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Becky G debuts at No. 3 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart (dated Sept. 14) with Esquinas. The Edgar Barrera-produced album is Becky G’s first entry on the Regional Mexican Albums tally, after notching previous entries on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums rankings. The new set concurrently debuts at No. 7 on the overall Top Latin Albums chart.
Esquinas was released Sept. 28 via Kemosabe/RCA and launches at No. 3 on Regional Mexican Albums with 11,000 equivalent album units earned in the tracking week ending Oct. 5 in the U.S., according to Luminate. Streaming powers nearly all the album’s first week, with 10,000 of them from the consumption method. That equals to 14.1 million official on-demand streams for the album’s songs.
Esquinas is Becky G’s third full-length album and first appearance on Regional Mexican Albums. The 13-track set’s title, which translates to “corners,” references the intersection between her American style with her Mexican roots. It includes collabs by Peso Pluma, Ivan Cornejo, Gabito Ballesteros, Yahritza y Su Esencia, Chiquis and DannyLux. The album’s cover art was revealed through Becky G’s Instagram account on Sept. 12: “I could not be more excited to share the cover of my new album Esquinas…” she posted, with a baby photo of herself on braids, a sombrero, and a red bandana covering her chest.
Esquinas finds the 26-year-old artist at a crossroads of two cultures, a sketch which shows throughout her Billboard chart career spanning over a decade. The album also gifts Becky G with two top 10 albums after the rhythmic Mala Santa (No. 3 high on Top Latin Albums and Latin Rhythm Albums, 2019) which included team-ups with Bad Bunny, Sech, Natti Natasha, and others, while the pop-filled Esquemas (eight-week champ on Latin Pop Albums, 2022) added partnerships with Karol G, El Alfa and Guaynaa.
As mentioned, Esquinas also bows at No. 7 on Top Latin Albums, after Esquemas debuted and reached No. 5 high in May 2022. Meanwhile, it earns her third chart appearance on the overall Billboard 200, at No. 109.
As Esquinas lands, two songs debut across Latin charts: “2do Chance,” with Ivan Cornejo, one of two pop songs on the album, launches at No. 34 on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs tally, fueled by streaming activity; it logged 2.7 million U.S. clicks during the same tracking week. Meanwhile, “Por El Contrario,” with siblings Leonardo Aguilar and Angela Aguilar, debuts at No. 19 on Latin Digital Songs.
Colombian-American superstar Kali Uchis has unveiled the release date for her upcoming album Orquídeas. This will mark her fourth studio album and her second Spanish-language project. The full-length release is set to drop Jan. 12, 2024.
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In a statement shared with Billboard Español, Uchis highlighted the significance of orchids in Colombian culture. “The orchid is the national flower of Colombia, and we have more species of orchid than anywhere on earth,” she says. “I always felt distinctly intrigued and magnetized by the flower. This album is inspired by the timeless, eerie, mystic, striking, graceful and sensual allure of the orchid. With this vast scope of fresh energy, I wish to re-define the way we look at Latinas in music.”
In August, Uchis kicked off this new era of Spanish-language music with the album’s first single, “Muñekita,” featuring Dominican dembow singer El Alfa and JT from City Girls, who each brought their dynamic energy to kick off the season. “I love bringing artists together that you’d least expect,” the Grammy winner said then in a press release. “El Alfa is a Latino legend and JT is someone I’ve admired forever. Both of them are known for their summer hits and high energy, so I’m incredibly excited to bring them together for a fun, sexy song like this.”
Kali Uchis’ most recent album, Red Moon in Venus, released in March, received critical acclaim and reached No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. The album featured the RIAA gold-certified single “Moonlight” and collaborations with Summer Walker, Don Toliver and Omar Apollo.
Her Red Moon in Venus Tour included performances at iconic venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall and Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. Additionally, she made waves at Coachella, performing alongside surprise guests Tyler, the Creator, Omar Apollo and Don Toliver. She also performed at Lollapalooza in Chile, Argentina and Brazil and Estéreo Picnic in Colombia.
Pre-order and pre-save Orquídeas here.
Cheetos left its mark during Billboard Latin Music Week 2023 with the brand’s panel and block party programming, shedding a spotlight on influential tastemakers from various industries, including music, art and fashion.
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On Wednesday, October 4, attendees of the week-long affair were treated to the “Deja tu Huella” presented by Cheetos at the Faena Forum in South Beach. Moderated by Billboard’s Jessica Roiz, the discussion let global hitmaker Myke Towers, Project Runway champ Shantall Lacayo and artist Rob the Original, speak to how they’ve given back to their communities. “The mark I want to leave is rather how to show,” the Puerto Rican rapper said during the 30-minute conversation. “Not only to those who want to be singers. You could be an athlete. You can be what we are, what we are doing. It is someone who pursues his dream. There are people who are a phenomena that can make it overnight but mine was a little different; I had to, instead of entering through the main entrance, I entered through the window. So what I mean by that is that I kept insisting until I got it and that is the mark that I want to leave as it is not easy, but it is not impossible either, and you have to make it look easy.”
Meanwhile, Lacayo, who came out victorious as the season 19 champ of the Bravo reality show, spoke about her special formula in making an impact. “Throughout my career, together with my team, I think the main thing we have discovered is that the DNA of our brand is our cultural roots, how we can keep alive those indigenous traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation and that, unfortunately, are getting lost in this world of fast fashion,” she explained. “We all want to leave a mark; part of my work seeks to do so through the reinterpretation of the work of artisans.”
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Multi-disciplinary artist Rob the Original, who was previously a barber and tattoo artist, has pushed the boundaries of his work with different mediums to provide a limitless perspective of art and culture. “Thank God, I have been able to share with people what my culture is, right? It is what I do and since I was very young my dad, my parents always taught us that you have to be you and represent what you are, right?” he told the crowd. “And that is what has really helped me a lot and I have also had the opportunity to travel, thank God, the world and get to know other cultures and see how beautiful they are, how beautiful other cultures are and learn from them, too.”
Jessica Roiz, Mike Towers, Shantall Lacayo and Rob The Original speak onstage at Billboard Latin Music Week held at Faena Forum on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Christopher Polk for Billboard
Mike Towers and Shantall Lacayo speak onstage at Billboard Latin Music Week held at Faena Forum on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Christopher Polk for Billboard
Jessica Roiz, Mike Towers, Shantall Lacayo and Rob The Original speak onstage at Billboard Latin Music Week held at Faena Forum on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Christopher Polk for Billboard
Mike Towers, Shantall Lacayo and Rob The Original onstage at Billboard Latin Music Week held at Faena Forum on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Christopher Polk for Billboard
Mike Towers onstage at Billboard Latin Music Week held at Faena Forum on October 4, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Christopher Polk for Billboard
Two days later, Towers brought that dream-turned-reality to Wynwood Marketplace for a block party performance presented by Cheetos. Preceded by performances from Polimá Westcoast and the Miami Heat dancers, the reggaeton chart-topper kept the crowd (and the brand’s Chester Cheetah mascot) dancing to songs, including “Piensan,” “Whiskey y Coco,” “La Jeepeta,” “El Cielo” and his current smash, “LALA.” In front of the jam-packed audience, Towers showed love to the audience by singing directly to fans, taking a selfie with the crowd and even brought a young boy on-stage to sing with him. When the concert-goers weren’t jamming along to Towers, they were treated to plenty of Cheetos samples, a live art display by muralist Bobby Alvarado, Cheetos-inspired lawn games, tunes by DJ Mr. Pauer and more.
Celebrated for more than 30 years, Billboard Latin Music Week is the longest running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world, and coincides with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will be broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 5, from the Watsco Center in Miami.
Atmosphere at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Atmosphere at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Dj Pauer at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Atmosphere at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Bobby Alvarado at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Atmosphere at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Atmosphere at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Heat Dancers at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Atmosphere at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Myke Towers at the Cheetos Daytime Party and Neighborhood Market held at Wynwood Marketplace as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on October 6, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
David Cabrera for Billboard
Ivy Queen performed her reggaetón anthems for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts on Wednesday (Oct. 11). And, she wasn’t alone; backed by a live orchestra including a violin, cello, viola, double bass and a piano, the Puerto Rican superstar sang from “La Vida Es Así” to “Menor Que Yo” and “Quiero Bailar.” “Let me take you […]
Three-time winner at the Latin Billboard Music Award, Manuel Turizo joined the stage with Billboard Latin Assistant Editor, Jessica Roiz, as part of “The Rising Star Q&A” presented by Delta and LATAM Airlines at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week on Wednesday (Oct. 4).
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In a moderated discussion, Turizo talks about his Colombian heritage, making his permanent move to Miami to grow his career and the influences of global collaborations.
Below, see some memorable quotes from the conversation:
On collaborating with Marshmello on his now Latin Grammy-nominated summer hit, “El Merengue:”
“Days before we [Marshmello] met, I was listening to all the work he did, and it’s typically Anglo pop. But when we met, we sat down and started talking, also understanding the idea he had of coming and collaborating with me and with more Latin artists. It was to get him into Latin a little bit and understand it. We started to think, let’s really get him into something that IS Latin — to take advantage of the fact that he was with me and to show his audience something that they didn’t consume or listen to. To show them something that, ‘they don’t know how to do.’ Merengue is something totally Latin. So that’s how the idea was born and that’s how we decided to do it.
On his move to Miami from Colombia in 2019 to further pursue his music:
“When I came here, Juan Diego El Ciego, my manager, was on top of me all the time. For like a year, he’s been saying “Move to Miami,” so I said, okay I’m going to rent an apartment and come, but I’m not going to stay. I’ll stay for a week if I have to and then I’ll go back. But I don’t know, the lockdown, I got used to being here, I liked the rhythm of the work. It also got me out of my comfort zone and I feel it helped me meet new people, see another environment, and see another atmosphere. I feel that here in Miami, there are also many people making music that what I had back in Colombia. Here, you go to a studio, and you meet different producers, composers, singers, everything. So there is a lot more movement, and I like that too, so I stayed.”
On what he misses most about leaving Monterilla, Colombia:
“The food, it will never be the same. I love it here, but the food in Colombia will never be topped. I also feel that you develop your palate according to where you grow up, wherever you are from, you go where you are from and you are going to miss your seasoning.”
On the success and creative process of “La Bachata:”
“I wanted to release that song [“La Bachata”] but my team told me ‘no, that I wasn’t the right song. First, you are not a bachatero, second, you are not Dominican.’ But I was like ‘I like it, why can’t I release it?’ So now, if I am not Dominican, with a lot of respect to the Dominican culture because at the end of the day, if I am doing a bachata being Colombian, it is because of all the influence and the inspiration of the Dominican musical culture that has also reached my country [Colombia].
It’s important to follow your gut instinct. What I feel I have already achieved with my team, and with most of the people who follow me and are connected with my music, is that I am not necessarily rooted to a single musical sound, or a single musical style. On the contrary, I like to try different things all the time in my music.
On his collaboration with Grupo Frontera on “De Lunes a Lunes:”
The song is a vallenato. I wanted to do something related to Mexican culture several months ago, because after I started branching out from Colombia, Mexico was the first country that connected with me and my music, and I am very grateful. So, I wanted to do something that would blend what I do with the culture of Mexican music. Edgar Barrera introduced me to the guys of Grupo Fronter, and we started to put the song together. The truth is, I loved it, I fell in love with the song. That’s exactly why it was going to be a vallenato – the feeling that song has, I personally find it very strong, and it reminds me of that too. The vallenato of my country, the lyrics of Colombia…and with that musicality, we also combine it with the cumbia norteña that Frontera is doing right now.”
On why collaborating with other artists is so important to his creative development:
“I feel that you can learn and absorb information about how each person sees the music. There are people that when you hear them singing, you say ‘wow, that’s amazing,’ and there are others who have incredible production and musical ideas. You can absorb something from each one of them.”
Six years after its release, Shakira and Nicky Jam‘s “Perro Fiel” music video scored a new milestone. The three-minute clip has officially reached one billion views on YouTube. The music video is both Shakira and Nicky Jam’s seventh entry in the Billion Views Club as a lead, featured artist or collaborator, according to the video […]
Mexican singer, songwriter and producer Edén Muñoz has signed a record deal with Sony Music México in partnership with Sony Music Latin, Billboard Español can exclusively announce today (Oct. 11).
Muñoz, the former leader of the group Calibre 50, has had a fruitful solo career in recent years. His hits include “Chale”, “Consejos Gratis”, “Como Quieras Quiero” and “Mi Caída En Los Excesos,” and his collaborations with rock-pop artists such as Maná and Matisse have demonstrated his versatility to innovate in other areas, where he can also move with ease. Alejandro Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Christian Nodal, Carlos Rivera, Banda MS, Yuridia and La Arrolladora Banda El Limón are some of the acts who have recorded his songs.
“I am more than happy,” Muñoz, previously signed to Sergio Lizárraga’s Lizos Music, said in a statement. “I am excited about this family that we have formed for a long time and that today we materialize,” “I knew the day would come when my music and my art would find a home where it would be seen with the love it deserves. Today begins one of those stories that rarely happen.”
“The signing of Edén Muñoz fills us with joy and pride,” added Roberto López, president of Sony Music México. “Edén, whom we have always admired, is one of the greatest artists and creators of Mexican music of the moment. With unparalleled enthusiasm and creativity, I am sure he will continue to leave an indelible mark.”
Alex Gallardo, president of Sony Music U.S. Latin, was also pleased to have Muñoz in the company’s ranks. “Eden is a 360 artist, not only does he shine on stage, but he is also an extraordinary musician, producer and composer,” he said. “His work shows that he is a visionary and one of the most versatile artists that Mexican music has known.”
At 33, Muñoz is one of the regional Mexican music figures with greatest presence on digital platforms, with over 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube and videos that together exceed 1.1 billion views. He also has 17.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify, and 4.6 million followers on TikTok. On the Billboard charts, he’s placed seven albums at No.1 on Regional Mexican Albums, in addition to 22 No. 1s on the Regional Mexican Airplay with songs of his own performed as a soloist and by artists such as Caliber 50, Banda MS, and La Arrolladora.
Currently, Muñoz is on tour with Consejos Gratis, named after his latest album, with shows in Mexican cities such as Mexicali, Oaxaca, Pachuca, Morelos, and dates in the U.S. including Reno, Camarillo, Phoenix, El Paso and Denver.
Edén Muñoz with part of the team of Sony Music México, management and A&R.
Courtesy of Sony Music Mexico
Over the years, music has provided an outlet for Latin musicians to address mental health issues through their songs. For example, Puerto Rican rapper Residente released his autobiographical “René” in 2020, where he frankly opened up about depression and the dark moments in his life. Bad Bunny’s 2018 “Estamos Bien,” on the other hand, is […]
It’s been more than seven years, but Enrique Iglesias returns to the top 10 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart with his first collab with Maria Becerra, as “Así Es La Vida” debuts at No. 7 on the Oct. 14-dated list. The song marks Iglesias’ first entry and top 10 since 2016 — and highest debut since 2013. Becerra secures her second top 10.
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“Así Es La Vida” debuts in the upper region on Tropical Airplay with 2 million in audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. 5, according to Luminate. The song (and its music video) was released Sept. 28 via Sony Music Latin. It was produced by Carlos Paucar, Iglesias’ longtime collaborator, and arrives as the first single from Iglesias’ forthcoming album, Final Vol. 2.
“Así Es La Vida” is the second top 10 for Argentinian Becerra, who dominated Tropical Airplay for four weeks through another bachata duet, “Te Espero” with Prince Royce, in 2022. The latter held in the top 10 during 25 weeks of its 26-week chart run.
“Vida” gives Iglesias his 28th top 10 on the tropical airplat ranking, following the No. 9-peaking “Duele El Corazón,” featuring Wisin, in 2016. Prior, “El Perdón,” with Nicky Jam, took the Spanish singer-songwriter to No. 5 in 2015.
The new single is not the first time Iglesias has hit the chart with a bachata single. He landed his first foray on the chart within the genre with “El Perdedor,” featuring Marco Antonio Solis, for one week in charge in 2014.
Notably, “Vida” marks the first team-up with a female artist among 13 collabs, 10 that reached the top 10. Here’s the recap of the tenfold:
Peak, Peak Date, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1No. 1, Dec. 19, 2009, “Gracias A Ti,” with Wisin & Yandel, oneNo. 1, Sept. 11, 2010, “Cuando Me Enamoro,” featuring Juan Luis Guerra, sixNo. 2, March 19, 2011, “No Me Digas Que No,” featuring Wisin & YandelNo. 8, April 30, 2011, “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You),” featuring Ludacris & Dj Frank ENo. 2, Nov. 16, 2013, “Loco,” featuring Romeo SantosNo. 1, March 22, 2014, “El Perdedor,” featuring Marco Antonio Solis, oneNo. 1, July 5, 2014, “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente De Zona, fourNo. 5, May 30, 2015, “El Perdón,” with Nicky JamNo. 9, Aug. 27, 2016, “Duele El Corazón,” featuring WisinNo. 7, Oct. 14, 2023, “Así Es La Vida,” with Maria Becerra
Elsewhere, “Vida” starts at No. 9 on Latin Digital Song Sales, an equal launch for Becerra’s last two top 10s there, and the 17th top 10 for Iglesias, after “Me Pasé,” featuring Farruko, took him to No. 2 in 2021.
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Sebastián Yatra, Chencho Corleone, Vico C, RBD, Carin León, Maria Becerra, Young Miko and Eladio Carrión were among the more than 50 Latin music stars that took center stage in Miami for the 2023 edition of Billboard Latin Music Week (Oct. 2-6). Some of the biggest names in Latin music made their way to Miami […]