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¡Bienvenidos a Mic’d Up! This exciting first episode is an exclusive and immersive behind-the-scenes experience of Billboard chief content officer for Latin and Español Leila Cobo’s life during Billboard Latin Music Week, a notable event in the Latin music calendar. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Viewers will […]

Shakira has been unstoppable since kicking off her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour in Brazil in February. Now, due to an overwhelming demand, the Colombian global artist has added two more dates to the North American leg of the trek, slated to start May 13 in North Carolina. Explore Explore See latest videos, […]

Billboard Women in Music 2025

The U.S. State Department has canceled the work and tourist visas of the members of Mexican corrido group Los Alegres del Barranco after they displayed images of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” during a concert on Saturday (March 29) at an auditorium at the University of Guadalajara.

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The news was confirmed on Tuesday (April 1) by Christopher Landau, the Deputy Secretary of State, in a post on X.

I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences. A Mexican band, “Los Alegres del Barranco,” portrayed images glorifying drug kingpin “El Mencho” — head of the grotesquely violent CJNG cartel — at a recent concert… pic.twitter.com/neSIib7EC4— Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau (@DeputySecState) April 2, 2025

“I’m a firm believer in freedom of expression, but that doesn’t mean that expression should be free of consequences,” wrote Landau in his post. “A Mexican band, Los Alegres del Barranco, portrayed images glorifying drug kingpin “El Mencho” — head of the grotesquely violent CJNG cartel — at a recent concert in Mexico. I’m pleased to announce that the State Department has revoked the band members’ work and tourism visas. In the Trump Administration, we take seriously our responsibility over foreigners’ access to our country. The last thing we need is a welcome mat for people who extol criminals and terrorists.”

The State Department, through Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announced on Feb. 20 the designation of eight cartels and transnational organizations — including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel — as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).

Prior to Landau’s announcement, the concert had caused significant controversy and outrage in Mexico, which has long tried to curb the glorification of drug lords in popular Mexican music and narcocorridos.

The concert was condemned on Monday (March 31) by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. It prompted the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office to launch an investigation for “glorification of crime.”

📢 Tras la proyección de imágenes en un concierto en Zapopan, que presuntamente hacían alusión a un personaje vinculado a un grupo criminal, la Fiscalía del Estado inició una carpeta de investigación. (1-3) pic.twitter.com/OU4R8EYr6q— Fiscalía del Estado de Jalisco (@FiscaliaJal) March 31, 2025

On Tuesday (April 1), the governor of Jalisco, Pablo Lemus, wrote in a post on X that his government supports the measures adopted by the University of Guadalajara to prevent criminal acts from being glorified at concerts, as occurred over the weekend at the Telmex Auditorium. The local leader said he signed an executive order to ensure that no singer or group with a history of endorsing criminal activity will perform at events linked to his government.

“Next week, I will introduce an initiative to ensure that, in any legally sanctioned public event, producers and performers are held accountable for what happens during their shows, and no one can wash their hands of responsibility,” Lemus announced.

Los Alegres del Barranco were scheduled to play shows in several U.S. cities, where the band was announced as part of the lineup for the Bésame Mucho festival April 5 in Austin, Texas. In a TikTok livestream on Tuesday, Pavel Morales, a member of the Sinaloan group, stated that the majority of their audience supports them and referred to their critics as “confused.”

Billboard Español reached out for comment to the band’s reps, but hasn’t received a reply by press time. Meanwhile, authorities from the municipality of Pedro Escobedo, in the Mexican state of Querétaro, confirmed on Tuesday that the group’s scheduled performance for April 19 was canceled because “it does not meet the necessary municipal permits for its realization,” the local government said in a statement on Tuesday.

The projection of the controversial images took place during a concert titled “Los Señores del Corrido” at the Telmex Auditorium, where Los Alegres del Barranco performed the song “El Dueño del Palenque” (The Owner of the Palenque) and displayed on screen photos of the cartel leader, as well as other images created by AI.

The images appeared on multiple videos on social media. They include the moments in which fans burst into cheers when the images of the cartel leader were shown, adding to the controversy.

In a statement, Auditorio Telmex Adistanced itself from the events, arguing that the venue “has no influence on the selection of the repertoire, speeches, or audiovisual material that artists decide to share with their audiences.” However, it acknowledged that the images of the kingpin could be considered an “exultation of crime.”

The controversy over the alleged tribute to the drug trafficker arises after information has surfaced over how the cartel uses clandestine ranches to recruit people through deceptive job offers, according to federal authorities and media reports. This followed the recent discovery of Izaguirre Ranch in early March in the municipality of Teuchitlán, where acts of torture and murder were allegedly committed, according to the Guerreros Buscadores collective.

🚨#AlertaADN¡Se cancela! El municipio de Pedro Escobedo, Querétaro, suspendió la presentación de “Los Alegres del Barranco”, prevista para el 19 de abril, tras la controversia por un homenaje a “El Mencho” en un concierto en Jalisco pic.twitter.com/ChxD61VNps— adn40 (@adn40) April 2, 2025

Billboard Women in Music 2025

Olga Tañón, Anitta, and Chiquis will be honored at the third annual Billboard Latin Women in Music event, Billboard and Telemundo announced on Wednesday (April 2). The program will air live exclusively on Telemundo on April 24 at 9 p.m. ET.

Hosted by Ana Bárbara, the two-hour music special will celebrate the “groundbreaking women shaping the future of Latin music,” says the press release. It will also stream on the Telemundo app, Universo and Peacock.

According to the initial list of honorees, la Mujer del Fuego (the Women of Fire) Olga Tañón, as she is widely known, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her nearly four decades of unparalleled influence in merengue and Latin pop. Throughout her career, which dates back to the mid-1980s, the Puerto Rican legend has not only stolen hearts, but has also shaped the tropical style, earning a special place in the history of Latin music, earning the No. 8 spot on Billboard‘s Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time.

Twenty of her albums have charted on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums, including two No. 1s, Llévame Contigo (1997) and Te Acordarás de Mí (1998). Meanwhile, on Tropical Airplay, the merengue powerhouse holds the record as the female artist with the most Top 10 entries (29 in total). “Her musical versatility, passion, and ability to connect with diverse audiences have made her an enduring icon,” reads the statement.

Meanwhile, trilingual superstar Anitta will be honored the Vanguard Award for her groundbreaking contributions to Latin pop, becoming one of the few Brazilian artists to successfully break into the Spanish-speaking market.

Anitta’s breakthrough came in 2017 with the J Balvin collaboration “Downtown,” which peaked at No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. Since then, through impactful collaborations and solo hits like “Envolver” — which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Global 200 — she has established herself as an essential force in breaking “barriers, challenge norms, and inspire future generations,” the statement said.

Rounding out the honorees on this first announcement, Chiquis will be recognized with the Impact Award for her “extraordinary contributions to the music industry and society.” A three-time Latin Grammy winner, the Mexican-American artist carries forward the rich banda legacy of her renowned family.

Chiquis holds 12 entries on Regional Mexican Airplay, and two No. 1 albums on Regional Mexican Albums for Ahora (2015) and Entre Botellas (2018). As the founder of Busy Bee Productions, she launched two hit TV series, while her podcast Chiquis and Chill has ran for four successful seasons.

Billboard and Telemundo will announce additional Latin Women in Music honorees in 2025.

Legendary regional Mexican group Banda El Recodo is gearing up for the release of their new album, En Vivo Desde Japón (Live from Japan). Recorded last year during their performance at the De Camino a Latinoamérica festival in Tokyo at Odaiba Pier, the album will be rolled out in five weekly installments starting this Thursday (April 3).

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“We decided to release it this way to offer something different,” says Alfonso “Poncho” Lizárraga, leader of the group that was founded in Mazatlán nearly 87 years ago, in an exclusive interview with Billboard Español. “Each installment will feature a collection of songs grouped under a specific theme.”

The first part, titled Orgullo por México (Pride for Mexico), will include tracks like “Puño de Tierra,” “El Sinaloense/El Corrido de Mazatlán,” and “El Rey/Cielito Lindo/Viva México.” This will be followed by Amor Como Lenguaje Universal (Love as a Universal Language) on April 10, featuring a medley of “Te Presumo/Me Gusta Todo de Ti/La Mejor de Todas,” “Y Llegaste Tú,” and the spotlight track “No Me Aprovechaste,” an unreleased song written by Luciano Luna.

On April 17, the third installment, Separación, Distancia, Desamor (Separation, Distance, Heartbreak), will be released, featuring songs such as “Que te Ruegue Quien te Quiera,” “Yo Sé que te Acordarás/Vas a Llorar por Mí/Acá Entre Nos,” and “Triste Recuerdo/Te Ofrezco un Corazón.” A week later, on April 24, Viva La Fiesta (Long Live the Party) will debut, showcasing the tracks “La Crazy Loca,” “La Culebra,” and “La Quebradora/Vámonos de Fiesta.” Finally, on May 8, En Vivo Desde Japón will be completed with a second unreleased track, “El Malo Soy Yo,” along with “Qué Bonita/El Farol.”

This marks the second time Banda El Recodo has recorded a live album outside of Mexico. Back in 1995, they released Desde París, Francia, La Gira Europa ’95 (En Vivo) (From Paris, France, The Europe Tour ’95 Live). It is also their second time performing in Japan, where they first visited in 2002 to support the Mexican National Soccer Team during the World Cup, playing in five different cities.

“This time, we were part of an event where we were invited to share a piece of our culture with an audience of 5,000 people. It was an incredible experience and a great source of pride,” says Lizárraga. “Nowadays, there’s a growing openness to discovering Mexican music — and we find it very important that mariachi and banda are represented worldwide.”

“It’s important to honor and dignify traditional Mexican music,” Lizárraga continues. “We want the history of Mexican music to be respected and preserved. This doesn’t mean we don’t support new talents or younger generations, but it’s crucial to keep our traditions alive.”

Banda El Recodo will kick off the U.S. leg of their ’90s Banda Tour on May 25 in Newburgh, N.Y., joined by Banda Machos, Banda Los Recoditos, and Banda Maguey. The tour will blend traditional banda hits with technobanda and la quebradita, a music and dance explosion that took the scene by storm during the 1990s.

In Mexico, the tour is called Las Más Perronas (Mexican slang roughly meaning the Baddest) and includes only Banda El Recodo and Banda Machos, with three dates announced: July 11 at the Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara, August 9 at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico, and Sept. 5 at the Arena Monterrey.

Banda El Recodo

Fonovisa/Universal

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, what better way to honor the extraordinary contributions of women than by celebrating the female pioneers, visionaries, and stars who have defined Latin pop? From powerful ballads to timeless dance hits, these incredible artists have shaped the genre, empowering listeners and inspiring generations through their lyrics, voices, and artistry. On March 31, we proudly present our staff picks list of the Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time as a fitting tribute to the women who have shattered glass ceilings and barriers with their music.

But what exactly is Latin “pop”? Pop music is “characterized by a strong melody and beat, and the use of electric instruments and amplification,” as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary; and is “distinct from other forms of popular music.” Most pop music falls into the category of catchy, tight, memorable music with broad appeal. As far as “Latin pop” goes, it is basically pop, en español. And while distinct from other genres like rock, dance, tropical and reggaetón, the word “pop” essentially means “popular,” and applies to music that transcends genre confines.

It’s a hazy description, we know, and Billboard’s Latin editors debated for weeks the merits of who should be on this list; who, among hundreds of names familiar to fans across the continent, should enter the pantheon of the top 50.

In creating the list of best female Latin pop artists of all time, we looked at artists who had, first and foremost, built a catalog that’s stood the test of time. There are several new artists who we think have a brilliant future ahead of them, but could not make this list on the merits of just one or two albums. Others are great artists, but their still-limited output — say, three albums or fewer — automatically moved them lower in the list.

We also focused on artists whose music had inspired others and created long-lasting trends; who boasted unique, outstanding vocals; and who had, for the most part, significant impact on the Billboard charts. Major chart achievements meant a higher position on the chart. We also included a handful of artists that aren’t essentially pop in genre, but whose impact was such that it transcended into the realm of mass popularity, at least within the scope of Latin audiences.

Artists like Celia Cruz, the undisputed Queen of Salsa, captivated global audiences with her Afro-Caribbean rhythms at a time when salsa was primarily confined to Latin American markets. Shakira took Latin pop to unprecedented heights by combining Colombian influences with — in the case of the groundbreaking, Billboard Hot 100-topping “Hips Don’t Lie” — reggae and hip-hop elements. Similarly, Selena, hailed as the Queen of Tejano Music, brought regional Mexican sounds into the mainstream with hits like “Amor Prohibido” at a time when Spanish-language music struggled to cross over in the United States. 

Then there’s Gloria Estefan, whose contributions in the ’80s and ’90s set the foundation for the global rise of Latin pop. In 1992, she made history as the first Latina performer at the Super Bowl halftime show. Decades later, Karol G became the first woman since Selena to top the Billboard 200 chart with 2023’s Mañana Será Bonito, a Spanish-language album, while achieving the unprecedented feat of becoming a global stadium performer — an historic moment for Latina artists.

That said, in compiling this list, we set clear criteria to spotlight female Spanish-language artists — focusing on Latin pop’s influence within the Hispanophone world. While we deeply appreciate artists from Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and their contributions to music, this specific list focuses on performers who are Spanish-speaking or who have consistently recorded music in Spanish.

Additionally, we made a concerted effort to focus on Latin pop by excluding hip-hop/urbano and folk singers, with two notable exceptions. Ivy Queen, widely known as the Queen of Reggaetón, earned her place thanks to her versatility and pop-forward hits that helped globalize the Puerto Rican genre as its leading female pioneer. Similarly, Mercedes Sosa, the iconic Argentine folk singer, transcended her roots and entered the realm of Latin pop through her immense cultural impact and widespread acclaim.

The Billboard Latin and Billboard Español teams took into account criteria like body of work/achievements (chart placements, awards, certifications); cultural impact/influence (how each artist’s work advanced Latin pop’s evolution and inspired cultural movements); longevity (staying power across decades and relevance in different eras); musicianship and vocal prowess (their unmistakable skill and charisma); and innovation (artistic evolution and originality within the genre).

So, without further ado, here are our picks for the Best 50 Female Latin Pop Artists of All Time!

Javiera Mena

Image Credit: Jordi Vidal/Redferns

Ángela Aguilar truly shined Saturday (March 29) night at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 gala in Inglewood, California, when she accepted the Breakthrough Award with an emotional speech that was met with a roaring standing ovation at the YouTube Theater.
After performing a sublime version of the Mexican classic “Cielito Lindo” accompanied by the Harmony Project — a community chorus composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including immigrant children — she spoke candidly about a year that “almost broke” her — with constant headlines and online scrutiny over her marriage to Mexican singer Christian Nodal, who was in attendance to support her.

“I have had to cry the weights of judgement and speculation of a story that I have note even told,” Aguilar said. “And yet, here I am. I’m still singing, I’m still standing. Because music is who I am.”

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To a roaring ovation from her peers at the venue, she advised young girls to “sing your truth and when they tell you to be quiet […] sing even louder.” Fighting back tears, she dedicated her award to immigrant women who cross the border to the United States “with nothing but hope in their hearts, only to find themselves living in uncertainty and fear […] You deserve safety, dignity, the right to dream.”

The youngest of the Aguilar dynasty — her father is música mexicana icon Pepe Aguilar, her grandparents legendary Mexican entertainers Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre — Ángela Aguilar made her stage debut as a toddler when she joined her famous dad at one of his concerts. Five years later, at age 8, she released her first album, a joint set with her older brother Leonardo Aguilar. The two later joined Pepe on back-to-back arena tours when he launched Jaripeo Sin Fronteras in 2018, honoring the jaripeo-style show — singing while riding horses — that their grandparents pioneered. Along the way, Ángela landed three No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart and four top 10 hits on Latin Airplay, including her first No. 1 on that chart, “Por el Contrario,” with Leonardo and Becky G, last year.

Ángela Aguilar at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Gilbert Flores

Hosted by Laverne Cox, Billboard‘s Women in Music honored influential women in music spanning artists and industry leaders, with performances, awards and tributes. Doechii was recognized as Woman of the Year, while honorees also included aespa, Erykah Badu, Gracie Abrams, Meghan Trainor, and Tyla, among others.

Read Ángela Aguilar’s full speech and watch her performance below:

This Breakthrough Award means a lot to me, because this year almost broke me. And honestly, I have had to stand on stage and sing through the tears and I have had to cry the weights of judgement and speculation of a story that I have note even told, and of a story that has never hit my voice. And yet, here I am. I’m still singing, I’m still standing.

Because music is who I am. It’s the thread that connects me to every woman that came before me, like my grandmother Flor Silvestre, and it’s taught me that these women here today are not my competition because we are each other’s legacy. And she taught me that you can fight in silence and the music speaks way louder than what other people say.

To every young girl that’s watching this and is wondering if she should make herself smaller to fit in to someone’s ideas about who they are, don’t. In this world they’ll try to write your story for you; don’t let them. Sing your truth and when they tell you to be quite, if it’s what you want, if it’s truly what you want, sing even louder.

Lastly, I wanna take this moment to raise my voice for the women whose voices are not always given a stage, for the women who leave behind everything they know crossing borders with nothing but hope in their hearts, only to find themselves living in uncertainty and fear. For the immigrant women in the country who work tirelessly building and nurturing, sacrificing, yet still remain unseen, unheard and unprotected, this one is for you. I see you. I honor you. You deserve safety, dignity, the right to dream. And if my voice and my music and my presence on this stage can remind you are not invisible, then I will sing for you every single time.

So tonight I accept this award for every women who has ever had to break through. For my grandmother. For my mother, who’s honored tonight. And to every women who has paved the way for every young girl to be able to dream. We are not breaking down. We are breaking through. Gracias, ¡y que viva México!

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.
J.Lo Reunites With Edward James Olmos

In the 1997 Selena film, Edward James Olmos played Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father, and Jennifer Lopez gave life to the tejano music icon. Now, the two are teaming up once again in a new project, the “Let’s Get Loud” singer announced on social media.  

“From ‘Selena’ to now, this journey has come full circle…SWIPE to see the big news,” J.Lo captioned the then and now photos of her and Olmos. “We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible Edward James Olmos to ‘Office Romance’!”

Trending on Billboard

See the heartfelt post here.

Viral Street Cleaner Debuts on Billboard Chart

Emerging Mexican folk singer Macario Martinez has made his Billboard debut through his collaboration with Eslabon Armado on the group’s set Vibras de Noche II, released last week. The 17-track set includes “Esa Noche,” the only collaboration on the LP, featuring the emerging 23-year-old Mexican folk singer. The song debuts at No. 50 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, scoring Martínez his Billboard debut.

The chart feat comes just months after Martínez, the young Mexican street sweeper who captured the internet’s attention, went viral on TikTok after sharing a heartfelt video in response for the support of his song “Sueña Lindo, Corazón.”

Gente de Zona and MLB

Cuban duo Gente de Zona scored a home run with its partnership with the Major League Baseball (MLB). It’s song “Cosas Bonitas” by Gente de Zona was licensed by the league to be used in the Spanish official tease for the Opening Day 2025 in the MLB Network. The track — part of its upcoming Reparto album — was used across all Spanish social media platforms and the network aired it during their broadcast program on Thursday. Check out the clip below:

Chasing Sueños

YouTube’s AJ Ramos has teamed up with Toyota and Sonoro to launch the new podcast, “Chasing Sueños.” The seven-episode series is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms. The original podcast “celebrates ambition, resilience, and cultural identity,” according to a press statement. The episodes, which feature in-depth conversations with Latin stars such as Maffio and Edgar Barrera, are recorded in a custom-designed Toyota Studio. The artists “delve into pivotal moments of each artist’s journey—from side hustles and setbacks to breakthroughs and success stories,” the statement further adds.

Check out the episodes here.

Shakira, Shakira

The Colombian superstar has announced additional shows in Mexico as part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, including two more dates at the capital’s GNP Seguros Stadium on August 29-30, OCESA announced on Friday (March 28).

“Shakira continues to make history in Mexico! Due to high demand, another date of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has been added at the GNP Seguros Stadium,” OCESA said in a statement. With the addition of dates, the Colombian superstar is set to break a record at GNP Seguros Stadium with eight performances at that venue over two separate phases of her tour – surpassing shows by other global stars like Paul McCartney, Metallica, Coldplay, and Taylor Swift.

The other recently-announced tour dates in Mexico will be at Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro on Sept. 2, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on Sept. 6, and Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla on Sept. 12.

Latin Women in Music

Billboard’s 2025 Latin Women in Music executives list has been revealed. The exclusive list comprises 45 executives “whose purview is singularly Latin or Latin American-focused, ­whether they are based in the United States or abroad, and whose work has a significant impact on the U.S. Latin market,” Billboard’s Leila Cobo explained. See the complete list here.

Meanwhile, on April 24, the Mujeres Latinas en la Música gala will air on Telemundo, honoring artists who have made an impact in the past year and beyond. Mexican star Ana Bárbara is set to host the ceremony.

Grupo Firme is set to kick off La Última Peda Tour on April 11 in Mexicali, following the cancellation of a performance in Mazatlán after a message on a banner with alleged death threats attributed to a drug cartel appeared in Tijuana. And the trek will proceed with reinforced security.
“People can come with confidence and have a good time,” Eduin Caz, the band’s frontman, said during a press conference Thursday afternoon at Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, where the second show of the tour is scheduled for April 12. “We have strengthened security for this tour in Mexico. The shows of Grupo Firme are meant to be enjoyed, and that’s how it will be.”

After a three-year absence from Mexico, La Última Peda Tour will take Grupo Firme to 23 stadiums across the country, including their eighth performance at Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol) on June 28. The tour will also mark their return to palenques, a more intimate type of show that allows for greater interaction with the audience.

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“We need to relive that closeness with people that only these types of venues can provide,” said Jhonny Cazares, the group’s third voice. “Great artists we admire, like Alfredo Olivas and Julión Álvarez, do them. These [venues] are smaller, but they’re no less important. Plus, they’re part of our culture.”

Meanwhile, the state government and the Baja California Prosecutor’s Office are continuing their investigation into the threats against the band. The cancellation of the March 1 concert, which was part of the Mazatlán Carnival, was a result of the discovery of an alleged narcomanta and a human head in a box Feb. 25 in Tijuana — a fact confirmed to Billboard Español by the Baja California State Prosecutor’s Office. So far, four arrests have been made in the case, Excelsior TV reported citing the prosecutor’s office.

“We are grateful for the support of the authorities, who have been attentive from the very beginning,” Caz added. “We can’t share more details so as not to hinder the investigation.”

Coming up, Grupo Firme will be releasing a new album in May. In an interview with Billboard Español, the singer shared some details about the project, which was helmed by renowned songwriter and producer Joss Favela along with Abraham Luna, the group’s second voice and producer.

“The musical arrangements are different,” revealed Caz. “We’ve incorporated piano, electric guitar, and saxophone with banda and norteño. Our musical roots remain the same. The lyrics are in my style, mostly about heartbreak — those are the ones that come most naturally to me.”

He continued: “We recorded 17 songs but will keep only 12; they’re all very good. I don’t want any of them to go unnoticed or not get the attention they deserve.”

He also shared that it took them about a year to select and record the songs, with Caz contributing as a songwriter alongside Horacio Palencia, Nathan Galante, and Joss Favela — the same creator of “El Beneficio de la Duda,” which led Grupo Firme to spend two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart in mid-2024.

As for a potential collaboration with Don Omar — who recently expressed in press conference in Mexico City his desire to record with the band — Caz said: “There’s a great friendship. We haven’t been able to align schedules, first due to health issues for both of us. The song has already been chosen; it’s just a matter of timing. It would be amazing to make it happen.”

This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music, including albums by Máximo Grado (Somos Leyenda), Fito Paez (Novela), Venesti (Origen) and Natanael Cano (Recordando Ariel Camacho). Plus, Emilia, Tini and Nicki Nicole team up for “blackout,” an electro-pop cheeky collaboration powered by fast-paced merengue rhythms that redefines what […]


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