the Rulebreaker award and performed “El Barco.” Since then, Karol has had a year of career-defining moments, including a history-making album (Mañana Será Bonito), became the first Latina to ever embark on a stadium tour in the United States, headlined Lollapalooza and, most recently, won her first Grammy.
“I’m super honored to be here today,” Karol said after accepting her Woman of the Year award from Sofía Vergara. “Oh my God, it might be the most significant and important recognition of all my career, this is super special.”
Watch Karol G’s performance above, and her acceptance speech below:
On Wednesday night (March 6), Luísa Sonza captivated audiences with a sweet rendition of “Chico,” debuting its English version interlaced with some original Portuguese lyrics. This tender bossa nova was performed for the first time in English at the 2024 Billboard Women In Music Awards, held at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif.
Clad in a chic black vest and matching low-rise slacks — her blond hair stylishly tied back into a ponytail and her lips painted a striking red — the Brazilian music sensation gracefully shifted from her mellifluous tune to a more vibrant performance. Backed by blazing images on screens, the energy in the room surged when Demi Lovato made a surprise appearance, joining Sonza onstage for their “Penhasco2” duet. This collaboration added an unforgettable flair to the evening, creating a mesmerizing moment with the night’s honored Global Force.
Sonza made history as the only Brazilian artist honored at the event.
“What the f— is happening here, guys? Oh my God!” Sonza said as she received her award. “First of all, thank you Demi Lovato for [joining] me. I’m a Brazilian singer, I mostly sing in Portuguese, so this is so crazy, and I’m so nervous right now.”
Then she continued to read her speech: “First of all, I wanna say thank you to the woman who inspired me in my life, my mom. I wanna say thank you to my grandma, my manager Fátima, and everyone on my team who makes being here possible. This is crazy. I’m from a small town in Brazil with 6,000 people, and I started my music journey singing in a wedding band when I was 7 years old, and I never, never thought I would be here tonight.
“Even here, this is too much for me, I can’t handle,” she added in amusement. “Thank you so much, Billboard, for seeing and recognizing women, this is amazing, this is so important. But tonight, I want to say thank you, especially to Brazilian women, this is the first time someone from Brazil is being recognized for this award. So I want to dedicate this award to Brazilian artists, songwriters and producers, thank you so much. Karol G, a songwriter, all my fans, ¡Muito obrigado, Brasil! And this is just the beginning.”
The new English version of “Chico” officially premieres Thursday (March 7) across all streaming platforms.
Watch Luísa Sonza and Demi Lovato perform onstage together at Billboard Women In Music above and her acceptance speech below.
Maluma is turning up the heat for his new Playgirl digital cover shoot. The cover story, cheekily noting that Maluma “wants to be your daddy,” plays into the innuendo given that the Colombian superstar is about to be a father. The singer and his longtime girlfriend Susana Gómez announced that they are expecting their first […]
Google is celebrating the late legendary Mexican ranchera icon Lola Beltrán with an animated Doodle on her 92nd birthday Thursday, March 7.
In the purple-hued illustration of Beltrán, she is elegantly presented with her hair in a bun adorned with a flower, and large earrings while singing into a microphone. Known for her monumental role in popularizing ranchera and huapango music globally, Beltrán stands among the most venerated Mexican singers of all time.
Born María Lucila Beltrán Ruiz in El Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico, her journey to stardom began in the 1950s and 1960s, a period celebrated as the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
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Before fame, “Her church choir inspired her love of singing and she became obsessed with ballads,” reads the About the Doodle section. “In 1953, Beltrán and her mother moved to Mexico City to pursue her career as a singer. After getting a job as a popular radio station’s secretary, Beltrán earned the chance to participate in an on-air singing contest. She didn’t just win — the producers were so impressed that they helped her secure a recording contract. Beltrán started to cover popular songs on air and even earned her own radio show, but she had bigger dreams.”
This victory launched her onto a path of success, culminating in approximately 100 album releases, such as Alma Cancionera de México (1960) and Joyas (1969), and starring roles in 50 films, including La Desconocida (1954) and Canción del Alma (1963).
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Beltrán’s influence extended beyond music to acting, earning her widespread acclaim and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Notably, she was the first ranchera singer to grace the stage of the prestigious El Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, and performed for numerous world leaders.
Her interpretations of “Cucurrucucú Paloma” and “Paloma Negra” have become enduring standards. Beyond her artistic talents, Beltrán’s distinctive style and stage presence made her a fashion icon and emblem of Mexican cultural pride.
Beltrán’s legacy continued to flourish until her death in 1996 due to a pulmonary embolism.
Through its Doodle, Google aligns Beltrán’s tribute with past honorees such as Tito Puente, Raoul A. Cortez and Diana Sacayán.