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Just days ahead of what would have been her 55th birthday, Jenni Rivera was immortalized with the 2,783rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On Thursday (June 26), the Mexican icon was honored by her five children — Jacqie, Johnny, Chiquis, Jenicka and Michael — with heartfelt speeches that celebrated the late singer’s life and legacy. Pop diva Gloria Trevi, one of Rivera’s closest friends, was also in attendance and was among the first to take the stage to share a few words.
“I think just Jenni Rivera can make me speak in English,” Trevi said. “Today is a very special today. We are honoring and celebrating the life of a distinguished woman. Today, love and talent defeat death. The daughter, the sister, the woman, the mother, the friend lives through all of us who love and admire here. For me, it is an honor to witness this recognition along with her family. She triumphed in a genre dominated by men. Jenni is unforgettable and unrepeatable, this star symbolizes her light in our hearts. Today is a day to celebrate, to celebrate the life of Jenni Rivera. Thank you Jenni, we love you,” Trevi said, visibly emotional.
Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was something her children said Rivera not only dreamt with, but manifested would happen for her. “She did that sh-t, and it’s cooler to say she did it from heaven,” Jenicka said. “I thought it was impossible to get [the star] after her death but God has a way of proving people wrong.”
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Chiquis, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps forging her own path in regional Mexican music, remembered her mother’s courage. “It is an honor to be the daughter of such an amazing woman, a woman that accomplished so much but being the daughter of a woman who has left her footprint on earth and on so many people’s hearts. I see her in my siblings and all of you guys,” she told the fans who had gathered to see the star unveiled in front of Capitol Records on Vine Street, neighboring Selena Quintanilla‘s star.
Rivera’s son, Mikey, called it a “surreal” moment and compared her mother’s star to “winning a championship.” Meanwhile, her youngest honored her mother’s generosity. “She was always looking to help someone out, it filled her heart with joy. The world would be a better place if everyone else was more like my mother,” Johnny expressed.
Jacqie was the last one to take the stage and honored her mother with a beautiful speech. “This is beauty for ashes. This gives even more purpose to the life my mother lived. A single mother chasing a dream to give a better life to her children. She lived her life so openly, she inspired men and women around the world, she was able to impact many with her life and music. This is a very bittersweet moment because I wish she could be here and witness the beautiful smile on her face and hear the witty speech she’d deliver. Momma, we are proud of you, proud to be your children and will forever be grateful for everything you did for us.”
Known as “La Diva de la Banda,” Jenni Rivera was the single most successful woman in regional Mexican and on the Billboard Latin charts when she tragically died in a plane crash in 2012 at the age of 43. She entered more than 30 songs on the Regional Mexican Airplay, 15 of those hit the top 10. On the Hot Latin Songs chart, she placed a total of 25 songs, two hit the top 10: “Ahora Que Estuviste Lejos” and “La Misma Gran Señora.”
SESAC Latina celebrated its 30th anniversary with the annual SESAC Latina Music Awards, which took place on Wednesday (June 26) at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.
The ceremony — which included heartfelt speeches and a special performance by tejano/norteño group Intocable — awarded siblings Julián and Manuel Turizo songwriter of the year, pop/Latin rhythm. Meanwhile, for the first time ever, Salvador Aponte received the songwriter of the year, regional Mexican award.
Julián and Manuel were recognized for their smash hit “El Merengue,” which won song of the year, pop/Latin rhythm. On the Billboard Latin Airplay chart, the song peaked at No. 1 last year. As for Aponte, he was honored for música mexicana songs he wrote like “La Patrona,” “Se Buscan Borrachos” and “1500 Pedas” — all of which were recognized with performance awards.
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The SESAC Latina Award for song of the year, regional Mexican went to “Frágil”, written by Yahritza Martínez and recorded by Yahritza y Su Esencia and Grupo Frontera. On the Latin Airplay chart, the song peaked at No. 2 last summer.
Mexican singer-songwriter Luciano Luna was honored with the Legacy Award. He has been previously recognized four times as SESAC Latina Songwriter of the Year for his many hits performed by a variety of acts, such as Banda El Recodo (“La Mejor de Todas”), Calibre 50 (“Tus Latidos”), Julión Álvarez (“Te Hubieras Ido Antes”), Grupo Firme (“El Reemplazo”) and Banda Los Recoditos (“Me Sobrabas Tú”).
See the main winners list below:
Songwriter of the Year – Pop/Latin Rhythm
Manuel Turizo
Julián Turizo
Publisher of the Year – Pop/Latin Rhythm
Sony Music Publishing
Song of the Year Pop/Latin Rhythm, “El Merengue“
Written by: Manuel Turizo, Julián Turizo
Published by: MTZ Publishing, Jutuza Publishing, La Industria Music Publishing, Sony Sounds
Recorded by: Marshmello & Manuel Turizo
Songwriter of the Year – Regional Mexican
Salvador Aponte
Publisher of the Year – Regional Mexican
Universal Music Publishing
Song of the Year – Regional Mexican, “Frágil“
Written by: Yahritza Martínez
Published by: Yahritza Martínez Publishing, Universal Musica Latina
Recorded by: Yahritza y Su Esencia & Grupo Frontera
Legacy Award
Luciano Luna
A Caifanes concert at the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in New York City was abruptly cut short due to bad weather on Wednesday night (June 26). The evening was a unique occasion for fans, who were able to see two of Mexico’s most iconic rock acts, Café Tacvba and Caifanes, together on the […]
Banda Los Sebastianes de Saúl Plata and Edgardo Nuñez celebrate the success of “El Humo De Mi Gallo,” their first collaboration, which rises from No. 3 to lead Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart dated June 29.
“I’m extremely happy that we are in first place with ‘El Humo De Mi Gallo’,” Armando Celis, better known as Choco and vocalist for Los Sebastianes, tells Billboard. “Thank you to all who are listening to our music.”
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The new No. 1 gives Nuñez a second leader, after the 23-year-old scored his first No. 1 on any Billboard chart just two months ago, when “First Love,” with Oscar Ortiz, ruled for one week in April.
“I feel very happy and grateful that in such a short time we have achieved two No. 1s on Billboard,” Nuñez adds. “For me it is a great honor to be in this prestigious magazine thanks to our work. I am always grateful to my friends Los Sebastianes and Oscar Ortiz for these achievements.”
“El Humo De Mi Gallo” leads with 6.1 million audience impressions earned during the June 14-20 tracking week, according to Luminate. That’s a 13% increase from the week prior. That gain dethrones El Fantasma’s “Sabor a Michelada” which falls to No. 2 with 5.4 million impressions, down 36%.
With “Humo” Banda Los Sebastianes de Saúl Plata capture their sixth leader. They last led two years ago through “Modo Incógnito” in April 2022. Since then, the Sinaloans placed three entries, including the No. 10 peaking “Promteo,” with Kurt.
“Grateful for our audience, both at radio and shows, who request our songs,” Javier Larrañaga, the latest vocalist for Los Sebastianes, shares. “We are happy with all of you and look forward to more music, great things coming ahead.”
Beyond its Regional Mexican Airplay coronation, “Humo” rises 10-6 on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, for its new peak, the highest entry for Los Sebastianes since the equal No. 6 high “Sin Miedo al Éxito” in 2021.
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Thalia Returns To The Top 10: Elsewhere on the Latin charts, Thalia makes a strong comeback to the upper region on Latin Airplay with “Te Va a Doler,” her first Grupo Firme collab, which flies 12-3 with 6.6 million audience impressions, up 23%.
The surge marks Thalia’s first top 10 on Latin Airplay since 2013, when “Te Perdiste Mi Amor,” featuring Prince Royce, reached No. 1 in 2013. Plus, the song, which ascends 4-2 on Latin Pop Airplay, marks the pop star’s best showing in over a decade and a half, following an equal No. 2 peak though “Equivicada” in Feb. 2010.
Further, Grupo Firme, who also scored their first entry on a pop radio ranking when “Te Va a Doler” debuted in the top 15 on Latin Pop Airplay in May, capture its 10th top 10 on the overall Latin Airplay tally.
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Karol G has achieved yet another career milestone with the “Provenza” music video surpassing one billion views on YouTube, just two years after it was released. The beachy music video filmed by Pedro Artola on the island of Lanzarote marks the Colombian artist’s ninth clip to enter the coveted “Billion Views Club” as a lead, […]
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered either by networking or coming across their music at a showcase, and beyond. See our recommendations this month below:
Artist: Augusto Tamayo
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Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: After more than 20 years as a songwriter, instrumentalist and arranger, with credits on productions by stars including Carlos Vives, Fito Páez and Andrés Cepeda, Colombian musician Augusto Tamayo made his debut as a performer last month with the album Perfectamente Imperfecto., released on May 29. Driven largely by piano, the 11-track set includes songs about love and heartbreak, loss and pain, performed with great sensibility and beautifully produced. Tamayo, who was trained in composition, piano, orchestration and jazz and contemporary music, seems to have poured both his soul and his two-decade experience in this work. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “Perfectamente Imperfecto”
Artist: Briella
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Urban music artist Briella, whose real name is María Gabriela Otaiza, is one of the genre’s emerging talents gaining popularity from her native Venezuela. The singer began her career in music in 2021 and has captured the public’s attention with songs like “UN BETA,” “QLQ,” and “PARTY TETEO.”
But her most successful song to date is “Coquette,” a catchy cumbia-influenced reggaetón released in February, which to date has amassed more than 18 million views on YouTube. Recently, she released the remix of this song with Argentineans La Joaqui and Yami Safdie, further increasing her reach. Briella’s musical style, which fuses urban and pop rhythms, along with her charismatic presence on social networks, has allowed her to gain followers every day. Recently, she had her first concert in Venezuela, where she also connected with her roots by performing one of her songs in joropo style. — LUISA CALLE
Song for Your Playlist: “Coquette”
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Artist: Alayn García
Country: Cuba
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Hailing from Camagüey, Cuba, Alayn García is a percussionist-turned-singer, who this year embarked on his solo career with his debut single “Se Va.” Produced by Cuban hitmaker Mr. Vla, the tropical tune — which narrates the story of a man who’s done with girl’s who play with him — sets the tone for García’s proposal: a modern take on contemporary salsa music. As a musician, García has collaborated with multiple salsa giants including Victor Manuelle, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Andy Montañez and Tito Nieves. Additionally, García is Rey Ruiz’s longtime backup vocalist and percussionist, and is currently on tour with the Cuban-born artist. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song for Your Playlist: “Se Va”
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Artist: Lomiiel
Country: Dominican Republic
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I vividly remember the day I discovered Lomiiel — it was at a friend’s pool party, where her neighbor next door blasted a catchy tune that immediately caught my attention. The song was fun. The voice was different. It was a refreshing take on dembow. With “Hay Lupita,” the teen Dominican artist born Marco Antonio Santana and hailing from La Romana has captured a new generation — one that’s probably discovering dembow until now. With its sped-up drum pattern and carefree energy, “Lupita” — about a girl who looks good and is moving her hips to the beat — has garnered over 800K video creations on TikTok and over 20 million views on YouTube, and has spent seven weeks in the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, further demonstrating that Lomiiel is the new face of the Dominican urban movement. — J.R.
Song for Your Playlist: “Hay Lupita”
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Artist: MARI “La Carajita”
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: When I first listened to the song MARI will release on June 28, I was instantly hooked. “Prioridad” is a hip-swiveling cumbia-pop that’s both sonically catchy and lyrically deep. Penned by the Venezuelan singer-songwriter, the track is a departure from what she’s previously release. Sounding right at home in her upcoming tejano-leaning song, MARI is actually most known for her reggaetón, swag-heavy tunes. It’s refreshing to see an up-and-coming artist with that versatility and confidence to dabble in different genres early on in her career. For now, check out her latest release, the reggaetón drums-powered “Facetime,” and on Friday, be on the lookout for “Prioridad.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Song for Your Playlist: “Facetime”
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Artist: SpliffHappy
Country: U.S. (of Mexican descent)
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Corridos verdes was a vibrant subgenre, mainly flourishing predominantly in the West Coast, reaching a high in 2018 with bands like Legado 7 and T3R Elemento leading the charge. Since then, the genre has seen new buds of música mexicana sprout, with artists such as Natanael Cano, Peso Pluma and Lenin Ramirez nodding to cannabis culture — though the trend has mellowed in intensity over time.
Enter SpliffHappy, a Brooklyn-bred artist with Mexican roots, who dropped a single bien tumbado dubbed “Ando” in May. Backed by an ensemble of corridos musicians, SpliffHappy delves into the corridos scene for the first time, pouring his soul into Spanish lyrics about gray days brightened by the occasional spliff. Initially recognized for his trap tunes in English, his latest Spanish-singing venture in “Ando” showcases intriguing vocals and features a video of him and a large crew taking over the corner block, promising a new high in his musical career. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “Ando”
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Artist: Yami Safdie
Country: Argentina
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Some of the strengths of talented singer-songwriter Yami Safdie, whose full name is Yamila Safdie, are her distinctive voice color and the depth of her lyrics. The Argentine singer-songwriter and influencer began her musical career in 2017 with sporadic singles, but it was in 2022 when she released her first album, Dije Que No Me Iba a Enamorar, after signing with Warner Music the previous year.
This album includes “El bolero,” her most successful song, in collaboration with rapper Milo J — which has accumulated more than 88 million streams on Spotify. She and Milo J have also collaborated on the song “Carencias de Cordura.” With reflective lyrics about love and heartbreak, and a mix of urban elements with cumbia, pop and even bolero, Yami Safdie is building a name for herself in the music scene. She also opened for Luis Miguel during his tour of Argentina. — L.C.
Song for Your Playlist: “El bolero” (feat. Milo J)
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Two things that awaken great passions in Latin America are music and football. While the Conmebol Copa América United States 2024 is being played this summer, we present you the list of anthems from one of the most important continental men’s soccer tournaments in the world, over the years.
Each song reflects the popular sound of the year the tournament took place. For example, in the early 2000s, pop music dominated the scene. Pop songs like Gian Marco’s “Más Allá de los Sueños” and Diego Torres’ “Creo en América” set the scene for the Copa América in Peru in 2004 and the Argentina edition in 2011, respectively. Over time, the sounds evolved towards tropical and urban rhythms, such as “La Gozadera” by Gente de Zona, perhaps one of the most remembered Copa América anthems. It is also common for artists from the host country to provide the official music for the tournament.
While it is true that we are talking about a sport, soccer in Latin America is much more than a game. It is an opportunity to unite from friends to families and entire countries with a common dream: taking home the title. This feat is not easy to achieve — especially with countries like Argentina and Uruguay, the top winners with 15 titles each — which raises the level of competition in South American football to great heights.
The tournament is organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), whose members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. In addition, each edition invites countries such as the six Concacaf teams this year, including the United States and Mexico. As a curious and revealing fact, none of the invited countries has won the cup in the tournament’s entire history.
The Conmebol Copa América, which was played for the first time in 1916 and refers to itself as “The oldest continental tournament in the world,” was held annually until 1929, when it adopted a format every two, three, or four years. Since 2007, it has been held every four years — with some exceptions due to circumstances such as the celebration of the tournament’s centenary, efforts to synchronize the event with the Euro Cup, and the Covid-19 pandemic, which have modified the dates. The official songs have been implemented since the beginning of the 21st century, except for Pájaro Canzani’s song “Todos Goleando,” for the 1995 Uruguay Cup.
Here are the official songs of the Copa América:
2004 (Perú): Gianmarco, “Más Allá de los Sueños,”
When the Leagues Cup approached Emilio Estefan to produce this year’s tournament anthem, the renowned producer and songwriter knew exactly what he wanted to capture with this song. “My idea was to create something that is important to me, and that was to showcase unity and different cultures,” Estefan tells Billboard about writing and producing […]
Manu Chao dropped “São Paulo Motoboy,” the second single from his upcoming album Viva Tu on Wednesday (June 26). The set marks his first solo studio effort in nearly 17 years, since La Radiolina arrived in September 2007. Named the same as his whimsical rumba song and lead single, “Viva Tu” released in May, the album is set to arrive on Sept. 20.
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Sung in Portuguese, the nomadic, electronic-tinged guitar ballad is an homage to the bikers and deliver people of São Paulo, Brazil who risk their lives daily navigating the vast city on their motorcycles. Its accompanying music video, which drops today at 12 p.m. ET, explores the daily lives of “motoboys” in São Paulo, following a particular motorcyclist who rides with the slogan “Carregando Justiça Nas Costas,” meaning “carrying justice on our backs.”
“São Paulo is a breathing beast. And the couriers are the blood running through its veins, keeping it alive,” said Manu Chao in a press release. Before achieving global fame, the France-born, Spanish-descended superstar worked as a courier himself in Paris.
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As for the upcoming album, Viva Tu will feature 13 new songs inspired by his journeys and everyday experiences, sung in Spanish, French, Portuguese and English. It includes contributions from legendary artists such as Willie Nelson on “Heaven’s Bad Day” and French singer Laeti on “Tu Te Vas.”
Since La Radiolina — which reached No. 71 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts in 2007 — Manu released a string of singles years later, collaborating with Bomba Estéreo (2022’s “Me Duele”), Rumbakana (2023’s “Déjame”), Dani Lança (2020’s “Acontecer”) and more. He has also participated in social causes such as Playing for Change and The Dharavi Dream Project.
Viva Tu will be available on CD, vinyl and digital format.
Listen to “São Paulo Motoboy” and check out the album’s track list below:
“Vecinos En El Mar”
“La Couleur du Temps”
“River Why”
“Viva Tu”
“Heaven’s Bad Day” feat. Willie Nelson
“Tu Te Vas” feat. Laeti
“Coração No Mar”
“Cuatro Calles”
“La Colilla”
“São Paulo Motoboy”
“Tom et Lola”
“Lonely Night”
“Tantas Tierra”
Kali Uchis and Peso Pluma add a new No. 1 to their Billboard Latin Airplay chart count as “Igual Que Un Ángel” ascends from No. 3 to lead the June 29-dated ranking.
“Thank you to everyone for your support, for believing in this song,” Uchis tells Billboard. “Thank you!”
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“Igual Que Un Ángel” puts the Colombian-American singer/songwriter back at No. 1 after almost three years, when “Telepatía” climbed 5-1 on the survey dated July 3, 2021, for her second champ on the overall Latin Airplay ranking. Peso picks up his fourth ruler, and second in 2024, following the one-week coronation of “Qlona,” with Karol G (March 2-dated tally).
In the tracking week of June 14-20, “Ángel” registered 7.93 million audience impressions, with a 13% increase from the week prior, according to Luminate. Thanks to that sum, the collab lands at No. 1 in its 11th week. The chart’s previous No. 1, El Fantasma’s “Sabor a Michelada,” falls to No. 10 with a 36% decline in audience, to 5.5 million.
“Ángel” takes the lead on Latin Airplay 23 weeks after it debuted atop the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs, Latin Streaming Songs and Latin Digital Song Sales charts (dated Jan. 27). On the latter, it dominated for four consecutive weeks. The song also made its run across multiple Billboard charts. Here’s the recap:
Peak Date, Chart Peak Postion, Weeks at No. 1Jan. 27, Billboard Global 200, No. 9Jan. 27, Hot Latin Songs, No. 1, oneJan. 27, Latin Streaming Songs, No. 1, oneJan. 27, Latin Digital Song Sales, No. 1, fourFeb. 3, Billboard Global Excl. U.S. No. 10Feb. 3, Billboard Hot 100, No. 22March 30, Rythmic Airplay, No. 35June 29, Latin Airplay, No. 1June 29, Latin Pop Airplay: No. 1
With “Ángel,” Peso Pluma switches genre gears and lands his first No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay with his firt chart entry, with a 2-1 lift. (He’s previously charted No. 1s on both Regional Mexican Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay.) Uchis, meanwhile, loges her second No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay, also three years after “Telepatía” took charge for one week in March 2021. In between, “No Hay Ley,” her second and last entry as a soloist unaccompanied by any other artist, reached No. 11 high in Feb. 2023.
Elsewhere, thanks to its radio pull, “Ángel” moves 19-16 on Hot Latin Songs, despite a 2% dip in streaming activity, with 2 million official U.S. streams during the tracking week.
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