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As she continues the North American leg of her Celebration Tour, Madonna is currently holding court in Miami for her three-day takeover (April 6, 7, and 9) at the Kaseya Center. During Sunday night’s show (April 7), the Queen of Pop surprised her fans with a special guest and good friend, Ricky Martin. Explore See […]
Brazilian superstar Anitta announced her Funk Generation Tour on Monday morning (April 8), a global swing that includes her first-ever North American trek.
The tour, which includes mostly theaters, will have Anitta will play over 20 dates in total, beginning on May 18 in Mexico and including stops in Los Angeles (Wiltern Theater), New York (Brooklyn Paramount) and Miami (The Fillmore), for a total of seven North American dates. Tickets for U.S. dates will be available starting on Tuesday (April 9) via presales with Citi and Verizon. General onsale for the U.S., Europe and the UK will begin April 12 at 10 a.m. local time at anitta.com. Mexico and South American dates go on sale April 11 at 10 a.m.
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The tour, produced by Live Nation, will also include stops in South America and wrap up with a swing through Europe. See the full list of cities and dates below.
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The fact that this will be Anitta’s first bona fide tour outside Brazil may surprise fans, as the singer seems to be everywhere all at once. In 2022, she became the first female Brazilian act to perform at Coachella, and at the end of 2023 she headlined TikTok’s in the Mix, playing for 17,000 fans at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. She also closed out the year with her hit “Bellakeo” alongside Peso Pluma, which has spent 14 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 53.
The tour will follow the release of Anitta’s new album, Funk Generation, due out on April 26 via Republic Records/Universal Music Latin Entertainment.
Funk Generation follows Anitta’s three-track bundle, Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story, which was released in 2023 as a precursor to the new album.
Funk Generation Tour
May 18 — Mexico City, MX @Salon LA
May 21 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
May 23 — Miami Beach, FL @ Fillmore
May 26 — Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live
May 28 — Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway
May 29 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
June 1 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
June 2 — New York, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
June 7 — Bogota, Colombia @ Lourdes Music Hall
June 9 — Lima, Peru @ CCB
June 14 — Santiago, Chile @ Basel
June 16 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Vorterix
June 25 — Berlin, Germany @ Metropol
June 26 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
June 28 — London, UK @ O2 Kentish Town Forum
June 29 — Paris, France @ Elysee Montmartre
July 1 — Ibiza, Spain @ Pacha
July 3 — Madrid, Spain @ Sala La Riviera
July 4 — Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz
July 7 — Milan, Italy @ Fabrique
July 8 — Ibiza, Spain @ Pacha
After two weeks of sharing social media snippets of rehearsals, vocal coaching, training and bits of her daily life, Emilia kicked off the first of 10 sold-out dates at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires on Saturday (April 6) as part of her .mp3 tour.
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Dressed in pink, Emilia took the stage performing “Exclusive.mp3,” inviting fans to engage in a great night that included special guests, an elevated catwalk that allowed her to cross the entire arena to reach a secondary stage, three screens, four costume changes, 12 dancers and fireworks.
The set design followed the aesthetic line of her album .mp3, with pink and violet dominating the color scheme, and it was full of details that harked back to her teen years in the 2000s — with stuffed animals, microphones and even a desk to simulate her bedroom.
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Below are some highlights.
Women Open the Show
In a first for Argentina, an artist partnered with a platform to select all-female opening acts. In this case Emilia worked with Spotify EQUAL to choose five artists to open her concerts, strengthening her commitment to developing acts. Connie Isla was picked for the first two dates, and she will be followed by Yami Safdie, Clara Cava, Mora Navarro and Malena Villa.
One of 10 Sold-Out Dates
The concert was produced and promoted by Fenix Entertainment, and it is worth recalling that when tickets went on sale in December 2023, 10 dates sold out for the same venue, Buenos Aires’ Movistar Arena, in just 10 hours. Given the on-sale success, two more dates were added at the Vélez Sarsfield Stadium for Oct. 12 and 13. In Argentina, the tour will also go to different provinces, including Córdoba, Mendoza and Salta.
Getting Intimate With Fans
At one point during the concert, Emilia, while walking from one stage to another, took the opportunity to speak earnestly to the audience about her connection with women in the industry and her concerns over social media bullying. “I’m trying to find my own voice. I love seeing how those present identify with my music just as I identify with a lot of female artists that inspire me and that I love. But it also makes me so angry when they compare us. It’s exhausting,” she said, referring to constant social media comparisons with other female Argentine artists. “Too much is demanded of us standing here on stage. Enough comparing us. Rather, join with us,” said Emilia.
Duki and Other Guests
While Emilia performed at boyfriend Duki’s concert last year, this time he came to Emilia’s stage to perform “Como Si No Importara” together. It was an intimate moment in which she gave him a kiss and thanked him for “a healthy love.” Also present later were Tiago PZK and Nicki Nicole for “Una Foto” and Callejero Fino for “En La Intimidad.” Emilia also performed “Rápido Lento” with Tiago PZK, and ensemble track “Los Del Espacio” with FMK, Duki and Tiago PZK.
Emilia’s Parents Were in Attendance
Emotions ran high late in the show when Emilia could not hold back tears while performing “Guerrero.mp3,” a song dedicated to her father while he was sick. Fans in the crowd could see her father, visibly excited, sitting in the front row next to her mother. “I want to thank my dad for being my greatest inspiration and for being my example of courage. I love you,” the singer said.
Gilberto Santa Rosa brought his class and elegance to New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Saturday (April 6), where he made it clear once more why he is considered El Caballero de la Salsa (The Gentleman of Salsa).
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Accompanied by a stellar orchestra of 15 musicians — including brasses, keyboards, strings, percussion, and backup singers — the Puerto Rican icon delighted a mostly Latino audience in New York City with classics from his repertoire such as “Derroche,” “Conciencia,” “Conteo Regresivo” and “Perdóname.”
He also performed a set of boleros, which he introduced with an anecdote told with his characteristic grace and charm.
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“My life has gone between bolero and salsa, and I say it in that order because the first thing I started singing was bolero,” he remembered. “I started singing bolero because I suffered a very strong love disappointment… at the age of 6,” Santa Rosa continued, making the audience burst in laughter.
With the idea of winning over a girl, he said, the singer teamed up with a buddy who also sang and played the guitar.
“I thought, ‘When I start singing, that girl is going to go crazy for me’. Well, guess what? I went out to sing on the first school program that I could, and the girl didn’t even look at me. But she gave me a profession, and thanks to that, you and us we are here tonight.”
On his third occasion at the Radio City Music Hall, this time as part of his Auténtico Tour, Santa Rosa recalled his long history with New York City, where he began playing as a teenager in the 1980s at the Corso nightclub as part of Willie Rosario’s orchestra, and where he recorded his iconic 1995 live album En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall.
“Tonight we come to give you everything here at Radio City Music Hall, which is an iconic place in New York City and the United States,” he said with a smile. “This is our third time on this stage and we are happy about that.”
One of the most joyful moments was led by conguero Gerardo Rivas, a former member of the musical duo NG2 who also has a solo career as a singer. The son of Jerry Rivas from El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Gerardo momentarily left the congas to take center stage, where he first sang “Suma y Resta” with Santa Rosa — who originally recorded this song with El Micha — and then a track from his own repertoire, “Happy”, which got everyone dancing.
The orchestra, whose talent was matched by their grace and elegance, includes veteran musicians such as musical director and trombonist Georgie Torres, pianist Luis Marín, bongo player Rafael Echeverría, backup singer Gino Ramírez and trumpeter Rebeca Zambrana, many of whom have been playing with Santa Rosa for decades. They all spread their enthusiasm with amusing choreographies, and Santa Rosa took the time to introduce each one of them with great affection and admiration.
With an uninterrupted and successful decades-long career, Gilberto Santa Rosa continues to be one of the undisputed references of salsa. His Auténtico Tour began last year in Puerto Rico and arrived in South America in February. His U.S. stint continues next week in Charlotte, N.C., and also includes stops in cities such as El Paso, Houston, and Dallas, before moving on to Europe. (For a full list of dates, click here).
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.
“Ferxxo The Green Man”
Feid has blessed fans with his very first comic book in partnership with Marvel. Titled “Ferxxo The Green Man,” the Colombian hitmaker unveiled the project at a pop-up in Tokyo, Japan on April 6 at the Small Planet Marvel store in Shinjuku.
According to an official description of the comic book, “The Green Man” is “enthralling narrative intertwining the elements of fantasy, personal struggle, and the journey towards self-discovery, set against the vibrant backdrop of Medellin, Colombia.” Inspired by true events, the book explores themes of empowerment, identity, and the “pursuit of one’s destiny amidst adversity.” It also captures Feid’s evolution from “a hopeful musician to a powerful individual capable of confronting and overcoming deceit and manipulation reflects a broader narrative of self-discovery and resilience.”
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The limited edition comic book is available now at Feid’s official website FERXXOP.COM.
Universal Music’s Jesús López gets special honor
Just a day after receiving the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts by the King and Queen of Spain, Jesús López, chairman/CEO of Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula, was celebrated by his colleagues and the artists he’s worked closely in his 45 years in the industry. The private ceremony, held April 4, included performances by Universal Music artists including David Bisbal, Rosario Flores, Joaquina and Lola Índigo, among others.
“Becoming the first Spanish record executive to receive this recognition has a double meaning for me, on the one hand the personal and family pride and gratitude and on the other hand that the work of so many record executives is rewarded by the Spanish cultural world,” López previously said in a statement after receiving the medal. “I thank all the artists, composers, producers and colleagues in the different labels I have worked with and continue to work with for their support and care, without them this recognition would never have been a reality.”
Rosario Flores & Jesús López
Universal Music Spain
Florentino Primera confirms upcoming new album
Florentino Primera, of the iconic Venezuelan brother duo Servando y Florentino, is working on an upcoming new album. The singer-songwriter, who has penned songs for artists like Marc Anthony and Chayanne, recently signed a global publishing deal with peermusic. News of him working on a new album comes on the heels of Servando y Florentino’s return to the stage alongside Karol G, who invited the brothers to her March 22 show in Caracas, Venezuela. There, the three performed “De Sol a Sol” in front of more than 50,000 people at the Monumental Simón Bolívar de La Rinconada Stadium.
Capitán Avispa buzzing at a cinema near you
On Friday, Juan Luis Guerra released Captain Wasp Original Motion Soundtrack with 41 original tracks composed and arranged by the Dominican maestro, the collection includes new versions of his hits “La Gallera,” “Bachata Rosa,” “Las Avispas” and “Bachata en Fukuoka,” as well as instrumental themes and songs especially created for the project.
Directed by his son, Jean Gabriel Guerra, and Jonathan Meléndez, the cast of Capitán Avispa is comprised of Luis Fonsi as, Capitán Avispa, the hero of the story and Joy Huerta (of Jesse & Joy) as Princess Honey Bee. Also, Juanes gives voice to Sargento Picadura, and the Colombian rocker’s wife, actress Karen Martínez, plays Ximena Colmena. Dominican actor José Guillermo Cortinez lends his voice to the villain Jacques Puasón, and Dominican actress Amelia Vega — Miss Universe 2003, as well as Juan Luis Guerra’s niece — voices Polibya Néctar.
Capitán Avispa opened in theaters in the Dominican Republic on April 4. In the coming weeks, it will reach more than 34 countries under international distribution of Caribbean Films Distributions. For now, listen to the soundtrack here.
2024 Latin American Music Awards Performers
TelevisaUnivision announced its first round of performers for the upcoming ceremony, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas via Univision, UNIMÁS, Galavision and ViX on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. ET.
Peso Pluma, one of the night’s most nominated artist with 12 nods, is set to perform during the ceremony. Other performers include Gabito Ballesteros, Yng Lvcas, Farruko and Justin Quiles, among others.
Co-hosted by Thalía, Alejandra Espinoza and Carlos Ponce, this year’s awards ceremony will celebrate the theme “We Speak Música.” See the complete list of performers here.
Blink-182 fans in Mexico held on to hope that the rock band’s bassist, Mark Hoppus, could overcome his health problems and perform the concerts scheduled for this weekend in the capital city. However, the medical diagnosis said otherwise and the cancellation was inevitable: Out of a total of four performances, they were only able to offer one.
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“Dear fans, sadly, Blink-182 shows on April 5 and 6 at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City have been cancelled due to illness,” said promoter Ocesa in a statement on Friday (April 5), two days after the trio also comprised by Tom DeLonge (vocals and guitar) and Travis Barker (drums), had already canceled one performance after offering an energetic show the previous night (April 2) at the same venue, which represented their long-awaited return to the country after a 20-year absence.
“We don’t take canceling lightly. We know people booked flights, hotels, made plans, got babysitters… We had multiple lengthy discussions all morning within the band, with promoters, managers. We tried moving the date, tried every possible solution, but this is the reality. We appreciate your understanding and support,” Hoppus wrote on his Discord account on Wednesday.
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“For me and my illness, I have seen a doctor here and talked to my doctor back home. I am on multiple medications and have been in bed the past three days except to go to the show, and yesterday I was hoping it was just allergies… Saw docs, was told I had an acute infection in my throat and severe bronchitis. Got on meds immediately with the kind help of the local promoters and have been on treatment,” added the bassist, who fought a battle with cancer in 2021.
Promoter Ocesa said in a statement on Friday that refunds will be issued to ticket-holders of the cancelled shows. They said that for users who bought tickets online the refund will automatically be refunded on the card with which the purchase was made. If the purchase was made at the box office or Ticketmaster centers, refunds can be requested starting Monday (April 8) at the place of purchase.
In mid-2021, Hoppus revealed that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. Months later, he declared on Instagram that he was “cancer free”. Last weekend, Blink-182 performed at the 2024 Pa’l Norte Festival held in Monterrey, Mexico, in front of an audience of 85,000 in a moment that Hoppus shared on the same social network.
Puerto Rican rapper Tempo (real name David Sánchez Badillo) is a free man, according to a spokesperson for the wordsmith. After a 22-year stint of incarceration and parole, the hip-hop, reggaetón and trap artist “returns to full freedom,” stated a press release shared with Billboard on Friday (April 5). In 2014, he concluded an 11-year […]
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.
Camilo & Carin León, “Una Vida Pasada” (Sony Music Latin/Hecho A Mano)
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Leave it to Camilo to get Carin Leon to sing salsa music for the first time. In “Una Vida Pasada,” the Colombian pop star and the música mexicana sensation (who previously collaborated on “Ni Me Debes, Ni Te Debo”) sing about a love so strong that comes from a past life, but unfortunately, can’t be together. “Tell me why if we were meant for each other/ How do you pretend to forget the love of you life?” they ask in part of the lyrics. Musically, the song is a captivating salsa, where Camilo even flaunts his trombone-playing skills. “Una Vida Pasada” is part of Camilo’s experimental three-track EP dos, where he also dips his toes in the pambiche merengue genre (“Autodiagnóstico”) and traditional vallenato (“En Tus Sueños o En Los Míos”). The set comes on the heels of uno, which includes “PLIS,” his feel-good, romantic salsa tune with his wife and artist Evaluna Montaner. — JESSICA ROIZ
Santa Fe Klan & Nicky Jam, “Una Raya Más” (Cuatro Siete Tres/Sony Music Latin)
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A departure from Santa Fe Klan’s hip-hop roots, the Mexican rapper dives into a reggaetón-pop sound — a nod to his collaborator Nicky Jam, who is known for his melodic and poetic approach to reggaetón. While the song’s beat may be softer, Santa doesn’t hold back his rapid-fire verses about a love story that turns into a nightmare, with betrayal and deception. Meanwhile, Nicky Jam — whose melodic vocals offer a contrast to Santa’s raw rap skills — sings emotionally about the complexities of heartbreak. — GRISELDA FLORES
Morat, “Faltas Tú” (Universal Music Spain)
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In their new single “Faltas Tú” (“Only You Are Missing”), Colombian boyband Morat immerses us in a nostalgic atmosphere in sound and visuals, as they explore the theme of missing a loved one. The pop-rock track at times evokes the distinctive vintage sound of ’70s rock classics, driven by electric guitar, with vocals wrapped in reverb effects and captivating melodies. “To start the season of our fifth album, we leave you a song that represents the new sound, the new aesthetic, and the new attitude. See you at the concert, ‘Sólo Faltas Tú (only you’re missing)’”, the says said in a statement about the release. The music video, filmed in Mexico, complements the song’s themes by showing incomplete elements, such as a hot dog without the meat and Paris without the Eiffel Tower, while the band members travel and perform in a retro silver Airstream trailer. — LUISA CALLE
Aventura, “Brindo Con Agua”
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With haunting sincerity, Aventura’s “Brindo Con Agua” delves into the stark realities of alcoholism, domestic strife, and familial anguish. Instead of Romeo Santos taking the lead, Henry Santos fronts the bachata song, navigating its emotional depths against nylon guitar plucks and bongo rhythms. “Always when I drink I think I’m Superman/ And I want everything in my house to be done my way/ I came home drunk one night/ And in front of my children I grabbed my wife,” he sings with raw intensity. As Henry grapples with his inner demons, Romeo intervenes as a beacon of reason midway through the song, urging him to reclaim his life.
Channeling the essence of amargue music (bachata’s original name), this single marks Aventura’s grand return since 2021’s “Volví” with Bad Bunny. In February, Romeo Santos revealed that he was reuniting with Aventura for their final tour, called Cerrando Ciclos, which will kick off on May 1 in Sacramento, Calif. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Sheila E., Bailar (Stiletto Flats)
For her first salsa album, Sheila E. recruited great legends of Latin and tropical music, such as Gloria Estefan, Rubén Blades and Gilberto Santa Rosa. The “Queen of Timbal” presents 10 songs mostly of classical salsa that will make the listener, as its title promises, dance — from the first chords of “Anacaona,” the song that opens the set with Rubén Blades, to “Bemba Colorá” with Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar, “El Rey del Timbal” with Gilberto Santa Rosa and the album’s title song with Luis Enrique.
Six of the set’s tracks are in Spanish, including “Gente Buena” with Víctor Manuelle and the electrifying “Descarga” with José Alberto “El Canario” and Pete Escovedo, Sheila’s famous dad. Three are in English: “The Way That You Do” with Jean Rodriguez, “Mi Amor” with Mychel Gabrial, and “Playa Tequila”, the only one without a guest singer. One, “Possibilities” with Debi Nova, is in Spanglish.
With stunning big band orchestration and arrangements, Bailar is a testament to the Latin flavor and star power of Tito Puente’s goddaughter, who rose to fame in the early ’80s as Prince’s percussionist. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
Grupo Frontera delivered an emotionally charged showcase of their single “Ya Pedo Quién Sabe” on Thursday night’s (April 4) Tonight Show. Proudly representing the Rio Grande Valley by performing in front of a neon 956 sign — the area code of the borderland region they’re from — the band appeared rocking their usual black cowboy hats, with […]
Capitán Avispa is already here, or at least flying to a nearby cinema. In the meantime, you can listen to the soundtrack created by Juan Luis Guerra for his first animated movie.
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As he revealed to Billboard Español in December, the musician, composer, singer and producer released Captain Wasp Original Motion Soundtrack on Tuesday (April 5). With 41 original tracks composed and arranged by the Dominican maestro, the collection includes new versions of his hits “La Gallera,” “Bachata Rosa,” “Las Avispas” and “Bachata en Fukuoka,” as well as instrumental themes and songs especially created for the project.
“That’s how the epic themes of Capitán Avispa, who is the hero of our movie, and Jacques Puasón, his archenemy, were born,” Guerra tells Billboard Español. “These were composed full orchestra — that is, trumpets, trombones, french horns, violins, piano and percussion — and each one of them reflects their character.”
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“We worked for about five and a half years on the music of this film, since we made the first demo in 2019,” he adds.
The main song of the soundtrack is “Mi Amor,” a romantic song performed by Luis Fonsi, who voices Capitán Avispa in the film, and Joy Huerta (from Jesse & Joy), who plays his love interest, princess Honey Bee. “It’s a beautiful song that speaks of love that covers all faults, wonderfully performed by my two favorite voices of today,” Guerra explains.
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Directed by his son, Jean Gabriel Guerra, and Jonathan Meléndez, the story of Capitán Avispa was created by Juan Luis, who recruited other friends and colleagues to give life to the different characters: Juanes provides the voice of Sargento Picadura, and the Colombian rocker’s wife, actress Karen Martínez, plays Ximena Colmena. Dominican actor José Guillermo Cortinez lends his voice to the villain Jacques Puasón, and Dominican actress Amelia Vega — Miss Universe 2003, as well as Guerra’s niece — voices Polibya Néctar.
Among the track stand-outs are “El Baile de los Zánganos”, “a very cheerful and fun bachata son,” says Guerra, as well as a new version of “Señorita” and another of “Las Avispas” set to a reggae rhythm. The artist also highlights “Vuelo Sobre Avispatrópolis” as “a voice and guitar tune to the rhythm of 6 x 4, but with a modern twist, in which we added marimba, xylophones and strings”.
The musical production of Captain Wasp Original Motion Soundtrack was overseen by Guerra and Janina Rosado. “All this work was recorded in Santo Domingo by Dominican musicians,” says the multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy award winner, proudly. Allan Lescchorn and Luis Mansilla were in charge of recording and mixing, and the mastering was done by Adam Ayan at Ayan Mastering in the U.S.
Capitán Avispa had its premiere on Monday (April 1) in Santo Domingo with the presence of many of the participating artists, before opening in theaters in the Dominican Republic on Thursday (April 4). In the coming weeks, it will reach more than 34 countries under international distribution of Caribbean Films Distributions.
Listen to the Capitán Avispa soundtrack and check the confirmed premiere dates in the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond below.
Release dates:
April 4: Dominican Republic Bolivia Abril 11: Puerto RicoUnited StatesArubaAntiguaCuracaoSt. CroixSt. KittsSt. MaartenSt. Thomas
April 18: Mexico ArgentinaEcuadorParaguayUruguay April 21:Canadá April 25:Colombia May 2:Antigua St. LuciaGuyanaTrinidad May 30:Costa Rica PanamaGuatemalaHondurasNicaraguaEl SalvadorBelice June 7: Spain
July 11:VenezuelaBrasilPeru August 8:Chile According to a press release, more dates will be announced soon.