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Back in the 1980s and even the 1990s, Spanish artists like Raphael, Julio Iglesias and Camilo Sesto were hugely popular both in Latin America and among U.S. Latin audiences — a situation replicated in the 1990s and 2000s by the likes of global superstars like Mecano and Alejandro Sanz, both of whom hailed from Spain. […]
In a bid to stay attuned to an ever-evolving musical landscape, the Latin Recording Academy has announced two new categories: best contemporary Mexican music album and best Latin electronic music performance. After criticism arose in 2023 for a lack of representation for regional Mexican artists, especially within the top four categories, the Latin Academy is […]
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 March 2024 — in honor of Women’s History Month — recommendations below.
Artist: Alé Araya
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Country: U.S. (of Chilean descent)
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Whether embodying a fairy-like figure in music videos (see below) or channeling the essence of a mythical forest creature, as depicted in her vinyl artwork for in visions, Alé Araya stands out with her captivating imagery. However, it’s her music that truly enchants. As a singer-songwriter and producer, her compositions exude R&B sensuality infused with atmospheric yet jittery productions, reminiscent of artists like Kali Uchis, Ibeyi, or PinkPanthress.
Her latest single, “Bella,” released on International Women’s Day, serves as an homage to “divinity, female ferocity, and female transgression,” as highlighted in her press kit; in just two and a half minutes, the Chilean descendant mesmerizes listeners by layering her serene vocals with the potential to spellbind. Now signed to Rostrum Records, Alé has spent recent years honing her craft, writing and producing for notable figures such as Alice Glass of Crystal Castles fame, Saba, Joseph Chilliams and Lexa Gates. With a classical jazz background and a deep understanding of digital composition, she brings a unique perspective to her work. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Alé is poised to release her next EP this May. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song for Your Playlist: “Bella”
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Artist: Greyvi
Country: Honduras
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I discovered Greyvi while she performed at the renowned Calle Ocho Festival in Miami earlier this month. With such edge and grace, the young artist — who was born in Honduras to Colombian parents and resides between Guatemala and Miami — can easily navigate from Latin pop to urban music with her sweet vocals and fierce dance moves. Further demonstrating her hunger in the music industry and effortless versatility, her latest single “El Luto” is a catchy salsa bop co-produced by Colombian hitmaker Saga WhiteBlack, which narrates the story of a girl who’s over an ex and is not mourning the heartbreak anymore. In 2022, she collaborated with Dominican rapper Mozart La Para on “Nos Fuimos Mundial” and released her debut EP Soy Greyvi in 2023. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song for Your Playlist: “El Luto”
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Artist: Irepelusa
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Venezuelan singer/songwriter Irepelusa just debuted in Bogota’s Estero Picnic Festival, her latest notch in a career that’s been rising slowly and steadily and surrounded by fine musicians. Now based in Colombia, Irepelusa plays a mix of atmospheric electronica, pop, soul and R&B with frequent touches of Caribbean and urban beats. But she’s also capable of switching to a pure acoustic sound with a beautiful, bell-like voice. Irepelusa (real name Irene Alejandra) is prepping an upcoming album produced by Juan Pablo Vega, with a new single “Los Domingos la Paso Solita,” released February on indie Discos La Piña. — LEILA COBO
Song for Your Playlist: “Nervios de Acero”
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Artist: NXNNI
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I’m always on the hunt for up-and-coming talent in regional Mexican and, not surprisingly, when I do find new names they are almost always men. So, when sierreño artist Ivonne Galaz unleashed “Fumar Beber” earlier this month featuring only emerging women in música mexicana on her track, it made me really excited. One of those featured is NXNNI, a corridos bélicos singer-songwriter from Monterrey, Nuevo León, a Mexican state that borders Texas.
Like most of this generation’s regional acts, NXNNI is also a gifted guitar player, with which she powers her prickly corridos, along with her deep and rich vocals that demand attention. After launching her career in 2021 singing corrido covers and rapping alongside local artists, she scored a record deal with Fonovisa (the Mexican music imprint under Universal) and was part of its 2023 compilation album Bélico Indie (Vol. 1). Most recently, she released a cover of Belanova’s 2000s pop anthem “Rosa Pastel,” giving it a corridos bélico twist. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song for Your Playlist: “Rosa Pastel”
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As the world observes Holy Week 2024, Billboard Español has prepared a special selection of 31 new Christian songs in Spanish for the season. The list is comprised of established and emerging artists, encompassing the diversity of Latin Christian music in sound and message.
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The lyrics of these songs explore themes such as love, family and everyday life from the perspective of faith, thus providing an enriching experience for those who want to approach faith through music.
Among the highlights are a variety of popular genres, from worship songs such as “40CM” by the singer-songwriter CRYS together with Genock Gabriel, and the ballad “Vuelvo” by Marcela Gándara, produced by Julio Reyes Copello, which invites us to get closer to God in the most challenging moments. In addition, we included “Tu Presencia Me Llamó,” the Spanish version of the popular song “Me Atraiu” by the Brazilian Gabriela Rocha with the Guatemalan band Miel San Marcos. With this anthem, Rocha became the first woman in gospel music worldwide to reach 3.3 billion views on YouTube, according to Billboard Brazil.
Within the field of Christian urban music, songs such as “Flow Celeste” by Barajas and Alex Zurdo, “Te Siento” by Indiomar and “Locura” by Jay Kalyl stand out. While in Latin pop, there are gems such as Gilberto Daza’s pop vallenato “Seguir Vale la Pena,” and “Capulí”, which united the Ecuadorian Vaes with the Colombian band Alkilados.
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In addition, the list includes “Confía” by Farruko and Dalex, “Who Who” by Nino Freestyle and Emanuel Lara, and “Chica de Altar” by the latter, all part of the compilation album Transition, from Puerto Rican Farruko’s Carbon Fiber label, which took a new faith-based direction this year and features diverse emerging artists both Christian and non-Christian. This project also supports Billboard‘s forecast that 2024 could see more secular artists break into Latin Christian music.
Listen to our playlist of new Latin Christian songs for Easter 2024 below:
Santiago de Cali or simply Cali — the third-most populous city in Colombia after Bogotá and Medellín — is known as “La capital mundial de la salsa” (the salsa capital of the world) given the city’s love for the genre and more so, it’s talented artists. Among them is Grupo Niche, which was formed in Bogotá, but settled in Cali in 1982.
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Known for classic salsa tunes such as “Una Aventura,” “Gotas de Lluvia” and “Mi Pueblo,” Niche was founded 44 years ago by the late Jairo Varela. One the group’s most notable songs, however, is “Cali Pachanguero,” one that resonates with proud Colombians everywhere and is a must-play at any Latin party.
In celebration of the latter track’s 40th anniversary, the Latin Grammy-winning ensemble is on the road with its Pachanguero Tour, which has already made stops in Australia, Los Angeles, Panama, Peru and Miami.
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“It’s the new performance by Grupo Niche, with a new proposal and a new show on stage,” vocalist Alejandro Iñigo tells Billboard. “We’re going to perform at a jazz festival in New Orleans and we’re doing the Auditorio Nacional in Mexico, where we will take the legacy of the group to a new audience and a different market. The tour is full of surprises and big things.”
Niche, along with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, won the 2023 Latin Grammy for best salsa album with Niche Sinfónico. Now, the group is working on a new album that fans will love, according to vocalist Alex Torres.
“It will be a wonderful album that will surely reach a bigger audience,” he notes. “It will be with new songs and very modern, conserving the parameters and musical concept of the group.”
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Below, group members break down how “Cali Pachanguero” was created.
The Song’s Backstory
“This is a song that was composed by the maestro Jairo Varela,” José Aguirre, musical director and trumpet player of Niche says. “He composed it in a hotel in New York after talking to a friend at the time who felt an absence and lots of nostalgia [being away] from Cali. Talking to him, he got inspired to create this song. After that came the recording stage.”
The Lyrics & the Sound
The lyrics in “Cali Pachanguero” describe the city of Cali, Colombia — with its bustling carnivals, lively atmosphere and beautiful people — narrated by someone who’s far away and yearns to go back home.
“The rhythm, which had a very big boom in the ’70s in salsa and in the world, is a rhythm called ‘pachanga,’ and for that reason he titled the song ‘Cali Pachanguero,’” Aguirre explains. “It’s a very commercial melody that’s under the roof of the rhythms that make up salsa music. It was recorded in 1984 and not only was it an immediate success at the Cali fair, but also a success throughout Colombia, and abroad with such great force that today has become an icon of Latin music.”
The Song’s Impact
Aguirre continues: “This song was already born big. It came out at a very important time for Grupo Niche. Just by the success it had at the fair that year [1984], it began to move masses. It’s a work that has been gaining popularity. In fact, at the beginning of those years, the song was only played in Cali because it was from that city. But today, the song has to be played everywhere. It’s a must-play song [at our concert]. Everywhere [in the world], people assume it as their own.”
Its Legacy
“Maestro Jairo Varela left very strong foundations with his determination and discipline,” vocalist Luis Araque notes. “He’s always worked with that order of ideas. Respecting the music, respecting his concept and respecting what he’s done, I think everything with the group has gone very well. All of us in the group know that we have to arrive early, that we cannot get drunk, that we have to give a status to that discipline.”
Don Omar‘s 2011 smash hit “Taboo” has just earned him a new milestone. According to YouTube, the song’s music video, which includes footage from the blockbuster action film Fast Five, has surpassed one billion views, making it his second video in the Billion Views Club as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. Currently, Don Omar comes in at No. 87 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists.
Shot in Brazil and directed by Marlon P, the music video not only includes scenes from Fast Five, but also includes a storyline in which Don Omar is a waiter at a very fancy event, where he crosses paths with a childhood crush. Drama ensues when both leave the party and eventually reunite to rekindle their relationship.
“Taboo” peaked at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart in March 2011, where it sat atop the summit for five weeks. The samba-inspired track also ruled the Latin Airplay tally for five weeks.
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Currently, the Puerto Rican hitmaker is on his Back to Reggaetón U.S. Tour. The stint, produced by CMN, marks his much-awaited return to the stage, celebrating two decades of influential hits that have cemented his status as a global superstar. The tour, which launched in Reading, Penn., on March 7, includes stops in major cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas and Houston.
In February, Don Omar accepted the Ícono Global Award at the 2024 Premio Lo Nuestro. After a riveting medley — which featured special guests Machine Gun Kelly, Anitta and Wisin & Yandel — he gave a heartfelt speech honoring urban artists. “This is for those who made urban music before me, for those who made urban music at the time I made it, for those who make urban music in the future and for all the countries where there is not even a single urban music artist,” he said.
Revisit his “Taboo” music video above.
Christian Nodal and Peso Pluma take over Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “La Intención” lands at No. 1 on the list dated March 30. Nodal and Pluma’s first collab springs from No. 5 to crown the chart with 8.3 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending March 21, according to […]
The countdown reached Times Square nine months early on Tuesday night (March 26), where thousands of people gathered at the iconic tourist destination, not to watch the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop but the Colombian superstar Shakira.
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The artist surprised her followers with a “pop-up” concert announced just hours earlier on her social media, and about 40,000 fans, according to figures provided by the organizers, responded to her call to celebrate her first LP in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, released last Friday.
A huge electronic billboard that covered part of a skyscraper announced the free show with a clock counting down to its start. At around 7:30 p.m. ET, the crowd enthusiastically chanted from ten to zero and two large doors hidden in the jumbotron opened to reveal the TSX Stage, and Shakira opening with her No. 1 Hot 100 hit “Hips Don’t Lie.”
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“Hola New York! Oh my God, this is amazing, absolutely insane,” she said immediately after in Spanglish. It’s so awesome to see you again, to sing for you… Nothing compares to this. Thank you so much for all the love that you’ve been giving me this week during the release of my new album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. And thank you, thank you, thank you for showing up.”
Dressed in black pants and top with silver embellishments, the self-proclaimed She-Wolf delighted the crowd by singing live — along with a band and a group of dancers — songs such as “Te Felicito”, “TQM”, “Cómo Dónde y Cuándo” and “Puntería”, before closing with the mega hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
“I’m happy to be here surrounded by my Latin people,” said the 14-times Latin Grammy and three-times Grammy winner. “Thank you New York. Until next time. I love you very much.”
Tuesday’s show was co-produced by TSX Entertainment, with presenting partners ViX, Vinfast and Sony Music Latin. It took place the day after Shakira’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed “Puntería” and spoke candidly about her former relationship with soccer star Gerard Piqué, and why it took her so long to release a new LP since 2017’s El Dorado. “Now I’m husband-less,” the She-Wolf declared. (Shakira and Piqué — who announced their split in 2022 — never married during their 11-year relationship, but share two sons.) “The husband was dragging me down. Now I’m free. Now I can actually work.”
Watch part of Shakira’s performance in Times Square below:
On Tuesday (March 26), the Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced a new category dedicated to Spanish representation in Christian music for their annual Dove Awards. The award for Spanish language worship recorded song of the year will debut at the 55th GMA Dove Awards, set to take place on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Allen Arena in Nashville. Nominations will be announced on July 24.
The new award, which will recognize the talent of performers and songwriters of worship songs, joins two other pre-existing Latin music categories: Spanish language album of the year, established in 1998, and Spanish language recorded song of the year, created in 2017. (Bands Generación 12 and Miel San Marcos were the winners of these awards, respectively, last year).
The initiative responds to a 30% increase in Spanish-language music entries submitted to the awards show in the last five years, as well as the constant growth of Spanish language music in genres ranging including worship, urban, pop, and rock.
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“We have witnessed this genre boom internationally, without precedent or barriers,” Justin Fratt, executive vice president of the Gospel Music Association, said in a press release. “For us, it has been an honor to support our colleagues from various Latin American and Spanish-speaking countries, celebrating the greatness of their music.”
The effort was backed by other companies in the Latin Christian industry such as CanZion, Capitol CMG/Universal, Creation Music, Curb Records, Heaven and Sony/Provident, according to the release.
Henry Alonzo, CCO of Christian music publishing and distribution company Adarga Entertainment Group, tells Billboard Español that its audio and video streaming numbers have quadrupled recently, and that its artists — who have included Miel San Marcos, Alex Campos and Jesús Adrian — have reached the same stages as those in other genres of Latin music. “All this is thanks to the work done by the same industry that supports artists of this genre,” he said.
Since its foundation in 1964, GMA has served a highly diverse community of creatives and professionals within the Christian and gospel music industry. Its mission is to expose, promote and celebrate gospel music. Through the GMA Foundation and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the association seeks to preserve the legacy of the genre’s pioneers, while celebrating the work of contemporary artists with events such as the Dove Awards.
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From the ranks of Los Temerarios to the emerging Los Esquivel, see the list below.
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