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For the first time in its more than six-decade history, the Viña del Mar International Song Festival will be livestreamed in the United States, exclusively on Billboard.com, Billboard’s YouTube channel and via Twitter @Billboard.
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This year’s fest, returning live after a two-year hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, features headliners Karol G, Alejandro Fernández, Christina Aguilera, Fito Páez, Tini and Camilo. Each artist headlines one night of the festival, beginning with Karol G on Feb. 19; Tini on Feb. 20; Alejandro Fernández on Feb. 21; Fito Páez on Feb. 22; Christina Aguilera Feb. 23; and ending with Camilo on Feb. 24.
As it has in the past, the six-day festival will take place at Quinta Vergara, a 15,000-capacity amphitheater located in the Chilean city of Viña del Mar, in the central coast region of Valparaíso. Each night features a comedy set, the international song competition contestants, and a performance by up-and-coming acts, which this year are Paloma Mami, Emilia, Rels B, Los Jaivas, Nicki Nicole and Polimá Westwood.
But the main attraction are the headlining superstars.
If you aren’t among those lucky 15,000 who were able to make it to Viña and score a ticket to the fest, never fear. You can catch the headlining performances every night at 7:30 ET (9:30 local Chile time), here on Billboard.com, on Billboard’s YouTube page and on Twitter.
To livestream Karol G’s performance on Sunday, Feb. 19, bookmark this page.
Find the full week’s schedule below.
Sunday, Feb. 19: Karol G
Monday, Feb. 20: Tini Stoessel
Tuesday, Feb. 21: Alejandro Fernández
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Fito Páez
Thursday, Feb. 23: Christina Aguilera
The 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro ceremony is nearly upon us, taking place Thursday, Feb. 23. While voting has already closed, we’re asking our readers to predict the winner for the all-important category: Who do you think should win the Premio Lo Nuestro artist of the year award?
It’s a tough category with strong contenders and no clear winner. The nominees are Ángela Aguilar, Bad Bunny, Becky G, Camilo, Christian Nodal, Grupo Firme, J Balvin, Karol G, Prince Royce and Sebastián Yatra.
Of course, Bad Bunny may seem like the obvious winner given all the momentum with his record-breaking, history-making album Un Verano Sin Ti. But the Puerto Rican artist also seemed like the clear winner for album of the year at the Latin Grammys, but it was Rosalía‘s MOTOMAMI that took the award. And, as a reminder, Premio Lo Nuestro are fan-voted awards, and most of the nominees have very loyal and zealous fans.
Yatra is also frontrunner. The Colombian pop star is the most nominated artist of the night with 10 nominations to the 35th edition of awards show. His nods include the coveted all-genre artist of the year, song of the year and album of the year categories. He is also nominated for tour of the year — which returned this year by popular demand, according to the organizers — and other pop categories. His PLN-nominated album Dharma (2022) peaked at No. 2 on Latin Pop Albums and No. 13 on Top Latin Albums.
Camilo, Karol G, Grupo Firme, Prince Royce and Ángela Aguilar all had a stellar 2022 with top-grossing tours. Meanwhile, Christian Nodal and Becky G released chart-topping sets that had both commercial success and critical acclaim. And J Balvin released epic collabs with artists such as Ryan Castro, Trueno and Ed Sheeran.
All are formidable contenders, but only one can win. Below, vote for who you think should take the top honor at Premio Lo Nuestro:
Carin León has released his own version of Johnny Cash’s “Man in Black,” available exclusively on Apple Music as part of the Nashville SC official playlist.
In the tribute song — which celebrates the launch of MLS Season Pass and the Nashville Soccer Club kit honoring the life and legacy of Cash — León delivers a soulful rendition of the country folk song originally released in 1971. It starts with León’s crispy, raspy vocals backed by warm guitar riffs and later transforms into a country fusion with Regional Mexican elements.
“Johnny Cash is an icon within country and American folk music, although his music continues to have a strong influence within music across all genres today,” the artist born Óscar Armando Díaz de León Huez said in a press statement. “It’s very important for me to be a part of this very meaningful project and we’re doing things with all of the respect that a figure as important as Mr. Johnny Cash deserves.”
Released over 50 years ago, “Man in Black” — which was a nickname given to Cash for the way he dressed — is a protest song he penned against how poor people were treated by wealthy politicians. “I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down/ Living in the hopeless, hungry side of town/ I wear it for the prisoner who is long paid for his crime/ But is there because he’s a victim of the times,” he chants in the lyrics.
“This song is a very personal thing, but it’s the way I feel about a lot of things,” Cash expressed when he performed the song for the first time.
Honoring his legacy, the “Man in Black” kit was inspired by The Backline Supporters Collective (the club’s fans) and created in collaboration with the Johnny Cash Estate, Sandbox Succession, and Wasserman Music. The kit will debut on February 25 on MLS Season Pass via the Apple TV app.
Listen to Carin León’s cover of “Man in Black” here.
Carin Leon
Courtesy of Apple Music
The 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro awards are just days away, with Sebastian Yatra leading the pack with 10 nominations.
The Colombian artist, who’s nominated for the all-genre artist of the year, is closely followed by other top nominees Bad Bunny, Camilo, Becky G, and Grupo Firme, who each have nine nods; Maluma, Daddy Yankee, and Ozuna with eight each; power couple Rauw Alejandro and Rosalía tie with seven, as well as Carin León, Karol G, Carlos Vives, and J Balvin.
In total, 192 artists across diverse musical backgrounds are nominated in 39 categories, but in addition to its well-deserving nominees, the awards show will also feature a star-studded lineup of performers.
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Maluma, Marc Anthony, Christian Nodal, Ivy Queen, Paulina Rubio and many more acts have been confirmed to take the stage on Thursday, Feb. 23.
This year’s theme is “El Mundo Es Lo Nuestro” (“The World Is Ours”), and the 35th annual award show will broadcast live on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. ET. It will be simulcast on Galavisión in the U.S. and Canal 5 in Mexico.
Here are all of this year’s performers, in alphabetical order:
Alan Estrada
Álvaro Diaz
Arthur Hanlon
Aymée Nuviola
Carin León
Carlos Rivera
Christian Nodal
El Alfa
Elena Rose
Fuerza Regida
Gente De Zona
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Gloria Trevi
Goyo
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Isabella Castillo
Ivy Queen
Jerry Rivera
La Adictiva
Lupita Infante
Maffio
Maluma
Marc Anthony
Mau y Ricky
Melendi
Noel Schajris
Norberto Vélez
Ozuna
Paulina Rubio
Pepe Aguilar
Prince Royce
Ricardo Montaner
Sebastián Yatra
Tiago PZK
Tini
Tito Nieves
Valentina
Getting the great Vicente Fernández to record a song with you wasn’t always easy. Just ask Ana Bárbara who for many years persisted until one day he agreed.
“I went on tour with him twice in the U.S. and during those shows, I’d go onstage to sing with him,” she tells Billboard. “But we had never actually recorded a song together, and I would always tell him that it was a dream of mine. After I insisted and insisted, he said ‘yes’ with a song I had just written, called ‘La Jugada.’ He was very particular in that aspect, so it had to be the right song.”
Seven years ago, the Mexican singer-songwriter was at Fernández’s ranch Los 3 Potrillos in Jalisco, Mexico when she personally played “La Jugada” for him. It was an instant yes but the actual recording of the track and then recording the music video was a “process.”
“These things take time, you know, and I din’t want to rush anything,” Bárbara adds. “When we finally recorded the song five years ago, it was magical. He was able to hear our recording before he passed and he was really happy with it.” They then filmed the music video three years ago — two years before the ranchera titan died in December 2021. “I can now say that I have a song with Don Vicente Fernández. It’s a dream come true.”
Bárbara — who is set to receive Icon Award at the 2023 BMI Latin Awards in March — first met the “El Rey” singer when she was just 12 years old. She vividly remembers watching him perform at a Palenque in Guanajuato, Mexico. “It was impactful,” she remembers. “It’s a moment that marked my life. That little girl dreamed of one day singing with him. He’s no longer with us, but our song will live forever. To know that we were able to unite our voices gives me peace.”
“La Jugada” is a romantic mariachi ballad where Bárbara and Fernández passionately sing lyrics about putting their guard down and opening themselves to love. Stream the song below:
TINI is more honest and vulnerable than ever with the release of her fourth studio album (and debut with Sony Music), Cupido.
“I think that at some point in my life, ‘Cupido’ as an album represents a moment in my life,” the Argentinian singer-songwriter and actress tells Billboard. “The closing of a great stage, of great moments that I lived, and it’s also a new beginning to my career.”
The 14-track set is packed with emotional and relatable lyrics penned by the artist alongside her team of songwriters and includes her signature urban pop rhythms fused with cumbia and electronic beats. It’s also home to a handful of previously-released tracks such as “Muñecas” (Dolls) with La Joaqui and Steve Aoki; “Mienteme” (Lie to me) with María Becerra; “La Loto” (The Lotto) with Anitta and Becky G; “Maldita Foto” (Damn Photo) with Manuel Turizo; and her viral hit “La Triple T,” to name a few.
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Beyond its musical component, Cupido serves as a personal introspection and encompasses the most profound feelings that TINI has gone through in recent years.
“Musically and personally, I would describe ‘Cupido,’ and the growth I’ve had over these past two years, as freedom,” she elaborates. When it came to choosing the songs for the album and the lyrics too, TINI notes she had a lot of creative freedom and could express herself however she pleased.
Below, TINI shares the significance of five essential tracks on Cuipido:
“CUPIDO”
“This song is the drop that spilled the cup. There’s a crash with my own self. It was very interesting to experience this at the time of writing my songs.”
“Muñecas”
“This song represents the importance that all my friends are to me, and it’s a way of motivating myself to love again.”
“Carne y Hueso”
“This is the only ballad on the album and a very special song. Although you may feel a lot of darkness and can’t find the way out, a new opportunity always appears, and that opportunity is to put yourself first again.”
“Miénteme”
“This song is very significant to the album. It’s about living in the present, something I was learning during these past years. Sometimes one generates a lot of expectations in love.”
“La Triple T”
“It’s about self-love and I wanted to close the album with a song that had my name. This song is for the people. They sing it as it if was their own. It’s very representative of my career and everything that’s been happening with the song is incredible.”
Zion y Lennox has released their first single of the year called “Desnúdate,” premiering exclusively on Billboard on Thursday (Feb. 16).
Steering away from their signature old-school reggaetón essence and catchy perreo sound, the Puerto Rican duo experiments with salsa music for the first time, at the helm of co-producers Sergio George and Motiff.
The duo sings about love and betrayal, but admitted that performing the urban-infused salsa track was quite challenging.
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“Without a doubt, this was one of the biggest challenges in our career but we were able to interpret it with love and compassion,” Zion tells Billboard of the tropical genre that they grew up listening to and respecting. “For us, it’s more than an honor to make this song in homage to all the salseros of Puerto Rico and around the world.”
To the hard-hitting rhythms of congas and trumpets, “Desnúdate” is about a girl who leads a man on and doesn’t want anything serious. “Oh no, oh no, you entangled me in your skin/you played with me […] get undressed, don’t tell me you care for me, you love me/ I knew you were like the rest that said they loved me but I do love you,” the pair laments.
“I am super excited about everything that is coming for the tropical genre, especially in salsa with these new sounds that I am experimenting with,” expressed Motiff. “‘Desnúdate’ is undoubtedly part of the seasoning to all the salsa that is coming this 2023!!”
Watch the official music video for “Desnúdate” below.
As Latin music continues to soar across the world in various facets of the industry — from breaking historic records on the global pop charts to setting new ones in music streaming — stateside festivals are also seeing a significant boom of Latin performers.
For instance, Coachella hosted more Latin acts than ever last year, which signaled a new era for the south-of-the-border genre. Anitta, Karol G, Ed Maverick and Grupo Firme were among the almost 20 Latin music performers who graced the global stage. “[Coachella] can no longer be exclusive to any genre, and it looks like they are now understanding the value of our music,” Sergio Lizárraga of Banda MS told Billboard.
Last year also saw the birth of several brand new Latin-focused festivals across the United States. Of the giants were Chicago’s Sueños y Más Flow, which highlights mainly urban music, and Los Angeles’ Bésame Mucho, with a nostalgic ’90s-era roster.
Just as American institutions are visibly beginning to embrace more sonic entertainment coming from Latin America and Spain, those regions continue to host thriving music festivals of their own, thus elevating their own game.
This year sees the return of many iconic brands, such as the Latin rock-centric Vive Latino and the Norteño pride festivity Tecate Pa’l Norte in Mexico. The Lollapalooza franchise, originally from Chicago, also continues to reach various corners of the world with installments in Argentina, Chile and Brazil. London indie fest La Línea also returns to showcase Latin music exclusively.
While this might not be a complete list of some of the most compelling Ibero American and Latin music-centric festival listings around the globe, it should be a great starting point. See our list below, arranged in sequential order.
Daniel Mora has been appointed managing director of Warner Music Andes, where he will oversee the company’s operations in Colombia and Peru, and will report to president of Warner Music Latin America, Alejandro Duque, the company announced. Mora replaces Maria Montejo who left the company earlier this month.
Mora first joined Warner Chappell Music in 2013 as an A&R/Sync consultant at the Colombian office and was later promoted to managing director of WCM Colombia in 2019.
“After spending so many enjoyable years at Warner Chappell Music, I’m pleased to be staying within the WMG family and stepping into this role on the Recorded Music side,” he said in a press statement. “Latin music is in my blood, and I’m delighted to see how it’s currently growing and connecting with people around the world. There are so many great opportunities for our artists to become global stars and I’m looking forward to helping them achieve their dreams. I’d like to thank Alejandro for this new opportunity, and Gustavo Menendez, Guy Moot, and Carianne Marshall for all their support during my time at Warner Chappell Music.”
In addition to his experience as an industry executive, Mora is also an artist and entrepreneur. He previously toured Latin America as part of the tropipop band, Bonka, which made waves with their debut single “El Problemón” (2006) and freshman studio album Lo Que Nunca Nos Contamos; and launched his own audiovisual company in Bogotá, producing films and commercials for brands such as Chevrolet and Adidas, to name a few.
“Daniel is a brilliant exec who has experience of being on both sides of the fence – first as an artist and now as a leading industry figure,” Duque added. “His understanding of both perspectives makes him the perfect fit for Warner Music and our artist-first philosophy. His appointment will enable us to work even closer with our partners at Warner Chappell Music and will open up more opportunities for collaboration. Latin music is exploding around the world and I’m excited to see how Daniel can further propel our Colombian and Peruvian artists internationally.”
BMI announced on Wednesday (Feb. 15) that Mexican singer-songwriter Ana Bárbara will be honored with the Icon Award at the 30th Annual BMI Latin Awards.
Set to take place March 21 in Los Angeles, the grupero artist will become the the first regional Mexican women songwriter to receive this award, “recognizing her exceptional talent and outstanding contributions to the Latin music community since the beginning of her career nearly 30 years ago,” according to a press release. The private event will be hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice president, creative, Latin, Jesus Gonzalez.
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“As an iconic female Regional Mexican artist, whose body of work continues to be an indomitable inspiration for the creative community, we’re thrilled to name Ana Bárbara a BMI Icon,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “Dubbed as La Reina Grupera, she has forged a career that spans decades. Her artistic achievements have paved the way for the next generation of female songwriters in the genre and earned the respect of the industry at large as one of the most groundbreaking songwriters of all time. For that, we salute Ana as a true icon and look forward to celebrating all our top music creators behind some of today’s most-performed Latin songs.”
The “Bandido” singer joins an elite group of artists who have received BMI’s highest honor including Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Juan Luis Guerra, Los Tigres Del Norte and Los Lobos, among others. Throughout her 30-year career — which she kicked off in the early ’90s with her self-titled debut album in 1994 — Ana Bárbara has a total of 16 entries on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs, four of those are top 10 hits including “La Trampa” and “Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta.” On the Regional Mexican Airplay tally, she’s entered 21 songs, five of which hit the top 10.
During the event, BMI will also recognize the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the U.S. The BMI regional Mexican song, songwriter, BMI contemporary Latin song, songwriter and BMI contemporary Latin and regional Mexican publisher of the year will also be named during the ceremony.