Latin
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Luis Fernández has been appointed chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. Fernández, who previously served as president of Telemundo’s news division, Noticias Telemundo, from 2015-2021, will report directly to Cesar Conde, chairman of NBCUniversal News Group. “Throughout his extraordinary career, Luis has time and again shown visionary leadership, building and growing the most successful Spanish language […]
YouTube has unveiled its Year on YouTube lists, including trending topics and songs that defined 2023. Remarkably — but not surprisingly — four Música Mexicana songs have entered the Top Songs (U.S.) list, further proving the genre’s dominance this year. No Latin urban or pop songs are part of the top 10. Driven by Shorts […]
“I’m a Hitboy, I’m a Hitboy/ I’m ready to be a millionaire/ No matter how hard they try they can’t stop us.” The chorus to Duki’s hit 2019 Khea collab (aptly titled “Hitboy”) is quintessential trap braggadocio, the kind of discourse he features in dozens of songs, where he routinely talks about haters, money, women, coming from nothing and taking care of his own.
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It may be familiar rhetoric in the U.S. trap world, but in Argentina — which for decades was the land of rock en español, birthing a global Argentine rock explosion — Duki’s message was initially looked down upon as a weird, subpar oddity.
Turns out it was the future.
Duki performs at Buenos Aires River Stadium on Dec. 3, 2023.
DALE PLAY @livedaleplay/GUIDO ADLER @adlerguido
Today, at 27 years old, Duki is the clear leader of Argentina’s exploding rap and trap movement, espousing a philosophy of aspiration and collaboration that has struck a major chord with a young fanbase.
On December 3 and 4, that generation came out in masse to see Duki perform at Buenos Aires’ fabled River Stadium, where he sold over 140,000 tickets across both nights — becoming the first urban artist ever to sell out Argentina’s biggest stadium, not once, but twice.
The import of the moment was not lost on either Duki (real name Mauro Ezequiel Lombardo), or the more than a dozen guest artists — all young Argentines — who came on as guests, including his girlfriend, pop star Emilia Mernes, Nicki Nicole, Khea and global DJ Bizarrap, all Duki proteges who repeatedly referred to him as the leader of Argentina’s urban movement.
It goes beyond just numbers, though. With not just his music, but also his philosophy of life and his motivational demeanor, Duki has been able to harness the attention of a generation that previously didn’t have a voice or a role model, much like reggaetón did in Puerto Rico. The difference is, Duki’s approach is multi-generational and multi-genre: His shows had children and families in attendance, in addition to his core audience of both males and females between the ages of 15 and 25.
The appeal was best voiced by rapper YSY A, part of Duki’s former trap trio Modo Diablo, who came back together for a couple of songs on Saturday night.
“Thank you for being the biggest representative in the country for these kids who have dreams, who want to live bigger, and you’re their greatest point of reference,” said YSY A in a particularly emotional moment. “You’re the biggest representative for dreamers, and the first in our generation to fill the biggest stadium in Argentina.”
Duki started his career doing rap battles in the streets, “when no one believed in this s–t,” he said in one of many spoken interludes during the show, in which he exhorted fans to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their dreams. In his early days, he caught the attention of Fede Lauria, the founder and owner of Dale Play, a major Argentine concert promoter. Lauria saw enough potential in Duki and the artists around him that in 2020 he launched Dale Play Records precisely as an incubator for that talent. Today, Dale Play’s roster includes global stars Bizarrap and Nicki Nicole.
But it all started with Duki — who is intent on supporting other emerging Argentine talent, much like Puerto Rico and Colombia’s urban scene did in their beginnings.
The difference, however, is the message and the music. Duki’s show was surprisingly musical for an urban performance: He plays roughly half of his set backed by a live rock band that offers great counterpoint to his raps. The set design is stunning and otherworldly, and instrumental interludes were composed by Oscar winner Gustavo Santaolalla. All vocals, including various instances of three-part harmony, were live. In that regard, Duki’s style does give a nod to his country’s tradition of rock and elevated music.
The second major differentiator is the messge. Duki doesn’t see he himself just as an artist but as a messenger of hope and goodness. Throughout the show, he interrupted songs midway to make sure people in the pit were safe or could be escorted out if they seemed in distress. And he also spoke frequently about hope and dreams — and always, about the future of a generation for which he feels personally responsible.
“Thank you for living up to my code of values,” he said at one point. “I know you respect me, and that’s why I assume fame in the way I do. If I’m here performing tonight, it’s because of you.”
Up next for Duki is playing Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium this summer, with a 65,000 seat capacity. It will be the first time an Argentine urban act has sold out the venue.
Leila Cobo is Billboard’s Chief Content officer for Latin/Español and the author of Decoding Despacito: A History Of Latin Music’s Greatest Hits.
Just like Marc Anthony‘s “Vivir Mi Vida” celebrated one decade this year, so too, did Maestro Cares Foundation, a non-profit organization co-founded by the salsa superstar and Henry Cárdenas, CEO of CMN.
Hosted at the luxurious Cipriani Wall Street on Tuesday (Dec. 5), the 10th annual Maestro Cares Foundation Gala boasted an atmosphere of opulence: fine dining, lavish gowns and dapper tuxes, and a sweeping jazz ensemble.
The evening unfolded with a high-roller auction, featuring an autographed Bad Bunny guitar, a Luis Miguel NYE getaway concert in Cancun, Anthony’s complete line of Bulova watches and more. The highlight was Anthony’s spontaneous gesture of adding his personal wristwatch to the auction, further elevating the stakes for bidders.
Renowned Latin music icon Ana Gabriel was also in attendance, and donated a “Piece of Music History” rosa mexicano outfit from her personal collection. She even volunteered to take a picture with the highest bidder. All proceeds go toward children and communities in need across Latin America and the U.S.
As for Anthony’s highly anticipated performance, the Boricua superstar took the stage for the grand finale at about 11 p.m. ET. Accompanied by 15 musicians, the New York-bred hitmaker ran through a handful of hits, beginning with the energetic “Pa’lla Voy.” The 2021 single, a reimagining of Senegalese band Africando’s “Yay Boy,” exhilarated the crowd.
Throughout his 40-minute set, the charismatic artist engaged the audience, expressing playful banter and blowing occasional kisses. “It’s funny how my wife asks for this song. I don’t get it. It’s an oldie,” he said before kicking off 2004’s horn-blaring “Tu Amor Me Hace Bien.” He never seemed to miss a note, his whirling wails intoxicating the crowd, leading them into a salsa dance frenzy. With so many glittering sequined gowns, the view, bedecked with a huge chandelier, sparkled.
He surprised the elated crowed with a rendition of The Eagles’ “Hotel California,” which was delivered supremely, and featured all the electric guitar solo riffs as well. The singer closed off with none other than “Vivir Mi Vida,” the timeless salsa banger that was released in 2013. (The song made it on Billboard’s 50 Best Latin Pop Songs of the 21st Century list.) It inspired a massive singalong. “You guys made my night,” noted the performer.
Earlier in the evening, awards were granted to the beloved Mexican comedian Eugenio Derbez with the Voice of Change; rapper and actress Queen Latifah with the Courage to Care award; and Sam Nazarian, chairman and CEO of SBE Entertainment Group, with the Corporate Social Responsibility award for the company’s philanthropic work.
The celebration continues on Wednesday (Dec. 6), as Anthony will take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Citizen Watch America Group Multi-Brand Store on Fifth Avenue in New York. The store will display his exclusive Bulova x Marc Anthony timepiece collection and personal awards statues through the end of the month.
Iron Maiden‘s first show scheduled in Bogota, Colombia, in 13 years drove fans to snatch up 42,000 tickets in 21 minutes to sell out El Campín Stadium 11 months before the Nov. 24, 2024, date. It is the first show in Colombia to sell out so far in advance, according to promoter Move Concerts.
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“We all expected strong sales given the long wait since they last performed here, which was on March 20, 2011, but never in our wildest dreams did we think it would blow out in 21 minutes and smash sales records,” Alfredo Villaveces, Managing Director of Move Concerts Colombia, said in a press release. “And if we factor in the fact we went up so far ahead of the show date – something no other artist had done here – it is truly amazing.”
According to the press release, the time span clocked for tickets sold broke the sales velocity records of all previous international acts who have performed in the past in Colombia, including The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Madonna, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd.
But compared to all performing artists, including Latin American, Iron Maiden’s sellout pace was exceeded by Colombian superstar Karol G, who recently performed two sellout stadium shows in her hometown of Medellín as part of her Mañana Será Bonito Tour.
Formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975, the English heavy metal band is known for classics such as “The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “The Number of the Beast.” On the Billboard charts, the band has had four top 10 albums on the Billboard 200.
Iron Maiden’s 2024 Future Past World Tour will also include two shows in Chile, at the 60,000-seat Estadio Nacional in Santiago, on Nov. 27 and 28, 2024. Tickets for those dates are on sale now and, according to Move Concerts, more than 95,000 have been sold so far.
Find more info on the tour below:
Throughout the years, a wave of Latin music artists have embraced their religious beliefs and stamped them on their music — such as Juan Luis Guerra, Yuri and Ricardo Montaner. Artists in the reggaetón and Latin hip-hop worlds have recently been following suit. The latest artist to publicly open up about his faith is Daddy […]
Last week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues and promoters of 2023. That coverage included analysis of the new wave of genre diverse artists crashing stadium stages, and in turn, our charts. This week, we are breaking down the year’s biggest tours, genre by genre. Today, we begin with Latin.
Throughout the 2010s, Latin acts – here, defined as artists who primarily perform in Spanish – were consistently supporting players on the Boxscore charts. Strong supporting players, with generally a combined 3-6% share of the yearly top 100 tours’ total gross, but supporting, nonetheless. But as the many subgenres that comprise Latin music’s growing global footprint gained international recognition and popularity, acts from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico and more returned from the pandemic with a strengthened touring audience.
Latin’s top-100 share rose from 5.3% in 2019 to 12.1% in 2022. That was thanks, in large part, to Bad Bunny’s record-breaking year atop the year-end Top Tours chart, plus fumes from Daddy Yankee’s farewell tour. In 2023, the genre dips to 11.5% in 2023. But in the absence of Bad Bunny’s $373.5 million from last year, Latin’s deepening bench picked up the slack to remain relatively steady, signaling the potential for even more growth in the years to come.
While reggaetón and pop acts continued to power Latin touring, 2023 marked the rise of regional Mexican music, on streaming services and on stages. Eslabon Armado, Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma conquered Billboard’s global charts, while those acts, Grupo Firme and others were selling out arenas across the U.S. and Central America.
Scroll to check out the top 10 highest grossing tours by Latin artists, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All reported shows worldwide between Nov. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023 are eligible.
Carin Leon
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Latin Recording Academy
In mid-November, Juan Luis Guerra shared on his social media a sneak peek of a new project that has him very excited: An animated movie called Capitán Avispa. The film, scheduled to hit theaters in the United States and Latin America sometime in 2024, according to Guerra, will feature old and new songs by the Dominican music master.
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“In addition to the fact that I am going to write songs specifically for the character, you will hear everything from ‘Rosalía’ to ‘La Bilirrubina’,” Guerra told Billboard Español in a recent interview in New York, in which he revealed details of the movie for the first time. “He is a very beautiful character,” he added enthusiastically about Capitán Avispa (Captain Wasp in English). “He is a Latin hero, we could say, and everyone will like him.”
“Strong and brave, he never lies!” the insect declares in the teaser that Guerra published last month on his Instagram account, without identifying the voice behind the courageous and sweet character.
“The main voice of the Captain is done by my dear [Luis] Fonsi,” Guerra told Billboard Español in the interview recorded for Billboard News, adding that “Joy [Huerta, from Jesse & Joy] does the voice of Honey Bee, who is Capitán Avispa’s companion.” He also excitedly announced that they both sing a “beautiful song together — they are the most beautiful voices you can ever hear.”
Helmed by his son Jean Gabriel Guerra (who has directed many of his father’s music videos) along with animation director Jonathan Meléndez, Capitán Avispa was created by Juan Luis, who has recruited other friends and colleagues to give life to the different characters: Juanes provides the voice of Sargento Picadura, he revealed, and the Colombian rocker’s wife, actress Karen Martínez (also known as Chechi) plays Jimena. Additionally, Dominican actor José Guillermo Cortinez provides the voice of a character named Jacques Puasón, and Dominican actress Amelia Vega — Miss Universe 2003, as well as Guerra’s niece — voices Bolivia.
A four-time-Grammy and 24-time-Latin Grammy winner, Guerra has had a fruitful four-decade career, in which he’s placed dozens of songs and albums on the Billboard charts — from “Ojala Que Llueve Café,” his first entry on Hot Latin Songs, which reached No. 21 in Nov. 1989, and his iconic Bachata Rosa, which topped the Tropical Albums chart for 12 weeks in 1991; to “Mambo 23,” which reached No. 1 on the Tropical Airplay just last week (Nov. 25).
The latter song is part of his most recent production with his group 4.40, Radio Güira, a six-track EP full of humor, love and poetry, over mambo, bachata and merengue rhythms, very much in the style of Juan Luis Guerra. Each of the songs is presented as if it’s being played on the radio, with supposed calls from listeners and even a special cooking recipe.
“We wanted to put a smile on the faces of people who listened to Radio Güira,” Guerra said. “It was part of what Radio Güira is, bringing joy, bringing a message of peace, of love.”
Watch more of the interview above in the Billboard News video.
Tour: Montecarlo Tour USA
Latin hip-hop artist Tornillo has announced his first-ever headlining tour in the U.S. The 25-date run will kick off Feb. 14 in Las Vegas and will see the 20-year-old Mexican artist — who has collaborated with Santa Fe Klan and Peso Pluma — play theaters across the country, including Gramercy Theatre in New York City and the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Announcement of Tornillo’s U.S. tour comes after wrapping up his first headlining tour of Mexico.
Mexican rapper Dharius will join Tornillo across all dates.
See the dates below:
Feb. 14 — Las Vegas — 24 Oxford
Feb. 15 — Santa Ana, Calif. — The Observatory
Feb. 16 — Phoenix — Van Buren
Feb. 17 — Albuquerque — Launchpad
Feb. 18 — El Paso — Lowbrow Palace
Feb. 21 — San Antonio — Rock Box
Feb. 22 — Houston — Rise Rooftop
Feb. 23 — Dallas — The Studio At The Factory
Feb. 27 — Orlando — The Abbey
March 1 — Atlanta — Terminal West
March 2 — Charlotte — Underground at The Fillmore
March 3 — Philadelphia — The Foundry
March 4 — New York — Gramercy Theater
March 6 — Louisville, Ky. — Mercury Ballroom
March 7 — Milwaukee, Wis. — Turner Hall Ballroom
March 8 — Chicago — Bottom Lounge
March 9 — Minneapolis — Varsity Theater
March 11 — Denver — Marquis Theater
March 13 — Salt Lake City — The Complex
March 15 — Seattle — Neumos
March 16 — Portland — Hawthorne Theater
March 20 — Roseville, Calif. — Goldfield Trading Post
March 21 — San Francisco — Great American Music Hall
March 22 — Ventura, Calif. — Ventura Music Hall
March 23 — Los Angeles — El Rey Theatre
Nicky Jam is sharing how transforming his health habits and making the decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery have positively impacted his life. The reggaeton star told People this week that he decided to have the procedure — in which the stomach’s size is reduced and re-connected to the small intestine — six months ago. […]