Latin
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In honor of Latin music’s explosive growth in the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) will recognize artists, label executives and policymakers who are “driving this rise across American music, culture and society,” it was announced Thursday (Aug. 31). For its annual RIAA Honors, which is set to take place Sept. 19 in […]
Dulce María Espinoza remembers those crazy days back in 2006, when she and the five other members of teen group RBD would finish taping their soap opera at 4 p.m., get whisked from the studios in Mexico City on a helicopter that took them to a private airport, from which they were whisked again to another city. There, they would head directly to an arena performance, then back to their hotel to record some music.
The next day, they would do it all over again.
“It’s like being on a roller coaster that doesn’t stop,” Dulce María says today. “And since it doesn’t stop, you don’t know anything, good or bad, until it does.”
It finally did, on Dec. 22, 2008, when RBD, arguably the most successful Latin pop group of all time, played its last concert in Madrid.
By then, says manager Guillermo Rosas, “Everyone wanted it to be over.”
But it wasn’t. Fifteen years later, five of RBD’s six original members are reunited in what’s shaping up to be one of the most monumental Latin music reunions in history.
On Aug. 25, Dulce María, Christian Chávez, Maité Perroni, Anahí Puente and Christopher von Uckermann (the sixth member, Alfonso “Poncho” Herrera, declined to be part of the reunion) kicked off their 54-date Soy Rebelde Tour, which will visit stadiums and arenas in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the United States.
So great is the frenzy around the tour that it moved 1.5 million tickets after only 24 hours on sale, according to Live Nation, tying the number sold across 150 reported shows between Dec. 2, 2005, and Dec. 21, 2008.
“I have to say, it’s exceeded my expectations: It’s gargantuan,” says Live Nation senior vp of global touring Hans Schafer.
In addition, in August, the group released “Cerquita de Ti,” its first new song in 15 years; an album is in the works; and new dates for 2024 will soon be announced.
Which all beg the question, why didn’t a reunion come sooner?
Anahí
Nolwen Cifuentes
It’s All In The Name
At the center of it all are the rights to RBD, its name, image and even its music. Anahí, Dulce María, Christian, Maite and Christopher (they go publicly by their first names) all joined the cast of Mexican soap opera Rebelde back in 2004, when they were teenagers.
Rebelde (Rebel) told the adventures of a group of students at an elite musical school who launch their own band, RBD, the acronym a play on the series name. The soap was produced by Mexican giant Televisa, who in turn licensed the format from Argentine producer Chris Morena, who created it, and global distributor and producer Dori Media., who helped develop it.
The original format, Rebelde Way, was produced in Argentina and spawned the band Erreway.
Both were successful, but Rebelde and RBD far outpaced them. In its short career, the group landed three albums at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, and a No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Of its 10 entries on Hot Latin Songs, five were top 10s, and “Ser o Parecer” topped the chart.
The success meant huge personal sacrifice and little financial gain for its young members. They were under contract with Televisa and all their rights –including recordings, touring and merchandising—were tied to those contracts, which gave them a salary and no royalties.
When Rosas, their manager today, came into the picture in 2006 as a young concert promoter, there was little he could do about that. He saw RBD’s potential as a touring act abroad –their first international show sold 70,000 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in March of 2006– and paid Televisa (who also controlled touring in Mexico through promoter Ocesa) a hefty fee for the rights to tour outside Mexico. He did not have individual contracts with any of the members.
But when Rebelde as a series ended and its stars parted ways, Rosas stayed in contact with them, managing the careers of Anahí and Christian, and also working closely with von Uckermann. The thought of bringing RBD together was always in the back of his mind, and he would often discuss it with his friend Hans Schafer, another young concert promoter.
Christopher von Uckermann
Nolwen Cifuentes
A Zoom And A Comeback
Some seven years ago, says Rosas, he started speaking to the members about reuniting. At that point, they all showed interest, but the rights were a mess, their personal lives had taken different paths, and RBD’s music wasn’t even available on streaming platforms.
All of RBD’s music had been recorded under EMI Music, which Universal Music Group bought in 2012. However, the license for the name was not renewed, so the music was never available to stream.
Things took a turn when Rosas, through his current company, The Sixth House, launched a joint venture with Universal Music Latin Entertainment.
“I was no longer just the manager of the RBD project, but someone who could speak with more authority,” he says.
Finally, on Sept. 4, 2020, RBD’s music became available on streaming platforms for the first time. Spurred by that occasion and the onset of the pandemic, the group got together on a Zoom “to figure out what we could do to give something to fans. Maybe a song. Something very genuine,” says Dulce María.
That conversation reignited the desire to reunite, but this time, the business model was clear: The five members and Rosas would be equal partners in the new joint venture. Royalties would still need to be paid to the original rights holders for use of the RBD name, but beyond that, all new revenue, including for music, would be split between Rosas and RBD.
Once a tour became a reality, Rosas went to Shafer, who was now at Live Nation. Because RBD was the first Latin act to use Ticketmaster’s Registered Fan feature, which gives fans an opportunity to register in advance to purchase tickets, the tour’s potential became immediately clear.
Dulce María
Nolwen Cifuentes
“I’m willing to bet this will be the most successful Latin tour this year in terms of gross and tickets sold,” Schafer predicts. “They are beating records in multiple territories in a way no other act has ever done. It’s spectacular.”
The importance of the moment is not lost on the group.
In mid August, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles during a break in the act’s dress rehearsal, we sat down with Anahí, Dulce María, Christian, Maité and Christopher for their first in-person interview as RBD in 15 years. They were dressed in one of their tour outfits: all sparkly, shimmery sequins and shoulder pads, a throwback to the 2000s and the unabashed, in-your-face positivity that was, and is, RBD.
“All five of us have very different personalities, and with the years, we’ve learned to embrace our differences. But in the end, it’s when we come back together that this grows and this magic explodes,” says Maité. “The key is, back then, we came together as the result of an audition; this time, it’s something we chose to do.”
Christian Chávez
Nolwen Cifuentes
It has been 15 years. Are you nervous?
Christian Truth is, we’ve gone through all the emotions. From the moment rehearsals began, we went through saying, “Ay, no, we can’t sing and dance at the same time anymore.” We stopped doing it so long that it was hard at first. And truth is, we have completely different personalities. So this time, we’re doing it according to our standards and what we like to do. It’s a beautiful way to return to this project that gave so much to all of us, but from a position of maturity, much more life experience and far more aware of what we want to show fans.
Many people who are going to see the show saw you 15 years ago. What significant differences will they see?
Christopher The entire creative presentation is an upgrade in every sense. We’re part of all the new songs. We have dancers. We never had dancers in the past, so the show has grown a lot. Everything is more meticulous, and it’s ours. People will see that organic part of RBD, but in a more elevated way.
What is the personal stamp of each of you?
Maité We all have very different personalities, like Christian said, and you see it onstage. But the magic happens when we’re together. We’ve all come together in the creative process, the design, everything we share here. What is really different is, we came together before through an audition. This time, we’ve chosen to do so.
Maite Perroni
Nolwen Cifuentes
RBD grew explosively back in the day. At what point did you realize how big it had become?
Dulce María There were two moments for me. We performed at el Zócalo in Mexico City, and people went crazy. I remember they had to take us out of there in ambulances and police cars. That’s when it really dawned on us, because we were taping the series from Monday to Saturday, and we never left the studios. That day, we realized something big was happening. And the second moment, internationally, was when we played in Colombia, in Bogotá, which was a crazy thing with over 50,000 people. And then Brazil, the first place we went to where people spoke another language, and it was total euphoria. Well, there were so many moments! Even this moment, right now, still surprises us.
Your current tour tickets sold at an extraordinary pace. I imagine you were anxious beforehand?
Anahí Truth is, everything has surprised us. I think the most beautiful thing we can tell you is, the five of us began this from our hearts, with our souls set on coming back together, and we really didn’t know what would happen. We didn’t know if we’d sell 10 tickets or 20 or the millions that, thanks to all of you, are now this tour. And I think when you do things like this, thinking of nothing else but the absolute love we have about being together, that’s when things flow. We’re here because of the love we have for what we were and what we are together. As Maité said, the magic only happens when we’re together. I get chills just saying it: We’re together again. Our souls are shining together again.
Clockwise from left: Anahí, Christian Chávez, Dulce María, Christopher von Uckermann and Maite Perroni of RBD photographed on August 18, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Nolwen Cifuentes
And as Maité said, you came together before through an audition. Now it’s a choice. How did it happen?
Anahí We put our whole love and enthusiasm into making it happen. But things would get complicated. The pandemic, then when we had that Zoom, Dul was about to give birth to her beautiful daughter, María Paula, whom I adore. Everyone knows I had more or less retired; I had been away from entertainment. Mai got married. And suddenly, things began to happen, and they began to flow in a way we couldn’t have planned. It seemed impossible, as we say in our new single.
I was told conversations began in earnest seven years ago, pre-pandemic.
Christian There were several tries. But during the pandemic was when we really thought, “What can we give back to people? How can we bring some happiness, some solace?” And that’s when we really sat down to talk about it.
Poncho isn’t part of the group, but RBD works as a quintet.
Christian We’ve realized RBD is bigger than its members. That’s what makes it such a magnetic force. We used to think, “RBD doesn’t exist without its members.” And the truth is, RBD …
Anaís … is RBD.
Dulce María
Nolwen Cifuentes
Christian Obviously, we love Poncho, and we wish him the best and we thank him for always sending us good vibes when they ask him about us. But the truth is, at this stage, we’re more focused on giving our all to RBD. It’s as if we were Charlie’s Angeles and Charlie is RBD.
Dulce María I also think it’s a cycle. We’re mothers now. We’re putting in a lot, a lot of effort and sacrifice that’s different from what we did before. But we’re here for love and to close a circle with our fans and with ourselves. In the end, RBD is eternal. And as we’ve always said, Rebelde will exist until the last rebel heart stops beating.
As a mother, I love that you’re moms and you’re on tour and you’re bringing the family with you. I understand there’s a whole daycare traveling with you.
Anahí Totally. There’s a playroom in our dressing rooms because we’re here with our R-babies. Obviously, our children are the most important thing for the three of us, and we’re not complete without them. I have a little bit of a bigger problem, so to speak, because mine are already in school. Manuel, my son, is 6, and he can’t miss much school. Thank God I have an amazing husband, a superdad who’s coming and going on the weekends so I can spend time with my children. Dul’s María Paula is still small, and Lía is only 2 months old, so they can spend more time here. But we’re having a dressing room just for them, a playroom where they can play and have a great time.
Maité, you have a crib in your dressing room?
Maité Yes. Truth be told, it’s beautiful to live this stage, but it’s hard. It’s challenging. With Lía, the second I finish here, I’ll run to her, and when I arrive, I don’t let go for a second, and she’s the most important thing in my life. Knowing she’s well taken care of allows me to enjoy this moment, which is one of the best experiences, if not the best, we’ve lived and shared.
Anahí (Laughs, looks at Christian.) And our uncles who put up with my children screaming!
Christopher von Uckermann
Nolwen Cifuentes
In RBD 1.0, you were told what to do, and you’ve said you had to sacrifice a lot in terms of personal life. Did you set your own conditions this time?
Maité The thing is, the way we built this new stage, we didn’t have to set terms. We had to go together, hand in hand, to build what was best for all of us.
It must feel so different. When RBD first became popular, I think none of us realized how tough it was for you. You had a very harsh contract. Do you ever look back and think, “That was hard”?
Anahí You have to see it from the stance of gratitude. Everything we lived brings us to this point, where we can come together as the owners of our project. If we hadn’t gone through that, we wouldn’t be here. We’re here with hearts that healed, that went through a lot, and what we haven’t healed, we will heal together, holding hands.
Businesswise, what was the biggest lesson you learned?
Christian Not to take things personally. This is a career and a business, and sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t. And when you work with teenagers, you’re working with insecurities. It’s not the same to be famous once you’re older. And here, we had three child stars: Christopher, Anahí and Dulce started performing when they were 5. It’s a totally different life.
Maite Perroni
Nolwen Cifuentes
Christopher, you had that experience. But even so, it must have been tough, for example, to realize you weren’t getting royalties for merchandise.
Christopher It’s a process a lot of artists live — more than people realize, because artists create. Now we’re the ones creating this, we’re partners. And when you have that, you are really free to create in all areas. Everything we went through helped us get to this. In my case, after working since I was a child, it’s been a true evolution to say: “What do I want to tell the world? And to ensure that my product is not banal, but actually brings something to fans?”
Dulce María At that time, we weren’t thinking about that. We worked for five years as RBD, and it’s like being on a roller coaster that doesn’t stop. And since it doesn’t stop, you don’t know anything, good or bad, until it does, and you say: “Ah! This happened. And this, and this,” and you start to process. And it was so hard. That is probably why we always said a reunion wasn’t possible. And in my case, I reached a point where I said no. I lived so long like this, made so many sacrifices. You leave your family behind, you’re far from so many things because this is a very demanding career. I was afraid to go back because it takes you away from your safe place, your home, your family. Thank God we’re together again, and it’s also like being with a family. With siblings who love and support each other.
Can you really do whatever you want now?
Dulce María We all have a different story to tell and inspire. It’s beautiful to be part of the songwriting. Songs like “Cerquita de Ti,” which Christopher wrote with other composers, are beautiful, for example. We want to say things, not only in the songs, but during the show and on the screens.
Maité They’re different stages, and it’s important to underline that back then, we were kids with dreams and RBD became the platform to make them a reality. Also, speaking about our old songs has made us realize that 20 years later, it’s still relevant to sing about love. Pop hasn’t died. Perhaps there was no one to sing it.
I’ve always thought one of the secrets to RBD’s success is you always sang about positive, affirming things.
Anahí It’s always been our flag. Like Dulce said, unity, love, believing in your dreams, never stopping, saving ourselves — because in a way, together we’ve saved our hearts in moments we’ve been a little broken.
Christian Chávez
Nolwen Cifuentes
Let’s talk fashion on this tour. What were you going for?
Christian We each wanted to represent ourselves. I went through the process of my sexuality, and I hadn’t had the opportunity to fully be myself onstage. There had always been that fear or insecurity of whether I should wear this or not. And it’s beautiful to me and to that young Christian who sometimes wanted to wear or try on something more feminine and couldn’t because he was told it was wrong or he would lose fans. It’s like celebrating myself and celebrating that child and telling him: “Go, put on that crop top if you want. Wear makeup if you want.” It’s been like a game. At 40 years old, I feel like I’m 15.
Anahí I’m really into nostalgia. There’s an outfit change called Retro Girls where we put on those iconic outfits that remind us of so many things, and we wanted to re-create them. Definitely my favorite moment is Rebelde [the iconic RBD school uniform of white shirt, red jacket and short skirt]. When I put on my uniform again, it brough me to tears.
Christopher In my case, I went for a ’70s look. And I also love the ’60s and the ’80s. And I wear sneakers because I think like an athlete onstage.
Dulce María For a while, we’ve been looking for a more unified look that respects our essence and style. Before, we would wear whatever we wanted, and that’s beautiful because it was us, but sometimes it felt like we were all going to a different party. Now it’s about respecting the past, but each of us in their own style. For example, I’m a mom, I’m older, but I still want to give the best of myself. I dyed my hair red again. It’s like embracing the past but integrating it into today. I’m not only Roberta [her Rebelde character]. I’m Dulce María with all those Roberta traits. I’m sensitive, romantic, I’m married, I have a baby, I’m a family girl and I miss my family, I’m vulnerable.
You’re releasing new music, and you’re working on an album. But your music wasn’t on streaming platforms for over a decade. What did it mean to hear it for the first time in 2020?
Christian I think it was the tipping point that tugged at our hearts. Since we didn’t have the music before, when they told us it would be available and asked us to film short videos to invite people to listen, that activated Rebelde fever in September 2020.
Anahí
Nolwen Cifuentes
The world has changed. Now we talk openly about inclusion, rights, body positivity. Topics that weren’t touched even five years ago, but topics that you touched on often in the past. How does it feel to see those conversations normalized?
Maité It’s very inspiring. Even though we shared those messages back then, it’s wonderful to see the conversation expand and that 20 years later, it’s an obligation and a responsibility to know what you say, to be aware of how you communicate and what you want to express and how you want to live in this world.
Dulce María And be yourself. We were maybe ahead of our time. Christian was one of the first Latin entertainers, if not the first, to speak openly about sexuality. And it’s gratifying to see that today we can truly be who we are and say, “It’s OK.”
Looking back, very few bands transcend TV shows. The Monkees in the ’60s are one of the few that come to mind. How does it feel to be in such good company?
Maité RBD also accomplished something that’s not that common. It came from such a specific place, a youth soap opera, and it suddenly began to break paradigms within the music industry, and it began to occupy a truly important space. It wasn’t easy at first because there was a lot of judgment around a TV project with young people. Many of our singer, songwriter, producer colleagues saw us as a plastic product. But even then, RBD achieved unique things, RBD broke records, we touched people’s hearts, and we sent a positive message. We achieved things that, today, 20 years later, allow us to be here. It sounds like bragging, but we have to state it proudly because it wasn’t easy. RBD is something unique, and today, we’re part of the industry and we are not just the most important Mexican group: We’re the most important Latin group. That’s RBD.
Maite, Christian and Christopher will discuss their tour and reunion Wednesday, October 4 at Billboard’s Latin Music Week, taking place Oct. 2-6 in Miami. Register here.
Dulce María remembers those crazy days, back in 2006, when she and the other five teenage members of RBD would finish recording their telenovela on the Televisa forum at 4 in the afternoon. From there, they would be picked up by a helicopter, flown to a private airport, then to another city, and finally taken directly to some arena, where they would sing and dance for two hours or more. Afterwards, they’d be back at the hotel, where, if there was time, they would rehearse or record some music.The following day, they would do it all over again.
“It was being on a roller coaster that never stops,” says Dulce María today. “You can’t assimilate neither the good nor the not so good, until you stop and it’s, ah!”
Everything stopped on December 22, 2008, when RBD, perhaps the most successful Latin pop group of all time, gave their last concert in Madrid.
But 15 years later, five of the six original members of the group have returned in what appears to be one of the most monumental reunions in Latin music.
In an exclusive interview with Billboard and Billboard Español, Anahí, Dulce María, Maite, Christian and Christopher sat down together for the first time in over a decade and spoke at length about their return to the stage, what RBD meant in their lives, where they are today, and their role and legacy in Latin pop music.
Check out the exclusive photos below and read the Billboard cover story by Leila Cobo here.
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Anahí
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Christian Chávez
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Maite Perroni
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Christopher von Uckermann
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Dulce María
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Clockwise from left: Anahí, Christian Chávez, Dulce María, Christopher von Uckermann and Maite Perroni of RBD.
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Maite Perroni
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Christian Chávez
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Dulce María
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Christopher von Uckermann
Image Credit: Nolwen Cifuentes
Anahí
Ivy Queen will be honored with the Icon Award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Billboard and Telemundo announced Thursday (Aug. 31). The award recognizes the Puerto Rican superstar, a pioneer of reggaeton, as an artist who has carved out a career that has remained relevant through time.
“I am beyond thrilled and honored to receive this award,” Ivy Queen said in a statement. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication I have put into my music over the years. I am grateful to my fans for their unwavering support throughout my career, and I hope to continue to inspire and empower women through my music for years to come.”
Celebrated globally for achieving both musical and commercial success, Ivy Queen’s career spans nearly 30 years. She earned her first entry on a Billboard chart with “Quiero Bailar,” which peaked at No. 16 on the Tropical Airplay chart in July 2005, and, a few months later, scored her first No. 1 on that tally with “Cuéntale.” She boasts 20 entries on Latin Rhythm Airplay, the third-most among Latina artists; 400 million on-demand official streams in the U.S., according to Luminate; 560,00 albums sold in the U.S.; and 584,000 song downloads.
The special honor will be presented at the awards ceremony — where Ivy Queen is also set to perform — which will be held Thursday, Oct. 5, and will be broadcast live on Telemundo from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla. The show will air simultaneously on the Hispanic entertainment cable channel Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional. This year, Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories, including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and Top Latin Album of the year. See the complete list of finalists here.
As has been the case for more than 20 years, the Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard’s annual Latin Music Week, the single largest and most important gathering of the Latin music industry, taking place Oct. 2-6. The event will feature panels, conversations and workshops at the Faena Forum and exclusive performances and fan experiences throughout the week in Miami. Artists Shakira, Myke Towers, Vico C, Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma, Nicki Nicole, RBD, and many more, are confirmed to participate.
Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.
Bad Bunny is the latest artist to celebrate their streaming success by visiting Spotify’s newly launched Billions Club series. The Grammy-winning global superstar stopped by the series to enjoy a “Billions Brunch” with some of his closest friends and collaborators.
“The feeling of having 1 billion streams for this song right now is the same emotion I felt when I got 5,000 plays for the first time,” Bad Bunny said. “For me, it’s just as big knowing that there are people who want to listen and want to enjoy what you make.”
The song in question is “Tití Me Preguntó,” a track from his historic Un Verano Sin Ti album that officially reached 1 billion Spotify streams on Jan. 23. According to Spotify, Bad Bunny has 12 songs with more than 1 billion streams each on the platform — more than any other artist in Spotify history. He has accumulated 58 billion streams on the service, reigning as Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the year for the past three years.
In the video, Bad Bunny feasted on a lavish meal set on several plaques that commemorated his other songs with over 1 billion Spotify streams, including “Yonaguni,” “Dákiti” (with Jhayco) and “MIA” (with Drake). In addition to basking in his recordbreaking streaming success, the “Después de la Playa” singer also recounted the story behind the creation of “Tití Me Preguntó.” When tasked with telling the story of the song in 10 seconds, he replied, “That’s impossible. That’s a lifetime of love and romance.”
“It’s a song that was born very spontaneously,” he added. “All of the people mentioned in the song exist in real life. Nothing I say in that song is a lie, including the part where I say I want to fall in love, but I can’t.”
Nonetheless, Bad Bunny declined to specify which aunt he was singing about, because “they’ll get jealous and create a mess.”
Toward the end of his Billions Club episode, Bad Bunny made sure to thank his fans for their continued support, as well as his mother and father for believing in him “not just in music, but with every decision [he’s] made” in his life.
Bad Bunny has earned 11 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including his sole No. 1 single “I Like It” (with Cardi B & J Balvin). On the Billboard 200, he has notched five top 10 projects, two of which have reached the ranking’s summit: El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo (one week) and Un Verano Sin Ti (13 weeks).
Every month, Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors spotlight a group of rising artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
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See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes five emerging artists, who we might’ve found anywhere from a Spotify playlist to a music showcase. See our recommendations below.
Artist: Ingrid Jasmin
Country: Norway
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Possessing a bewitching melisma that harkens back to bygone bulerías, Ingrid Jasmin’s music dives into the depths of Spanish folklore with a grip on música urbana sensibilities. Although this uncanny fusion brings to mind the likes of Rosalía, the Norway-bred singer of Costa Rican descent brings a refreshing proposal that draws from Nordic folk, Latin and R&B in three languages: Norwegian, English and Spanish. She studied in Cuba and Spain and immersed herself in traditional music, yet carefully mixes her work with elegant electronic flourishes and supreme production, as heard on Luna, her 2022 debut album which earned her a Spellemannprisen (a Norwegian Grammy) award. This year, she’s released a string of singles — including her latest, “Safir,” a song about the “value of the human being, which violence against women can never take away,” she tells Billboard Español. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “M.U.E.R.T.O.”
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Artist: NUNNE
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: With a vocal maturity that goes beyond her 21 years and a complex musical mix of traditional genres such as Cuban son, bolero, bossa nova and merengue with contemporary urban elements, NUNNE debuted last month with the nine-track EP La Selenita. The set — which includes the singles “Ojos de Plata,” about pursuing your dreams relentlessly despite detractors, and “Náufragos,” described as “a window into her fears and uncertainties” — is an introspective journey that delves into topics like longing, forgiveness and healing. The Mexican artist (real name: Yosune Yáñez), who moved to Montreal three years ago, is a singer, songwriter, producer and sound engineer, and that skill set is evident in the quality of her proposal. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “Ojos de Plata”
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Artist: ElArturo
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Arturo Venegas, a.k.a. ElArturo, caught my attention while scrolling on TikTok. The clip I stumbled upon was a few seconds long, but that was enough to display his hooky melodies and an earworm chorus for “Retroenculado.” “‘Toy turbo retroenculado, uh uh uh, me siento como embrujado, y yo no soy de esos vatos no sé ni qué está pasando pero ya me está gustando uh uh uh,” he sings, wondering if he’s fallen under a spell. With an accordion and a bajo quinto, the cumbia-norteña song is modernized with his witty and fast-paced lyrics about a girl that’s got him falling in love. The singer-songwriter released a nine-song album earlier this year, Raro, via Warner Music México. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Retroenculado”
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Artist: Musiko
Country: Puerto Rico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Born in Puerto Rico, Billy Perez, better known as Musiko, is a Christian urban music singer-songwriter. Although he has been making music for several years now, his career has been reaching new heights as of late. From reggaeton and hip-hop, to a fusion of Latin rhythms, Musiko has many styles in his repertoire, and collaborations with well-known artists of the genre such as Funky and Alex Zurdo, as well as emerging artists. Although I had known his music for years, my admiration deepened when I had the opportunity to watch him perform live a few months ago; seeing his charismatic personality both on and offstage, and the audience connecting and chanting each of his songs, was a pleasant surprise. “Todo empezó” with Funky, “A Ciegas” with Indiomar, “Ya No Soy Igual” and “Contigo,” to mention a few, feature melodies that effortlessly infuse the listener with motivation and, without a doubt, a surge of faith. Musiko is touring in Latin America, the United States and Spain while preparing to release his upcoming album. — LUISA CALLE
Song For Your Playlist: “Enamora” ft. Kim Richards
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Artist: Jalil Lopez
Country: U.S.
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I first met Jalil in Miami years ago, around 2011, when he was promoting his single, “Princesa Mía.” I was impressed by his vocal skills and the freshness of his sound. Recently, I stumbled upon his latest release and instantly recognized that signature sound: “Yo Quiero El Amor” is the title of his new single, and it’s clear that Jalil is making a solid comeback. His unique blend of raspy yet smooth vocals and sugary bachata sounds sets him apart. This New Jersey native, born to a Puerto Rican mother and Honduran father, is determined to continue blessing his fans with the bachata genre they have identified him with. — INGRID FAJARDO
Song For Your Playlist: “Yo Quiero El Amor”
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Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.
Festival producer Disco Donnie Presents has teamed up with Puerto Rico-based promoter Visionary Ally for the return of the Motherland Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Presale begins Thursday (Aug. 31) for the one-day festival, taking place Nov. 18.
After a successful debut in 2022, with more than 20,000 fans and performances by Tego Calderón, Nicky Jam, Chencho Corleoner, and Zion & Lennox, Motherland Festival is poised to return even bigger with a multi-stage experience that showcases the biggest names in Reggaeton and House music.
Leading the lineup at Motherland Festival is the Reggaeton sensation, Myke Towers. New York Times has recognized him as an artist who is “seizing his moment” after his great success with ‘La La’ which debuted at the #1 of Spotify’s Global Top 50. He also has massive collaborations with Becky G, Bad Bunny, and others. Another hot artist on the mainstage roster is Young Miko who has created a global buzz thanks to her incredible talent and success with hits like Wiggy, Lisa, and Riri and her latest collaboration with Marshmello, Tempo.
Meanwhile, house music aficionados will be treated to a special headlining performance by the internationally acclaimed duo, The Martinez Brothers. Famous for their extended DJ marathon sets at Club Space in Miami and in Ibiza and Latin influenced sound, they have performed around the world regularly selling out some of the largest venues and hosting stages at the biggest international music festivals, making this performance all the more special.
Also included in today’s announcement are some of the most thriving and prominent artists on the scene: Rising star Bad Gyal has been making waves in the Reggaeton world, recently highlighted in Billboard as part of the “Rising Women in Reggaetón” movement at the 2023 Latin AMAs. Her collaborations and chart-topping tracks are a testament to her rising prominence in the genre.
Other acts include rappers Vico C and Dei V, plus DJ Luian and DJ Blass.
“After being in the festival scene here in Puerto Rico for 24 years, I believe that Motherland is going to be THE destination festival in the Caribbean,” Victor Mercado with Visionary Ally tells Billboard. “It’s a proud moment for me to lead this incredible project with Donnie, who’s a longtime friend. We’re doing this one for the culture and I’m thrilled that we get to shine a spotlight on some incredible Reggaeton as well as House artists along the way.”
Building on a successful 15-year partnership, Visionary Ally and Disco Donnie Presents have a proven history of producing extraordinary music and cultural experience, including multiple editions of the iconic EDC Puerto Rico. The pair have even promised to bring this festival into stateside markets, spreading the authenticity of the Puerto Rican culture and rhythms to cities all over the country.
“Our success with destination festivals in Cancun (Ember Shores, Paradise Blue) has really shown us something special,” says James “Disco Donnie” Estopinal, who encourages fans visiting San Juan for Motherland to immerse themselves in the diverse range of landscapes in the city.
“People are eager to jet off to new places, places they’ve never experienced before to share experiences with like minded people they’ve never met. It’s like this instant connection they all have, even in a brand-new setting. And that’s exactly what we’re doing with Motherland. It’s not just about going somewhere new; it’s about creating these bonds and moments together in a whole new destination, right in my home city of San Juan.”
Karol G’s “Qlona,” her first collaboration with Peso Pluma, conquers Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart as the song ascends 2-1 and ousts her own “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” from the lead, sending it to No. 2 on the Sept. 2-dated list. Both songs are part of her No. 1 album Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season).
“Qlona” leads the multimetric ranking powered by streaming activity. During the tracking week ending Aug. 24, it logged 12.6 million on-demand official streams in the U.S., a 7% rise from the previous week, according to Luminate. The sum yields the song to No. 1 on Latin Streaming Songs as the Greatest Gainer of the week and an 18-16 lift on the overall Streaming Songs chart; the only song by a Latin artist in the top 20 there.
With “Qlona,” Karol G captures her eighth No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. She first led with “Dame Tu Cosita” with Pitbull and El Chombo, featuring Cutty Ranks, for two weeks in 2018. Her second and longest coronation to date arrived a year later as “China” — with Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna and J Balvin — crowned the list for 12 weeks in 2019.
Peso Pluma, meanwhile, secures his second champ after the 19-week ruler “Ella Baila Sola” with Eslabon Armado, the longest leading song on Hot Latin Songs in 2023 thus far.
As “Qlona” exchanges places with “Mi Ex Tenía Razón,” Karol G replaces herself at No. 1 again. She is the last woman with direct successors at the summit, as “Mamiii” with Becky G ceded the throne to her own “Provenza” on the May 14, 2022-dated chart. Among all acts, Bad Bunny did it last, when “Me Porto Bonito” ejected his own “Titi Me Preguntó” from the lead (list dated May 28, 2022).
“Qlona” is the second ruler from Karol G’s Bichota Season to lead Hot Latin Songs. Thanks to nine new debuts from the set on last’s week chart (Aug. 22 dated chart), the Colombian made history, breaking the record for the most songs among female artists on the list’s history, which dates to 1986.
Elsewhere, “Qlona” rallies 29-12 on Billboard Global 200 and flies 55-15 on Global Excl. U.S., to new peaks on both rankings.
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Billboard unveils today (Aug. 30) the schedule of live shows taking place during Latin Music Week 2023, which returns to the Faena Forum in Miami Oct. 2-6.
The En Vivo concert series will feature performances by Fonseca, Greeicy, Mike Bahía, Myke Towers, Nathy Peluso and Young Miko.
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Colombian power couple Greeicy and Mike Bahía will take the stage on Monday, Oct. 2 for an intimate performance at the Faena Theater presented by Michelob ULTRA. It will be a private show, available only to Billboard Latin Music Week pass holders (21+).
That same day, Venesti, Maffio, Nacho, Bernier, Gonza, and Alejo will help turn on the Official Billboard Latin Music Week Kickoff Party, hosted by DJ Alex Sensation and presented by AP Global Music. This event is open to the public and free to all Latin Music Week pass holders (21+).
On Wednesday, Oct. 3, Argentine-Spanish singer and songwriter Nathy Peluso will grace the stage at Oasis Wynwood with special guest Young Miko. Latin Music Week pass holders will receive free access, but the show is open to the general public with tickets starting at $35 (already available here.)
Two big stars will be taking the stage on Friday, Oct. 6. During the day, Puerto Rican rapper, singer and songwriter Myke Towers will give a special performance at Wynwood Marketplace, as part of the Billboard Latin Music Week Block Party presented by Cheetos. The event is free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis.
And for a grand finale, there will be Friday Night with Fonseca. Sponsored by Michelob ULTRA, the Colombian singer will close the week of En Vivo performances at Oasis Wynwood — with tickets also starting at $35 and Latin Music Week pass holders (21+) receiving free access.
Celebrated for over 30 years, Billboard Latin Music Week is the longest-running and biggest Latin music industry gathering in the world. After a sold-out 2022 edition that featured live performances by Maluma, Camilo and GALE, to name a few, the event returns, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month.
Billboard Latin Music Week will also coincide with the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will be broadcast live on Telemundo on Thursday, Oct. 5 from the Watsco Center in Miami. The show will be available simultaneously on Spanish entertainment cable network Universo, Peacock, Telemundo’s App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.
This year’s Latin Music Week partners include Cheetos, Delta Air Lines, Michelob ULTRA and more.
Registration for the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week is now open at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
Mexican cumbia group Los Ángeles Azules will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, Billboard and Telemundo announced Tuesday (Aug. 29).
The band, known for songs such as “El Listón de Tu Pelo,” “Cómo Te Voy a Olvidar” and “Mi Niña Mujer,” among many other cumbia anthems, will be recognized for their enduring, exceptional career that has expanded the reach of Latin music worldwide. The award will be presented at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, where they will also hit the stage with a special performance. The ceremony will be held Thursday, Oct. 5, and will be broadcast live on Telemundo from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
“We are very honored to receive this award,” the group — led by the Mejía-Avante brothers — said in a statement. “It is a recognition to our music, which we have shared with our audiences throughout all these years.”
With a 40-year musical career, Los Ángeles Azules have achieved great success, including 14 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, with three songs in the top 10. They also have 16 entries on Latin Airplay, of which six reached the top 10, including “Nunca es Suficiente,” with Natalia Lafourcade, which peaked at No. 3 in 2019. Their 2020 album De Buenos Aires Para El Mundo debuted at No. 8 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart, making it the band’s 12th album to reach the top 10 on the tally.
Past recipients of the Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award include Raphael, Paquita la del Barrio, Armando Manzanero, Miguel Bosé, Los Temerarios, Intocable, José José, Marco Antonio Solís, Ricardo Arjona and Maná, among others.
Besides airing live on Telemundo, the Billboard Latin Music Awards will air simultaneously on the Hispanic entertainment cable channel, Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional. Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and Top Latin Album of the year.
As has been the case for more than 20 years, the Billboard Latin Music Awards coincide with Billboard’s annual Latin Music Week, the single largest and most important gathering of the Latin music industry, taking place Oct. 2-6. The event will feature panels, conversations and workshops at the Faena Forum and exclusive performances and fan experiences throughout the week in Miami. Artists Shakira, Myke Towers, Vico C, Grupo Frontera, Peso Pluma, Nicki Nicole, RBD, and many more, are confirmed to participate. Purchase tickets to the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Week here.