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Jessi Uribe was putting up the Christmas tree with his children at his home in Colombia when he received the news that he’d been nominated for the 2025 Grammys.
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Not only does it mark his first nom at the coveted awards show, but he’s making history along the way as the first artist of música popular Colombiana (or Regional Colombian) to be in the best Música Mexicana album (including Tejano) category with his 2023 LP De Lejitos.
“I didn’t even know what to do when my manager called me crying,” he tells Billboard. “I thought he was playing a joke on me. I’m very happy. I didn’t expect it. We have worked a lot on la música de despecho (heartbreak music) in Colombia and nobody imagined it.”
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Since 2008, Uribe has become one of the biggest proponents of música popular, which fuses ranchera and the string music known as carrilera in Colombia. The genre — initially known as música de carrilera or música de cantina — was born more than five decades ago in the country’s coffee region, and first gained traction in small towns and local bars with the help of genre pioneers including Darío Gómez, Luis Alberto Posada and El Charrito Negro.
Now, for the first time in the genre’s history, it’s represented in a Mexican music category at the Grammys against three Regional Mexican powerhouses: Chiquis, Carín León, and Peso Pluma.
“My style is very romantic and I’m very attached to my roots,” he explains. “I feel that Mexican people take that with a lot of respect. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Espinoza Paz, Carín León, Alejandro Fernández, Joss Favela, people who know that I love ranchera music and that I have been a part of it since I was a child. It’s an achievement that even though I’m not Mexican, I’m in a genre that is my life as well. A Colombian who makes ranchera? I think it seemed strange but also nice to the Academy.”
For Uribe, this nomination goes beyond a personal achievement. “[This nomination] puts música popular on the radar of many countries and of people who perhaps saw us as a weak genre abroad,” he says. “I feel that they now see the genre with a little more respect. We are very united in regional Colombian, and this is a dream that [my colleagues] live with me and that we achieved together.”
Following the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 2), Uribe will have a concert at the Hard Rock Live on Feb. 21 in Hollywood, Fla., and says a new album — that he worked on with Favela in Mexico, and includes a collab with Grupo Firme — is on the horizon.
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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Our latest edition of On the Radar Latin includes a wave of emerging artists, who we discovered either by networking or coming across their music at a showcase, and beyond. See our recommendations this month below:
Artist: Alleh & Yorghaki
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Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: By the end of 2024, the landscape of social media was ablaze with the captivating sounds of “Capaz (merengueton),” a viral sensation crafted by two talented artists hailing from Valencia, Venezuela. This track quickly gained momentum in the Latin music scene, showcasing a vibrant fusion of traditional merengue rhythms and contemporary reggaeton beats, all enhanced by modern electronic elements. The playful and flirtatious lyrics of “Capaz,” which translates to “maybe,” explore the nuanced feelings of a budding romance filled with possibilities.
Following the success of their hit single, Alleh and Yorghaki launched their highly anticipated debut album La Ciudad last year. This set features 12 tracks that showcase the duo’s distinct artistic vision and musical identity. The album is an inviting journey through lively melodies and infectious rhythms that resonate deeply, allowing listeners to connect with the pair’s artistic expression amidst the vast array of musical trends that flood the industry daily. — INGRID FAJARDO
Song For Your Playlist: “El Ingeniero”
Artist: Chuwi
Country: Puerto Rico
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Hailing from Isabela, on the northwest coast of Puerto Rico, comes the indie quartet Chuwi. Composed by siblings Lorén on vocals, Willy on bass guitar, Wester on keyboards, and family friend Adrian on the drums, the group tastefully blends traditional Caribbean rhythms (plena, bomba, salsa) with soulful alternative melodies. Sonically, the band that’s been making the rounds since 2020 is progressive, energetic and stylish. Lyrically, Chuwi is proudly rooted in its culture, mainly singing about La Isla del Encanto with some feel-good love songs here and there.
I first discovered this talented bunch last summer during an album listening session with PJ Sin Suela, who collaborated with the group on “Escúchame,” where I was instantly smitten by Lorén’s powerhouse yet warm vocals. Chuwi kicked off 2025 gaining well-deserved momentum thanks to their feature on the flirty “WELTiTA” track from Bad Bunny’s DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS. — JESSICA ROIZ
Song For Your Playlist: “Escúchame,” PJ Sin Suela feat. Chuwi
Artist: Hamilton
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Dubbed the Afro Rock Star of Colombia, Hamilton has stood out as a reference for Afrobeats in his country, including through collabs with artists like Ryan Castro (“A Poca Luz”), Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavárez (“Atardecer”). With a velvety voice and an Afro-tropical vibe that is pleasant to the ear both musically and lyrically, he is preparing to release his debut album, Afro Rockstar, after presenting singles such as “Besitos Dulces” and “La Favorita de mi Mamá” in recent months. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song For Your Playlist: “La Favorita de mi Mamá”
Artist: Hendry el Mero Mero
Country: U.S. by way of Cuba
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Hendry el Mero Mero is a name that’s making the rounds in the East Coast. I first heard about the singer/songwriter/producer through Moises Mucho Mas, host and founder of the Onda Regional Show — a podcast that showcases the emerging wave of regional Mexican music in the New York Tri-State area. Born in Cuba and shaped by a decade in Ecuador, now based in New Jersey, Hendry’s musical journey has evolved from Latin rock to reggaetón, and most recently, a corridos tumbados fusion — a style he embraced after immersing himself with “la raza,” as he puts it, in the U.S.
His 2023 single, “Malditas Ganas,” is a melodic blend of mariachi brass and pulsating hip-hop rhythms, showcasing his versatility and fusion prowess. “Pregúntale al Diablo” further showcases his captivating mix of corridos tumbados with electronic beats. Hendry’s distinctive raspy voice adds a raw, authentic quality to his music. His latest single, “Trotamundo,” encapsulates his journey, mingling reflective lyrics with a contemplative sound that invites listeners into his world. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Song For Your Playlist: “El Mero Mero”
Artist: Saul Villarreal
Country: U.S.
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: George Prajin, Peso Pluma’s manager, recently signed this 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas. Villarreal is one of those artists who is hard to categorize within a specific genre, which is what makes him fascinating. While joining a roster that includes mainly corrido/Mexican music hitmakers, Villarreal stands out for a far more stripped-down and mellow approach to the genre, often accompanying his songs with a piano or an acoustic guitar. Villarreal entered the scene in 2023, and has so far released a handful of songs that showcase his talents as a singer and songwriter. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song For Your Playlist: “Vete”
Mexican music juggernauts Peso Pluma and Tito Double P are set to be honored with the BMI Champion Award and the BMI Impact Award, respectively, at the 2025 BMI Latin Awards, taking place March 6 at the Fontainebleau Coastal Convention Center in Miami Beach, Fla. The private event will be hosted by BMI president/CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI’s vp of creative, Latin, Jesús González.
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The special accolade will honor Peso’s rapid ascent to global fame and the significant impact he has had in bringing Mexican music to the mainstream. “Peso Pluma’s extraordinary success has not only reshaped the landscape of música mexicana but also propelled it onto the global stage,” said Jesús González, in a press release. “His innovative sound and undeniable influence have opened new doors for Latin music.”
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Furthermore, Peso’s quickly ascending collaborator and cousin, Tito, who has become a star in his own right, will be recognized for his contributions to Peso’s success and for establishing himself as one of the genre’s hottest new talents. “We are excited to celebrate [Peso’s] success alongside Tito Double P, whose dedication and talent have played a key role in Peso Pluma’s journey, while also marking the beginning of his own impressive career,” adds González. “We also look forward to honoring our BMI Familia of exceptional songwriters, producers and publishers behind the most-performed Latin songs of the past year during the ceremony.”
During the event, BMI will acknowledge the songwriters and publishers of the most-performed Latin songs in the U.S. over the past year. Awards such as the BMI regional mexican song, songwriter, and publisher of the year, as well as the BMI contemporary Latin song, songwriter, and publisher of the year, will be presented during the ceremony.
As the 2025 BMI Champion Award recipient, Peso Pluma joins a distinguished list of past honorees, including SZA, Khalid, Residente, Sebastian Krys, Inflo, Mark Ronson, Keith Urban and others. Meanwhile, Tito Double P joins Edgar Barrera, Ice Spice, Arlo Parks, RAYE, P2J and Tems, among others, in receiving the BMI Impact Award.
Carín León has officially addressed the recent rumors on social media regarding his sexuality.
In a five-part video posted on his Instagram stories on Monday (Jan. 27), the Hermosillo-born singer-songwriter expressed that it was time to give an explanation to fans. “I woke up three days ago being gay, because people forced it on me,” he said. “Since people have the power to cancel, to say what each person is, if I am this, if I am that, since you decide everything that happens in my life, I woke up being gay three days ago, because people wanted it that way.”
Rumors about the artist being gay sparked on social media over the weekend after a video, created with Artificial Intelligence, depicted him and Mexican artist Espinoza Paz sharing a kiss. As a result of the fake clip, his song “De Compas,” part of his 2024 album Palabra de To’s, began making the rounds, showing people of the same sex enjoying each other’s company. The popular sound on TikTok has generated more than 40K video creations on the app.
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“I haven’t developed any symptoms, I don’t think, I haven’t developed any kind of attraction to people of my own sex yet, so I still have heterosexual behaviors,” he said in Spanish, joking about the situation in a lighthearted manner. “I want people who suffer from homosexuality to tell me when the first symptoms appear, so that they don’t catch me off guard and catch me out of the blue with makeup, do you understand?”
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León, who also joked about his “relationship” with Paz being ruined, sent a more heartfelt message to his LGBTQ fans. “Long live the community. You know that I love you very much,” he noted, concluding: “I think that the sexual orientation of any person is now secondary. We see so many people with very varied and very different sexual preferences who are super-mega-hyper-successful.”
León and Paz first collaborated four years ago on “Como Duele Equivocarse.” León is a first-time nominee at the 2025 Grammys taking place Sunday (Feb. 2) in the best música Mexicana album category for Boca Chueca, Vol. 1. He also leads the 2025 Premio Lo Nuestro nominations, alongside Becky G, with 10 nods each.
Cazzu’s “Dolce” has topped Billboard’s latest new music Latin poll. In a poll published on Friday (Jan. 24) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Argentine artist’s new track as their favorite music release of the […]
Editor’s note: The list is updated on a monthly basis. Festivals that have already passed are deleted from the list.
From Vive Latino in Mexico City to La Onda Fest by Bottlerock in Napa Valley, Calif. to Cosquín Rock in Santa María de Punilla, Argentina, Billboard Español brings together the definitive guide to festivals celebrating Latin music and more around the world.
Picnic Festival Centroamérica turns 10 this year. The two-day event, which takes place in Costa Rica on Feb. 8 and 15, will feature four headliners each day, including Paulo Londra, Maria Becerra, Maluma, and Grupo Frontera.
The U.K.’s La Línea Festival also celebrates an important milestone with its 25th anniversary in 2025. Buena Vista Social Club star Eliades Ochoa, Spanish singer Rodrigo Cuevas, Latin Grammy winner Ed Maverick, Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano, Brazilian rock outfit Francisco el Hombre, and more have all been confirmed to perform in venues across London from April 22 to May 5.
We see more diverse lineups headlined by Latin and Anglo artists this year, such as Coachella in Indio, California, with performances by Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone, as well as The Marías, Alok, Anitta, Junior H and many more. At the Bésame Mucho Fest in Austin, the musical cycle includes diverse and multi-generational Latin artists such as Bronco, Carín León, Los Tigres del Norte, and Hombres G.
Noteworthy, the exclusively hip-hop festival will feature corridos superstar Peso Pluma as a headliner.
While this may not be an exhaustive list, it serves as a comprehensive guide to some of the genre’s most significant events. Whether you’re a die-hard reggaetón fan, a salsa aficionado, or a lover of all things Latin, see our guide to the must-attend festivals across the globe, arranged in sequential order.
Picnic Festival Centroamérica
Shakira’s two sons, Sasha and Milan Piqué Mebarak, are following their mother’s footsteps, showing off their artistic abilities in a new musical project. As part of the Miami-based Let It Beat! Music Academy — co-founded by Guillermo Vadala and Nerina Nicotra — the brothers showcased their talent on a new album called All for You, […]
Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos captures a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Feb. 1), earning 151,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending Jan. 23 (down 26%), according to Luminate. Of Bad Bunny’s four chart-topping albums, it’s the second to spend more than a single week at No. 1; his 2022 set, Un Verano Sin Ti, has collected the most weeks atop the list, with 13 weeks, nonconsecutively.
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Also in the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200, Mac Miller’s from-the-vaults release Balloonerism debuts at No. 3, marking the eighth top 10-charting set for the rapper, who died in 2018. The set’s songs date back to 2014, but the project was shelved in favor of other releases.
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The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album. The new Feb. 1, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Jan. 28. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of the 151,000 equivalent album units earned by Debí Tirar Más Fotos in the week ending Jan. 23, SEA units comprise 146,000 (down 25%; equaling 198.78 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it’s No. 1 for a third week on Top Streaming Albums), album sales comprise 4,000 (down 46%; falling 8-11 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (down 30%).
SZA’s former No. 1 SOS rises 3-2 with 90,000 equivalent album units (down 12%).
Mac Miller’s Balloonerism bows at No. 3 with 81,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, album sales comprise 41,000 (it debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), SEA units comprise 40,000 (equaling 51.56 million on-demand official streams of the set’s songs; it debuts at No. 4 on Top Streaming Albums) and TEA units comprise a negligible sum. The set’s sales were bolstered by its availability across six vinyl variants, a CD, digital download album and cassette tape.
In total, Balloonerism is Miller’s eighth top 10-charting effort on the Billboard 200. It follows Faces (No. 3 in 2021), Circles (No. 3, 2020), Swimming (No. 3, 2018), The Divine Feminine (No. 2, 2016), GO:OD AM (No. 4, 2015), Watching Movies With the Sound Off (No. 2, 2013) and Blue Slide Park (No. 1, 2011).
Kendrick Lamar’s former leader GNX is a non-mover on the Billboard 200 at No. 4 (59,000 equivalent album units; down 8%) while Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us surges 10-5 (52,000; up 42% after the release of a deluxe version across three vinyl variants and a CD).
Three former No. 1s are next, with Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet steady at No. 6 (43,000 equivalent album units; down 9%), Lil Baby’s WHAM dipping 5-7 (39,000; down 30%) and Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time rising a notch to No. 8 (37,000 down 3%).
Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft falls two rungs to No. 9 (nearly 37,000 equivalent album units; down 8%), and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department climbs 12-10 (35,000; down 3%).
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
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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Feid Launches Sixdo Collection
On Thursday (Jan. 23), Feid hosted the first pop-up for his brand “Sixdo” in Miami. A fan experience, the one-day event featured a room that resembles the artist’s personal closet. Fans also had the opportunity to sit down with Ferxxo for a roundtable discussion, where they could ask him questions. The pop-up showcased the initial development of his clothing brand “Sixdo,” which included a closet with green neon lights and a painting that represented his sold-out shows in Latin America, among other elements. Ferxxo has been hinting at the clothing brand during his concerts, in music videos, and even on album covers (starting with FERXXO Vol. 1 M.O.R.), leading up to the grand reveal this week. The goal is to continue developing this brand throughout 2025.
Feid
@sismatyc & @sebasanchezv
A Wholesome Moment with Shak
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Shakira surprised a young fan named Zoe, who’s currently undergoing cancer treatment. Dance studio Hip Hop Kidz and Sunrise Day Camp shared the wholesome moment on Instagram, capturing the moment the Colombian artist and her sweet fan met for the first time, opened presents, and even did the “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” dance together.
“Despite the tough battle she’s been facing, Zoe’s spirits soared when the international star took time out of her busy schedule to spend time with her,” read the post’s caption. “Shakira, known for her charitable work and deep empathy, shared some quality time with Zoe, encouraging her to stay strong and never give up.”
Billboard’s Latin Artists to Watch 2025
This week, Billboard unveiled its carefully curated Latin Artists to Watch list, highlighting 22 acts who caught our attention in 2024, and who we believe will go on to have a breakout year. The list includes artists who cracked the Billboard charts in 2024, such as Tito Double P, who earned his first No. 1 on Top Latin Albums with his debut set. Artists who’ve been showered with critical acclaim, like Latin Grammy winner Ela Taubert, and those newcomers who first built a fandom on social media before kicking off a music career – like reggaetón mexa pioneer Bellakath, who quickly went from viral sensation to bona fide hitmaker. See the complete list, here.
Tito Double P, Yailin La Más Viral & Kapo
Sebastian Espino; Christopher Nunez; Alejandro Bethencourt
Celebrating una Reina
A children’s book celebrating Selena’s legacy is officially available this week. Selena: A Little Golden Book Biography, by Maria Correa and illustrated by Paula Zamudio, chronicles the Queen of Tejano’s journey to superstardom and illustrates her timeless impact on music, fashion, and beauty. “Nearly 30 years after her death, Selena’s influence endures, and her accomplishments continue to inspire legions of fans to follow their dreams. This is an inspiring read-aloud for young children and the perfect gift for fans of all ages,” read a press statement. The book can be purchased here, and a Spanish-language version will be published on February 4.
Selena Quintanilla at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall March 1, 1994 in New York, NY.
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This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music from artists including Cazzu, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, and Alejandro Sanz’s first collaborative effort with Grupo Frontera, to name a few. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts […]