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Latin

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Breakout star Xavi is hitting the road with the 2024 Poco A Poco Tour, his first trek in the U.S.
The 19-year-old Mexican-American singer/songwriter is set to kick off the 24-date stint on March 28, starting with two stops in Mexico. On April 2, he begins his American stint in Los Angeles at the Roxy Theatre, making stops in Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and Las Vegas and wrapping up in San Antonio on May 12. The “La Diabla” singer is also slated to perform at Sueños Music Festival in Chicago on May 25.

The tour announcement comes on the heels of Xavi’s rapid rise in the music industry thanks to his signature tumbados románticos. Xavi signed with Interscope Records in 2021, and in 2023, he released a summer EP titled My Mom’s Playlist — a tribute to his mother that features covers of Latin pop and rock en Español classics she loved — reflects his deep-rooted family values.

At the end of December, Xavi debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 with not one, but two entries: “La Diabla” and “La Víctima,” which have since peaked at No. 22 and No. 55, respectively. His global appeal is further evidenced by his presence on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts, with “La Diabla” reaching the top five on both.

He’s also spent eight weeks atop Billboard’s Latin Songwriters thanks to songs like “La Diabla” and previously released singles including “La Víctima,” “Poco a Poco” with Dareyes De La Sierra and “Modo DND” with Tony Aguirre.

Earlier this year, Xavi signed with WME for global representation in all areas.

Pre-sale tickets go live Wednesday (Feb. 7) via Seated.com. Public on-sale for tickets will be available on Friday (Feb. 9) through Xavi’s official website.

See 24 dates for his first tour below:

March 28, Auditorio BlackBerry, Mexico City, MexicoMarch 30, Teatro Diana, Guadalajara, Jalisco, MexicoApril 2, The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, CAApril 5, Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WAApril 6, Roseland Theater, Portland ORApril 7, Knitting Factory, Boise, IDApril 11, Arcata Theatre Lounge, Arcata, CAApril 12, Ruth Finley Theater, Santa Rosa, CAApril 13, The Catalyst, Santa Cruz, CAApril 14, Freemont Theatre, San Luis Obispo, CAApril 18, Riverside Municipal Auditorium, Riverside CAApril 19, The Observatory, Santa Ana, CA April 21, The Observatory North Park, San Diego, CAApril 26, Fox Theater, Bakersfield, CAApril 27, House of Blues Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NVApril 28, The Union Event Center, Salt Lake City, UTMay 1, The Van Buren, Phoenix, AZMay 2, The Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZMay 3, La Hacienda Event Center, Midland, TXMay 5, The Plaza Theatre, El Paso, TXMay 9, Tower Theatre, Oklahoma City, OKMay 10, House of Blues Dallas, Dallas, TXMay 11, House of Blues Houston, Houston, TXMay 12, The Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, TX

Ricky Martin enters his high society era in new trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Palm Royale. The Puerto Rican star is set to play Robert in the comedy series that stars Kristen Wiig, Alison Janney, Laura Dern, Kaia Gerber, Bruce Dern and Carol Burnett, who will be making “extra special guest” appearances. Explore […]

Karol G’s first Grammy victory at the 66th annual Grammy Awards (Feb. 4) marks a pivotal moment in her booming career.
Adorned in a light greyish blue gown — her signature long pink hair complementing her ensemble — the celebrated superstar was visibly elated to earn the Grammy for best música urbana album with her groundbreaking 2023 release, Mañana Será Bonito. “Que viva Colombia,” shouted Maluma, her fellow genre peer from Medellín, after Christina Aguilera presented Karol G as the winner.

Already a recipient of five Latin Grammy Awards and four Billboard Music Awards, this Grammy win adds a significant accolade to her collection. Her acceptance speech was a heartfelt reflection of her journey, expressing overwhelming happiness, nervousness and excitement about standing amongst the musical legends she has long admired.

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“Hi everybody, my name is Karol G. I am from Medellín, Colombia. This is my first time at the Grammys, and this is my first time holding my own Grammy,” said Karol during her acceptance speech. “I’m super happy, I’m super nervous, I’m super excited to be in front of so many legends that I admire and respect. This is such a beautiful thing. My album has given me the best memories in my life, my whole life!

“My fans that came and enjoyed my album, and got motivation and inspiration with me, and heal with me. Thank you so much, I promise to give you my best, always, and I hope this is the first of many. So thank you everybody,” she said before shouting out Tainy and Rauw Alejandro, who were up against her in the category.

Regarded as one of this generation’s most influential figures in Latin music, Karol G’s Grammy testifies her profound impact on the music industry. Beyond her numerous awards, she has been honored with the Rulebreaker Award at the Billboard Women in Music and the Spirit of Hope Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. She has also broken five Guinness World Records.

Karol G won the Grammy Award for best música urbana album on Sunday (Feb. 4) for her historic Mañana Será Bonito, the first set by a female-artist in Spanish to top the Billboard 200, also crowned in November as album of the year at the Latin Grammys.
“This is my first time at the Grammys and this is my first time holding my own Grammy,” the Colombian star said after receiving her trophy from presenters Maluma and Christina Aguilera. “This is such a beautiful thing. My album has given me the best memories in my whole life. My fans that came and enjoyed my album, they get motivation and inspiration with me and heal with me. Thank you so much, I promise you to give you my best always. I hope that this is the first [Grammy] of so many.”

Karol’s award was the only one from the Latin categories announced during the televised ceremony. The rest, along with most of the night’s trophies, were presented a few hours earlier at the Grammy’s Premiere, held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and streamed on live.Grammy.com.

There, Peso Pluma — who was not nominated for the 2023 Latin Grammys — became a Grammy-winning artist when he received the award for best regional Mexican music album (including Tejano) for Génesis.

The Mexican star was not there to accept his golden gramophone for the set, which shook the music world with hits such as “Rosa Pastel” with Jasiel Núñez and “Lady Gaga” with Gabito Ballesteros and Junior H and made history on the Billboard charts. Peso won in a category that this year was dominated by female veterans such as Lila Downs and Ana Bárbara.

Gaby Moreno, who gave a sublime performance during the event accompanied by El David Aguilar, won the award for best Latin pop album for her folk-style work X Mí (Vol. 1). “I’m having an out-of-body experience,” she said, excited as she accepted her trophy. “This was an acoustic album I made last year with songs that are very dear to me from previous albums.”

In the category of best Latin rock or alternative album there was a tie, and the winners were two Grammy darlings: Colombian rocker Juanes for his raw and introspective Vida Cotidiana, and Natalia Lafourcade for her heartfelt and formidable De Todas Las Flores. “Thank you, my God. Thank you, music,” said the Mexican singer-songwriter in a mix of English and Spanish. “Music is my boss and she has taught me that … we have to take care of our inner garden. This album has healed me so much.” She ended with, “Mom, Dad, Mexico, let’s go!” Meanwhile, Juanes did not attend the ceremony.

In a somewhat surprising triumph, for the second consecutive year, Rubén Blades won a Grammy for an album that was not nominated for a Latin Grammy: Siembra: 45th Anniversary (Live at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, May 14, 2022), with Roberto Delgado and Orquesta. The prominent Panamanian musician, who last year won best Latin pop album for Pasieros with Boca Livre, triumphed this time in the best tropical Latin album category, which included Carlos Vives, Omara Portuondo and Grupo Niche — who all won at the Latin Grammys in November.

Only one Latin American artist was nominated this year in a main category: prolific Mexican songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera, who was competing for the non-classical songwriter of the year award for his work for stars such as Don Omar, Grupo Firme, Karol G, Christian Nodal and Grupo Frontera. The award, announced during the premiere, went to Theron Thomas.

The Grammy for best Latin jazz album went to Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo for El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2. The Colombian duo 123 Andrés, composed of Andrés Salguero and Cristina Sanabria, who are married, won the award for best children’s music album for We Grow Together Preschool Songs. And Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel won the award for best orchestral performance as conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for “Adès: Dante.”

Several Latin American artists competed in the global music categories, including Mexico’s Silvana Estrada, Cuba’s Cimafunk and Peru’s Susana Baca.

Below, all the 2024 Grammy winners (and nominees) in the Latin music, global music and Latin jazz categories.

Best Latin Pop Album

La Cuarta Hoja, Pablo AlboránBeautiful Humans, Vol. 1, AleMorA Ciegas, Paula ArenasLa Neta, Pedro CapóDon Juan, MalumaWINNER: X Mí (Vol. 1), Gaby Moreno

Best Música Urbana Album

SATURNO, Rauw Alejandro

WINNER: MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO, Karol G

DATA, Tainy

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

MARTÍNEZ, CabraLeche De Tigre, Diamante EléctricoWINNER (tie): Vida Cotidiana, JuanesWINNER (tie): De Todas Las Flores, Natalia LafourcadeEADDA9223, Fito Paez

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 InfanteWINNER: GÉNESIS, Peso Pluma

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 VivesWINNER: Siembra: 45o Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022), Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Best Latin Jazz Album

Quietude, Eliane EliasMy Heart Speaks, Ivan Lins with the Tblisi Symphony OrchestraVox Humana, Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big BandCometa, Luciana Souza & Trio CorrenteWINNER: El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2, Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo

Best Global Music Performance

“Shadow Forces,” Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily“Alone,” Burna Boy“FEEL,” Davido“Milagro y Desastre,” Silvana Estrada“Abundance in Millets,” Falu & Gaurav Shah (featuring PM Narendra Modi)WINNER: “Pashto,” Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer & Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia “Todo Colores,” Ibrahim Maalouf featuring Cimafunk & Tank and the Bangas

Best Global Music Album

Epifanías, Susana BacaHistory, BokantéI Told Them…, Burna BoyTimeless, DavidoWINNER: This Moment, Shakti

Best Children’s Music Album

Ahhhhh!, Andrew & PollyAncestars, Pierce Freelon & Nnenna FreelonHip Hope For Kids!, DJ Willy Wow!Taste the Sky, Uncle JumboWINNER: We Grow Together Preschool Songs, 123 Andrés

Best Orchestral Performance

WINNER: “Adès: Dante,” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)“Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Four Pieces,” Karina Canellakis, conductor (Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra)“Price: Symphony No. 4; Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony,” Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (The Philadelphia Orchestra)“Scriabin: Symphony No. 2; The Poem of Ecstasy,” JoAnn Falletta, conductor (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)“Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring,” Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)

In an evening that celebrates the best in music, Gaby Moreno stood out at the 64th annual Grammy Premiere Ceremony on Sunday (Feb. 4) as a performer and winner.
The Guatemalan singer/songwriter, alongside Mexican artist El David Aguilar, offered a rendition of “Luna de Xelajú” that was nothing short of mesmerizing. The set not only showcased Moreno’s exquisite vibrato, but also paid homage to the rich heritage of Latin American folk music.

Dressed in a silky purple gown, with Aguilar in a brown suit and tie, the duo, each wielding steel-string acoustic guitars, brought to life the whimsical charm of “Luna de Xelajú.” Their performance, underscored by the gentle accompaniment of a grand piano and a symphony providing subtle background layers, left the audience in awe — most notably, the host. “Guys that’s one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard,” songwriter Justin Tranter said after the performance. “Her voice is so beautiful.”

This statement preceded a momentous occasion for Moreno, as shortly after she was announced the winner of the best Latin pop album for her folk-driven X Mí (Vol. 1) project.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Moreno described her Grammy-winning experience as surreal. “I’m having an out-of-body experience,” she said with a gigantic smile, holding her new Grammy. “Thank you so much, Recording Academy. I want to thank my family, my mom and my sister who flew from Guatemala to be here with me. I want to thank my incredible team from Cosmica Artists, Gil Gastelum, Mariana Puente, Isaac, Nana, Reese, Grecia — too many, oh my goodness.”

Moreno continued, “This was an acoustic album that I did last year with songs that are really dear to me from previous albums.” She went on to name all the behind-the-scene producers and sound engineers who contributed to the making of the album before adding in Spanish with a wispy voice, “I want to dedicate it to all my people in Guatemala, what a thrill, thank you so much!”

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.
Gente de Zona as Kings of Carnaval Miami

Kiwanis Club of Little Havana unveiled the official event schedule for Carnaval Miami 2024. Joined by Kiwanis board members and sponsors, the organization’s president Pablo Lau announced during a press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 31) that this year’s Kings of Carnaval Miami is Latin Grammy-winning duo, Gente de Zona. The longtime event consists of live music, paintings, crafts, photography and jewelry for a cultural experience. Carnaval Miami 2024 officially kicks off on Feb, 10 and will wrap a month later with the Calle Ocho Music Festival, which will include a special performance by Gente de Zona.

For the entire Carnaval Miami 2024 schedule, visit www.carnavalmiami.com.

In the Summers gets special award at Sundance

The film In the Summers, directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio, with artists Residente (who made his actoral debut) and Leslie Grace as part of the cast, won a special award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The movie, which follows two sisters who navigate their “loving but volatile father” during summer visits in New Mexico, according to an official film description, was awarded the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. Exile Content Studio is behind the award-winning film.

Los Bukis are headed for Vegas

Los Bukis announced a headlining residency in Las Vegas, set to kick off Friday, May 3, at the Dolby Live at Park MGM. According to a press release, the 15-date stint will make history as the first-ever full Spanish-language residency on the Las Vegas Strip. Presented in partnership with Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, Los Bukis: The Las Vegas Residency will offer fans a more intimate concert experience in the 5,200-seat entertainment venue. 

Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Billboard‘s Latin editors are highlighting nine Afro-Colombian artists, both veterans and newcomers you might not know, but should, including Lido Pimienta, Mauro Castillo, and more. Check out the list here.

Latin love songs to get you in the Valentine’s Day spirit

We’ve officially entered the most romantic month of the year, and in honor of the season, Billboard has put together a list of the best Latin love songs, according to editors. Ranging from ballads (“Bésame Mucho”) to regional Mexican songs (“Te Presumo”) and romantic vallenato (“Volví a Nacer”), the list of swoon-worthy tracks features classics (old and new) that have soundtracked multigenerational Latin households for decades.

The list also includes tracks such as Intocable‘s “Sueña,” the norteño song that spent 13 weeks atop Billboard‘s Regional Mexican Airplay chart; as well as Maná’s achingly beautiful “Eres Mi Religión; Karol G‘s emotional “Ocean” and Juanes‘ rock ballad “Es Por Ti,” which earned the Colombian singer-songwriter record of the year and song of the year at the 2003 Latin Grammys.

Here, see the 30 romantic songs that made our list, which you should consider adding to your Valentine’s Day-themed playlist.

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 […]