Latin
Page: 115
Artist managers, record label executives and music artists participated in the first Forum on Spanish-Language Music in Madrid, held at the WiZink Center, on Tuesday (March 19). The one-day, invite-only event, headlined by Argentine trap star Nicki Nicole with a Q&A and showcase performance, was presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
One of the panels of the evening, Entre Artistas (Between Artists), moderated by Billboard Espanol‘s social media manager Ingrid Fajardo, featured some of the most influential artists in the music industry in Spain — Mala Rodríguez, Paula Cendejas, Yotuel, and Maikel Delacalle — who discussed topics such as the latest trends and the digital world.
Below, read the best quotes from the Entre Artistas conversation:
Trending on Billboard
Youtel on the Power of Music
“With ‘Patria y Vida,’ we took a million Cubans out into the streets singing ‘Patria y Vida’ to defend the people’s freedom. Let’s remember that music is powerful. Let’s not look at music as if it were just something festive or sublime. Music is powerful.”
Paula Cendejas on Going Against the Current
“I believe that you have to be a bit rebellious and go against the current,” she said when referring to of the speed that new music is being released. “I think we have to re-educate the listener, because as artists, we have found a pattern, and in the end, we make empty music [with no context] and then we do it all over again. That was not the driving force [when creating music].”
Mala Rodríguez on Being a Female Rapper in Spain
“Twenty years ago, I wanted to move my music forward, and the truth is that people in my neighborhood thought it was strange. The ear was not prepared to listen to what a girl had to say. So, it was a little different, and it took me a little while to accept myself and fight for them to accept me, too. I remember that when Yotuel arrived in Spain, it was like, ‘Wow, but what is this?’ Orishas’ proposal was something like hip-hop but with a Latin flavor. It was super cool.”
Maikel DelaCalle on His Musical Influences
“When I was a kid, I used to walk out on the street with a walkman listening to Mala Rodríguez and Orishas. I think what artists like them have done has opened doors [for artists] everywhere. In my case, especially in the Canary Islands, I was greatly influenced by Celia Cruz. When she did her first tour here in Spain, where do you think she went? The Canary Islands. Don Omar? To the Canary Islands. We in the Canary Islands have had an incredible influence in Latin music.”
Where would Channing Tatum be without Ricky Martin? Luckily for fans of Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street and She’s the Man, the world will never know. The actor got his start in the Latin pop star’s iconic “She Bangs” music video back in 2000, playing a bar tender serving a group of rowdy partygoers, including […]
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.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Nicole Zignago & Camilo, “mimos” (Warner Music México)
[embedded content]
Peruvian singer-songwriter Nicole Zignago and Colombian hitmaker Camilo unite their ethereal vocals for a pop-ballad that will tug at your heartstrings. The pair team up for “mimos,” powered by lyrics that are all too relatable. “You say there’s nothing here, just friends, so what do we do when you want mimos (pampering)?” Zignago and Camilo sing delicately over an equally subdued guitar beat that doesn’t overpower the duo’s vocals. Mid song, the beat becomes more pronounced as the artists sing with more urgency, trying to decipher a relationship they both know will not work out. You’ll want to stick around till the end of the song for an explosive solo by Zignago showcasing her wide-ranging vocals. — GRISELDA FLORES
Xavi, “Corazón de Piedra” (Interscope Records)
Trending on Billboard
[embedded content]
“Corazón de Piedra” by Xavi wastes no time grabbing your attention with its gripping and visceral energy. Bolstered by a guitarrón that slaps, and frenetic requinto riffs — the kind that ensnared global audiences with his groundbreaking solo singles “La Diabla” and “La Víctima” — his first track of 2024 is a sierreño kiss-off about a woman with a stone-cold heart. Meanwhile, Xavi delves deep into the tumultuous emotions of a love turned bitter. With a snarling voice that occasionally spine-chills but consistently intrigues, the Phoenix-born artist reaffirms his knack for crafting hard-hitting breakup songs. It not only surpasses expectations but sets a new standard for emotional intensity and musical conviction within the booming música mexicana scene. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Fonseca, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Chucho Valdés, “Colección de Recuerdos” (Sony Music Latin)
[embedded content]
Colombian singer-songwriter Fonseca joins salsa music maestros Gilberto Santa Rosa and Chucho Valdés in the beautiful bolero “Colección de Recuerdos” (“Collection of Memories”). The jewel is the third preview of the Colombian’s next album. Accompanied by the delicate interpretation of the Cuban jazz player on the piano, the tropipop icon and “the gentleman of salsa” sing with melancholy about a relationship that came to an end without fulfilling the promises they made to each other. “Where is the life that I had with you/ Where are the dreams, where is what we were/ Where are the promises that we always told each other/ Where is that life, that you and I built,” they sing in duet in the emotional chorus. Adding to the nostalgia of the track, the black and white music video captures the magic of the recording process in the studio. — LUISA CALLE
Danny Ocean, “Cero condiciones” (Atlantic Recording)
[embedded content]
Danny Ocean calls for personal action in this uplifting song that invites us to be ourselves, without thinking about what others may think or say. “Whoever wants to come out, let him come out of the closet/ I no longer want to live a fucking mediocre life/ The truth is the truth and I’m not afraid of the night/ I want to be free from the fire/ I want to be who I want,” goes part of the lyrics. Written by the Venezuelan artist along with Juan Diego Linares, Elena Rose and Luigi Santaella, “Cero Conditions” starts softly with Middle Eastern-style vocals over strings before giving way to an energetic electro-pop groove driven by hard-hitting drums and lyrics.
“This song is more for me than anything else… To remember that we don’t have to settle for what is unfair, that only the UNIVERSE can judge us and that NO ONE can take away from us what we deserve,” Ocean says in a press release. The music video, directed by Willy Rodríguez and produced by The Panda Bear Show & Both Films, is just as powerful as the song. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Elena Rose, “Me Lo Merezco” (Kira Records/Warner Music Latina)
[embedded content]
Elena Rose’s pure, honest, and transparent soul continues to shine in each and every one of her releases, most recently in “Me Lo Merezco.” A nearly three-minute-long manifestation and self love letter, the Venezuelan singer chants about living in the present, enjoying the little things but over all, deserving all her blessings. “Real love, I deserve it/ That everything comes out great, I deserve it/ Good things come to me, I will achieve it, the ocean view, I deserve it/ A blue sky, I deserve it/ A cool life, I deserve it,” she soulfully chants. Co-produced by Hector Mazzari & The Honeyboos, the R&B, funk, and urban-tinged bop even lifts from Paula Cole’s late ’90s smash “I Don’t Want to Wait,” as a friendly reminder to start living your life now before it’s too late. — JESSICA ROIZ
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
Madame Tussauds New York and Las Vegas unveiled J Balvin’s two new wax figures on Friday (March 22).
The Colombian hitmaker’s New York figure is dressed in his 2021 Moschino Met Gala ensemble, which consists of an embellished floral three-piece suit replicated by Madame Tussauds to match the original set. Rocking Balvin’s bleach blond buzz cut, the figure pays tribute to the singer’s Met Gala debut.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas wax figure wears an authentic GUESS outfit provided by Balvin himself, originally worn during his 2019 Coca Cola Fest performance in Mexico City. The number is paired with his J Balvin x Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG “Colores Y Vibras” sneakers from his collaboration with Nike.
The “Mi Gente” artist shared his reaction to his new likenesses in a video posted to Instagram. “Amazing how dreams come true seldom you find yourself face to face with yourself and it’s not a reflection in a mirror hehehehe Triple JoSSSe,” he captioned the clip. “Keep dreaming and believe it yourselves ⚡️ Go see it and take a picture with me Thanks @madametussaudsusa PA LA CULTURA”
In the video, he walks up to his wax figures with a few demands and questions for them. “I was looking for my chains, give them back,” he begins. “You owe money, will you pay me back or not?”
Trending on Billboard
Finally, he asks on behalf of his fans: “When is the album coming? Tell me. We’ve been waiting two years.”
According to a press release, visitors will step into a “mini ultra-lounge busting with electrifying colors and oversized pop imagery, transforming the space into an unforgettable club experience” when visiting Balvin’s figure in Las Vegas.
J Balvin
Madame Tussauds
“J Balvin’s wax figures at Madame Tussauds New York and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas epitomizes his indelible influence on music and culture,” said Matthew Clarkson, head of marketing at Madame Tussauds USA. “With our newly renovated Music experience in New York and the brand new Club T in Las Vegas, his presence adds another dimension to the immersive experiences we offer. It’s a testament to his enduring impact and our dedication to creating dynamic experiences that resonate with visitors worldwide.”
J Balvin is set make his grand return to Coachella since first performing at the festival in 2019 (although he appeared as a special guest for Karol G’s set in 2022). He’ll perform on April 14 and April 21.
See Balvin’s reaction to his two new wax figures below:
After seven years, Shakira has unleashed Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (Women No Longer Cry), her first new album since the 2017 Grammy-winning set El Dorado. Released to all digital streaming platforms on Friday (March 22), this new album is a catharsis for the Colombian hitmaker, who is vulnerable and raw in what could be […]
In a journey of transformation, where tears evolve into diamonds and vulnerability into strength, Shakira reaffirms that her hits don’t lie. With her highly anticipated 12th studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran — with eight new songs of 17, including two remixes — the Colombian superstar plunges into the depths of her soul, alchemizing pain into pop gold while celebrating the strength of womanhood.
More radiant than ever, Shakira reveals a profound exploration of emotions and experiences that marks a pivotal chapter in her illustrious career and life, following a sentimental breakup that left her fragile and sensitive but brought her back to music.
“I feel like a cat with more than nine lives; whenever I think I can’t get any better, I suddenly get a second wind,” Shakira told Billboard in September. “I’ve gone through several stages: denial, anger, pain, frustration, anger again, pain again. Now I’m in a survival stage. Like, just get your head above water. And it’s a reflection stage. And a stage of working very hard and when I have time with my children, really spend it with them.”
On her first full-length release in seven years, Shak delivers a captivating blend of pop, Afrobeats (“Nassau”), bachata (“Monotonía”), Tex-Mex rhythms (“(Entre Paréntesis)”) and a return to her rock roots (“Cómo Dónde y Cuándo”). Infusing elements of electronic music, she maintains her signature versatility, showcasing not only her vocal prowess but also her songwriting prowess, and multi-instrumental abilities.
While Shakira shines brightly on solo tracks such as “Tiempo Sin Verte” and “Última,” she also collaborates with a stellar lineup across the set, including Cardi B, Grupo Frontera and returning artists like Rauw Alejandro and Bizarrap. With Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira continues to offer a diverse array of melodies that evoke both pain and passion, irresistibly, inviting listeners to dance and contemplate simultaneously.
Below, Billboard ranks all 15 songs from Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran excluding two remixes, in descending order.
”Copa Vacía” (with Manuel Turizo)
Luis Figueroa secures his eighth top 10 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart as “A Escondidas” surges 14-7 on the March 23-dated list.
“A Escondidas” lands in the upper region on the tropical radio ranking as the Greatest Gainer of the week, thanks to a 57% gain in audience impressions, to 1.67 million, earned in the U.S. during the March 8-14 tracking week, according to Luminate.
“A Escondidas” follows Figueroa’s last top 10, the two-week No. 1 “Bandido,” which crowned the Oct. 21-28, 2023-dated charts; the only salsa to lead the list that year. All of the other No. 1s were bachatas, a merengue track and one mambo tune.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The new single, the third song on Figueroa’ EP Voy a Ti, nominated for a Grammy for best tropical Latin album in 2023, was co-written by Figueroa and Lenier.
Trending on Billboard
As mentioned, with “A Escondidas,” Figueroa collects his eighth top 10 on Tropical Airplay. Here’s a recap of his top 10 collection:
Peak, Peak Date, Title, Weeks at No. 1No. 1, July 31, 2021, “Hasta El Sol De Hoy,” oneNo. 6, Oct. 30, 2021, “Si Tú Me Dices Ven”No. 3, Aug. 13, 2022, “Todavía Te Espero”No. 7, Sept. 10, 2022, “Vienes”No. 4, Feb. 4, 2023, “Fiesta Contigo”No. 7, June 3, 2023, “La Luz”No. 1, Oct. 21, 2023, “Bandido,” twoNo. 7, March 23, 2024, “A Escondidas”
Notably, Figueroa earned his first top 10 on Tropical Airplay less than three years ago, placing two or more in every year since, when the one-week champ “Hasta El Sol De Hoy” ruled the July 31, 2021-dated list.
Further, with eight top 10s on his account since 2021, the Puerto Rican breaks out of a tie with Victor Manuelle for the fourth-most top 10s on the decade of the ‘20s. He now trails Prince Royce who continues to lead the pack with 12 top 10s this decade, Romeo Santos’ with 10, and Marc Anthony with nine.
The new chart achievement arrives as Figueroa embarks on his first tour with Victor Manuelle this spring.
[embedded content]
Shakira is set to drop her new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, her first in seven years, on Friday (March 22). Ahead of the Colombian hitmaker’s big release, Billboard breaks down Shakira’s biggest hits on the chart, proving why the “Te Felicito” singer is a global force to be reckoned with. The singer-songwriter from […]
Nicki Nicole headlined the inaugural Forum on Spanish-Language Music in Madrid presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard on Tuesday (March 19).
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
During her 30-minute Q&A moderated by Billboard’s Leila Cobo, the Argentine artist opened up about her creative process when writing music, the importance of prioritizing her mental health, her very public break up with música Mexicana star Peso Pluma, and even revealed that new music with Alejandro Sanz is on the horizon.
Right after, Billboard Español’s latest cover star performed a nearly 20-minute showcase, where she delivered acoustic version of her hits such as as “Dispara ***” and “8 AM.”
Trending on Billboard
Additionally, the one-day, invite-only event — which sought to highlight the growing consumption of music in Spanish across continents — featured four panel conversations that included managers, executives and artists such as Raphael, Luis Cobos, La Mala Rodríguez, Paula Cendejas, Yotuel and Maikel Delacalle.
Below are the best takeaways from Nicki’s intimate conversation.
Nicki Nicole at the first Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid, presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard.
Jaime Massieu
On Collaborating With Alejandro Sanz
“I’m a big fan. I was recently with him in the studio and it was crazy for me. I don’t know if I could say it but yes, we made music together. His daughter’s name is Alma like my album and it was like, things are happening that are not coincidences. I also like that about music, that you can get to know your favorite artists, understand their world. Many of his songs that I thought were [created] one way, he explained to me that were made another way, and that’s also the crazy thing about music. I always play Alejandro Sanz music when I’m in my days. I really like ‘Amiga Mia.’ That’s my favorite song.”
On Peso Pluma Breakup
“I did it because I felt it. I felt that I was pretty exposed and from my part, I had to say what I felt and was going through. I like the fact that I received many messages from women, a lot of support, a lot of love. It’s a bit difficult when your personal life gets mixed up with exposure because a lot of people have opinions, and it’s hard. I was in between saying something or not, but I felt that I had to say something because it goes hand-in-hand with who I am.”
Nicki Nicole at the first Forum on Spanish Language Music in Madrid, presented by the Community of Madrid and powered by Billboard.
Jaime Massieu
On Turning Her Feelings Into Music
“I sing what I live and I live what I feel, and if it weren’t that way, I wouldn’t be myself 100 percent. I always like writing in a notebook and it helps me a lot. Beyond whether it [the song] comes out later or not, whether it remains captured somewhere, it’s already my catharsis of what happens to me. It also makes me be the artist that I am and have the fans that I have, who always know that I am going to be sincere with what I feel. I feel that new things will come from the hand of my emotions, and I feel that I will always be faithful to say what happens to me and talk about those things that make us human.”
On Mental Health
“I had a moment in 2021 where I felt very bad personally and at that moment, with my team, we decided to slow down a little and I really liked having that respect from Fede. At that moment I stopped, but today, I think differently — my personal things are my personal things, but there’s also a responsibility, which is my job, the people who pay a ticket to see me. So at this moment, I decided not to stop. I decided to continue because it’s also what motivates me, what is good for me. […] I feel that today, personally, I have quite good self-esteem, and that helps me a lot to stay grounded. But I also very much agree that if you are not good with yourself, you don’t have to do things that you do not feel capable of.”
Cardi B manifested one day working with Shakira, and the chance to collaborate with the Colombian icon came earlier this year after meeting at Paris Fashion Week. “Punteria” is set to arrive on Friday (March 22) as part of Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran album.
Cardi and the Queen of Latin Music sat down to interview each other while taking a break on set for the collab’s music video, where they gushed about being fans of one another and detailed how “Punteria” came about.
“When I first met Shakira, it was in Paris at the Fendi show, and I was very, very nervous,” Cardi B admitted. “I was nervous because I wanted to get next to her, but I was like, ‘I’m not gonna get next to her until they call me.’ I manifested it, but I didn’t know when it was coming.”
Trending on Billboard
Shakira returned the favor and waxed poetic about Cardi B’s work ethic while championing 2021’s Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Up” as her favorite track from the Bronx bombshell. “‘Up,’ I love that song. Such a good writer — she’s such a pro and an amazing lyricist and performer,” she said.
The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer explained how she’s “always wanted to” work with Cardi, and the timing was finally right for “Punteria.”
“I wanted to do something with Cardi. We were always discussing internally if it was a good idea to put someone on this song. I always pictured Cardi on this song. I reached out, and here we are,” she added. “It’s been so fun to work with you. It’s so easy, honestly. She’s like, ‘I’ll do everything.’ I’m like, ‘Are you ready to work long hours? Because I work long hours.’ She’s like, ‘I’ll be there from 6 to 6 a.m.’”
Cardi was ecstatic to get the call from Shakira, which she dubbed a “dream.”
“I knew it. I knew this day would come. It came. God is good, Jesus,” Cardi B gushed. “I don’t care if she wants me to meow — I’m doing it. I cannot wait. Seriously, that is my dream.”
“I always look at your videos,” she added, “and it’s so crazy doing a video with you because all of your videos, you could just tell you take your time from the angle, to the dancing, to the things that pop.”
Shak’s new album follows the Colombian hitmaker’s 2017 set El Dorado, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart, and included hit songs such as “Chantaje” with Maluma, “La Bicicleta” with Carlos Vives and the Prince Royce-assisted “Deja vu.
Watch the full interview between Cardi and Shakira below. “Punteria” arrives on Friday (March 22).