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Following its first full week of activity, Bad Bunnyâs DebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotos climbs 2-1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Jan. 25), scoring the superstar his fourth leader on the list. Bunnyâs album was released on an off-cycle Sunday (Jan. 5), and, thus, it arrived on the chart a week ago with only five days of activity (as the chartâs tracking week runs Friday through Thursday).
In the tracking week ending Jan. 16, DebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotos earned 203,500 equivalent album units (up 67%) in the U.S., according to Luminate â largely driven by streaming activity. The set was only available as a standard 17-song streaming album, and as a digital download for purchase (widely through all digital retailers, as well as Bunnyâs official webstore). Traditional album sales drove just under 8,000 of the albumâs activity for the week.
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Bunny previously led the Billboard 200 with Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana (in 2023), Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) and El Ăltimo Tour del Mundo (2020).
At No. 2 on the Billboard 200, Taylor Swiftâs 2023 album Lover: Live From Paris reenters, with 202,500 equivalent album units earned, all from album sales, following its reissue on vinyl (161,000 sold for the week), as well as its first release as a digital download album. The album was exclusively available only to purchase as either a vinyl LP or download in Swiftâs webstore. It marks the 18th top 10-charting effort for Swift and the highest-charting live album in over five years. Itâs the top-selling album of the week, and also scores the single-largest sales week for a live album on vinyl since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991.
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 Jan. 25, 2025-dated chart will be posted in full on Billboardâs website on Jan. 22 (one day later than usual, owed to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in the U.S. on Jan. 20). For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Of DebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotosâ 203,500 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Jan. 16, SEA units comprise 195,000 (up 72%, equaling 264.03 million on-demand official streams of the setâs songs; it holds at No. 1 on the Top Streaming Albums chart for a second week), traditional album sales comprise 7,500 (down 3%, falling 6-8 on Top Album Sales) and TEA units comprise 1,000 (up 123%).
The 264.03 million streams of the albumâs songs mark the largest streaming week for any album since Kendrick Lamarâs GNX arrived with 379.72 million (Dec. 7, 2024 chart), and the largest for any Latin music album since Bunnyâs own Un Verano Sin Ti debuted with 356.55 million (May 21, 2022 chart).
Like in its opening chart week, DebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotos was sale priced for $4.99 in the iTunes Store, as well as in Bunnyâs webstore.
As Debà Tirar Mås Fotos is mostly in the Spanish language, it is the 28th mostly non-English-language album to hit No. 1, and the first of 2025. Four mostly non-English titles topped the list in 2024, and all were Korean-language efforts. Of the 28 mostly non-English-language albums to reach No. 1, 18 are mostly Korean, six mostly (or all) Spanish, one mostly Italian, one entirely French and two mostly a blend of Spanish, Italian and French.
Taylor Swiftâs Lover: Live From Paris returns to the Billboard 200, reentering at No. 2 with 202,500 equivalent album units earned (up from nothing the week previous). The eight-song set was recorded in 2019 and had a limited release on vinyl in 2023 (exclusively through Swiftâs webstore), and spent one week on the Billboard 200 that March, at No. 58.
Lover: Live From Paris is the highest-charting live album on the Billboard 200 in over five years, since Lionel Richieâs Hello From Las Vegas debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Aug. 31, 2019-dated chart. Further, as Lover: Live From Paris marks Swiftâs 18th top 10-charting set, she ties with Mariah Carey for the third-most top 10s among women in the history of the Billboard 200. Only Madonna (with 23) and Barbra Streisand (34) have more among women. (Meanwhile, all 20 of Swiftâs Billboard 200 chart entries, dating to her 2006 debut, have now peaked in the top 20.)
Lover: Live From Paris is Swiftâs second top 10-charting live set, following Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (No. 3 in May 2023).
Of Lover: Live From Parisâ 202,500 units earned in the tracking week ending Jan. 16, album sales comprise the entire number (it reenters at No. 1 on Top Album Sales), with vinyl sales accounting for 161,000 (the largest sales week for a live album on vinyl since Luminate began tracking sales in 1991) and digital download sales accounting for the remaining sales. The set has no SEA or TEA units powering its reentry, since the album was not available on streaming services (thus, customers could not stream songs from the album directly), or through digital retailers such as iTunes, so customers couldnât purchase songs from the album directly.
The Lover: Live From Paris album commemorates Swiftâs The City of Lover live show on Sept. 9, 2019, at the Olympia in Paris. It was the only concert that Swift held to promote the 2019 album Lover, after her planned 2020 Lover Fest trek was cancelled due to COVID-19. Swift didnât return to live shows until the career-spanning The Eras Tour kicked off in March 2023.
The City of Lover live gig was turned into an ABC-TV special on May 17, 2020 (titled Taylor Swift: City of Lover), and included only the eight songs that are also on the Lover: Live From Paris album. The album was initially released as a double-vinyl set, on heart-shaped color vinyl, in early 2023, exclusively through Swiftâs webstore. The limited-pressing sold 13,500 copies in its one and only week of availability, and debuted and then-peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard 200 (March 4, 2023-dated chart).
Earlier in January 2025, Lover: Live From Paris was restocked on Swiftâs webstore, for a limited time, on the same double-vinyl set, on heart-shaped color vinyl. At the time, customers were informed that the set would ship on or before Jan. 20.
In addition to the vinyl release, Lover: Live From Paris saw its debut as a digital download album, exclusively through Swiftâs webstore, for a limited time. On Jan. 16, the final day of the latest chartâs tracking week, the set was made available in Swiftâs store across four variants for six hours only, each priced at $4.99. One was the standard eight-song album, and the other three each contained the standard eight songs plus one unique live bonus track of a Lover album cut performed during The Eras Tour (âFalse God,â âI Think He Knowsâ and âPaper Ringsâ).
No version of the Lover: Live From Paris album was available during the tracking week on streaming services, nor through any digital retailer outside of Swiftâs webstore. The albumâs core eight songs were released as stand-alone tracks in May 2020 (the same week as the premiere of Taylor Swift: City of Lover TV special) widely through digital retailers and streamers.
As for the rest of the top 10 on the latest Billboard 200 chart, four former No. 1s are at Nos. 3-6. SZAâs SOS is steady at No. 3 (102,000 equivalent album units earned; down 10%), Kendrick Lamarâs GNX is a non-mover at No. 4 (64,000; down 4%), Lil Babyâs WHAM falls 1-5 in its second week (55,000; down 60%) and Sabrina Carpenterâs Short nâ Sweet slips 5-6 (48,000; down 6%).
Billie Eilishâs Hit Me Hard and Soft is stationary at No. 7 (40,000 equivalent album units earned; down 7%), the Wicked film soundtrack falls 6-8 (39,000; down 15%), Morgan Wallenâs chart-topping One Thing at a Time dips 8-9 (nearly 39,000; down 4%) and Gracie Abramsâ The Secret of Us descends 9-10 (36,000; down 4%).
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.
The euphoric and loving screams of the crowd made Fito PĂĄez blush. The Argentine rocker admitted that the clamor for his free Saturday night (Jan. 18) show in Mexico Cityâs ZĂłcalo made him feel âmodesty.â Visibly moved, he thanked the 80,000 people who attended the Plaza de la ConstituciĂłn, according to figures from the city government, but also those who followed the concert on social media and public television.
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âHow beautiful it is to be here!â said PĂĄez, who appeared on the imposing stage dressed in a fluorescent yellow sweater and a red cape that matched the showâs lighting design. âPlease save energy because you will need it,â the musician from Rosario added before starting his first concert of 2025 with his iconic song âEl Amor DespuĂ©s del Amor.â
The concert at the countryâs main public square settled a pending debt with his Mexican fans, after postponing a presentation originally scheduled for September due to a domestic accident that resulted in five fractured ribs and forced him to suspend a series of shows in Mexico and Colombia.
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It was also the prelude to three shows that the legendary icon of rock en Español will perform this week in Mexican territory, with two dates at the National Auditorium on Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 21-22), and one more at the Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara on Jan. 26 â all part of his PĂĄez 403 tour, which celebrates 40 years of his first album, Del 63, and the 30th anniversary of Circo Beat.
The concert of the 61-year-old rocker, with which the Government of Mexico City inaugurated its free musical shows of 2025 at the ZĂłcalo, was even mentioned at the presidential conference of last Friday (Jan. 17). âFito PĂĄez is Fito PĂĄez!â said Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum in response to a reporterâs question about the singer-songwriterâs visit.
On the Plaza de la ConstituciĂłn, or ZĂłcalo, a huge Argentine flag was waved from the front rows, with many people of the South American country in attendance to see one of their most respected and beloved musicians, but also curious and old fans, and even new followers who met him through Netflixâs bio-series El Amor DespuĂ©s del Amor. âThis is bursting, how beautiful!â PĂĄez, who kept his dialogues short but seemed to enjoy the moment, told the audience.
Accompanied by a large band of musicians and his inseparable piano, he pleased the crowd with a repertoire of his most well-known songs, including âYo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi CorazĂłn,â âCadĂĄver Exquisito,â âUn Vestido y Un Amor,â âTumbas de la Gloriaâ and âNaturaleza Sangre.â He also sang classics such as âAl Lado del Camino,â âCirco Beat,â âBrillante Sobre el Mic,â âCiudad de Pobres Corazones,â âA Rodar Mi Vidaâ and âDar es Dar,â which made the audience vibrate.
Previously, the Argentine group El Juguete Rabioso and the Mexican band Rey Pila served as opening bands.
âCiao, my loves. What an unforgettable night! Health, money, and love for everyone. Thank you for this great honor, for having received us all the people of the city,â PĂĄez said as a farewell. âKnow that we appreciate this from the bottom of our hearts.â
With the energy of the audience still high, the rocker reciprocated the affection performing âMariposa Technicolorâ and âDale AlegrĂa,â which marked the end of his presentation.
Fito PĂĄezâs show adds to the long list of concerts that national and international artists have offered at the capitalâs ZĂłcalo, including Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Pixies, Caifanes, RosalĂa, Interpol, Grupo Firme, Shakira, Juan Gabriel and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, among many others.
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Hereâs what happened in the Latin music world this week.
âEn Barranquilla Se Baila AsĂâ
Ahead of the launch of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in February, Shakiraâs hometown is honoring her with a special tribute at the annual Carnaval de Barranquilla. This year, the festival â which kicks off March 1 â has adopted the Colombian hitmakerâs iconic line âEn Barranquilla se baila asĂ,â from âHips Donât Lie,â as its official slogan. On Jan. 11, fans in Barranquilla gathered at the Shakira statue where the official imagery for this yearâs Carnaval was unveiled.
âThis tribute touches my heart as a Barranquilla native and fills me with pride,â Shakira said in a statement. âIt is an honor and a joy to be part of this in such a way. Since the day I was born, I have always felt incredibly proud to be from Barranquilla, and I always will be. Because thatâs what we do hereâ celebrate life. And above all, we celebrate that we know how to celebrate! Letâs spread this energy to the entire world! Long live the Carnival, long live Barranquilla, its culture, and its people. Letâs show once again that this is how we dance in Barranquilla! Love you all!â
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Shakiraâs Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour will make a stop in Barranquilla. See the dates of her trek here.
Del Records Feeds First Responders
Amid the devastation that followed the blazing and deadly wildfires in L.A., Del Records CEO Angel Del Villar led an initiative on Thursday (Jan. 16) to feed firefighters, first responders, and support personnel stationed at their base camp at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Del Villar recruited Tacos Bombero 408, which traveled from San Jose, Calif., with its fire truck turned taco truck. According to a press release, the Tacos Bombero 408 team served more than 1,000 fresh meals, âbringing hope and gratitude to those on the frontlines of the wildfire battle.â About the initiative, Del Villar said, âItâs the least we can do for those putting their lives on the line for us.â
Merch With a Cause
On Thursday, Karol G unveiled special merch dedicated to the city of Los Angeles, with all proceeds set to go towards wildfire relief efforts. The merch, a $120 hoodie and $40 tote bag, are now available for purchase here.
âLA, you are in my heart,â Karol G wrote in a post shared on her Karol G Merch Instagram page. âAt Con Cora Foundation, we have joined forces with I Scream Color to create two pieces that represents solidarity with the people affected by one of the most devastating wildfires in Californiaâs history. 100% of the artists proceeds will be donated to the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles to support the individuals, families and resources impacted. This is an act of love and gratitude for a city that means so much to me and to all of us. Together, we can make a difference. Letâs unite and show Los Angeles that itâs in our hearts.â
More Latin Acts Donate to Wildfire Relief Efforts
In solidarity with the community of Los Angeles, artists such as Alejandro Fernåndez, Manå, Peso Pluma, Chiquis and Fuerza Regida have all stepped up to help the countless of Angelenos who have been impacted by the ongoing devastation. In the past week, thousands of houses and structures burned and more than 100,000 people evacuated due to the wildfires. More than 20 people have died across the L.A. area.
See how Latin artists have helped those affected by the wildfires here.
For health alerts, evacuation updates and additional shelter information as the wildfire battle continues, go to L.A. Countyâs emergency website. Musicians and music industry professionals who are affected can get details about assistance here.
Blessd Goes All in for FĂștbol
Earlier this week, Blessd became the largest investor in the Legacy Sports Partners fund, which has acquired the Danish football club Vendsyssel FF. âI am beyond thrilled to take on this incredible project with Vendsyssel FF,â the Colombian artist said in a statement. âFootball has always been a passion of mine, and being able to connect it with my journey in music is a dream come true. Together, we will create something truly special for both music and football fans, uniting the best of two worlds â America and Europe â enhancing the clubâs culture, and reaching new heights in Denmark and beyond.â
The first friendly match after the clubâs acquisition will take place in MedellĂn, Colombia, against AtlĂ©tico Nacional, as part of the preseason and the Copa Bendita.
Bad Bunnyâs upcoming âNo Me Quiero Ir de AquĂâ summer residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico has officially sold out, according to a press release issued by the artistâs team on Friday (Jan. 17). Produced by Noah Assad Presents and Move Concerts, the 30-date stint, set to kick off July 11 and wrap Sept. 14, sold 400,000 tickets in just four hours through online and in-person sales across the island.
The announcement further states that while more than 2.5 million people registered for online pre-sale, Bad Bunnyâs team âworked diligentlyâ to eliminate 1.8 million scalpers and bots to âensure Bad Bunnyâs loyal fans were eligible for the pre-sale.â
The first nine shows, reserved exclusively for Puerto Rico residents, officially went on sale Wednesday (Jan. 15) at nine different locations throughout Puerto Rico, including Palacio de los Deportes in MayagĂŒez and Plaza del Mercado RĂo Piedras in San Juan. (The shows sold out that day.) Subsequently, Bad Bunny unveiled nine additional dates to the residency for a total of 30 dates at El Choli. Those 21 shows, which went on sale this morning, sold out in under four hours.
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The residency has also incorporated VIP concert and hotel experiences featuring a two-night hotel stay, premium tickets and limited edition VIP gift bags, among other elements. Offered through Vibee, more than 80,000 VIP packages have already been sold, with a limited number of VIP experiences remaining.
Bad Bunny (real name Benito Antonio MartĂnez Ocasio) is no stranger to selling out tours or breaking records at the box office. His Worldâs Hottest Tour in 2022 grossed $314.1 million and sold 1.9 million tickets, breaking the record for the biggest Latin tour ever. That same year, Bad Bunny became the first Latin act, and first act who doesnât perform in English, to finish atop Billboardâs year-end Top Tours chart.
Bad Bunnyâs residency in Puerto Rico is in honor of his latest album, DebĂ Tirar MĂĄs Fotos, which he released Jan. 5. The set debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, securing him his seventh top 10-charting set. Meanwhile, the LP opened at No. 1 on Billboardâs Top Streaming Albums chart (dated Jan. 18), marking the largest streaming week for a Latin title in over a year. All 17 songs on the set entered the Billboard Hot 100, upping his career total from 98 to 113 and making him the first Latin artist to tally 100 career Hot 100 hits.
In our Latin Remix of the Week series, we spotlight remixes that the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors deem exceptional and distinct. We might not publish a review every week. This is our selection today. Lola Ăndigoâs breakthrough hit âLa Reinaâ â a highly energetic track rich in merengue rhythms and laced with EDM, produced by AndrĂ©s Torres and Mauricio Rengifo […]
This week, Billboardâs New Music Latin roundup and playlist â curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors â features fresh new music from artists including Ricardo Arjona, Luis R Conriquez, Belinda, Bad Gyal and Tiago PZK, to name a few. After collaborating with mĂșsica mexicana hitmakers artists like Natanael Cano and NetĂłn Vega, Belinda has now recruited Tito Double P for her corrido bĂ©lico […]
When Celia Cruz died in July 2003 at the age of 77, nearly 100,000 mourners paid their respects before her open casket viewing in Miami. In New York, Patti LaBelle sang at her memorial mass in St. Patrickâs Cathedral, then-Governor George Pataki declared âCelia Cruz Day,â more than 20,000 crowded the funeral home in the Upper East Side and a 30-block stretch of Fifth Avenue was shut down to accommodate thousands more. The death of the beloved âQueen of Salsaâ from complications due to a brain tumor became an event as celebrated as her stunning performances during life.
Cruz, who defied Cubaâs communist government when she left her home country at the dawn of the 1959 revolution, also defied the odds of Latin music careers at the time by becoming the only Afro Latina singer to achieve enduring, global fame. Often compared to Ella Fitzgerald, Cruz recorded over 70 albums in a career that spanned three record labels, notching 28 entries on Billboardâs Tropical Albums chart. More than 20 years after her death, she generated 64Â million on-demand official streams in the United States in 2024, according to Luminate.
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Omer Pardillo â who became Cruzâs manager when he was in his 20s and is the executor of her estate â is a key reason the legendary artist remains relevant. When he was 17, he interned at RMM, the powerful tropical indie record label to which Cruz was signed, and worked on every aspect of her career. When Cruz left RMM, she named Pardillo her manager and executor.
âEven now, sometimes people tell me, âYou got there at the very end [of her career],’â Miami-based Pardillo says. âBut my loyalty was unconditional with Celia and something she saw from the very beginning.â That loyalty remains today. Since partnering with Loud And Live CEO Nelson Albareda in 2005, Pardillo has kept Cruz alive in the public eye with a U.S. postage stamp and a commemorative quarter, a Barbie doll, multiple exhibits, merchandise lines, a Telemundo TV series and even a namesake wine.
âI have these film reels because Iâm in the process of digitizing footage of Celia from the â60s and â70s,â Pardillo says.
Alfonso Duran
Billboard spoke with Pardillo as he prepares to celebrate the centennial of the singerâs birth in 2025.
You are the executor of the Celia Cruz estate. What exactly does that entail?
I manage all assets that come into the estate â royalties, approvals from the labels, creative, productions, everything. As executor, I receive a percentage, and obviously, all the business deals I had or I bring, I charge 20%. The Loud And Live team, especially Nelson [Albareda], help me a lot. We did a deal with Mattel two years ago for a Celia Barbie; we put out a [Napa Valley-produced] wine to celebrate women; Celia was the face of Wells Fargo Bank for Hispanic audiences. One of the biggest achievements was our deal with the U.S. Mint. Sheâs the first Afro Latina on a coin and the first Latina artist on a coin. I always say Nelson invests 25Â cents and gets a dollar in return. Sometimes I get carried away with nostalgia or feeling, and Iâll say, âWe have to do something with this brand because they supported Celia once.â He makes me stop and analyze.
Was the U.S. Mint deal lucrative?
We donât make money with the Mint. But the awareness of Celia Cruz through the coin has been incredible. The dollar is the most important currency in the world. And the fact that this woman â who was poor and Black and had to flee Cuba and was able to conquer the world with just her voice â is now on a U.S. coin is very relevant. Same thing with the Celia U.S. Postal Service stamp. They both have a huge sentimental value, but also economic, because thanks to the coin, for example, many other things have followed.
âThis briefcase belonged to my grandfather, who carried it to work in New York,â Pardillo says. âToday, it serves as my lucky charm in the office.â
Alfonso Duran
Did Cruz own any of her catalog?
Not at all. That was her only mistake. Celia never owned anything. She recorded with Fania, which now is Craft; RMM, which is Universal today; and Sony. The best deal was Sony, where she was treated as an icon. It was different. The other deals were the kinds of deals from back then where they say, âHereâs X amount for a record deal, and we own everything forever.â
But Sony had great royalties, a great team behind Celia. We get royalties from Sony, Universal and Craft. I renegotiated royalties with Universal, Sony was always perfect, and Craft is something weâre working on. Sheâs collecting the same royalty they offered when she initially signed with them [decades ago]. Still, our revenue comes mostly from recording royalties and brand partnerships. We do three to four major partnerships a year. And on Spotify alone, we had 82.3Â million [global] streams for the first six months of 2024. Thatâs not bad for an artist whoâs been dead 21 years.
Have you tried to purchase her catalog?
No. Itâs worth too much money.
It was recently announced that Hyphenate Media â Eva Longoria and Cris Abregoâs production company â was part of a group that acquired the rights to work on a movie about Cruz. What can you tell us about that?
I have three projects with Celia pending: a Broadway musical, a documentary and the film. I think in the next five years, weâll accomplish all three. Hyphenate Media bought the rights for film and TV, and the estate was represented by Raymond GarcĂa of Uncontained Media. Producer Gloria CalderĂłn Kellett, who is Cuban American, is working on the film project. The film is very important because it will tell things she never told and were not in the [Telemundo] series. Issues with racism, for example, that she never shared with anyone. She always said the negative had to be locked away so they couldnât cause more pain.
âThis chair was used by Celia in her office for over 30 years.â
Alfonso Duran
What are the advantages and challenges of managing the estate of an artist like Cruz?
The big challenge is we donât own the music rights. So anything related to music, we have to go to the labels. For example, if Mattel wants Barbie to sing âQuimbara,â they have to negotiate those rights with Craft. If I had the ownership of the masters, I could do so much. With the Fania catalog, for example, I can suggest, but I donât own. Itâs frustrating. The advantage is weâre dealing with an artist that was always very respected, and that respect is still the same. Thereâs a love and a connection with fans, which is very, very important.
What do you have in the works for Cruzâs centennial?
Weâre in the process of closing several brand deals, including a major clothing retailer who will put out Celia apparel. Weâre also in negotiations with a major restaurant brand. Mostly, weâre focused on concerts. Weâre talking with different venues to produce Celia SinfĂłnica, a series of concerts with different symphony orchestras in different countries, for example. And thereâs an upcoming Smithsonian Latino exhibit that opens in May. Weâve had 20 exhibits since Celiaâs death, and the Smithsonian has 33% of her outfits, shoes, documents and wigs in their collection.
I have to imagine that with artificial intelligence and new technology, youâre getting requests to produce new songs with Celiaâs voice. Recently, Cuban artist Yotuel used AI to add her voice to a new version of âPatria y Vida,â for example.
I approve any use of name, music or image. We have an attorney who sends out letters declining proposals all year long. We really look after that [intellectual property]. Otherwise, the brand will either disappear or will become too accessible. Yotuelâs song was the first time anything was done with AI and Celiaâs voice, and I think it came out very well. But from there to a full album, Iâm not there yet. I could rerecord the entire catalog, but I feel weâll lose the essence. Iâm told there are producers who can make it sound exactly the same, but itâs not exactly the same because sheâs not here.
Cruzâs dedication, which is framed with her 1998 album, Mida Vida Es Cantar, reads: âTo Omer Pardillo, the person I most admire for his talent, professionalism, and I love him because Iâm his second mom.â
Alfonso Duran
Itâs surprising to me that no other woman has emerged in the tropical music scene since Cruzâs death. Why do you think this is?
It has to do with how professional Celia was. She was fully focused on her career. She was very forward-thinking; she was so flamboyant, long before Lady Gaga. She was so humble, and yet she had a divine grace and a power onstage that I have yet to see again.
She was such a fashion icon, with her wigs and her fantastic, glitzy dresses. Did she ever consider doing a fashion line?
No. Celia modeled for Dolce & Gabbana, Thierry Mugler, Valentino. But she was very focused on her career and her voice, and she never thought of a business beyond her music. She always said, âMy voice is my business, and I live for my voice.â
This story appears in the Jan. 11, 2025, issue of Billboard.
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this weekâs picks below.
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Ricardo Arjona, Seco (Metamorfosis Enterprises Limited/Interscope Records)
Guatemalan icon Ricardo Arjona returns with SECO, his eighteenth studio album. The 12-song set is a true reflection of his artistic essence: deeply introspective, poetic lyrics that address social criticism, intertwined with stories of love and humanity. In addition, it is accompanied by careful musical production in which live guitars, violins, piano and percussion stand out. The title of the album, SECO, alludes to the nickname he received as a child for his physical build.
In a statement accompanying the release, Arjona expresses that it could be the most important album of his career. âThis album isnât just music; itâs a piece of my life,â the singer-songwriter says. âSECOÂ represents that boy who dreamed of writing songs while running by the stream. Today, I invite everyone to join me on this journey and find a part of themselves in each song.â The pop ballad âMujerâ is a particular standout track, an ode to feminine strength that takes on an even deeper meaning thanks to the participation of daughter Adria Arjona as the protagonist of the music video. â LUISA CALLE
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Belinda & Tito Double P, âLa Cuadradaâ (Warner Music MĂ©xico)
In âLa Cuadrada,â Belinda further explores the world of corridos bĂ©licos, joining rapidly rising star Tito Double P. Transforming from pop sensation to a powerhouse in regional Mexican music, Belinda slips into the role of âBeli bĂ©lica,â an undercover agent on a quest. Their tale unfolds in a cinematic seven-minute video set across lavish locales in Puebla, Mexico and Italy, enhancing the storylineâs intrigue and opulence. The track resonates with Belindaâs crystalline vocals, dynamic guitar riffs, and spirited trumpet interplays, while Titoâs distinctively gruff delivery adds grit to their musical escapade. This collaboration breathes fresh energy into the genre, creating a vivid tableau of love, deception, and undercover pursuits. â ISABELA RAYGOZA
Luis R Conriquez & Peso Pluma, âBandidaâ (Kartel Music)
Powerhouses Luis R Conriquez and Peso Pluma double down on their commitment to globalize mĂșsica mexicana via collaborations. Their latest, âBandida,â is a testament to a friendship and bond that has not only fueled their respective careers but the genre overall. A corrido bĂ©lico through-and-through, the brass horns and guitar-heavy track finds Peso and Conriquez exchanging verses about themes of loyalty and rebellion that come with the territory. At times they bark lyrics like, âla cuenta de banco la tengo de lado, ya son varios ceros (the bank account, I see it, it has many zeros now.),â while at other points they sing in a more reflective tone, âvivo lo que desde morro ambicionaba, disfruto la vida porque un dĂa se acaba (Iâm living what I dreamed of as a kid, I enjoy life because one day it ends).â â GRISELDA FLORES
Gusi & Elder DayĂĄn, âAcabaste Conmigoâ (Vallenato Social Club)
Gusi kicks off the new year with an exciting and dynamic collaboration alongside the talented Elder DayĂĄn, âAcabaste Conmigoâ â the first captivating single from his next studio album, Vallenato Social Club. This track masterfully preserves the rich and vibrant essence of traditional vallenato music while introducing an invigorating tropical pop flair that breathes fresh life into the genre. âAcabaste Conmigoâ resonates thanks to an authenticity that speaks to the depth of the pain. By blending traditional vallenato elements with contemporary sounds, Gusi and DayĂĄn create an enthralling experience that bridges the gap between musical heritage and modern influences. â INGRID FAJARDO
Los Ăngeles Azules & Thalia, âYo Me Lo BusquĂ©â (Promotodo MĂ©xico/OCESASeitrack)
Mexican cumbia legends Los Ăngeles Azules and pop titan Thalia fuse their unmistakable talents in âYo Me Lo BusquĂ©,â delivering a riveting cumbia jam that captivates with its infectious rhythm and exuberant spirit. Continuing their tradition of collaborating with Latin pop icons, the Iztapalapa troupe weaves their signature vibrant sound together with Thaliaâs spectacular vocals. The lyricâs emotional intensity promises an irresistible invitation to the dance floor, offering a passionate soundtrack for lovers caught in a clandestine affair. âSay that youâre not dying to have another night with me,â the singer belts, anchoring this joyful anthem destined to ignite movement wherever played. â I.R.
Tiago PZK (Gotti), âSeñoritaâ (Grand Move Records/Warner Music Latina)
Tiago PZK is trading spots with his alter ego, Gotti, to deliver the dark and edgy pop banger âSeñorita.â The track â powered by gritty synthesizers and catchy hooks â serves as a preview of Tiagoâs upcoming EP. ââSeñoritaâ is a before and after in my career,â Tiago explains in a statement. âAs the artist and composer of this song and project, itâs as if a war is about to break out between Tiago and Gotti to see who gets to take the reigns as the artist.â With âSeñorita,â the Argentine rapper kicks off a new era in his career, where heâs willing to defy any sort of expectations imposed on him. â G.F.
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below:
Like a bandage for the heart, Argentine singer-songwriter Yami Safdie teams up with multi-award-winning Colombian artist Camilo to release her new single âQuerida Yo,â a sweet pop ballad loaded with incredible performance.
The new ballad is a tribute to personal empowerment and the hope of releasing the vulnerabilities we face by choosing to become our greatest strength, conveying the true message of the meaning of faith.
âItâs like a letter to myself,â Yami Safdie tells Billboard Español during an interview in Miami. âI do this a lot of spoiling songs on TikTok when I donât even have them finished or recorded.â If I wrote something that I liked, I uploaded it, and that video went quite viral, many people connected.â
Trending on Billboard
Safdie continues, âThen I uploaded a story, and Cami saw it and told me: âWhat a beautiful song.â And Iâve been following him for a long time; I admire him a lot; it was like, âWell, letâs do it together! Itâs for you. âI invited him, and we finished it together.â
As a manifestation, the Argentine singer-songwriter visualized this collaboration in a certain way. For his part, Camilo tells how he connected to join this collaboration. âI found it to be a sincere, unpretentious way to have a conversation with yourself. I saw myself in that song, more than singing it, and as an artist, I was part of the song,â Camilo reveals. âI saw myself, my story, and my life in that song. I saw myself reflected. It is the power of the song, and it is very nice to see how it happened to me.â
For Yami, this collaboration is another dream come true in his career. Camilo also remembers some of the collaborations that he dreamed of at some point and that have occurred in his career. âI remember, for example, when I was in the pandemic, there was one day when Pablo AlborĂĄn uploaded a video, and he was singing a song of mine, and he told me, âLetâs make this song together,â says Camilo. âAnd I was like, âWow, I canât believe it.â Or when Shakira sent me a message and said, âI love this song,â to see if I wanted to join in. Suddenly, those kinds of things donât happen if you plan them. âItâs very nice when things happen in a real way.â
âBut if I tell you the truth, my favorite moment in my life and career is this,â the Colombian singer-songwriter confesses. âI love doing this with Yami because it is also very important to see [the] perspective. âI see the future, and I see someone as talented as Yami.â
Karol G has unveiled special merch dedicated to the city of Los Angeles, with all proceeds set to go towards wildfire relief efforts. The Colombian hitmaker joins artists like Chiquis, Fuerza Regida and Peso Pluma, to name a few, whoâve used their platform to express solidarity with the community of L.A. which, since last week, […]