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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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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.
The inspiration for “Johnny Dang” came to That Mexican OT (Outta Texas) in an unexpectedly casual manner — while listening to Slick Rick’s flow in “Children’s Story,” the hip-hop legend’s 1989 top 5 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. For the cowboy hat-donning Texas rapper, creative outbursts arrive with no notice. “Louis Vuitton umbrella when I walk through the rain,” he raps with a familiar lilt while on the phone with Billboard.
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“Johnny Dang” is also an ode to the highly sought after Texas jeweler of the same name who appears in the music video. Johnny Dang is arguably hip-hop’s go-to jeweler, designing extravagant chains and grills for artists like Beyoncé, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Ye and many more.
Another surreal experience for the Bay City, Texas rapper came through enlisting Houston hip-hop legend Paul Wall and rap newcomer DRODi, who is OT’s close friend. “It was cool, it really was. But it’s mostly crazy,” OT says about pulling Wall to the track. “It’s cool to bring it back [home] because my uncles grew up jamming [to his music], you know?… And DRODi is one of my best friends. It’s beautiful watching him grow.”
The results have paid off. The rustic single with a slow-burning trap beat is quickly climbing the Billboard charts, making it That Mexican OT (real name Virgil René Gazca) and DRODI’s first time on the Hot 100. The song — which was released May 26 via Manifest/GoodTalk/Good Money Global — debuted at No. 97 and reached a new high at No. 65 on the Hot 100 dated Sep. 1. It currently boasts 20 million YouTube views, and over 36 million Spotify streams.
He is effortlessly putting Tejano (a Mexican person from Texas) rap on the map by creating a style that’s captivating and truly authentic. Billboard caught up with the artist to talk about making the Hot 100, how lucha libre culture inspired his latest album Lonestar Luchador and why he’s a proud “country boy before anything.”
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What went through your head when you found out that you made the Hot 100.
Nothing. I don’t really focus on that. I feel that when I focus on my accomplishments, I get big-headed, and I don’t ever want to have to humble myself, nor do I want to ever get comfortable. I stay in total vision to my music. When they hit Billboard, it’s like, all right, cool. But No. [65] is not good enough. I want to be at No. 1.
How did “Johnny Dang” come together? Talk to me about the inspiration.
We were at my apartment, and I was knocking a beat. I didn’t know that they was recording me. [Producer TobiAli] played the “Johnny Dang” beat [and] I was like, “Bet, I need that one. I don’t even need you to show me no more. I only want that one.” He sent it [and] I thought of a word. You know Slick Rick? You know that tun nun nun nun nu nu nu nu nu nu… It’s also from Inspector Gadget, and the “Children’s Story” [song]: “Once upon a time not long ago…” That flow right there, that’s all Slick Rick’s flow. That was the whole inspiration for that [lyric], “Louis Vuitton umbrella when I walk through the rain…” I got the inspiration from Slick Rick.
You have Paul Wall and DRODi on the tracks. How was it working with a Houston rap legend like Paul Wall?
It’s cool to show off in front of my people about it. It really was an accomplishment for me. I’m very grateful for it, and I’m excited about it. I see bigger things for me; I want to do better. That’s all it is. DRODi is one of my best friends, so it’s always beautiful having him in my music.
You got Johnny Dang in the video. What was it like having him there? Did he design your grills?
No, he actually didn’t design my grill. I already had my grill. I had diamonds when I was just plain old Virgil. It was cool watching him be in the video. You could tell he’ll do a good job of making you feel loved and wanted, but you could tell it was strictly about business.
You fuse your Mexican heritage with Texas rap culture. The tattoos, the grill, but also the cowboy hat and boots. Tell me about your style.
I’m a country boy before anything. English was my first [language]. I’m a Texan before anything. I definitely have my Mexican culture — I love my Mexican culture — but I’m a country boy. I’m a Texas Mexican. There’s no Mexican like a Tejano.
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What would you like an outsider that is not from Texas to know about Texas? What is one of the things that you have the most pride in showcasing about Texas?
Just our whole culture, our steelo, our swagger, the cars we drive, how we talk, the things that we choose to do. You know what I’m saying? Everything about Texas is beautiful.
You draw a lot of inspiration from the luchador culture in your album, Lonestar Luchador. How did the luchador become the star in your album?
It just made sense. I don’t put much thinking into it. God put it in my head without me even knowing, and it just came out naturally.
Did you grow up watching a lot of lucha libre?
Yeah, of course. I watched a lot of WWE. I watched lucha libre for sure. [When I went with] my nanny and my tío in the [Mexican] border towns of Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo, where people pass and all that, every time, I had to go get new masks [from the store stands of the border crossing point] and bring them back over here [to the U.S.]. I was surrounded by it, fasho.
Tell me what else you have underway.
I’m continuing to work on this project. Now that I dropped [Lonestar Luchador], every single song on it has a video to it, so I’m going to be continuing to drop videos for the project. And while I’m doing that, I got a tour coming up. My first show on tour is going to be on September 5th and I’m opening up in Denver — Denver always goes crazy for me. I’m touring my music, really, that’s all I can say. I can’t tell you too much. I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprises.
OT, thanks for taking the time to have this chat.
People like you are making my dreams come true. I love this. I don’t know what else I’d be doing. I got zero patience. I got a horrible temper. I already don’t like dealing with people, so this music had to wait for me. I had no choice [and] I thank God. That’s why I go so hard.
A version of this story originally appeared in the Aug. 26, 2023, issue of Billboard.
Saturday night (Aug. 26) will go down in Grupo Firme‘s history as the group set a new record at the Feria Nacional Potosina with 300,000 fans in attendance at their concert, according to figures provided by the Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The numbers also represent a new record for the group, which in 2022 gathered around 250,000 people in Mexico City’s Zócalo.
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However, what will remain etched in the memory of fans aside from the music is that frontman Eduin Caz shocked followers with a revelation about his health. In the last year, Caz underwent cancer surgery after suffering from Barrett’s esophagus, a condition associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer.
“I gathered the best doctors, God bless, and I had the surgery,” Caz said. “I never revealed it because I don’t like to be looked at like, ‘Oh, poor thing.’ But I just had a study done and I’m doing great.”
“He had a tumor and they removed it, a sign that we beat the cancer,” Vicente Zambrano, Grupo Firme’s publicist, clarified to Billboard Español on Monday (Aug. 28).
On July 30, Caz announced on social media as he celebrated his 30th birthday while touring in Costa Rica that once the trip was over he would take a break from his career but the group would remain intact. He did not specify the reason or how long he would take but said it was a personal matter.
“I lost many things that are not coming back. The truth is that I balance out everything I have lived through, and honestly, that was how things had to happen,” he said at the time. “But I think I need to go back to putting myself first, and to feel good about myself.”
Grupo Firme’s temporary hiatus comes at the conclusion of its Hay Que Conectarla stadium tour, which began April 15 in Washington, D.C., and traveled through 13 cities across the U.S. The stint continued through Central America on July 14 in Guatemala through El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
On Aug. 5, they performed at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellín, Colombia, for their only show in that country, where they had Maluma as their guest to perform the song “Cada Quien,” one of the many successful collaborations with which Grupo Firme helped put the regional Mexican genre on the global map.
On the Billboard charts, Grupo Firme reached No. 3 on Latin Airplay with “Que Onda Perdida” with Gerardo Coronel, which also topped the Regional Mexican Airplay chart for three weeks in July. Most recently, “El Amor De Su Vida” landed on the Billboard Global 200, where it debuted and peaked at No. 60 on the Aug. 19 chart.
On Oct. 5, Grupo Firme will compete for the Billboard Latin Music Award for tour of the year. To see the full list of 2023 finalists, click here.
Although Carlos Vives is best known for popularizing Colombian music worldwide, his activities include multiple ventures in his homeland that collectively employ some 250 people.
The singer and his wife, Claudia Elena Vásquez, call their overall enterprise Universo Vives. “We have interplanetary meetings,” jokes Vásquez, who has worked alongside her husband since 2012 and is CEO of the entity.
While Vásquez, a former chemical engineer and entrepreneur, readily admits she “didn’t know much about the music business” before, she has come to effectively oversee this particular universe. The ventures include:
Gaira Música Local Although Vives founded his own record label (named after an area near his hometown of Santa Marta) over 30 years ago, he relaunched it in 2019 with local artists like Gusi and Estereobeats. Gaira, distributed by The Orchard, also releases one-off projects, like Vives’ 2008 album, Pombo Musical, and helps curate artist performances at Cumbia House.
Cumbia HouseFormerly known as Gaira, this successful bar, restaurant and live music club launched in 1998 and has become a must-visit in Bogotá that also houses Vives’ recording studios. A business with 170 employees, it also has franchises at airports in Bogotá and Medellín.
Río Grande Music SchoolLaunched in 2016, the Bogotá school educates children ages 6 to 18 “with the purpose of teaching them how to be original in music without biases,” according to Vásquez. The school has 200 students, with plans to expand its size and provide scholarships for needy children.
Tras La Perla Vives has long supported myriad causes. But his Tras la Perla foundation, created in 2015 and based in Santa Marta, is focused on giving back to the neighborhoods his father introduced him to as a child, particularly El Pescaíto. The low-income historic area is the birthplace of some of Colombia’s top soccer players, “and we think it has great tourism potential,” Vásquez says. “Our goal is to improve Pescaíto and provide infrastructure. We wanted to bring together people who love this city and build projects around it.” With funding support from the private and public sectors, as well as Vives himself, Tras la Perla has finished projects including a House for Dance, a “spectacular” toy library, reading clubs and multiple initiatives in association with Magdalena University, Vásquez says. The venture has also worked to improve infrastructure in Santa Marta’s palafitte townships, where homes are built on stilts over water.
This story originally appeared in the Aug. 26, 2023, issue of Billboard.
Several highlights mark Carlos Vives’ year-long celebration of his three-decade musical career.
In April, the Colombian superstar released Escalona Nunca Se Había Grabado Así, an album that unites the members of his original band — La Provincia — and his longtime accordionist, Egidio Cuadrado, to revisit some of legendary vallenato artist Rafael Escalona’s biggest hits.
In May, Vives launched El Tour de Los 30 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his breakout album, Clásicos de la Provincia. The outing appropriately kicked off at Colombia’s Vallenato Festival in Valledupar (the Colombian city known as the birthplace of the music that defines Vives’ style), then went through South America. A nine-city U.S. run began Aug. 19 in New York and ends Nov. 5 in Los Angeles.
“He’s undeniably one of the most beloved artists and influential Latin music figures of our time,” says Nelson Albareda, CEO of Vives’ U.S. tour promoter, Loud and Live. “This tour is particularly special because it pays homage to his incredibly innovative 30-year journey of his unique blend of traditional Colombian rhythms with contemporary sounds, which made him a global ambassador of Colombian music.”
During his U.S. tour, Vives will also play a landmark free show on Oct. 14 at Madrid’s Puerta de Alcalá, where tens of thousands are expected. Vives is inviting some of his many Spanish artist friends to perform with him.
The full-circle moment extends to recordings as well. Later this year, Vives will release an album with remastered versions of hits from 1993’s Clásicos de la Provincia and 2009’s Clásicos de la Provincia II. Singles with Juanes and Ryan Castro will precede the set.
And, ever in love with audiovisual content, Vives can be found on Disney+ starring in the musical comedy series The Low Tone Club, for which he plays, aptly, a music teacher with unconventional methods. He also is taping a docu-film about his life that includes archive and touring material, as well as scripted scenes.
This story originally appeared in the Aug. 26, 2023, issue of Billboard.