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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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Luis R Conriquez, Corridos Bélicos, Vol. IV (Kartel Music)
It’s fitting that as the pioneer of corridos bélicos, Luis R Conriquez would assemble an all-star team of collaborators for Corridos Bélicos, Vol. IV. With guest artists like Peso Pluma, Gerardo Ortiz, El Fantasma, Junior H, Gabito Ballesteros, Edén Muñoz, Fuerza Regida, Alfredo Olivas and Natanael Cano, Conriquez recruits some of the best in música mexicana, and honors both the new and old generations of regional Mexican hitmakers.
The set includes a total of 23 songs all powered by the subgenre’s signature sound, punctuated by sierreño guitars, trombones, trumpets and a tololoche. Most of the album’s songs narrate rags-to-riches stories with lyrics inspired by narco culture, the style of storytelling that has defined corridos bélicos. Conriquez’s Corridos Bélicos, Vol. IV rings in the year with a tour de force that showcases solidarity in Mexican music — the genre had a massive 2023 and this year looks just as promising. — GRISELDA FLORES
Randy Malcom, “Millonario” (Musicadoy/Puntilla)
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On the heels of his 2023 banger, “Bendecido,” Randy Malcom of Gente de Zona starts off 2024 with “Millonario.” With a similar sentiment as the former, the song delivers inspirational and motivational lyrics, a powerful new year manifestation, if you will. “When I become a millionaire, I will spend, I will live, I will enjoy my life,” goes the easy-to-learn chorus. He also chants about paying off his debt, quitting his 9 to 5 job, and “living life to the fullest, in case he dies tomorrow.” Musically, Malcom steers away from the signature Cubaton sound that made him a household name and dips into a fresh salsa tune produced by Dale Pututi (real name: Alejandro Arce). — JESSICA ROIZ
Josué Alaniz & Oscar Plaza, “feliz año nuevo” (Josué Alaniz)
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Mexican indie-pop artists Josué Alaniz and Oscar Plaza welcome 2024 with this melancholic but sweet heartbreak single released on Jan. 1. Driven by a mid-tempo drumbeat, “feliz año nuevo” talks about a relationship that ends in December and immediately seeing your ex with someone else. “How did you forget me so easily?” the artists cry in the chorus. “In case I don’t see you anymore, happy new year.” Alaniz wrote about the track on his YouTube channel: “We wrote this song last week, we really wanted to start the year with new music so… happy new year everyone, we love you.” — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS.
La Reforma, “Melao” (La Reforma Music)
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Colombian alternative rock band La Reforma starts the new year by sweetening us with their infectious song “Melao.” Inspired by the delicious typical Colombian candy, with a sugary flavor and sticky consistency, the song aims to convey joy and hope. In a statement, the group’s vocalist, Christian Lacouture, said: “We wish to present a song that brings hope, that causes smiles and that allows you to experience the joy that is given by God.” The melody skillfully fuses the sounds of the Colombian Pacific, such as currulao, with rock elements. The visual accompaniment shows clips of the group performing live in front of a crowd. In the lyrics, positive messages stand out, such as “Look at the sky, don’t feel alone, look up, you’re worth gold.” “If you feel sad, my brother: melao/ a little smile from side to side/ come on, everything is going to be fine,” they sing in the chorus. — LUISA CALLE
Luck Ra and BM’s “La Morocha” rebounds to No. 1, from No. 2, on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart (dated Jan. 6). The collab adds an eighth week at the apex, after it led the tally for seven weeks, a tie for the longest-leading song, along with four other titles, in 2023. As “La […]
Peso Pluma, Junior H and Óscar Maydon welcome 2024 by popping open some champagne with the new hit “Rompe La Dompe,” whose lyrics are among the most searched lyrics of the week and whose title immediately became a trend on TikTok. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Powered […]
Here are the collabs our Latin editors are hoping for this year.
Virgin Music Group has acquired Saban Music Latin, it was announced on Thursday (Jan. 4). The deal comes five years after entertainment mogul Haim Saban invested $500 million to launch Saban Music Group, and two years after the music company launched its Latino division.
Under the terms of the transaction, Virgin Music — a division of Universal Music Group — will acquire Saban Music Latin’s catalog, which includes such artists as Jon Z, Reykon and German Montero. It will also release future albums by Saban Music Latin artists.
Saban Music Latin’s roster includes emerging L.A.-based pop artist Loyal Lobos, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Chesca — who has scored two No. 1 songs on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart (“Súbelo” and “Te Quiero Baby”) — and rapper-producer YoGambii.
Saban Music Group launched in 2019 as a music company with a Latin focus and with veteran music executive Gustavo Lopez as CEO. Lopez was the longtime GM and executive vp Universal Music Latin, where he launched Latin urban label Machete Music, home to artists like Wisin & Yandel and Don Omar, and also ran Universal Music Latin Entertainment’s regional Mexican labels, Fonovisa and Disa. After leaving UMLE in 2017, he launched indie music company Talento Uno, which was acquired by Saban.
In 2020, Saban Music Group entered into an exclusive global administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group — and in February 2022, it announced it was launching a Latin division with Alejandro Reglero in the role of executive vp/GM, reporting to Lopez.
The acquisition follows Virgin Music Group’s recent partnerships with other Latin labels, including DEL Records, the West Coast-based independent label home to Latin music’s biggest song of 2023, “Ella Baila Sola” by Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma. In November, Virgin Music also announced a worldwide agreement with Pepe Aguilar‘s two regional Mexican labels, Machin and Equinoccio Records.
The Virgin Music Group roster already includes such Latin stars as Espinoza Paz, Sech, Grupo Firme, Tainy and Angela Aguilar.
You know what they say: new year, new music! In celebration of 2024’s arrival, the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español teams have predicted some of the Latin music trends that we believe will take off this year based on their momentum from 2023.
Last year, we reached out to various hitmakers such as Edgar Barrera, MAG and Ovy on the Drums, who all shared their predictions for 2023.
MAG, known for producing bangers for Bad Bunny, said it best: “I love that we’re seeing the global expansion of several Latin music subgenres other than just reggaetón. It’s exciting to see bachata and regional Mexican music growing outside of their rooted territories.”
With the massive success of artists like Peso Pluma, Fuerza Regida, Carin León and Grupo Frontera, to name a few, it’s evident that Música Mexicana dominated 2023, over any other Latin genre.
For Barrera, this is due to “being raw and authentic, being true to their sound and not trying to chase whatever is working for someone else,” he previously told Billboard about Mexican music expanding to new markets outside of Latin America.
Like the growth of Regional Mexican music, Emiliano Vasquez, A&R at Sony Music Latin, predicted a growth in bachata music for 2023—and he was right. “Bachata is becoming more popular as it merges with different musical genres, such as R&B, pop, electronica, hip-hop and trap. It is very common to see pop and urban artists recording bachata in their promotional singles and achieving great acceptance, even without originally being bachateros,” he said.
That same year, many urban and pop acts unleashed bachata tunes including Maria Becerra & Enrique Iglesias, Sofia Reyes & Beele, and Chayanne.
Which Latin music trends should we be looking out for this year? Check out our predictions below.
Cumbia
Image Credit: Mary Beth Koeth
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.
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Bad Bunny Gives Back
Bad Bunny is spending the holidays in his native Puerto Rico and part of the celebration included his annual “Bonita Tradición” gift giveaway hosted by the artist and his Good Bunny Foundation. Held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, the free event featured traditional food and attractions, as well as 25,000 gifts that were handed out to children and teenagers. Bad Bunny was in attendance to hand out sports gear, music instruments, art sets and more gifts aimed at promoting the love of music, art and sports. Other artists who joined the cause included Miky Woodz, Young Miko and Dei V.
@cheeryviruet
Taking Over Times Square on New Year’s Eve
New York City’s Times Square is gearing up to host its annual New Year’s Eve celebration, which includes the televised ball lowering during the countdown to the new year. The tradition, which has been celebrated for 120 years now, will boast two Latin artists as part of this year’s festivities. Argentine star Maria Becerra and Mexican reggaeton artist Yng Lvcas will perform a medley of their biggest hits at the Planet Fitness Center Stage. The former is scheduled to perform at 10:04 p.m. and the latter at 11:02 p.m. ET. Both performances will air live on Univision and the Times Square New Year’s Eve webcast.
Shakira Honored in Her Hometown
This week, Shakira was honored with a 20-foot-tall bronze statue in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. Dressed in one of her famous belly-dancing outfits, with her hips swaying and her arms raised, the monument features a plaque that reads: “On Feb. 2, 1977, the town of Barranquilla and the world witnessed the birth of a heart that composes, hips that don’t lie, a voice that moves masses and a pair of bare feet that walk for the good of children and humanity.” The Colombian star was not present at the grand reveal, but her parents were. “I am very excited about this tribute to Colombian women and Barranquilleras inside and outside my land!” the singer expressed on Instagram.
Myriam Hernández is Celebrated in Chile
This week, Chilean singer-songwriter Myriam Hernández was recognized as a “Fundamental Figure of Chilean Music” by the Society of Authors. “I am happy and grateful for the news,” the artist known for hits such as “El Hombre que yo Amo,” “Huele a Peligro” and “Te pareces tanto a él’” said in a statement. “I feel proud of this recognition that the Society of Authors of my country gives me, an entity that is so necessary and important for artists, creators, composers and performers. I am excited to be part of this distinction alongside other music greats. Additionally, being recognized by your peers is something very special and significant. I receive it with immense joy because this is a race that belongs to the public,” she said.
Billboard is wrapping up 2023 by highlighting the five most-viewed episodes of our “Live with Billboard Latin” social media franchise. After the pandemic quarantine lifted, the Billboard team continued its tradition of hosting interviews via Instagram Live, which resulted in the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español team inviting some of today’s hottest music acts for […]
Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi has filed a lawsuit against her former manager and music producer Sergio Andrade, claiming he was a “true predator” who subjected Trevi and other girls to “total control and sadistic abuse” in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The filing also serves as a counter-lawsuit to the complaint filed Dec. 30, 2022, by two Jane Does who sued Trevi and Andrade for “grooming” and “exploiting” them when they were between the ages of 13 and 15 in the early 1990s.
Now, Trevi — who has for many years categorically denied such claims — alleges in the lawsuit, filed Dec. 27 in Los Angeles, that she is also one of Andrade’s victims. According to Trevi’s suit, Andrade took advantage of his position as a successful music executive often called “Mr. Midas” for being able to recognize and promote young, female artists promising them to turn them into stars.
“That position allowed him to draw many young girls into his sphere of influence, who gathered around him in the hopes that he would guide, mentor, and launch their careers in entertainment, as he had previously done for others,” the lawsuit reads. “But once these young girls and women had been drawn into his sphere by dreams of stardom, he subjected them to total control and sadistic abuse – mental, financial, physical, and sexual. Ms. Trevi was one of those young women.”
According to Trevi’s lawsuit, the “Todos Me Miran” singer met Andrade as a child just as she was gaining recognition in Mexico as a singer, and soon he took over her career. “But Andrade also recognized Ms. Trevi as an isolated and vulnerable girl who was easy prey to his manipulation, control, and abuse,” Trevi’s lawsuit claims. “He took full advantage, subjecting the rising child superstar that he had taken on to grotesque abuse calculated to break her spirit.”
The filing includes graphic allegations, such as Trevi being “brutally beaten” by Andrade, at times to the point of unconsciousness, that she was sexually assaulted by him and raped repeatedly. The abuse inflicted by Andrade “eventually drove Ms. Trevi to attempt suicide,” the suit states.
Trevi, who is being represented by Johnny Depp’s former attorney Camille M. Vásquez, explained in a statement to Billboard that she chose to take legal action to fight for justice. “No one should have to go through what I experienced and I am determined to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions,” she expressed.
Vásquez added, “Our client, Gloria Trevi, has shown great strength and courage in stepping forward and filing this counterclaim. We are fully prepared to present our case and seek justice on her behalf.”
Trevi’s legal woes resurface more than 20 years after Trevi, Andrade and backup singer María Raquenel Portillo, also known as Mary Boquitas, were arrested in January 2000 in Rio de Janeiro for allegedly luring young girls into a cult-like pornographic ring. Former vocalist Karina Yapor, who filed criminal charges against the so-called “Trevi-Andrade clan,” alleged that backup recruits wanting to join the band were forced to have sexual relations with Andrade.
In 2004, Trevi was acquitted by a judge and found not guilty on charges of rape, kidnapping and corruption of minors. This resulted in Trevi’s immediate release from prison in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Trevi’s new lawsuit comes six days after a judge dismissed Portillo’s defamation claims against the two Jane Does after she was sued alongside Trevi and Andrade.
Read Gloria Trevi’s counterclaim below:
BOGOTA, Colombia — Shakira was immortalized in her Colombian hometown of Barranquilla, where officials unveiled a giant bronze statue of the music diva known around the world for her catchy tunes and exhilarating moves.
The 20-foot-tall monument depicts the multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner in one of her famous belly-dancing outfits, with her hips swaying to her right and her arms raised gracefully toward the sky.
A plaque under the statue says that on Feb. 2, 1977, the town of “Barranquilla and the world witnessed the birth of a heart that composes, hips that don’t lie, a voice that moves masses and a pair of bare feet that walk for the good of children and humanity.”
The statue, located on a recently built promenade along the Magdalena River that runs along the edge of the town, was unveiled in a small ceremony on Tuesday attended by Shakira’s parents and the mayor, Jaime Pumarejo.
However, the bronze giant is not the Caribbean town’s first Shakira statue. In 2006, Barranquilla unveiled a Shakira monument that depicts the pop star in her early days, playing an acoustic guitar and wearing jeans and boots. That statues stands near the entrance of the local soccer stadium.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Shakira thanked sculptor Yino Marquez and his students at Barranquilla’s public art academy for the latest statue, which she described as proof of the “enormous talent” of Barranquilla’s citizens.
Gracias al escultor Yino Márquez y a los estudiantes de la escuela distrital de artes por esta muestra del enorme talento artístico de la gente de mi tierra. pic.twitter.com/lR7ZQSO4Mx
— Shakira (@shakira) December 26, 2023
The Colombian pop star won three Latin Grammys earlier this year, and also made headlines in January, when she and Bizarrap collaborated on “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” a fiery rap song about Shakira’s ex-partner Gerard Pique that broke YouTube records.
She also settled a tax-fraud case in Spain with a $7.5 million dollar payment this year, and recently moved to Miami with her two children.
A sculpture has been unveiled in her native city of Barranquilla in honor of Colombian pop singer Shakira.
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