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Who will win in the Latin categories at the 2024 Grammy Awards? Every year, Billboard’s Latin and Español teams gather to predict who we think will win in the Latin categories at the ceremony. Our predictions are based not only on our appreciation of the music, but also on our knowledge of the market and the understanding of the voting history of Academy members. Our predictions are not endorsements, but rather educated guesses.
Leading up to Sunday’s 66th annual Grammy Awards, we’ve gathered our Latin and Billboard Español editorial team and embarked on a lively discussion, with educated guesses based on the marketplace and past voting behavior (not endorsements). Our participants are Leila Cobo, Billboard’s Chief Content Officer, Latin/Español; Jessica Roiz, Billboard‘s assistant editor, Latin; Griselda Flores, Billboard‘s senior editor, Latin; Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard Español’s deputy editor; and Isabela Raygoza, Billboard Español’s associate editor.
The Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 4 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles beginning at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, and will stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. The ceremony will be hosted by Trevor Noah for the fourth consecutive year.
Below, our predictions of who should or who will win the Latin categories at the Grammys. Most of these categories are awarded during the Pre-telecast ceremony where more than 80 of the 94 Grammy categories are announced. The Premiere Ceremony, which will begin at 3:30pm ET can be streamed on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com.
Best Latin Pop Album
La Cuarta Hoja, Pablo AlboránBeautiful Humans, Vol. 1, AleMorA Ciegas, Paula ArenasLa Neta, Pedro CapóDon Juan, MalumaX Mí (Vol. 1), Gaby Moreno
SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS: I really like all the albums on this list, and I am having trouble predicting who will win. But I’m bidding on Maluma for Don Juan, an ambitious and eclectic 25-track set spanning different genres, with hot collaborations like “Según Quién” with Carin León, “Luna Llena” with Ryan Castro and “Ojitos Chiquiticos” with Don Omar. It is Maluma’s third Grammy nomination, and the third time may be the charm. By the way, neither of the Latin Grammy winners of the two pop album categories were nominated here (Julieta Venegas for Tu Historia, and Andrés Cepeda for Décimo Cuarto.)
GRISELDA FLORES: The album I think should win is Paula Arenas’ A Ciegas. It’s truly a touching and beautifully-produced set. So is Pablo Alborán’s La Cuarta Hoja. I think those two are the strongest contenders in this category. On the other hand, Maluma is a household name so voters may choose him. Although it may not seem fair given that Maluma’s set should perhaps have been nominated in the urban category, not pop because while it’s an eclectic set, it still leans more urban.
LEILA COBO: It’s hard to imagine that Maluma won’t win here for his Don Juan, especially in the wake of the recent success of his single “Según Quién” alongside Carin León. It’s not just the name recognition, which carries major weight for a Latin act in the Grammys, but also the fact that Don Juan features run of the mill perreo and reggaetón, but also, some solid, thoughtful hits. While the other nominees here are worthy, and four of them — Paula Arenas, Gaby Moreno, Pablo Alborán and Maluma himself — have been previously nominated for this award, the nod will likely go, finally, to the superstar of the group.
JESSICA ROIZ: Every singer-songwriter in this category is so deserving of the Grammy; however, I would like to see Pedro Capó win it this year. La Neta symbolizes a life-changing moment for Capó, one that he captures in this ultra-personal set, where he navigates emotions of honesty and vulnerability, and belts lyrics about love, happiness, loneliness, life and death. Recorded and produced entirely by him at his house during the pandemic, the Puerto Rican artist notes that the “silence was necessary for me to come back to my roots […] Very personal. It’s a pandemic album, a picture of everything that happened to me in my life,” he previously told Billboard.
ISABELA RAYGOZA: I appreciate the mix of straight Latin pop with more folky sounds in this category, and I would love to see Gaby Moreno take this one. There’s a whimsical quality that harkens back to the Great Latin American songbook on Moreno’s X Mí (Vol. 1), that channels the spirit of Victor Jara, or even Woody Guthrie if we’re thinking bilingual in general. There’s so much poetic depth in songs like “Fronteras” and “Luna de Xelajú” with Oscar Isaac, that also has a haunting quality to it. And that vibrato!
Best Música Urbana Album
Saturno, Rauw AlejandroMañana Será Bonito, Karol GData, Tainy
S.R.A.: Karol should take this Grammy home with Mañana Será Bonito. It already won the Latin Grammy for best música urbana album and was crowned, more importantly, as album of the year. With a contemporary, eclectic sound and empowering, honest songs like “Provenza,” “Mientras Me Curo del Cora” and “TQG” with Shakira, it should win, and I really hope it does.
G.F.: Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito should and will win. This is probably the only Latin category with an obvious winner. It’s a history-making set that was not only commercially and critically successful, having already won album of the year at the Latin Grammys, it was a groundbreaking album for Karol and Latin music in general becoming the first-ever Spanish-language album by a woman to top the Billboard 200. I have no doubt Karol will take this award home.
L.C.: Karol G already won this very category at the Latin Grammys, in addition to album of the year. That pedigree, alongside Mañana being hands down one of the best albums of the year, should clinch Karol G’s win, even in the face of daunting competition from Rauw Alejandro and hitmaker producer Tainy. Among the three contenders, only Karol G delivered not one, but a handful of global hits, including “TQG,” her top 10 Hot 100 smash alongside Shakira. The fact that Karol G is a woman and would be the first woman to snag this win, is a bonus, but should not for one second take away from the fact that this set is a tour de force.
I.R.: Uff, I have to say that these three albums are all fire, and it’s definitely a hard one to choose, because the three albums transcend the “música urbana” category. I think the easy choice is to give it to Karol G, because this album saw her rise to superstardom, while becoming a stadium performer. However, my personal favorite, admittingly, must be Tainy’s Data. Tainy not only lived up to the anticipation of his debut but surpassed it, transforming his abstract musical configurations into a dazzling journey with plenty of ethereal moments in technicolor well beyond the música urbana soundscape. Shout out to Saturno too for the freestyle reemergence, which was brilliant too. This was a bold move after coming off the success of the more mainstream sound of Vice Versa and the trap thump of his Eps.
J.R.: I must admit that Tainy’s debut studio album is a masterpiece that laces his unmatched skills, good music taste, and A-list artist friends such as Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Wisin & Yandel, Julieta Venegas, and more. And though his creativity shines in various reggaetón bangers fused with synth-based dance and pop beats, I believe that Karol G’s Mañana Será Bonito should and will win the award. After all, not only did La Bichota make Billboard history reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 but the set nabbed the coveted album of the year at the 2023 Latin Grammys. It only makes sense.
Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
MARTÍNEZ, CabraLeche De Tigre, Diamante EléctricoVida Cotidiana, JuanesDe Todas Las Flores, Natalia LafourcadeEADDA9223, Fito Paez
S.R.A.: Vida Cotidiana. Grammy darling Juanes may add one more gramophone to his long list with this raw, emotional album, in which he reflects on his relationship with his wife and children and the problems that affect his native Colombia. With 11 songs including “Gris,” “Amores Prohibidos,” “Ojalá” and “Veneno,” and a return to his rock roots, it already won the Latin Grammy last November for best pop/rock album.
G.F.: This is a tough one because all albums are worthy of taking this award home. But to me there is one that stands out: De Todas Las Flores. Natalia Lafourcade is an artist who’s won multiple Latin Grammys through the years and, in November, won best singer/songwriter album for De Todas Las Flores. Deservingly so. The album — produced by Adan Jodorowsky — is a gorgeous project that cements Lafourcade as one of the best musicians and songwriters of this generation. She deserves all the flowers.
L.C.: Perhaps the most competitive category in the Latin field — one where every album was meticulously thought out as a cohesive body of work — but my bets are on Juanes and his much-acclaimed Vida Cotidiana, despite formidable opposition from Latin Grammy darling Natalia Lafourcade and icon Fito Páez. But Juanes has the historic pedigree of Grammy approved fare, not to mention he’s the one artist here who has actually performed at one of the ceremonies. Last but not least, Vida includes gems.
I.R.: Another category with more than one great albums, from Fito Paez reimagining this timeless songs from El Amor Después del Amor in EADDA9223, to Juanes’ rollicking but vulnerable Vida Cotidiana, and Natalia Laforcade’s De Todas Las Flores which she recorded live on analog tape — I also saw her perform this album live on its debut in Carnegie Hall and I was blown away. Although there are several Grammy darlings here, I’ll predict this one will go to Lafourcade for the reasons aforementioned. The classical strings, the jazzy playfulness, and her introspective songwriting make this one a winner.
J.R.: I think Juanes’ Vida Cotidiana should win — another ultra-personal album created during the pandemic. The set not only marks the Colombian artist’s return to his rock roots meshed with funk, son, and cumbia, but it’s also an homage to his everyday life, including the challenges and differences his family faced after spending 24 hours a day together in quarantine. I do believe, however, that Recording Academy sweetheart Natalia Lafourcade will win the Grammy with De Todas las Flores, a beautifully-crafted set with lyrics that delve deep into personal growth and self-love.
Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Bordado A Mano, Ana BárbaraLa Sánchez, Lila DownsMotherflower, Flor De ToloacheAmor Como En Las Películas De Antes, Lupita InfanteGÉNESIS, Peso Pluma
S.R.A.: Génesis. Peso Pluma didn’t get to see his breakthrough album nominated to the 2023 Latin Grammys, but it sure deserves the love of the Academy and his peers. A chart-topper on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums, the 17-track set took the music world by storm, with hits like “Rosa Pastel” with Jasiel Nuñez, and “Lady Gaga” with Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H. It also made history on the Billboard 200 chart, where it became the highest ranked debut for a regional Mexican album at No. 3.
G.F.: As a woman, I would love to see a woman take home this category. Honoring genre veteran Ana Bárbara with this award for such a solid album would be beautiful to see. But in all fairness, this award should go to Peso Pluma. The Mexican corridos singer revolutionized the genre with Génesis, giving the decades-old genre a massive boost around the world. His global movement should be recognized.
L.C.: How very unlikely to find four women competing in any single category, much less this one. Although the gut reaction is to go for Peso Pluma — not just for his album but also for his global renown and chart prowess — this one may go to Ana Bárbara, in a nod to her 30 years of music and her exquisitely crafted Bordado a Mano (no pun intended), which includes Vicente Fernández’s last duet, a high bar. Ana Bárbara is also boosted by her recent BMI Icon award and the fact that she’s being honored at the upcoming Premio Lo Nuestro.
I.R.: I admit, Lila Down’s potent voice usually finds its way to the depth of my soul. I’ve been a fan of hers since my undergrad days. But Flor de Toloache’s Motherflower is truly riveting. It brims with passion and it fuses sounds from the frontier, a mariachi, bolero outing with cutting-edge production, and Mireya’s gut-wrenching rasp is chilling. I think they will win. But the album, admitingly, that received the most plays for me was Peso Pluma’s Genesis, while mega boosting corridos bélicos scene to the mainstream, and for that we applaud.
J.R.: My best bet is that one of the ladies will win the grammy for best música Mexicana (including Tejano) album — perhaps Ana Bárbara’s Bordado a Mano, which is the only set in this group that was nominated at the 2023 Latin Grammys for best ranchero/mariachi album. On the other hand, I also think Peso Pluma could potentially win his first career Grammy with Génesis. The historic set became only the fourth regional Mexican effort to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums this decade, following Alejandro Fernández’s Hecho en México (Feb. 29, 2020) and two Eslabon Armado albums: Vibras de Noche (Aug. 2020) and Desvelado (May 2023), and reached No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
Best Tropical Latin Album
Voy A Ti, Luis FigueroaNiche Sinfónico, Grupo Niche y Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de ColombiaVIDA, Omara PortuondoMIMY & TONY, Tony Succar, Mimy SuccarEscalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, Carlos Vives
S.R.A.: It is a tough category since it combines multiple tropical music styles all in one. Three of these nominees already received Latin Grammys in November: Grupo Niche for best salsa album, Carlos Vives for best cumbia/vallenato album, and Omara Portuondo for best traditional tropical album. Ruben Blades wasn’t nominated to the Latin Grammys neither this or last year, but he took the best pop latin album Grammy in 2023 for Pasieros with Boca Livre. So, anything could happen here.
G.F.: I loved Carlos Vives’ album, and I think it will win. His passion for vallenato beautifully translates in Escalona. After winning best cumbia/vallenato album at the Latin Grammys in November, I think it has a pretty good chance at winning this category.
L.C.: This competition among icons pits Ruben Blades, Carlos Vives, Grupo Niche and Omara Portuondo against each other, plus newcomer Luis Figueroa and Tony Succar in his poignant collab with his own mother. But Vives’ highly personal look at tradition and history is in a league of its own, a masterful fusion of cultural understanding and commercial execution that is hard to match.
I.R.: My prediction here goes to Carlos Vives’ Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, a heartfelt homage to the legendary Colombian composer, Rafael Escalona. The vallenato revivalist simply breathes new life into Escalona’s classics, and they sound as fresh as ever, preserving the beauty of Vives’ musical heritage and reinventing it for a new era.
J.R.: I believe Carlos Vives’ Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así will win best Tropical album, but personally, I would like to see Niche Sinfónico by Grupo Niche and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia take the Grammy. The latter tributes some of the biggest compositions by the late Jairo Varela (Niche’s founder and director) and delivers elegant versions of timeless salsa tunes like “Mi Pueblo Natal” and “Cali Pachanguero.” Both Colombian acts already nabbed a Latin Grammy for their respective albums, which makes me believe this Grammy will stay in Colombia.
The riveting sound of Xavi‘s tumbados románticos and the hypnotic rhythms of 8onthebeat’s dance floor creations collide the pair’s insatiable electro-bélicos single, “La Diabla (Electro Remix)”. Last December, Xavi dropped the Billboard chart-smashing original, a crispy guitar-laden tale about a bad boy’s romance with a bad girl, or “she devil.” Today — nearly two months and hundreds […]
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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Enrique Iglesias & Yotuel, “Fría” (Sony Music Latin)
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After delving into bachata with the sweet, bouncy “Así es la vida” with María Becerra, Iglesias goes back to party mode with “Fría,” the second single off his upcoming Final, Vol. 2. Here, he pairs up for the first time with Yotuel in a catchy, mid-tempo calypso that celebrates carnival in its colorful video. “Fría” taps into the lighter side of both Yotuel and Iglesias; it’s light and airy and unpretentious, built on the play of words around “fría” (used here as “cold one” as in cold brew) and “confía” (trust), in three-repetition intervals for maximum catchiness. That catchiness is sure to inspire signature dance moves and more than a little sing along. — LEILA COBO
Tiago PZK & Ke Personajes, “Piel” (Grand Move Records/Warner Music Latina)
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Urban and cumbia music combine here for the new love anthem “Piel,” perfect for celebrating this Valentine’s month. Argentine urban-pop artist Tiago PZK teams up with Emanuel Noir, frontman of Ke Personajes (one of Billboard’s 2024 Latin Artists to Watch), to gift fans with a powerful urban-infused cumbia villera track that opens with the beautiful piano melody and then transitions into a catchy and sensual cumbia beat. Penned by Tiago and Colombian hitmaker Keityn, the lyrics describe the feelings only the person you love can bring out in you: “Just let me be the one who passionately kisses your skin/ But also the one who shares with you, my love/ Telling you how you slept and how you woke up.” — INGRID FAJARDO
Ángela Aguilar, Bolero (Machin Records)
Ángela Aguilar revives the timeless allure of the Great Latin American Songbook through her new album, aptly named Bolero. Dripping with elegance and nostalgia, the Mexican American chanteuse forges a deeper connection with her heritage that not only pays homage to the past but also paves the way for future generations to cherish and appreciate the beauty of boleros. Her renditions pay tribute to revered songwriters like Armando Manzanero, César Portillo de la Luz, Pedro Flores, Agustín Lara, and his sister María Teresa Lara Aguirre.
The album gains an additional layer of authenticity with the accompaniment of the legendary Trio Los Panchos, whose nylon guitar-driven arrangements add a timeless brilliance to hits like “Luna Lunera” (also featuring the Cuban musician Amadito Valdés), “Toda Una Vida,” and the iconic “Piel Canela” and “Quizás Quizás Quizás.” Furthermore, “Piensa en Mí” is adorned with golden piano keys that evoke a bygone era, enveloping the listener in a spellbinding embrace. It’s a heartfelt journey through the soul of Latin America that bridges generations. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Marca MP, LEALTAD (Sun Meadow/Sony Music Latin)
Marca MP kicks off 2024 with the release of their fifth studio album, LEALTAD (loyalty). An ode to their faithful fans and the sound that made them a household name back in 2019, the California-based música Mexicana group deliver a 10-track set with their traditional sierreño melodies. Seven of the songs were composed by lead singer Chato (real name: Pedro Vargas Vaca Jr.), including the focus title track — a captivating corrido about hustling, achieving success, and being loyal to his day ones. “I’ve dedicated many months to this project,” Chato expressed on his Instagram. “I want to thank my team and everyone who added a grain of salt so that it would be possible but above all, my group members for always being loyal.” Produced by Chato outside his parent’s house in Northern California, other notable tracks on LEALTAD include “Tenis Balenciaga,” “Mi Universo Entero” and “Para Mí.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Quevedo, “La Última” (Taste the Floor Records)
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At just 22 years old, Spanish rapper Quevedo recently surprised his fans on social media with the announcement of his temporary retirement from music. Leaving with a bang, the Canarian artist left behind “La Última” (“The last one”), a single that would explain some of the reasons for his decision. With raw and honest lyrics, Quevedo implies that he has lost his first love for his occupation: “Sometimes I can’t stop crying when I remember all the nights that I cried,” he chants. “Remembering why I cried and wrote and recorded/ Every night I stayed up late/ Everything was so pure that/ Where I wanted to be was where I was.” Throughout the ultra-emotional song, the also trapper vents by expressing that he needs to lose everything to go back to what he felt at the beginning and fall in love all over again, resonating with many who have felt this way regardless of occupation. More than a dozen artists make cameos in the emotional music video, including Yandel, Omar Montes, Mora, and Ovy on the Drums. —LUISA CALLE
Zoe Gotusso, “Pensando en Ti” (Sony Music Argentina)
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Zoe Gotusso presents the second advance song from her upcoming sophomore studio album: a version of the classic “Pensando em Você” by Brazilian artist Paulinho Moska. Produced by Cachorro López and Diego Mema, with lyrics in Spanish sung by the Argentine singer-songwriter, the sweet pop ballad includes verses like “Hey, I’m thinking about you/ Thinking about never again thinking about forgetting you/ Because when I think of you is when I feel myself.”
“‘Pensando en Ti’ is a song that I feel is so mine and so my own that I took the courage to translate it so that it reaches another generation,” Gotusso says in a press release about the follow-up to her 2023 single “Entrégate.” “I had some of Paulinho Moska’s albums in my house and recently I had the pleasure of meeting him to tell him that I wanted to sing his song. I always felt very connected to the music of Brazil and continuing to build the bridge between our two countries is a pleasure.”
Her beautiful take comes with a music video directed by Rafael Kogan, which shows the artist spending a day alone, enjoying her own company while thinking about her love. It’s a perfect song for this Valentine’s Day. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Los Aptos, “Botellas” (Warner Music Latina)
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The emerging Mexican-American trio is in their experimental era. Los Aptos have unleashed their EDM-inspired electro-corrido “Botellas,” which effortlessly fuses elements of pop, house and regional Mexican. Composed of Juan Ortega, Jonathan Rivera, and Daniel Vaides, hailing from the Midwest state of Indiana, Los Aptos is among a new generation of Mexican-American artists who’ve modernized música mexicana. Placing all bets on heartbreak, a theme that’s worked well for Gen Z artists and fans, “Botellas” explores the complex emotions that bubble up after a breakup. Los Aptos are set to drop a new album this year. — GRISELDA FLORES
Mariángela, Sensible (Sony Music Latin)
In her debut album, Sensible, Mexican American singer/songwriter Mariángela takes a page from the synth pop style of early 2000 groups like Belanova and Miranda! and the dreamy quality of Lana del Rey to inform dance-pop beats that finally are all her own. Mariángela first gained traction with her beautiful, breathy cover of Roberto Carlos’ classic “Cama y Mesa.” With Sensible, she expands with original material that’s not just romantic; songs like the uptempo “Soñarte” and current single “Acto final” can also work perfectly well on the dance floor, while the title track is experimental and edgier, but still pop. It’s different from what other female voices are doing in Latin, and the unique sound stands out. — L. COBO
Listen to more editors’ picks in the New Music Latin playlist below:
Happy birthday, Shakira! Billboard is celebrating the Colombian artist’s 47th birthday on Friday (Feb. 2) with her biggest hits on the Hot Latin Songs chart. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Last year, Shak made a triumphant comeback to music with her first single of 2023, “BZRP Music […]
Few songs evoke Colombian pride like Grupo Niche’s salsa classic “Cali Pachanguero.” The moment the song’s opening trombone intro plays in a room full of Colombians, chairs and tables get pushed to the side, the space turns into a makeshift dance floor and a sing-along breaks out. So what if the song is a love […]
Marc Anthony’s remarkable dominance on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart adds yet another chapter this week as his latest single, “Punta Cana,” debuts at No. 1 on the ranking dated Feb. 3. The arrival extends his record for the most No. 1s in the chart’s history.
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“Punta Cana” storms in atop Tropical Airplay with 4.6 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the Jan. 19-25 tracking week, according to Luminate.
“Punta Cana’s” arrival at the summit secures Marc Anthony his unprecedented 36th No. 1 on the list, the most among all acts; a record he’s held since 1996, one year after Tropical Airplay launched. Victor Manuelle remains in second place, with 29 No. 1s.
The bachata, coproduced by Marc Anthony alongside Sergio George, was released Jan. 26 via Sony Music Latin and unseats another labelmate from the lead: Enrique Iglesias and Maria Becerra’s “Así Es La Vida” drops to No. 2 with a 19% decrease in impressions, to 4.3 million.
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Notably, out of the 36 champs on Marc Anthony’s Tropical Airplay account, “Punta Cana” becomes the third song to premiere at No. 1, following the six-week champ “Se Me Sigue Olvidando” (1995) and nine-week ruler “Ahora Quien” (2004). (Only 16 songs overall have debuted on at No. 1 on the chart.) Plus, “Punta Cana” is Marc Anthony’s first No. 1 in two years (since “Mala Santa” ruled for one week in March 2022) and his 27th No. 1 without any accompanying acts.
As Marc Anthony continues to beat the competition, here’s the recap of the artists with the most No. 1s on the 28-year-old chart:
36, Marc Anthony29, Victor Manuelle23, Prince Royce18, Romeo Santos14, Elvis Crespo14, Gilberto Santa Rosa13, Jerry Rivera12, Juan Luis Guerra 440
Beyond its Tropical Airplay coronation, “Punta Cana” gives Marc Anthony his 59th career entry on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, as the song debuts at No. 19. With the new entry, he continues to hold the record for the most chart appearances among tropical acts, and the sixth-most among all artists. Here’s the leaderboard:
85, Daddy Yankee68, Ozuna64, Intocable63, Los Tigres del Norte60, J Balvin59, Marc Anthony58, Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga
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 by scrolling on social media, networking, or coming across their music at a showcase, for example. See our January 2024 recommendations below.
Artist: Jimmy Rodriguez
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: I first heard Rodriguez when he auditioned for Telemundo’s La Voz second season. Like all the participants, he presented himself with great emotion and was full of dreams. But something that made him stand out, besides his impeccable voice, was that he arrived wearing a Carlos Vives shirt as a gesture of manifestation (Vives indeed becomes his coach). The Mexican-born, Miami-based artist, also known as “El Mexicano Salsero,” is a combination of cheerful energy, creativity and distinctive vocals. Forming part of a new generation of salsa stars, Rodriguez brings his Mexican roots and tropical fusions together when he’s performing live, where often times you’ll see him rocking his handlebar mustache, traditional “pantalones de charro” pants, and the Mexican flag proudly hanging around his microphone. Along with his live band, it becomes an experience, not just a typical show. — INGRID FAJARDO
Song For Your Playlist: “El Rumbón” feat. Motiff & Tony Succar
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Artist: Lara Project
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Composed by Venezuelan-born brothers Manuel and Félix Lara, the Lara Project duo brings retro dance sounds from the ’70s and ’80s to the forefront. Using synths, pulsing beats and live instrumentation, the siblings effortlessly navigate and intertwine diverse musical genres, casting a wide net for potential listeners. The head-bobbing “Comme des Garçons,” released earlier this month, thrives on an irresistible funk rhythm and a captivating mid-tempo beat. The duo is set to drop their upcoming new album, Sobrenatural, in March via Interscope. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Comme des Garçons”
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Artist: Maura Nava
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Nava is a rare hidden gem, one who has a story of admiration and resilience and who’s captivating vocals live to tell it. The Mexican-born, Miami-based rising act first gained exposure thanks to her cat — yes, her cat — via a TikTok video where she was flaunting her opera-singing skills and her furry pet crashed the video, only to perform with her. The video, which was blessed as “opera cat,” has garnered nearly 10 million views. But beyond her viral stint, it’s Nava’s enchanting aura and effortless soprano vocal range that ultimately got her into award-winning producer’s Julio Reyes Copello’s ArtHouse Academy, a deal with Universal Music Latin, and her own track on the soundtrack to Prime Video’s Zorro series. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Encontrarme” (Carla Morrison cover)
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Artist: RENEE
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: There are few times when a streaming platform gets its recommendations right, but in this case, it led me to a musical treasure with RENEE. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the singer-songwriter (whose full name is Sofía Renee Jiménez Alvarado) gives a new air to pop with her soulful voice, introspective lyrics, and sonic mix of jazz, soul, bossa nova and folk. Her lyrics address topics from the complexity of romantic relationships to her emotional state, while in her musical career she has reinvented herself on several occasions — both in her music and in her hair style.
She debuted in 2019 on Universal Music Mexico with RENEE, a three-song EP that goes from pop-soul and bossa-nova (and includes the single “Esperándote”), followed by the EP Viaje al Amanecer the same year, where she also showed her folk side. In 2020, she released her debut LP Breve Espacio. Highlights from her discography since include the bright funk “Quiero quedarme para siempre” with La La Love You, released in 2022, as well as the moving ballad “Extraños de nuevo,” and her 2023 album NMDQH, which includes her hit song “Nunca Tristes (Me Vale Madre).” RENEE started 2024 with the song “El Disfraz,” also showing her acting skills in the music video. With such an eclectic and captivating musical persona, it is certain that none of her songs will go unnoticed. — LUISA CALLE
Song For Your Playlist: “El Disfraz”
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Artist: Ximena Guzmán
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: A natural born singer and songwriter, Ximena Guzmán began her formal music training at the age of 11 at the Conservatorio del Tolima, before studying lyrical singing at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá. After collaborating and performing with national orchestras, mariachi ensembles and llanero groups, both nationally and internationally, she made her solo debut in October with the single “Duele,” showing a powerful, melodic voice with a contemporary style. She followed that in December with the infectious mariachi trap fusion “A Solas,” part of an upcoming EP produced by JC Karo (who has worked with stars such as Pedro Capó, Ricky Martin and Anuel AA), to be released this year by Ditto Music. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “A Solas”
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The Conga Room — the nightclub that for years defined Latin entertainment in Los Angeles and featured artists like Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana, Fito Páez and Alejandro Sanz — is closing its doors after 25 years. Its final concert will be a private show March 27 featuring Puerto Rican salsa star Gilberto Santa Rosa and an array of friends, hosted by actor and producer Jimmy Smits and MC’d by comedian Paul Rodriguez, both co-owners.
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Established in 1999 by entrepreneur Brad Gluckstein, the Conga was — and still is — an anomaly in Los Angeles: an upscale, celebrity-studded nightclub devoted to Latin music and entertainment. Gluckstein’s co-owners at opening were luminaries Smits, Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez and Sheila E., all representing different sides of entertainment. In contrast with New York, which for decades boasted legendary nightclubs devoted to Latin music, Los Angeles didn’t have a Latin venue backed by star power and that sought to highlight a broad swath of Latin music.
Maluma performing at the Conga Room in 2016
The Conga Room
From the onset, the Conga did just that.
When it opened in its original Wilshire Boulevard location, it featured Celia Cruz as its first headliner, and artists who performed there included Buena Vista Social Club and Tito Puente, but also Carlos Santana and Alejandro Fernández. In 2008, the Conga Room moved to its current, ritzier location at L.A. LIVE, where it continued to expand its programming, bringing in reggaetón and Mexican acts; Maluma and Bad Bunny, for example, played there in the early days.
In 2013, Billboard hosted a show by norteño band Calibre 50, as part of its Mexican Music Awards. While the room also featured other genres, with shows by artists like Lenny Kravitz, Ed Sheeran and Avicii, its core remained Latin music. All told, the venue hosted more than 500 performances in both locations, in addition to special events.
Gilberto Santa Rosa performing at the Conga Room in 2021
The Conga Room
“The Conga Room brought Latin music to the forefront, presenting both international and local artists in an intimate and upscale setting,” said Gluckstein in a statement. “It also became part of the cultural fabric of Los Angeles, hosting cultural, political and community events for a quarter of a century.”
However, offered Gluckstein, “Unfortunately, with the pandemic, the lack of events at the convention center, and the difficulty in booking national acts with AEG and Live Nation controlling national routing, our business model was changed. Coupled with an inflammatory economy and high interest rates, [it changed] consumer behavior significantly.”
Although the venue is shuttering, the nonprofit organization Conga Kids will continue to operate. Founded in 2016, the program reaches roughly 50,000 elementary school children per year in largely under-resourced communities in LA County, offering a curriculum of dance and music of the Afro-Diaspora.
Eladio Carrión shines bright with the highest debut of the week on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums charts, as Sol María, his sixth studio set, launches at No. 6 and No. 3, respectively, on the Feb. 3-dated rankings.
Sol María, a tribute to his mother, starts with 18,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 25, according to Luminate. The 17-track set blends trap, Afrobeats, reggae and ’90s pop, all genres that resonate with his mother. The set was originally set for a Dec. 23 release, but finally dropped Jan. 19, the first day of the chart’s tracking week.
Of Sol María’s 18,000-unit sum, 17,000 stem from streaming activity, which equals to 23.6 million official on-demand U.S. clicks of the album’s songs in its opening week. Album sales comprise 1,000 units, while a negligible amount of activity derived from track-equivalent units.
On Top Latin Albums, one unit equals to one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.
With Sol María’s No. 6 entrance on Top Latin Albums, the new father of twins Carrión captures his fifth top 10, out of seven visits, on the Top Latin Albums tally and bests his album debut Sauce Boyz’s No. 8 debut and peak in 2020. Three other sets have peaked in the list’s upper region: Sauce Boyz 2 at No. 2 (2021), SEN2 KBRN, Vol. 2 at No. 4 (2022), and 3MEN2 KBRN at No. 3 (2023).
Beyond its top 10 debut on Top Latin Albums, Sol María gifts Carrión his fourth entry on the overall Billboard 200 chart, at No. 37. Plus, with Sol María, the Puerto Rican-American rapper notches his sixth top 10 on Latin Rhythm Albums, as it bows at No. 3 – matching the debut and peak of his last entry, 3MEN2 KBRN in April 2023.
As Sol María arrives, three of its tracks launch on the Hot Latin Songs chart –which blends streaming data, sales, and airplay– led by “Hey Lil Mama,” with Rauw Alejandro, at No. 36. The song is mostly powered by streaming activity, with 2.52 million clicks in its first week.
“TQMQA” follows at No. 39 1.7 million streams, and make progress in the radio realm. It rallies 41-31 on Latin Airplay with 4 million audience impressions (up 20%).
Meanwhile, the last of the album’s three debuting cuts on Hot Latin Songs, “Bendecido,” opens at No. 49, largely from its 2.1 million streams logged in the tracking week.
Carrión’s fresh chart achievements arrive on the heels of his first Latin Grammy win for “Coco Channel,” his Bad Bunny collab named best rap/hip-hop song at the awards in November.
Broadway legend Chita Rivera has died. She was 91. According to The New York Times, Rivera’s death was confirmed via a statement issued by her daughter Lisa Mordente. The iconic singer, dancer and actress graced the Broadway stage for nearly seven decades, originating iconic roles like Anita in West Side Story (1957), Rose in Bye […]