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Mexican power couple Kimberly Loaiza and JD Pantoja, who’ve been together since 2012 and have two children together, had a lot to celebrate at the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro on Thursday night (Feb. 23).
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“I feel very proud,” Loaiza said of her new female artist nomination. “My fans, Las Linduras, were the ones to give me the news. They’re always paying attention to everything. When I got the news, I thought, ‘Wow, I can’t believe it.’” (Later in the night, Loaiza won the award, where she was up against strong contenders including Tokischa, Lola Indigo, Corina Smith, Young Miko, Lola Indigo and many more.)
On the carpet, the couple shared exclusive news about their upcoming music projects.
“We’ve got news — it’s kind of bad for the fans, but we’re going to release our last collaboration together soon,” Pantoja tells Billboard.
Loaiza and Pantoja, two influencers-turned-artists, have released many collaborations in the past, but each has their individual career.
“My album is coming,” assures Loaiza, “and more collaborations with Argentinean and Puerto Rican artists. In April, I’ll release one of those songs.”
“I also have a song with a reggaeton legend from Puerto Rico that will soon, soon come out. I filmed the video not that long ago and it came out great,” Pantoja states of his upcoming feature.
Next month, the married couple will tour together, for the last time, on their Bye Bye Tour, visiting the U.S. for the first time. Produced by Loud and Live, the trek will visit four U.S. cities, kicking off March 31 in Chicago and winding through New York, Houston and Los Angeles.
The sunny and lighthearted “Mientras Me Curo Del Cora (While My Heart Heals)” opens Karol G‘s highly anticipated new album Mañana Será Bonito, out today (Feb. 24).
Powered by a disarming, joyous whistle, her stripped-down vocals take center stage in this opening track. “Give me time/ I’m not at my best moment, but I’ll get better little by little/ Today, I’m down but tomorrow will be prettier,” she sings. Time was what Karol G needed to heal from heartbreak. Now, she’s entered a new era that’s marked by a renewed sense of freedom and empowerment.
“Mientras Me Curo” serves as Karol’s introduction to the set, but don’t be tricked by its simplicity in terms of production. In fact, the rest of the tracks on the album are quite the opposite — packed with fast-paced verses, raw and sensual lyrics with dembow, regional Mexican and reggaetón powering the beats. Along the way, she tapped a few fellow hitmakers for star-studded collaborations, including Shakira on “TQG,” “Dañamos La Amistad” with Sech and “Pero Tú” with Quevedo. The set also includes previously released collaborations with Romeo Santos (“X Si Volvemos), Ovy on the Drums (“Cairo”) and Maldy (“Gatubela”).
The highly awaited collab with Shak finds the two Colombianas in a sultry music video, confirming once more that there’s no messing with them (and their hearts). Meanwhile, on the simmering reggaetón track “Pero Tú,” the Medellín singer continues to cultivate the allusions of passion, set against pensive piano chords and an irresistible rhythm. This time, Karol is armed with a hypnotic coo like that of a siren, which captures Quevedo as a love interest.
Mañana Será Bonito is Karol’s fourth studio album, and it follows her 2021 Grammy-nominated KG0516, which scored Karol her first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums. The set earned the biggest week for a Latin album by a woman since Shakira‘s 2017 El Dorado.
Below, check out all the collaborations on the set ranked:
“Cairo” feat. Ovy on the Drums
Image Credit: Mario Alzate
On her new album’s penultimate track, Karol G continues to explore her provocative wanderlust, and “Cairo” sets the stage for a too-hot-to-handle escapade in the desert capital. Propelled by the undulating reggaetón beats of Ovy on the Drums, her long-time producer, Karol G confesses her newfound emotions on a fling. Near the end of the track, “Cairo” transitions into an Ibiza-leaning number to get lost to. The song debuted at No. 89 on the Billboard Global 200 chart on December 3, 2022, becoming Ovy on the Drums’ first entry on the chart.
“Ojos Ferrari” feat. Justin Quiles & Angel Dior
Karol G teams up with veteran singer-songwriter Justin Quiles and emerging artist Angel Dior to deliver the ultimate party anthem. The bouncy and dizzying dembow track “Ojos Ferrari” is a certified club banger, where the three sing about living it up. “Hoy se bebe/ Hoy se fuma/ Hoy se jode,” they chant on the Ovy on the Drums-produced song.
“Kármika” feat. Bad Gyal & Sean Paul
“Kármika” finds the Colombian artist joined by two generations of artists and of two different cultures: Sean Paul of Jamaica and Bad Gyal of Spain. Instead of having them sing a perrero tune, Karol delivers a sensual dancehall track — best fitting with Paul’s and Gyal’s signature sound. Telling the story from the perspective of a woman who doesn’t want any commitment, but still wants to spend time with that special person, Karol sings about “becoming another person when she’s drinking” and “only wanting casual sex” because she’s alone. “I know I’m a bad boy for you,” sings Sean Paul, who assures he’s different than the rest of the boys.
“Dañamos La Amistad” feat. Sech
“Chingué con mi amigo y no me explico/ dañamos la amistad pero rico/ y ahora estoy pensándote,” seductively croons the Colombian femme fatale (“I f–ked my friend and I can’t explain it/ we damaged the friendship but deliciously / and now I’m thinking about you”). On her Sech collaboration, the pair detail a steamy night when two friends become lovers, after a night of rocking and partying until the wee hours, with the Panamanian singer delivering his utmost passionate flow that spills over. It’s a risky and adventurous trope that’s also relatable, set against the hard-hitting beats of Sech himself and his producer Dímelo Flow.
“Mañana Será Bonito” feat. Carla Morrison
Image Credit: Esteban Calderon
The closing and title track on the set finds Mexican singer-songwriter Carla Morrison exploring the infectious reggaetón beats of Karol G. On the track, the two artists deliver a feel-good track filled with positive lyrics and manifestations, again, to heal a heartbreak. The track tells the story of a girl who gave it all for love but her trust was broken. Then, there’s Karol and Carla reminding every heart-broken person that “tomorrow will be beautiful” and no one can “take way their light.” “In life, we can’t go back and recuperate the time wasted/ But yes, we can start brand new,” says Karol toward the end of the track.
“Gatúbela” feat. Maldy
Like this album, “Gatúbela” — released in August — marked a new chapter for Karol G. Unveiling her fiery red hair for the first time with this song, for which she reeled in Latin urban pioneer Maldy, “Gatúbela” is an infectious old-school reggaetón jam laced with intense perreo beats. Produced by DJ MAFF, Karol G knows exactly what she want. “I’m not with anyone but I’m hooked/ I’m elevated, I feel like a Catwoman/ It feels good when he moves my panties to the side/ It feels good when you kiss me down there,” she confesses bluntly. Maldy’s spit-fire verses match the track’s fast-paced beat, which hooks you instantly.
“Pero Tú” feat. Quevedo
Karol G is a riveting storyteller — she simply knows how to spellbind her listeners. On the simmering reggaetón cut “Pero Tú,” the singer continues to cultivate allusions to passion, set against pensive piano chords and an irresistible rhythm. This time, Karol is armed with a breathy hypnotic coo like that of a siren, which captures Quevedo as a love interest. Buoyed by his deep growl, the Spanish rapper responds with a wicked flow to meet his match. His poetic prowess details her as a beaming — no, sizzling — conquest, making this collaboration one of the lustiest songs in the game.
“TQG” feat. Shakira
On the heels of “MAMIII” (Becky G, Karol G) and “BZRP Music Session, Vol. 53” (Bizarrap, Shakira) — two very empowering breakup tracks — Karol G and Shakira join forces on “TQG,” short for “Te Quedó Grande.” Loosely meaning “I was too good for you,” this collab is powered by a somber, hard-hitting reggaetón beat, but packed with fierce and unapologetic lyrics about getting over an ex and successfully moving on. “It hurt me to see you with the new one, but I’m already doing my own thing,” chants Shakira. The long-awaited collab finds the two Colombianas in a sultry music video, confirming once more that there’s no messing with them (and their hearts).
“X Si Volvemos” feat. Romeo Santos
Image Credit: Grace Rivera
Coming in at No. 1 on our list is “X Si Volvemos” with Romeo Santos. It’s almost hard to imagine that this track could’ve been released without Santos on it, because they sound so good together. The last-minute pairing is a total departure from the opening song, “Mientras Me Curo Del Cora,” a sweet and joyous song about healing. In “X Si Volvemos,” which follows “Mientras,” Karol G’s La Bichota alter ego takes over and she’s as blunt as ever in the sultry track. “It didn’t work out, we gave it our all/ So we’re leaving, but before we leave, let’s do it one last time/ Our relationship didn’t work, but we understand each other in bed,” she declares. The pair find the perfect chemistry in this song, where Santos may not be singing his signature bachata — but his voice is, as ever, soft and sultry, perfect for this sensual song that thrives on a hypnotizing reggaetón beat.
Despite featuring “TQG,” her vaunted post-breakup collaboration with Shakira, do not for a second think that Karol G’s new album is born out of scorn or heartache. Instead, Mañana Será Bonito (out today on Universal Music Latino), which literally translates to “Tomorrow Will Be Pretty,” is a snapshot of Karol G’s moment today — a moment she describes as “authentic and genuine, now more than ever.”
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Coming off the highest-grossing 2022 tour for a Latin woman in 2022, as well as a slew of milestones –including being the first woman to hold Nos. 1 and 2 simultaneously on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart since Selena in 1995 — Karol G has released an album that includes several of those smash hits, but also a cadre of surprises. There’s her collab with Shakira, something both fans and pundits had long yearned to hear from the two Colombian stars, as well as the beautiful title track, which unexpectedly brings in the soulful/alternative Carla Morrison into a gentle reggaetón groove, and the very sexy “X Si Volvemos” with Romeo Santos.
For Karol G, the stakes were high to deliver a strong set after a year of being lauded as the top woman in Latin music, and particularly after the huge success of 2021’s KG0516. With help from longtime producer and collaborator Ovy on the Drums, and an intriguing list of guest artists that also includes Spanish rapper Quevedo and Panama’s Sech, Mañana Será Bonito strives to cover the many sides of Karol G, using a bold reggaetón and electronic palate and relying on immediately relatable, yet sophisticated lyrics.
In a heartfelt conversation with Billboard, the Colombian star delved into the importance of this moment, why being a bichota isn’t always a good thing, and yes, how that Shakira collab came about.
You’ve said this particular moment in time is very emotional and very important to you, more so than other major milestones. Why?
Everything you do in a career like this becomes important. But definitely, I spent many years working toward a moment where I could demonstrate, where I could elevate – so to speak— the female genre, and represent us in a strong, powerful way. And I think this is that moment, because I’ve been able to garner the attention and establish myself in a position where people are expectant. Although I didn’t create this album thinking about this; I simply made music.
Describe Karol G right now, in two words.
“Authentic” and “genuine.” I definitely stopped thinking about what people would say, the stories, the comments, the news, and I made the music I wanted to make.
Was it difficult to divorce yourself form the onslaught of social media?
We haven’t divorced yet! [Laughs.] It’s a complicated relationship. I think it’s something you never really toss out. At the end of the day, you’re not on social media to see what people think — but there are certain things you need feedback on. If I do a show, I want to know how people felt, for example, and it’s not a bad thing to sometimes get feedback that doesn’t sit well with us. But I no longer let it affect me at a personal level.
Why? Do you feel more sure of yourself?
Yes. And I got that confidence from my followers. I’ve always said they and I have a very close relationship, even if we don’t know each personally, and with my music and my personality I make them feel a certain way, and they do the same. It’s continuous positive feedback.
Mañana será bonito is such a beautiful album name. Was that always the theme of the album or did it come from the title track?
When the album began, it had no name. The first songs I wrote were very dark, full of anger and ire. And I’m not speaking only about love; in a way, I was in a dark personal moment.
At some point I had to recognize that I was an even bigger bichota if I admitted to myself that it wasn’t OK to pretend that everything was perfect when it wasn’t.
Mm. It’s hard to imagine even your darkest moments not filled with light…
You know, there came a point when I got tired of being the “bichota” for everything. At some point I had to recognize that I was an even bigger bichota if I admitted to myself that it wasn’t OK to pretend that everything was perfect when it wasn’t. Mañana Será Bonito came about when I started to write songs that were no longer dark. I started to write songs more about freedom. More explicit songs about women who are up for anything to feel better. I hadn’t written a love song in a long time, and I arrived at a love song with “Tus gafitas.” Everything simply began to come more beautiful to me.
So, what name do I give this process? Every time I was going through issues, I’d tell my friends: “This is happening, that’s happening — but tomorrow will be pretty.” It became a mantra, and that became the album title.
Pablo Escudero
Everyone has yearned for a Shakira-Karol G collab for such a long time. You grew up looking up to her. What was the importance of Shakira in this album?
All of us as Latinos have to recognize she’s the one who represents us as Latinas around the world. When I was on set shooting the video and I was watching her, I was realizing all the amazing and legendary moments in her career, and a lot of things I need to work on to get to that point. But it was such a blessing to have her.
This song was born the same day I wrote the verse for “Mamiii.” It was a good day! We were in the studio, I was with Becky G finishing some details for “Mamiii,” and I stayed in the studio. I was with my team, with Ovy, with [writer/producer] Keityn. And we were trying to figure out what we were going to do, because I had said “yes” to Becky, and now we had two songs — but the topic was the same [heartbreak diss tracks].
Then when I saw the story about Shakira and her situation, this song again gained meaning. I really want songs to have a meaning and connect with real stories. I called Shakira, in October of last year — I said, “Hey, I know you’re going through this, and I’m sorry to be so direct.” [But] when she heard the song, she said, “I love it!” Then she explained she had this song coming with Bizarrap and I said, “OMG what are we going to do?”
She asked me to wait to launch this song, so we moved everything. [Even then I said], “Hey, you have ‘Te Felicito,’ “Monotonia,’ the Bizarrap session and then ‘TQG’ with me. It’s four songs [on similar topics].’ And she said, ‘You know what? It doesn’t mean I’m singing this song for somebody [specific].’”
So, you’re saying the song goes beyond your personal heartbreaks or personal situations?
I would love for people to simply listen to this song, as a song. Obviously as artists, we write songs based on personal situations we’ve lived — but at the end of the day, those songs aren’t aimed at anyone in particular, or are meant to hurt anyone. I’d love for my music to be divorced from a ton of situations and that people could enjoy them for what they are: songs that tell stories so people can identify with those stories.
You produced “Tus Gafitas” with Ovy on the Drums and with Finneas. Tell us about that?
I met Finneas last year in Austin and we spoke about working together. I told him, when I do that, I want it to be with a song that has special meaning, something big, something beautiful. I wrote “Tus Gafitas” on a plane, on my way to Cairo to film the video of “Cairo!” And when I landed I said, “I have the song.” I called him, I sang it to him — I told him I wanted a rock vibe, because I wanted a special sound for that track. And the fact that that song is so mine, so special and I have such a maestro working on it, is incredible.
You’ve done so much the last 18 months. Are you still learning? And if so, what lesson stands out?
I’ve learned an infinity of things, as an artist and as a person. Something very beautiful is that I reached a point where I was tired of trying to fit into many situations: The way I talk, they way I dress, the way my body looks. I needed to let go. I want people to see Carolina beyond Karol G, beyond looking perfect all the time because I’m an artist, beyond speaking perfectly, telling perfect stories, looking perfect. The fact that I allowed myself to flow naturally and that people connected shows me the world is eager to see peoples’ true personalities.
This generation is always told how to be all the time: how to post a photo to get more likes, how to talk so you’re seen as nice or cool, how to dress. When at the end of the day, they should be teaching that it’s amazing that you’re you — because everyone needs to meet different people to continue to grow and evolve and learn.
Karol G and Shakira craft the ultimate tabloid pop hit on their first collaboration together “TQG,” off Karol’s new album, Mańana Será Bonito, released on Friday (Feb. 24). An explosive kiss-off, the two forces of Latin pop chow down a heated breakup bop about leaving corny exes. It’s easy to speculate whom Karol G and Shakira are referring to.
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Shakira’s highly-publicized disentanglement with soccer star Gerard Piqué was tabloid gold, which she actually converted into into big bills. Recall women empowerment lyric, “Las mujeres ya no llloran, las mujeres facturan” or “women don’t cry anymore, women generate money” from the best diss track of 2023 so far: “BZRP Music Session #53.” It racked up more than 82 million views on YouTube in 24 hours, the fastest in the video platform’s history. It also peaked numerous Billboard charts.
Meanwhile, Karol G’s separation from Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA from a few years ago was also somewhat messy. Since their breakup, it seems like a blimp of time that Anuel hooked up with Dominican rapper Yailin La Más Viral, whom he got pregnant, had her baby, and only stayed married for a mere nine months. The visual for “TQG” (acronyms for “Te Quedó Grande” roughly meaning “too much for you to handle”) explores the sinister nature of celebrity life as reality TV. This is tabloid-pop gold at it’s finest, and they’re very aware of it. The video follows them across the world, where viewers see Karol G standing on top of Japanese billboards, and spectators are watching from their airplane TVs. Near the end of the video, a guy eating popcorn in a bathtub watches the singers lyrically slay their bygone men.
Here are the translated lyrics to “TQG”:
KAROL G
Whoever told you that a void is filled with another person is lying to youIt’s like covering up a wound with makeupYou can’t see it, but you can feel itYou left saying you got over meAnd you got yourself a new girlfriendWhat she doesn’t know is that you’re still looking at all my stories
CHORUS
Baby, what happened?Thought you were very in love?What are you doing looking for me, honey If you know that I don’t repeat mistakesTell your new bae that I don’t compete for menAnd to stop grudging, at least I had you pretty
SHAKIRA
Seeing you with the new girl hurt me, but I’m now set on meI’ve forgotten what we lived together, and that’s what you’re offended byAnd even my life got better, you are no longer welcome hereAnd what your girlfriend slayed at me, that doesn’t anger me, it makes me laugh
KAROL G
I don’t have time for something that doesn’t do anything for meI changed my routeMaking money like sportFilling my bank account with shows, the car park, the passportI’m harder, the press reviews say
SHAKIRA
Now you want to come back to me, it showsHold on, I’m no fool
KAROL G
You forgot that I’ve moved onAnd that this Bichota was too hot for you to handle
CHORUS
Baby, what happened?Thought you were very in love?What are you doing looking for me, honey If you know that I don’t repeat mistakesTell your new bae that I don’t compete for menAnd to stop grudging, at least I had you pretty
SHAKIRA
You left, and I wen’t triple ‘m’Much hotter, much tougher, much carefree
KAROL G
Getting back with you, neverYou are the bad luck Because now blessings are raining down on meAnd you want to get back together, I knew itYou liked a photo of mine
SHAKIRA
You, looking to eat outMe, saying that it was monotonyAnd you want to come back, I knew that much‘Liking’ my photos Now you’re outside searching for food
KAROL G
You look happy with your new lifeBut… if she knew that you still look for me
CHORUS
Baby, what happened?Thought you were very in love?What are you doing looking for me, honey If you know that I don’t repeat mistakesTell your new bae that I don’t compete for menShe didn’t have a good hand on you, at least I had you pretty
SPOKEN
My love, you really distanced yourselfAnd I can’t see so far away, babyTQM [I love you a lot], but TQG [You were out of your depth]… Barranquilla, Medallo
Another day, another historical win for Bad Bunny.
The Puerto Rican star’s Un Verano Sin Ti has won the IFPI Global Album Award, becoming the first Latin artist to ever win an IFPI global award, according to the organization.
IFPI, the trade association that represents recorded music industry worldwide, announced Friday (Feb. 24) that UVST — which spent a total of 13 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200 and became the first Spanish-language album to be nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards — topped the Top 20 Global Albums chart in 2022.
“We are incredibly excited to award Bad Bunny, the first Latin American artist to win an IFPI Global Award, with the Album of the Year Award,” Frances Moore, chief executive, IFPI, said in a statement. “His unique sound, encapsulated in his award-winning album Un Verano Sin Ti, has captured the world’s attention on a remarkable scale over the last 12 months.
Elsewhere on the Top 20 Global Albums, which takes into account all consumption formats, spanning physical sales, digital downloads and streaming platforms across a calendar year, Taylor Swift’s Midnights came in second place. Earlier in the week, the IFPI announced Swift was the global recording artist of the year, winning for a third time after already having topped the tally in 2014 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Harrys Styles’ Harry’s House took the third spot on the Top 20 Global Albums chart. His hit song “As It Was” was crowned with IFPI’s Global Single Award for 2022, an honor that recognizes the top performing single across all platforms, and all markets.
“This year’s Global Albums Chart bears testament to the incredible partnerships that exist between artists and record labels,” Moore added. “These partnerships nurture and support artists while they write and record their music before going on to promote albums on a global level, achieving extraordinary amounts of success around the world.”
Rounding out the top five global albums are BTS’ Proof and the the original soundtrack for Encanto came in at No. 5. Also on the list are Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. The full Top 20 list can be seen below.
IFPI Top 20 Global Albums of 20221/ Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti2/ Taylor Swift, Midnights3/ Harry Styles, Harry’s House4/ BTS, Proof5/ Encanto Cast, Encanto (OST)6/ Stray Kids, Maxident7/ Seventeen, Face the Sun8/ Blackpink, Born Pink9/ Olivia Rodrigo, Sour10/ Ed Sheeran, =11/ Enhypen, Manifesto: Day 112/ Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album13/ Doja Cat, Planet Her14/ Stray Kids, Oddinary15/ The Weeknd, Dawn FM16/ Tomorrow x Together, minisode 2: Thursday’s Child17/ Beyoncé, Renaissance18/ Seventeen, Sector 1719/ The Kid Laroi, F*ck Love (Mix Tape)20/ Drake, Certified Lover Boy
Actress and singer Sofia Carson, accompanied by songwriter Diane Warren, will perform the Oscar-nominated song “Applause” from Tell It like a Woman at the 2023 Oscars on Sunday, March 12.
This will mark the second year in a row that an artist with Colombian roots has performed on the global telecast. Sebastián Yatra, a native of that country, performed “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto during last year’s show. Carson was born in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to parents who had emigrated from Colombia.
This will also mark the second time that Warren has performed on the Oscars, a rarity for a professional songwriter who mostly works behind the scenes. Two years ago, she accompanied Italian singing star Laura Pausini on a performance of “Io sì (Seen)” from The Life Ahead. Musical performances that year were part of a red-carpet pre-show, so this will be her first performance on the Oscar telecast itself.
On Thursday, the Academy announced that Rihanna would perform the Oscar-nominated “Lift Me Up” on the telecast. It’s her first performance on the show.
The other nominees for best original song are “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick (music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop); “Naatu Naatu” from RRR (music by M.M. Keeravaani; lyrics by Chandrabose) and “This Is a Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once (music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne).
This latest booking was announced on Friday (Feb. 24) by executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, and also executive producer Molly McNearney. The producers will continue to announce talent appearing on the show in the coming weeks.
Carson, 29, released her self-titled debut album on Hollywood Records in March 2022. Her film credits include Purple Hearts, which she also executive produced, Songbird, Feel the Beat, the Descendants trilogy and the upcoming Carry On.
Warren, 66, is one of only eight songwriters in Oscar history to amass 14 or more nominations for best original song. Warren received an honorary award at the Academy’s Governors Awards in November. She was only the fifth person in Oscar history to receive an honorary award and a nomination for a competitive Oscar in the same awards year. The other four include Laurence Olivier and Jerome Robbins.
The announcement of Rihanna’s and Carson’s Oscar performances were expected. When Oscar calls, even the biggest stars usually say yes. Beyoncé opened last year’s show with a memorable performance of “Be Alive” from King Richard. Such other superstars as Adele, U2, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Sam Smith, Justin Timberlake, Sting, Elton John and Billie Eilish with Finneas have performed nominated songs on the Oscars in the past decade.
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
Karol G has released her highly anticipated fourth studio album, Mañana Será Bonito, home to 17 tracks that show the best of her vulnerability, bichotaness and musical evolution.
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On her new set, the Colombian artist explores new rhythms all while staying faithful to her urban Medallo swag. In “Gucci Los Paños,” for Edgard Barrera is one of the songwriters, she experiments with Regional Mexican packed with heavy tuba melodies and slow-tempo requintos. In “Tus Gafitas,” co-produced with FINNEAS, she opens up about finding love again in a mid-tempo punk rock song. And in “Ojos Ferrari,” she reeled in Justin Quiles and Dominican newcomer Angel Dior for her first-ever Dembow track. Karol also flirts with reggae, dancehall and bossanova on the album.
Just as experimental, she teamed up with other hitmakers, in addition to her long-time producer Ovy on the Drums, including Tainy, Wain and Dímelo Flow. Other collaborators on the album are Sech, Carla Morrison, Maldy, Quevedo, Bad Gyal and Sean Paul.
But one of the most notable collaborations is “TQG” alongside Shakira. The track is a hard-hitting, sultry reggatón in which the two Colombians join forces to remind their exes of what they lost.
Mañana Será Bonito follows the 2021 Grammy-nominated KG0516, which scored Karol her first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Latin Albums chart. The set earned the biggest week for a Latin album by a woman since Shakira‘s 2017 El Dorado. Karol announced the new album in January with a heartfelt message that said, “Today I announce a project that I’ve dedicated so much love and time to. I just know that for me and for everyone else, Mañana Será Bonito (Tomorrow Will Be Pretty).”
Vote for your favorite track on her new album below:
The 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro awards are a wrap. The 35th annual ceremony, held Thursday (Feb. 23) in Miami, honored artists such as Ivy Queen, Victor Manuelle and Intocable for their extraordinary careers, and also awarded artist of the year to Karol G, and album of the year went to Bad Bunny for his history-making Un Verano Sin Ti. The big winner of the night was Grupo Firme; the norteño-banda group took home six awards.
Only a few of the categories were televised. Mainly, the three-hour show consisted of back-to-back performances, with a total of 20 musical numbers taking place throughout the night. The ceremony kicked off with Sebastián Yatra, who performed his new single, “Una Noche Sin Pensar.” A new generation of urban artists such as Tiago PZK, Elena Rose and Alvaro Diaz — representing a distinct scene from across the Spanish-speaking continent — also took the stage.
Carlos Rivera performed a heartfelt and powerful rendition of the ballad “Sincerándome,” which is part of his recently released album of the same name. He was then joined by the great Ricardo Montaner to sing their new collab, “Yo No Fumo,” Montaner’s new single that is set to be released in March. “We wanted everyone to hear it now,” he told Billboard. “I’m full of excitement because I’m back to releasing new music.”
Another standout performance was Maluma and Marc Anthony‘s “La Formula,” which they performed for the first time on television. The Colombian crooner began his set offstage on a round table occupied by beautiful women, and he lit up a cigar while looking melancholic. Then salsa legend Anthony entered the scene, and the vibrant rhythm exploded into a dazzling tropical frenzy.
Of the many performances, which was your favorite of the night? Vote in the poll below:
Billboard compiled a list of things we observed at the 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro — whether on the magenta carpet, backstage at the media center or during the show — that were not aired on TV.
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Read on for what viewers at home didn’t get to see:
1. Yahritza y Su Esencia won their first-ever Premio Lo Nuestro award for Regional Mexican – Sierreña Song of the Year for their 2022 hit “Soy El Unico.” Backstage at the media center, an emotional Yahritza hugged her brother Jairo and shed tears of excitement. She said she never had faith in the song because she was only 13 years old when she wrote it, and finally, dedicated the award to her older brother Mando, who’s currently living in Mexico.
2. Before winning their award, Yahritza y Su Esencia shared some exciting news with Billboard on the magenta carpet. The Mexican-American siblings not only announced their plans to tour in 2023, but also revealed a collaboration with Grupo Frontera is in the works. “It’s going to make you dance,” Yahritza says.
3. When receiving the award for Regional Mexican – New Artist, Carin León surprised the press by singing an unreleased song. “A la semanas de iniciar con la aventura/ Se nos hizo miel la luna y un concierto pa’ tijuana/ Era prohibido, era imposible pero hicimos lo que se nos dio la gana,” the artist passionately sang.
4. After receiving the coveted Premio Lo Nuestro a la Trayectoria (Trajectory Award), Victor Manuelle headed to the press room, where he gushed over his first and newborn granddaughter, and said his award is dedicated to her. He then expressed he will display his trophy in her pink and flower-themed room.
5. Backstage, Grupo Firme, who was the evening’s biggest winner with six awards, surprised the press when lead singer Eduin Caz confirmed his separation from his wife and the mother of his kids. “I want to dedicate these awards, more than anything, to my wife, who’s been a real support in my life and she deserves them. I’m always going to love you,” the artist shared.
6. Prince Royce keeps all of his awards in his closet! When receiving the award for Tropical – Collaboration of the Year for his Maria Becerra-assisted “Te Espero,” the Dominican artist admitted to having all of his awards in his “very nice and very spacious closet.” Royce collected his 21st Premio Lo Nuestro Award at the ceremony.
7. Serenatas galore! Many artists stopped by the Billboard spot on the magenta carpet to not only talk about upcoming projects, but also sing for us! Artists such as Fuerza Regida, Gusi, Grupo Frontera, and La Adictiva, to name a few, sang some tunes.
The 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro — themed “El Mundo Es Lo Nuestro” (or The World Is Ours) — was co-hosted by Colombian pop star Sebastian Yatra, Mexican TV presenter and actress Alejandra Espinoza, Mexican superstar Paulina Rubio and Adrián Uribe of Univision’s late-night show De Noche Pero Sin Sueño. Grupo Firme was the night’s biggest winner with six awards, followed by other top winners such as Sebastian Yatra and Karol G.
Edgar Barrera spends an 18th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Songwriters chart (dated Feb. 25), and hits No. 1 on Latin Producers for the first time, thanks to six writing and production credits on the latest Hot Latin Songs survey.
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Dating to the charts’ launch in 2018, Barrera is just the fourth talent to top both Latin rankings simultaneously.
Tainy first achieved the feat in November 2020, and has since doubled up 24 times. Ovy on the Drums led both charts simultaneously for two consecutive weeks in May 2022 and MAG ruled both on three occasions last November and December.
Here’s a look at all of Barrera’s credits on this week’s Hot Latin Songs chart (he’s credited as both a songwriter and producer on each song):
Rank, Artist Billing, Title
No. 2, Fuerza Regida X Grupo Frontera, “Bebé Dame”
No. 3, Carin León X Grupo Frontera, “Que Vuelvas”
No. 8, Manuel Turizo, “La Bachata”
No. 16, Grupo Frontera X Grupo Marca Registrada, “Di Que Sí”
No. 32, Fuerza Regida X Grupo Frontera, “911 (En Vivo)”
No. 43, Maluma + Marc Anthony, “La Fórmula”
Barrera’s 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Latin Songwriters chart mark the third-most in the chart’s history, after only Bad Bunny (95) and Tainy (24).
The weekly Latin Songwriters and Latin Producers charts are based on total points accrued by a songwriter and producer, respectively, for each attributed song that appears on the Hot Latin Songs chart. As with Billboard’s yearly recaps, multiple writers or producers split points for each song equally (and the dividing of points will lead to occasional ties on rankings).
The full Latin Songwriters and Latin Producers charts, in addition to the full genre rankings, can be found on Billboard.com.