Latin
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Carín León has officially addressed the recent rumors on social media regarding his sexuality.
In a five-part video posted on his Instagram stories on Monday (Jan. 27), the Hermosillo-born singer-songwriter expressed that it was time to give an explanation to fans. “I woke up three days ago being gay, because people forced it on me,” he said. “Since people have the power to cancel, to say what each person is, if I am this, if I am that, since you decide everything that happens in my life, I woke up being gay three days ago, because people wanted it that way.”
Rumors about the artist being gay sparked on social media over the weekend after a video, created with Artificial Intelligence, depicted him and Mexican artist Espinoza Paz sharing a kiss. As a result of the fake clip, his song “De Compas,” part of his 2024 album Palabra de To’s, began making the rounds, showing people of the same sex enjoying each other’s company. The popular sound on TikTok has generated more than 40K video creations on the app.
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“I haven’t developed any symptoms, I don’t think, I haven’t developed any kind of attraction to people of my own sex yet, so I still have heterosexual behaviors,” he said in Spanish, joking about the situation in a lighthearted manner. “I want people who suffer from homosexuality to tell me when the first symptoms appear, so that they don’t catch me off guard and catch me out of the blue with makeup, do you understand?”
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León, who also joked about his “relationship” with Paz being ruined, sent a more heartfelt message to his LGBTQ fans. “Long live the community. You know that I love you very much,” he noted, concluding: “I think that the sexual orientation of any person is now secondary. We see so many people with very varied and very different sexual preferences who are super-mega-hyper-successful.”
León and Paz first collaborated four years ago on “Como Duele Equivocarse.” León is a first-time nominee at the 2025 Grammys taking place Sunday (Feb. 2) in the best música Mexicana album category for Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. He also leads the 2025 Premio Lo Nuestro nominations, alongside Becky G, with 10 nods each.
Cazzu’s “Dolce” has topped Billboard’s latest new music Latin poll. In a poll published on Friday (Jan. 24) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Argentine artist’s new track as their favorite music release of the […]
Editor’s note: The list is updated on a monthly basis. Festivals that have already passed are deleted from the list.
From Vive Latino in Mexico City to La Onda Fest by Bottlerock in Napa Valley, Calif. to Cosquín Rock in Santa María de Punilla, Argentina, Billboard Español brings together the definitive guide to festivals celebrating Latin music and more around the world.
Picnic Festival Centroamérica turns 10 this year. The two-day event, which takes place in Costa Rica on Feb. 8 and 15, will feature four headliners each day, including Paulo Londra, Maria Becerra, Maluma, and Grupo Frontera.
The U.K.’s La Línea Festival also celebrates an important milestone with its 25th anniversary in 2025. Buena Vista Social Club star Eliades Ochoa, Spanish singer Rodrigo Cuevas, Latin Grammy winner Ed Maverick, Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano, Brazilian rock outfit Francisco el Hombre, and more have all been confirmed to perform in venues across London from April 22 to May 5.
We see more diverse lineups headlined by Latin and Anglo artists this year, such as Coachella in Indio, California, with performances by Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, as well as The Marías, Alok, Anitta, Junior H and many more. At the Bésame Mucho Fest in Austin, the musical cycle includes diverse and multi-generational Latin artists such as Bronco, Carín León, Los Tigres del Norte, and Hombres G.
Noteworthy, the exclusively hip-hop festival will feature corridos superstar Peso Pluma as a headliner.
While this may not be an exhaustive list, it serves as a comprehensive guide to some of the genre’s most significant events. Whether you’re a die-hard reggaetón fan, a salsa aficionado, or a lover of all things Latin, see our guide to the must-attend festivals across the globe, arranged in sequential order.
Picnic Festival Centroamérica
Shakira’s two sons, Sasha and Milan Piqué Mebarak, are following their mother’s footsteps, showing off their artistic abilities in a new musical project. As part of the Miami-based Let It Beat! Music Academy — co-founded by Guillermo Vadala and Nerina Nicotra — the brothers showcased their talent on a new album called All for You, […]
Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos captures a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Feb. 1), earning 151,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 23 (down 26%), according to Luminate. Of Bad Bunny’s four chart-topping albums, it’s the second to spend more than a single week at No. 1; his 2022 set, Un Verano Sin Ti, has collected the most weeks atop the list, with 13 weeks, nonconsecutively.
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Also in the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200, Mac Miller’s from-the-vaults release Balloonerism debuts at No. 3, marking the eighth top 10-charting set for the rapper, who died in 2018. The set’s songs date back to 2014, but the project was shelved in favor of other releases.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Feb. 1, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Jan. 28. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of the 151,000 equivalent album units earned by Debí Tirar Más Fotos in the week ending Jan. 23, SEA units comprise 146,000 (down 25%; equaling 198.78 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it’s No. 1 for a third week on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 4,000 (down 46%; falling 8-11 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (down 30%).
SZA’s former No. 1 SOS rises 3-2 with 90,000 equivalent album units (down 12%).
Mac Miller’s Balloonerism bows at No. 3 with 81,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 41,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 40,000 (equaling 51.56 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 4 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s sales were bolstered by its availability across six vinyl variants, a CD, digital download album and cassette tape.
In total, Balloonerism is Miller’s eighth top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200. It follows Faces (No. 3 in 2021), Circles (No. 3, 2020), Swimming (No. 3, 2018), The Divine Feminine (No. 2, 2016), GO:OD AM (No. 4, 2015), Watching Movies With the Sound Off (No. 2, 2013) and Blue Slide Park (No. 1, 2011).
Kendrick Lamar’s former leader GNX is a non-mover on the Billboard 200 at No. 4 (59,000 equivalent album units; down 8%) while Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us surges 10-5 (52,000; up 42% after the release of a deluxe version across three vinyl variants and a CD).
Three former No. 1s are next, with Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet steady at No. 6 (43,000 equivalent album units; down 9%), Lil Baby’s WHAM dipping 5-7 (39,000; down 30%) and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time rising a notch to No. 8 (37,000 down 3%).
Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft falls two rungs to No. 9 (nearly 37,000 equivalent album units; down 8%), and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department climbs 12-10 (35,000; down 3%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
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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Feid Launches Sixdo Collection
On Thursday (Jan. 23), Feid hosted the first pop-up for his brand “Sixdo” in Miami. A fan experience, the one-day event featured a room that resembles the artist’s personal closet. Fans also had the opportunity to sit down with Ferxxo for a roundtable discussion, where they could ask him questions. The pop-up showcased the initial development of his clothing brand “Sixdo,” which included a closet with green neon lights and a painting that represented his sold-out shows in Latin America, among other elements. Ferxxo has been hinting at the clothing brand during his concerts, in music videos, and even on album covers (starting with FERXXO Vol. 1 M.O.R.), leading up to the grand reveal this week. The goal is to continue developing this brand throughout 2025.
Feid
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A Wholesome Moment with Shak
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Shakira surprised a young fan named Zoe, who’s currently undergoing cancer treatment. Dance studio Hip Hop Kidz and Sunrise Day Camp shared the wholesome moment on Instagram, capturing the moment the Colombian artist and her sweet fan met for the first time, opened presents, and even did the “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” dance together.
“Despite the tough battle she’s been facing, Zoe’s spirits soared when the international star took time out of her busy schedule to spend time with her,” read the post’s caption. “Shakira, known for her charitable work and deep empathy, shared some quality time with Zoe, encouraging her to stay strong and never give up.”
Billboard’s Latin Artists to Watch 2025
This week, Billboard unveiled its carefully curated Latin Artists to Watch list, highlighting 22 acts who caught our attention in 2024, and who we believe will go on to have a breakout year. The list includes artists who cracked the Billboard charts in 2024, such as Tito Double P, who earned his first No. 1 on Top Latin Albums with his debut set. Artists who’ve been showered with critical acclaim, like Latin Grammy winner Ela Taubert, and those newcomers who first built a fandom on social media before kicking off a music career – like reggaetón mexa pioneer Bellakath, who quickly went from viral sensation to bona fide hitmaker. See the complete list, here.
Tito Double P, Yailin La Más Viral & Kapo
Sebastian Espino; Christopher Nunez; Alejandro Bethencourt
Celebrating una Reina
A children’s book celebrating Selena’s legacy is officially available this week. Selena: A Little Golden Book Biography, by Maria Correa and illustrated by Paula Zamudio, chronicles the Queen of Tejano’s journey to superstardom and illustrates her timeless impact on music, fashion, and beauty. “Nearly 30 years after her death, Selena’s influence endures, and her accomplishments continue to inspire legions of fans to follow their dreams. This is an inspiring read-aloud for young children and the perfect gift for fans of all ages,” read a press statement. The book can be purchased here, and a Spanish-language version will be published on February 4.
Selena Quintanilla at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall March 1, 1994 in New York, NY.
Arlene Richie/GI
This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music from artists including Cazzu, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, and Alejandro Sanz’s first collaborative effort with Grupo Frontera, to name a few. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]
This week, Bad Bunny‘s Debí Tirar Más Fotos earned the peak position on the Billboard 200, ascending from its No. 2 debut last week. In the segment of Billboard Explains, we take a look at his meteoric rise to superstardom. With Debí Tirar, the Puerto Rican superstar leverages his unprecedented success to delve deeper into […]
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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Alejandro Sanz & Grupo Frontera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” (Sony Music Latin)
Alejandro Sanz’s latest song — in collaboration with Grupo Frontera — thrives on a cacophony of sounds. “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is unconventional both lyrically and musically, and that’s what makes it a really great song in general. Sanz and Frontera’s Payo sing about why it’s OK not to feel great all the time: “If you see me crying, it’s not that I’m not happy/ And it isn’t about love either, sometimes you just cry to cry,” Sanz wails at the top of the song. Sonically, the record begins with a pop melody, then goes tropical, pop again and then becomes a fusion of both. A subtle norteño accordion accompanies the song, giving it that Grupo Frontera signature sound. Produced by Edgar Barrera, “Hoy No Me Siento Bien” is the second single off Sanz’s upcoming album. — GRISELDA FLORES
Cazzu, “DOLCE” (DALE PLAY Records/Rimas Entertainment)
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On the heels of her very vulnerable ballad “La Cueva,” Cazzu powerfully kicks off the new year with “DOLCE,” her intent at the Música Mexicana genre. The surprising corrido tumbado — produced by her longtime producer Nico Cotton — is about a complex relationship characterized by betrayal, backed by pleasing requintos. The Argentine artist reflects on her emotions and the consequences of this betrayal, ultimately leading her to seek revenge in a creative and expressive manner. “You forgot that I taught you everything you know,” she fearlessly chants. “DOLCE,” named after a red dress she owned from the designer brand, is the second single off of her upcoming studio album set for April. — INGRID FAJARDO
J Balvin, “Rio” (Sueños Globales/UMG Recordings)
J Balvin kicks off 2025 with new single “Rio.” Though the title honors his son’s name, the edgy, romantic reggaetón track is in fact a sweet dedication to his partner, Argentine model Valentina Ferrer — or, how the lyrics say, to the one who returned his faith. In the over three-minute track, the Colombian artist reflects on his personal and spiritual healing process, paying tribute to one of the most important people who has supported him along the way: the mother of his son. “Why look on the street for what is abundant in my house?/ A good-natured babe, who has a hot body and face […] God made her humble but I see her as very expensive,” he chants, also clarifying that he’s left the party life behind because “the VIP is now at home with you.” The heartfelt music video captures never-before-seen videos of the couple, who’s been together since 2018. — JESSICA ROIZ
Danny Ocean, “Vitamina” (Atlantic Records)
A dose of vitamin D – as in Danny Ocean – arrives this winter in the form of a song. The Venezuelan musician continues spreading his warmth and good vibes with the new single “Vitamina,” which in the midst of freezing temperatures and even snowfalls in Florida transports us to the heat of the beach while evoking an old love. “You and me, lying on the beach watching the sun go down/ You and me, although I never told you, I am yours my love/ You and me, can you imagine?/ A love that never ends/ It’s like a vitamin, you and me,” says the infectious chorus.
“‘Vitamina’ is a love song based on the beach, that place of escape, of being with a real love and having a peaceful time,” Ocean tells Billboard Español. “It’s like escaping the routine and going to a place where you feel free, a place where you are with that person you love having a good and peaceful time, where things happen just as you want them to happen.” It is a pop song with the distinctive Caribbean flavor that has made of Danny Ocean an instantly recognizable artist. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Soge Culebra & Abraham Mateo, “Rayo de Luz” (Atlantic Records Spain)
Spanish artists Soge Culebra (real name: Gabriel Gómez) and Abraham Mateo join forces to sing about unconditional love on the collaboration “Rayos de luz.” The immersive track features impeccable production that highlights elements of electronic pop and contemporary R&B. The lyrics highlight the transformative power of love, depicting it as a force capable of being a guide through difficult times, through people who become true rays of light. The two performers’ voices complement each other perfectly, adding rich and dynamic nuances to the melody. — LUISA CALLE
Varios Artists, Vallenatos Norteños: Un Homenaje A Colombia Desde México (Warner Music México)
In today’s Latin music, fusion genres are in the spotlight. From Los Esquivel’s pulsating electro-corridos to Yahir Saldivar’s cumbias bélicas and Fuerza Regida’s Jersey corridos, the soundscape is as fresh as ever. Enter Vallenatos Norteños, emerging as a riveting but seamless blend that merges Northern Mexico’s fervor with Caribbean Colombia’s soul. This 11-track album, presented by Warner México, weaves accordion-laden melodies with joyous cumbia rhythms: an intersection that highlights the inherent complementary nature of these two music traditions. Noteworthy are the duets such as Jorge Celedón and Ana Bárbara’s “Olvídala,” and Pipe Bueno with Angelina Victoria in “Niégame Tres Veces.” Produced by Abelardo Rivera, José Luis Cornejo, Guillermo Mazorra, and Jair Alcalá, the compilation serves as a cultural bridge that celebrates and blends two rich musical heritages into an exhilarating listening experience. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
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Alok has a new musical alias, Something Else, with which the Brazilian superstar marks a significant departure from his usual, more pop-leaning work, Billboard can exclusively announce.
“When you think about Something Else, the idea that I had, [it’s that] I really love to connect with people. Sometimes when you get into a certain level of your career, [you find] you cannot fit into these places. I feel that Something Else gives me the freedom to express my creativity in different places,” Alok tells Billboard Español in a Zoom call. “It gives me the opportunity to go to places where Alok wouldn’t fit, but my heart fits. Even though Alok is my name, it’s my project, I really respect what we have build up with Alok. That’s always gonna be my main goal. But I also feel that my heart fits into other places as well.”
Known globally for his electrifying electronic pop anthems that have captivated millions, Alok, who launched his career 20 years ago, is branching outside of pop territory, and returning closer to his “psych trance and underground” roots. He debuted his latest venture Something Else to fans last year at global festivals such as the Universo Paralello in Brazil and the Zamna Tulum Festival in Mexico.
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The announcement of his new project arrives with the release of “Miçanga”, a tropical house remix of an eponymous BaianaSystem track of which Billboard Español offers the first exclusive stream. Created under his new moniker, the artist joins Stephan Jolk and Kawz in this collaboration with BaianaSystem, five years after the release of the original song. “I felt that this [song] could really fit in our universe,” he says. “[BaianaSystem] does very solid conceptual work that is singular and unique.”
The inspiration for the new DJ/producer project arrived when he performed at his brother’s wedding in Thailand for about a small group of 50 family and friends. “We just started to play, and it was all about the vibe. It was all about just being there and connecting in a very introspective way. I missed that so much,” he says. “I don’t wanna say [Something Else] is one kind of style of genre. I just wanna be like, it’s something else from the ‘Alok’ and ‘pop’ that you saw at Belém.”
Last November, Alok — famed for pioneering and popularizing Brazilian bass on a global scale — performed a massive concert at the Mangueirão Olympic Stadium’s parking lot in Belém, Pará in northern Brazil, to kick off the one-year countdown of COP30 which will take place in said city this year. Just 100 miles south of the equator and close to the Amazon rainforest, 250,000 attendees arrived to experience is AUREA show, where he stood above a ten-story-high pyramid stage.
The “Hear Me Now” hitmaker gave his fanbase a taste of his more experimental side with his 2024 album, The Future Is Ancestral, where he collaborated with the Yawanawa tribe of Brazil, and other indigenous poets, scholars and musicians. “It’s also totally, completely different from what Alok releases,” he adds.
“With Something Else, with ‘Miçanga,’ for example, it’s just a place where I don’t have to be pressured. I can just do stuff that I like, even though I know they won’t work in the same [way] as Alok’s songs,” he adds. “But at the end of the day, I feel that as a DJ, and all DJs, we are here to serve. We’re here to please people. And to do stuff that we believe, stuff that we like.”
In April, the two-time Latin Grammy nominee will make his Coachella debut.
Check out Something Else, Stephan Jolk, and Kawz’s “Miçanga” featuring BaianaSystem below.