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Maluma and Marc Anthony joined forces for a riveting performance of “La Fórluma” at Thursday’s (Feb. 23) Premio Lo Nuestro.
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 Marc Antony entered the scene, and the vibrant rhythm exploded into a dazzling tropical frenzy. “No hay una fórmula para olvidar tus besos,” he wailed. “There is no formula to forget your kisses.”
Maluma wore a snazzy red corduroy suit and matching red-tinted glasses, while Anthony dressed in a gray buttoned-up blazer, black jeans and dark shades.
The pair were clearly having a blast, dancing, backed by their horn-powered salsa ensemble who further enlivened the crowd. “Comenzó la rumba, mamasita,” the singers declared, “The rumba just began.”
Produced by the two singers, as well as Edgar Barrera, Rude Boyz and Sergio George, the duet chronicles how no formula exists for securing love and devotion with a certain someone — but there’s always hope.
Just moments prior, Anthony won the award for album of the year — tropical for Pa’llá Voy. “I want to acknowledge all my colleagues from the bottom of my heart, each one of you inspires me — Tito, Victor, Puerto Rico!” he said in his acceptance speech. “In a room full of dreamers, we gave our lives to this craft, and after 30 years I stand here, and it was all worth a damn.”
The 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro, which is themed “El Mundo Es Lo Nuestro” (or The World Is Ours), is 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.
Yatra tops this year’s nominations with 10 nods including the all-genre artist of the year category. He’s 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 within 39 categories.
The nominations for the fan-voted Premio Lo Nuestro are based on Uforia radio airplay during the eligibility period of Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022. Streaming counts and the assessment of a committee of music and entertainment experts also factor in this list.
Looking like a total goddess in gold, Ivy Queen gave a reggaeton master class at Thursday’s (Feb. 23) Premio Lo Nuestro. Ivy Queen performed a medley of her biggest hits, including “Te He Querido Te He Llorado,” “Que Lloren” and “Quiero Bailar,” surrounded by a troupe of women and men dancers.
Following her performance, Ivy Queen received the special Premio Lo Nuestro Legado Musical, making history as the first woman to get that honor.
“Thank you so much,” she said, visibly emotional. “I know what it is to get up without strength. I know what it is to hear someone tell you no, or that a type of music isn’t for you because you have ovaries. But I also heard a voice that told me, ‘don’t give up, Caballota.’ I celebrate this award with those that know me, that make me visible. And like Celia Cruz, an artist that’s inspired me, once said, as long as I breathe and aspire, I take on the role to elevate women with elegance. This is to all women who are filled with courage when they hear my music.”
The 2023 Premio Lo Nuestro, which is themed “El Mundo Es Lo Nuestro” (or The World Is Ours), is co-hosted by Colombian pop star Sebastián 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.
Yatra tops this year’s nominations with 10 nods including the all-genre artist of the year category. He’s 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 within 39 categories.
The nominations for the fan-voted Premio Lo Nuestro are based on Uforia radio airplay during the eligibility period of Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022. Streaming counts and the assessment of a committee of music and entertainment experts also factor in this list.
With the rising new crop of urbano upstarts making waves across the Americas and beyond, one of the most exciting billings at Thursday’s Premio Lo Nuestro was Tiago PZK, Elena Rose and Alvaro Díaz. Each member — representing a distinct scene from across the Spanish-speaking continent — definitely delivered.
Donning a deep purple iridescent suit, Argentine trap star Tiago PZK was as vulnerable as ever with his confessional ballad “Bemaste.” He performed against a sunset backdrop that showed his silhouette, wearing sunglasses, and tenderly sang to the crowd, making it feel extraordinarily intimate. The song’s stripped-down keys and lo-fi production set the stage for honest lyricism as he candidly articulated what finding love and devotion can feel like, while navigating the all-consuming vortex of fame.
“I consider this song the first work of art of my career, conceptually and audio-visually, from the bottom of my heart,” Tiago PZK previously told Billboard Español in an email. “I don’t have any expectations, because before I have one, I’m simply fulfilled to have created this song and what it means to me. Do not put barriers to love.”
Elena Rose, who wore a silky pearlesque dress, sang “Bayamón,” which features an interpolation of Sister Nancy’s classic reggae song “Bam Bam”; she appeared amid a troupe of female dancers. Although an emerging artist herself, Elena Rose has been a creative force behind many a Latin pop hit. One of her most recent co-songwriting credits is “Por el Resto de Tu Vida,” the dazzling bolero-trap ballad performed by Christian Nodal and Tini.
Alvaro Díaz, dressed in black leather, also exhilarated, delivering his latest fashion-forward reggaeton cut “1000Canciones.”
The 35th annual Premio Lo Nuestro, which is themed “El Mundo Es Lo Nuestro” (or The World is Ours), is 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.
Yatra tops this year’s nominations with 10 nods including the all-genre artist of the year category. He’s 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 within 39 categories.
The nominations for the fan-voted Premio Lo Nuestro are based on Uforia radio airplay during the eligibility period of Oct. 1, 2021 through Sept. 30, 2022. Streaming counts and the assessment of a committee of music and entertainment experts also factor in this list.
Sebastián Yatra tops the Premio Lo Nuestro nominations with 10 nods, including the all-genre artist of the year category. He’s 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 within 39 categories.
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See latest videos, charts and news
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The nominations are fan-voted and based on Uforia radio airplay during the eligibility period of Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022. Streaming and the assessment of a committee of music and entertainment experts also factor in this list. The 35th annual awards show is broadcasting live via Univision and simulcasting on Galavisión in the U.S. and Canal 5 in Mexico.
See all of Thursday’s biggest winners below (updating list):
Urban – Album of the YearEnvolver – AnittaEsquemas – Becky GLa Última Misión – Wisin y YandelLas Leyendas Nunca Mueren – Anuel AALegendaddy – Daddy YankeeLyke Mike – Myke TowersMotomami – RosalíaSauce Boyz 2 – Eladio CarriónThe Love & Sex Tape – MalumaUn Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny — WINNER
Tour of the YearDe Adentro Pa Afuera World Tour – CamiloDe Iztapalapa Para El Mundo Tour – Los Ángeles AzulesDharma World Tour – Sebastián YatraEl Último Tour del Mundo & World’s Hottest Tour – Bad BunnyEnfiestados Y Amanecidos Tour – Grupo FirmeLa Última Misión World Tour – Wisin Y Yandel La Última Vuelta World Tour – Daddy Yankee — WINNERMotomami World Tour – RosalíaPapi Juancho World Tour – Maluma$trip Love Tour – Karol G
Regional Mexican – Norteño Song of the Year“Chale” – Eden Muñoz — WINNER“Gato de Madrugada” – Joss Favela“Míranos Ahora” – Calibre 50“No” – Alfredo Olivas“No Paras de Hacerme Feliz” – La Fiera de Ojinaga“Si Me Duele Que Duela” – Intocable
Pop – Song of the Year“Como Tú Decías” – Tommy Torres“DPM (De P*ta Madre)” – Kany García“Espacio En Tu Corazón” – Enrique Iglesias“Pedir Perdón” – Ednita Nazario“Pegao” – Camilo“Tacones Rojos” – Sebastián Yatra — WINNER“Te Amo Y Punto” – Chayanne “Volver a Casa” – Pedro Capó“Yo Soy” – Paulina Rubio
Pop – Collaboration of the Year“A Veces Bien Y A Veces Mal” – Ricky Martin & Reik“Contigo” – Sebastián Yatra & Pablo Alborán“Estar Enamorado” – Carlos Rivera & Raphael“Índigo” – Camilo & Evaluna Montaner“Intenciones” – Mario Puglia & Renee“Muero” – Kany García & Alejandro Sanz“Si Pudiera” – Vanesa Martín & Jesse & Joy“Te Felicito” – Shakira & Rauw Alejandro — WINNER“Vacaciones” – Luis Fonsi & Manuel Turizo“Wow BB” – Natti Natasha, El Alfa & Chimbala
Tropical – Album of the YearCumbiana II – Carlos VivesDe Menor A Mayor – Gente de ZonaDe Trulla Con El Combo – El Gran Combo de Puerto RicoDebut T Segunda Tanda, Vol. 1 – Gilberto Santa RosaLado A Lado B – Víctor ManuelleLuis Figueroa – Luis FigueroaMi Muchachita – Elvis MartinezPa’lla Voy – Marc Anthony — WINNERResistirá – Milly QuezadaTañón Pal’ Combo Es Lo Que Hay – Olga Tañón
“Crossover” Collaboration of the Year“La Fama” – Rosalía & The Weeknd — WINNER “Nostálgico” – Rvssian, Rauw Alejandro & Chris Brown“SG” – DJ Snake, Ozuna, Megan Thee Stallion & Lisa“Sigue” – J Balvin & Ed Sheeran“Sin Fin” – Romeo Santos & Justin Timberlake
Tropical – Artist of the YearCarlos Vives Gente de Zona Gilberto Santa RosaJuan Luis GuerraLuis FigueroaMarc AnthonyOlga TañónPrince RoyceRomeo Santos — WINNERVíctor Manuelle
Regional Mexican – Mariachi/Ranchera Song of the Year“Ahí Donde Me Ven” – Ángela Aguilar“Amor Ilegal” – Majo Aguilar“Con Un Botecito A Pecho” – Adriel Favela & Carin León“Me Hace Tanto Bien” – Yuridia & Eden Muñoz“Triste” – Chayín Rubio“Ya No Somos Ni Seremos” – Christian Nodal — WINNER
Pop – Group or Duo of the YearCNCO — WINNERHa*AshJesse & JoyManáMatisseMau y RickyMoratPiso 21ReikSin Bandera
Pop – Album of the Year777 – Piso 21Clichés – Jesse & JoyDe Adentro Pa Afuera – CamiloDharma – Sebastián Yatra — WINNEREl Amor Que Merecemos – Kany GarcíaIsla Divina – Gloria TreviLey de Gravedad – Luis FonsiLeyendas (Edición de Lujo) – Carlos RiveraPlay – Ricky Martin XOXO – CNCO
Tropical – Song of the Year“La Cantante (Salsa)” – Yahaira Plasencia ft. Ator Untela“Lao’ a Lao’” – Prince Royce“Mala” – Marc Anthony“Sus Huellas” – Romeo Santos — WINNER“Todavía Te Espero” – Luis Figueroa
Premio Lo Nuestro Artist of the Year Ángela AguilarBad BunnyBecky GCamilo Christian NodalGrupo Firme J BalvinKarol GPrince RoyceSebastián Yatra
Song of the Year“Ahí Donde Me Ven” – Ángela Aguilar“Cada Quien” – Grupo Firme & Maluma“Como Lo Hice Yo” – Matisse & Carin León“Envolver” – Anitta“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G“Medallo” – Blessd, Justin Quiles & Lenny Tavares“Moscow Mule” – Bad Bunny“Sus Huellas” – Romeo Santos“Tacones Rojos” – Sebastián Yatra“Una Nota” – J Balvin & Sech
Album of the YearCumbiana II – Carlos VivesDe Adentro Pa Afuera – Camilo Dharma – Sebastián YatraEsquemas – Becky GForajido EP1 – Christian NodalLegendaddy – Daddy YankeeMe Siento A Todo Dar – Banda Los RecoditosMotomami – RosalíaPa’lla Voy – Marc AnthonyUn Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
Remix of the Year“Entre Nosotros (Remix)” – Tiago PZK, Lit Killah, María Becerra & Nicki Nicole“Envolver (Remix)” – Anitta & Justin Quiles“Gracias (Remix)” – Pedro Capó & Farruko “La Ducha (Remix)” – Elena Rose, María Becerra, Greeicy, Becky G & TINI“Sal y Perrea (Remix)” – Sech, Daddy Yankee & J Balvin
New Artist MaleBizarrapHumbreLassoLit KillahMaldyMario PugliaMoraQuevedoRyan CastroTrueno
New Artist Female Bad GyalCorina SmithElsa y ElmarKim LoaizaLa GabiLas VillaLola IndigoTokischaVillano AntillanoYoung Miko
Regional Mexican – New ArtistAldo Trujillo Carin LeónDannyLuxGera MXIvan CornejoJunior HLos Del LimitLuis R ConriquezUziel PayanYahritza y Su Esencia
The Perfect Mix of the Year“Cada Quien” – Grupo Firme & Maluma“Cumbia Del Corazón” – Los Ángeles Azules & Carlos Vives“Ella Qué Te Dio” – Ángela Aguilar & Jesse & Joy“El Pañuelo” – Romeos Santos & Rosalía “Llorar y Llorar” – Mau Y Ricky & Carin León“Loquita” – Reik & Rauw Alejandro“Mariposa Traicionera” – Maná & Alejandro Fernández“Oh Na Na” – Camila Cabello, Myke Towers & Tainy“Santo” – Christina Aguilera & Ozuna“Te Espero” – Prince Royce & María Becerra
DJ of the YearAgudelo 888BizarrapCaleb CallowayDímelo FlowDJ BashDJ PopeDJ Tao DJ TornallFer PalacioPablito Pesadilla
Pop – Male Artist of the YearCamiloCarlos RiveraChayanneEnrique IglesiasLuis FonsiMalumaPedro CapóRicky MartinSebastián YatraTommy Torres
Pop – Female Artist of the YearCamila CabelloChristina Aguilera Ednita NazarioGloria TreviKany GarcíaLaura PausiniPaulina RubioShakiraSofía Reyes Yuri
Pop-Urban – Song of the Year“Buenos Días” – Wisin, Camilo & Los Legendarios“Envolver” – Anitta“Experimento” – Myke Towers“Fiesta” – Farina & Ryan Castro“La Funka” – Ozuna“Mama Tetema” – Maluma ft. Raywanny“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G“Te Felicito” – Shakira & Rauw Alejandro “Toa La Noche” – CNCO“TV” – Sebastián Yatra
Pop-Urban/Dance – Song of the Year“Baila Así” – Play-N-Skillz, Thalía, Becky G & Chiquis“Bailé Con Mi Ex” – Becky G“Bendecido” – El Alfa & Farina“Berlin” – Zion & Lennox & María Becerra“Despechá” – Rosalía“El Incomprendido” – Farruko, Víctor Cárdenas & DJ Adoni“El Teke Teke” – Carlos Vives, Black Eyed Peas & Play-N-Skillz“Hot” – Daddy Yankee & Pitbull“Mujeriego” – Ryan Castro“Quevedo: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 52” – Bizarrap & Quevedo
Pop/Ballad – Song of the Year“A Veces Bien Y A Veces Mal” – Ricky Martin & Reik“Ahora Sé” – Sin Bandera“Caja” – Laura Pausini“Contigo” – Sebastián Yatra & Pablo Alborán“El Día Que Me Quieras” – Ricardo Montaner“Ensayando Cómo Pedirte Perdón” – Gloria Trevi“Estar Enamorado” – Carlos Rivera & Raphael“Muero” – Kany García & Alejandro Sanz“Nuestra Balada” – Luis Fonsi“Respira” – Jesse & Joy
Urban – Male Artist of the YearBad Bunny Daddy YankeeDon OmarFarrukoJ BalvinJhaycoNicky JamOzunaRauw Alejandro Wisin
Urban – Female Artist of the YearAnittaBecky GElena RoseFarinaKarol GMaría BecerraNatti NatashaNicky NicoleRosalíaTokischa
Urban – Song of the Year“Deprimida” – Ozuna“Desesperados” – Rauw Alejandro & Chencho Corleone“Dos Tragos” – Jay Wheeler“Envolver” – Anitta“Moscow Mule” – Bad Bunny “Nivel De Perreo” – J Balvin & Ryan Castro“Ojos Rojos” – Nicky Jam“Provenza” – Karol G“Remix” – Daddy Yankee“Sensual Bebé” – Jhayco
Urban – Collaboration of the Year“Bendecido” – El Alfa & Farina“Emojis de Corazones” – Wisin, Jhayco, Ozuna & Los Legendarios“Friki” – Feid & Karol G“Lo Siento BB:/” – Tainy, Bad Bunny & Julieta Venegas“Mayor Que Usted” – Natti Natasha, Daddy Yankee & Wisin y Yandel“Medallo” – Blessd, Justin Quiles & Lenny Tavárez“Me Porto Bonito” – Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone“Nos Comemos” – Tiago PZK & Ozuna“Problemón” – Álvaro Díaz & Rauw Alejandro“Una Nota” – J Balvin & Sech
Tropical – Collaboration of the Year“Baloncito Viejo” – Carlos Vives & Camilo“El Negrito” – Gente de Zona & Carlos Vives“Señor Juez” – Ozuna & Anthony Santos“Si Yo Estoy Loco” – SanLuis & Fonseca“Te Espero” – Prince Royce & María Becerra“Vamo’ A Ver Si El Gas Pela” – Víctor Manuelle, Miky Woodz & Marvin Santiago
Regional Mexican – Male Artist of the YearAdriel FavelaAlfredo OlivasCarin LeónChristian NodalEden MuñozEl FantasmaGerardo OrtizJoss FavelaLenin RamírezPepe Aguilar
Regional Mexican – Female Artist of the YearAída CuevasAna BárbaraÁngela Aguilar Carolina RossChiquisFlor de ToloacheLas MaríasLupita InfanteMajo AguilarYuridia
Regional Mexican – Song of the Year“Ahí Donde Me Ven” – Ángela Aguilar“Cómo Te Olvido” – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho“Esta Vida Es Muy Bonita” – Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga“Mis Problemas” – Chiquis“No Paras De Hacerme Feliz” – La Fiera de Ojinaga“Ojos Cerrados” – Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga & Carin León“Otra Noche” – Los Ángeles Azules & Nicki Nicole“Ya No Somos Ni Seremos” – Christian Nodal“Ya Solo Eres Mi Ex” – La Adictiva“Ya Supérame (En Vivo)” – Grupo Firme
Regional Mexican – Collaboration of the Year“Amores Van y Vienen” – La Nueva Estrategia & La Maquinaria Norteña“Con Un Botecito A Pecho” – Adriel Favela & Carin León“En Tu Perra Vida” – Grupo Firme & Lenin Ramírez“La Sinvergüenza” – Christian Nodal & Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga“Tus Desprecios” – Pepe Aguilar & El Fantasma
Regional Mexican – Grupo o Duo of the YearBanda Los RecoditosBanda Los SebastianesBanda MS de Sergio LizárragaEdwin Luna y La Trakalosa de MonterreyGrupo FirmeLa AdictivaLa Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho La Fiera de OjinagaLos Ángeles AzulesYahritza y Su Esencia
Regional Mexican – Banda Song of the Year“Cada Quien” – Grupo Firme & Maluma“Cómo Te Olvido” – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho“Esta Vida Es Muy Bonita” – Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga“Quiero Amanecer Con Alguien” – Chiquis“Ya Solo Eres Mi Ex” – La Adictiva
Regional Mexican – Sierreña Song of the Year“Como Antes” – Nathan Galante“Descansando” – Fuerza Regida “Híbrido” – Virlán García“Soy El Único” – Yahritza y Su Esencia “Un Día Menos” – Grupo Los de Chiwas
Regional Mexican – Album of the YearA La Medida – Pepe Aguilar Abeja Reina – ChiquisAclarando La Mente – Joss FavelaEnfiestados Y Amanecidos – Grupo FirmeEsta Vida Es Muy Bonita – Banda El Recodo de Cruz LizárragaForajido EP1 – Christian NodalJalas O No Jalas (Edición Deluxe) – La Fiera de OjinagaMe Siento A Todo Dar – Banda Los RecoditosPrefiero Estar Contigo – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho
In a new collaborative effort with Miller Lite, J Balvin wants to give back and pave the way for Latino-owned businesses via the “J Balvin’s Tab” program.
Teaming up with Accion Opportunity Fund — “a financial support system for small businesses that advance racial, gender, and economic justice for all,” according to its website — a limited-edition pint inspired by Balvin’s vibrant brand has been designed for nine and 15-packs. A portion of the proceeds from every purchase, up to $150,000, will be donated to AOF by Miller Lite and will fund nearly 50 Latino business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
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Additionally, Miller Lite will be giving away up to 10,000 beers per week between March 1st and April 30th, and fans will have a chance to win exclusive J Balvin signed merch by visiting www.millerlite.com/jbalvin.
Below, the Colombian artist tells Billboard more about the initiative.
It’s not the first time you have teamed up with Miller Lite. Tell us about your new initiative and purpose behind “J Balvin’s Tab.”
We are back together, Miller Lite and J Balvin, to always support our Latino community with their small businesses and their entrepreneurial visions. We want to help entrepreneurs learn how to elevate their businesses and guide them on where they should be. And also help them financially so that they can make the right investments and grow. When I was starting my career, I had no one to tell me where to go. Since I didn’t have that, I had to learn on my own, and now I want to help others so that they have an easier path.
On the limited-edition bottle, we see some of your signature elements, such as the lightning bolt, the happy faces, and the colors: Why are these images so representative of your brand?
All of that is really genuine to what I’ve always wanted to show. It’s not like I wanted to design a lightning bolt or a smiley face just because. When I got to the [music] business I wanted to change the perspective that I was bad or malicious. Obviously coming from Colombia, with such a dark past, I wanted to raise joy, and that’s where the smileys come from. It became like a trademark. They [the designs] always appear in my collaborations, in my shows, in this campaign, and in everything that has to be related to J Balvin. It is a very powerful brand.
Courtesy of Miller Lite
Courtesy of Miller Lite
Now that you’re encouraging Latino business owners with this campaign, what has been the best business advice you’ve ever received?
There are many, but one of the best ones that I have been very close to is really looking for a career that you are passionate about and that you really enjoy. Many times people work to make money and they focus more on making money than on what they really love. I say follow your dreams because sooner or later you will see the results.
On that note, what type of business would you like to start that’s not related to music?
We are on the same page because I love fashion and it has always been one of my passions, just like music and architecture, so I would like to do a fashion project that has a global impact on all Latinos.
Now, if you can share a couple of beers with two colleagues and talk about business, which artists would it be with?
Wow! That was good! I know I would work with Anitta, I know she’s a great person, and I know she’s focused. And, wow, not everyone is focused on business, you know? It is still very respectable. I would say with Maluma too, he’s also a very entrepreneurial man.
Ivy Queen arrives in full color-coordinated regalia — a form-fitting, floor-length dress in lemon hues that match her long, yellow-tipped acrylic nails and the curly, beach blonde locks that reach her waist. Standing still and ramrod straight, her eyes surveying the room from under impossibly long lashes, she has the bearing of, well, a queen.
It’s a far cry from nearly 25 years ago, when Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez, then 25, walked into the San Juan, Puerto Rico, studios of The Noise, the all-male rap collective formed by the pioneering DJ Negro, who sized her up: a country bumpkin from the island’s west side, her tiny frame dwarfed by oversized jeans and a T-shirt, hair tied in “500 braids,” lips painted blue, nails like talons.
“What’s your name?” he asked. “Ivy Queen,” she replied, without hesitation. “I have a song called ‘Somos Raperos, Pero no Delincuentes’ [‘We Are Rappers, Not Delinquents’].” Overcome by shyness, she then flipped the mic around and rapped, facing the wall. But even with her back to him, DJ Negro was impressed. “Welcome to The Noise,” he said. “You know we don’t have girls here, right? You’re the first one.”
It was 1995, a time when the Puerto Rican airwaves were dominated by glamorous, big-voiced pop divas like Ednita Nazario and Yolandita Monge, and when reggaetón and rap were still underground movements dominated by men.
“When I started in this music industry, I didn’t look like I look right now,” says Ivy Queen, noting she was relentlessly criticized for her deep voice, her fashion choices and her staunch refusal to exploit her sexuality.
Read Ivy Queen’s full Billboard Women in Music profile here.
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Image Credit: Austin Hargrave
Ivy Queen arrives in full color-coordinated regalia — a form-fitting, floor-length dress in lemon hues that match her long, yellow-tipped acrylic nails and the curly, beach blonde locks that reach her waist. Standing still and ramrod straight, her eyes surveying the room from under impossibly long lashes, she has the bearing of, well, a queen.
It’s a far cry from nearly 25 years ago, when Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez, then 25, walked into the San Juan, Puerto Rico, studios of The Noise, the all-male rap collective formed by the pioneering DJ Negro, who sized her up: a country bumpkin from the island’s west side, her tiny frame dwarfed by oversized jeans and a T-shirt, hair tied in “500 braids,” lips painted blue, nails like talons.
“What’s your name?” he asked. “Ivy Queen,” she replied, without hesitation. “I have a song called ‘Somos Raperos, Pero no Delincuentes’ [‘We Are Rappers, Not Delinquents’].” Overcome by shyness, she then flipped the mic around and rapped, facing the wall. But even with her back to him, DJ Negro was impressed. “Welcome to The Noise,” he said. “You know we don’t have girls here, right? You’re the first one.”
Ivy Queen photographed January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Austin Hargrave
It was 1995, a time when the Puerto Rican airwaves were dominated by glamorous, big-voiced pop divas like Ednita Nazario and Yolandita Monge, and when reggaetón and rap were still underground movements dominated by men.
“When I started in this music industry, I didn’t look like I look right now,” says Ivy Queen, noting she was relentlessly criticized for her deep voice, her fashion choices and her staunch refusal to exploit her sexuality.
“Today it’s all about the look, but for me it was all about the music and about what I [could] bring,” she says. “How to be unique and not have a similarity to anyone else. I needed to learn how to fight with words.”
And sure, Ivy could rap, but writing was her secret weapon. “I used to go to a lot of freestyle competitions and study everything around me — the male behavior and how they went at each other with lyrics,” she remembers, “and that’s how I protected myself. I won my own spot. No one gave it to me. I’m notorious because I stomped on the guys.”
Ivy Queen photographed January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Austin Hargrave
It took her nearly a decade, but in December 2003 she entered the Billboard charts for the first time with “Quiero Bailar,” then gained notoriety the following year as one of the 12 essential reggaetón artists, and the only woman, featured on Eddie Dee’s “Los Discípulos” (“The Disciples,” off his 12 Discípulos), where the likes of Vico C, Tego Calderón, Voltio and Daddy Yankee jockeyed for dominance.
Ivy Queen’s lines, written on the spot — “Quítate tu que llegó la caballota, la perra, la diva, la potra, la mami que tiene el tumbao” (“Get out of the way for the caballota, the b–ch, the diva, the mare, the mami with the swagger”) — and later her 2005 Latin Grammys performance of the song as the only woman among the men confirmed her entry into the top echelon of reggaetón.
“The first time I felt empowered in my life was when I learned and sang her verse from ‘Los Discípulos,’ ” says Elena Rose, who has co-written tracks for Rosalía, Bad Bunny and Becky G. “Ivy is the queen, and we have much to thank her for; for all the doors that were shut to her and she broke down for Latinas in urban music.”
In September 2005, “Quiero Bailar” peaked at No. 16 on the Tropical Airplay chart and debuted on Hot Latin Songs and Latin Airplay. Its chorus, describing how arousal and flirtation do not translate to consent, defined Ivy Queen’s ethos and personality, while also changing how women in reggaetón and beyond were perceived.
Ivy Queen photographed January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Austin Hargrave
“In the history of reggaetón, we have to talk about a ‘before and after’ Ivy Queen,” says Puerto Rican attorney Edwin Prado, who has worked with virtually every major reggaetón artist, from Daddy Yankee to Anuel. “Before her, female artists sang poppy tunes focused on erotic dances and physical attributes. After Ivy, the musical conversation changed. Her songs spoke about the reality of the streets, and when she spoke about romance, it wasn’t about exploiting her looks.”
Back then, Ivy Queen didn’t have other women to collaborate with — and few men extended a helping hand. Still, she landed 11 solo entries on Billboard’s Latin Rhythm Albums chart, including eight top 10s and two No. 1s, over the next decade. On Latin Rhythm Airplay, she has 20 entries — the third-most among women, behind Natti Natasha (25) and Karol G (24), both next-gen stars who benefited from the doors she opened. And while she hasn’t cracked the top 10 since 2010, with her chart-topping smash “La Vida Es Así,” the queen, at 50, has endured. Most recently, she hosted Loud, a Spotify podcast on the history of reggaetón. On Feb. 23, she was honored at Univision’s Premios Lo Nuestro with the legacy award in urban music. And in addition to new music, this year’s Icon is working on a memoir, a makeup line and a film based on her life.
Ironically, many of the trademarks the press and even Ivy’s fellow artists once criticized her for — her multicolored braids, the long nails, the deep voice — are now de rigueur among younger urban female artists. But her messages of empowerment, she feels, often get lost.
“Many women think empowerment today is saying, ‘Give it to me here, give it to me there,’ ” she says ruefully. “That the more clothes you take off, the more controversial you are. Empowerment is more than that. You earn your own money; you earn your own spot. I try to maintain my essence, of what reggaetón was, and what reggaetón is. I don’t want to be a puppet.”
Ivy Queen photographed January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Austin Hargrave
Staying true to those core values, adds her manager, Sonia Clavell — the rare female manager in reggaetón — has sometimes meant saying no to opportunities along the way.
“Ivy isn’t swayed by trends or money. Everything has to align with her values and her message,” says Clavell, who adds that she has seen a rise in interest in Ivy Queen since they began working together two years ago.
Notably, Bad Bunny, a fan and admirer, featured her on the remix of his hit “Yo Perreo Sola” (“I Dance Alone”), which he told Billboard that he wrote “as an homage to women and a nod of respect to women in general and to Ivy Queen specifically.”
“He has given me a space that not even the gentlemen I started my career with ever did,” says Ivy Queen, who made guest appearances multiple times on Bad Bunny’s World’s Hottest Tour last year. “To have this young kid, who sings what he wants, does what he wants, give me my place and my honors while I’m alive is huge for me.”
Ivy Queen photographed January 20, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Austin Hargrave
And while some of her reggaetón contemporaries have retired from music or announced plans to do so, Ivy Queen plans to continue getting her due.
“I’m a great writer, I’m a great rapper, I’m a great lyricist, I’m a great chef. I’m great at everything that I do,” she says, matter of factly. “Come on. We have to normalize loving ourselves and praising ourselves. I’ve never thought of retiring. I’m healthy, I’m rolling.”
This story will appear in the Feb. 25, 2023, issue of Billboard.
When the 35th edition of Premio Lo Nuestro airs tonight (Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET) on the Univision network, some 1,300 people will be working under the baton of Ulises Chang, the network’s vp and executive producer for Live Event Tentpoles.
In the Univision-verse, the role includes purview over the network’s four music award shows: Premio Lo Nuestro, Premios Juventud, Latin Grammys and its most recent addition, the Latin AMAS. Among them, Lo Nuestro is not only the network’s highest-rated, but, according to Nielsen, it’s also been the “No. 1 program on all of television for the third consecutive year among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34,” with over six million viewers tuning in last year.
On set at the Miami-Dade arena, Chang is, as ever, preternaturally calm. He’s had this position since 2017, and if the tumult caused by four hosts, 21 musical numbers and nearly 30 artists (not to mention dancers and musicians) fazes him, he doesn’t let it show.
“Ulises has played an instrumental role in shaping the success of our live events and tentpoles. His passion and unwavering commitment to excellence are a reference in the industry,” says Ignacio Meyer, president of the Univision Television Networks Group.
Between rehearsals by the likes of Maluma, Ozuna, Ricardo Montaner, Ivy Queen, Sebastian Yatra, Grupo Firme and Tini, we managed to ask Chang five questions about tonight’s show:
1. How is this year’s show different from other years?
Every year is a challenge. Balancing budgets, venue, timing, artist relations, the amount of artists that are out there now. This show has such a long history and such prestige, people really want to be here. That’s one of the biggest challenges: Being able to somehow fit everybody which always is hard. But also, if people come to us early on with a pitch or a plan, we can say, maybe it’s not the right fit for this show, but we can work out a plan where it fits more organically somewhere else.
2. You oversee four music award shows. What is Premio Lo Nuestro?
This is tradition and celebration of music, of our music. Celebrating our history in this country, and what we’ve contributed musically. And the slogan this year is incredible: El mundo es lo nuestro (The world is ours). Because of where are we nowadays. Where did Bad Bunny take us a year ago when, for the first time a Hispanic artist wins [artist of the year] at the VMAs and gives his speech in Spanish and says I don’t have to change who I am. Going out on tour, who breaks the record for most tickets sold? Bad Bunny’s tour. We’re taking over in a way.
3. My understanding is this is your top-rated show. What do you attribute the high ratings to?
Yes, this is our highest rated show. The goals we’re given are higher than for any other, so, it’s a big responsibility. I don’t know if the ratings have to do with it being at the beginning of the year. Also, we take a lot of risks and we have a lot of freedom to do things in this show
4. What is the Ulises Chang imprint on a music show?
Overall, to be able to make people happy at home when theyr’e watching, and to be able to transport them to another place. Music is so beautiful. Music takes us to places we’re no longer at, it reminds us of our parents. When we had Roberto Carlos, for example, that tribute took me back to my youth. If it takes me, imagine people at home who don’t have the capability of experiencing this the way we do. We feel very fortunate and at the same time very powerful with what we are able to give.
5. It seems to me like you’re really creating a multi-generational show. Is that how you view it?
Yes. And that’s how we always prepare it. We think that people at home –that co-viewing with different generations– is what Univision is. It’s what Hispanics are. We still sit at home with our parents to watch especially these types of shows. These types of shows do do that; they do bring the multi-generational co-viewing. I don’t know if it happens in other networks, but in Univision, the research we’ve done indicates co-viewing is very present.
When asked if she remembers her first forays into producing, Rosalía giggles. “Oh, my God. I always felt that I wasn’t good enough, so I would treat it more like a game,” she says, before quickly adding, “Still, I wanted to learn how to make a beat because when the time came that I needed to do it, I would be able to do it.”
What started as a “game” inevitably became a way for the 30-year-old Spanish star to gain creative control — something she doesn’t take for granted considering the lack of women in the field. “There’s [still] skepticism about a woman being able to be an artist, singer, producer and songwriter at the same time. To me, these disciplines are not mutually exclusive.”
Like her previous albums (Los Ángeles and El Mal Querer), Rosalía’s Grammy-winning Motomami, released in 2022, thrives on the intersection of those skills. The sonically groundbreaking set — which finds her boldly fusing jazz and reggaetón (“Saoko”), as well as sampling Soulja Boy in an otherwise traditional bolero (“Delirio de Grandeza”) — is an honest expression of the creative freedom she felt as she drew inspiration from the sounds and artists that have shaped her. During the sessions, she would sit in the studio for 15 hours or more, searching for the right sounds, arrangements and structures for each song. “My homework as a producer is to follow my intuition,” she says firmly. “It’s to make decisions and take risks.”
Following in the footsteps of the artist-producers she read about when she was younger, like Björk and Missy Elliott, Billboard’s first-ever Women in Music Producer of the Year hopes to motivate a new generation of innovators.
What led you to first take on this role in the studio?
My first desire was to be onstage and share something. Then I realized that I wanted to decide what I was going to sing. I also wanted to decide what I was going to say and how it would sound. I didn’t just want to be an interpreter. I wanted to write, and then I wanted to produce. The desire to create became bigger than the desire to just interpret.
Is Motomami the freest you’ve ever felt as a producer?
One hundred percent yes. I was always thinking: “How can I be freer?” Fear, or whatever the opposite of freedom is, is the biggest enemy for a creative. There was an urge to find the reason why I’m doing this. “What is the world all about? What is life about?” All those things matter, and it’s why I make music.
What’s Rosalía the producer like in the studio?
I try to not have a specific idea of how a song must sound. Instead, I go in with concepts, or ilusiones, of how I would like it to sound. But never a rigid idea. That’s not organic, nor is it productive. Producing also requires humility because you’re constantly testing out ideas. I remember Pharrell [Williams] once told me that we’re just testing ideas from the universe because no one really owns an idea. I love that concept.
You’ve been very vocal about the lack of representation of women producers. Why is that important to you?
If you don’t see yourself represented in a role like this, how can you picture yourself working in that position? I became a songwriter and producer because I cared way too much. I did research when I was younger of women who were producing, and it was hard to find them, but they taught me that this was possible. Björk, Delia Derbyshire, Kate Bush — they’ve done this, and we don’t talk about it enough. I know I’m not the only one because there’s a new generation of women producing like Caroline Polachek, PinkPantheress — there are literally so many. It would be great if more people knew about them outside of the industry.
This story will appear in the Feb. 25, 2023, issue of Billboard.
Amid his 2023 tour El Amor 30 Años Después del Amor — which celebrates the 30-year anniversary of the seminal album El Amor Después del Amor — Fito Páez made a stop to headline Viña del Mar International Song Festival on Wednesday (Feb. 22).
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The Argentine artist arrived on stage with buoyant energy and colors that brought instant cheer. He sported a lemon yellow coat, turtleneck and lime green scarf combo; his scruffy salt-and-pepper curls looked splendidly unruly, and wore red-tinted glasses to boot.
This was the fifth time the legendary composer rocked the stage at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater; the last time he performed at the festival was in 2014. This time, he was honored with two trophies, a Gaviota de Plata and a Gaviota de Oro. The multi-Latin Grammy-winning artist performed nearly 90 minutes of all killer, no filler hits from Después del Amor and more like “Al Lado del Campo,” “Ciudad de Pobres Corazones,” and “Circo Beat.”
Above all, he testified why the celebrated Amor… became the best-selling album in the history of Argentine rock — it’s simply loaded with timeless hits. Although he had plenty of material to choose from, with close to 30 studio albums under his belt, all the songs from the iconic record were greatly received with fans singing along, and some with tears.
On its fourth night. Here are some highlights from the 64th annual installment of Viña del Mar.
His Genuine Songwriting
He opened the show with the iconic “El Amor Después del Amor,” which made for a grand entrance that needed no elaborate dancers, no smoke effects, no pyrotechnics — just him and his band. His impeccable songwriting was centerfold, highlighting introspective themes about finding love after love (of course), nomadic lives, magic and rock ‘n’ roll. With over 15,000 attendees present, Fito created a kind of bond with the audience that felt intimate and always genuine. Even from my screen, it’s clear how the amphitheater resonated with seemingly each attendee knowing every lyric.
His Piano-Playing Prowess
At any given moment when Páez pounded the keys to his grand piano, the energy instantly amplified. He demonstrated his piano-playing mastery. Although he left many of the album’s songs intact, he did present riveting brass-powered arrangements to a handful of tunes with the help of his live band, which resulted in a livelier Viña. He gave a lot more shine to his main instrument on the piano ballad “Un Vestido y Un Amor,” which inspired a massive singalong.
Genuineness And Flamboyance
There’s a charming quality about his flamboyant swagger that draws us in. Whether he’s pounding away at the piano, strumming his Gibson guitar, or showcasing that rocker flair, his every move captured our attention. He has a unique demeanor; that mixed with his genuineness creates a very beloved rock star that spans generations. Grandmothers, couples, and fellow Argentine newcomer Nicki Nicole was among the crowd.
“Lo que yo necesitaba en esa época cuando era joven y sin ningún tipo de norte, igual que ahora, era irse lejos para reconocer a otra realidad, a uno propio, hay que llegar ser, y en eso apareció esta canción,” he said before playing the stunning “Tumbas de la Gloria.” (“What I needed at that time when I was young and without any kind of direction, was to go far away to recognize another truth, and one’s self. That’s when this song appeared.”)
LONG LIVE LATIN ROCK
Fito showcased heavier rock riffs on a mustard-colored Gibson guitar when performing “Ciudad de Pobres Corazones,” boasting his instrument versatility. With distorted strumming, he turned the night into a Latin rock affair. Yet, in the 60-minute mark of the show, Páez’s lead guitarist — who was clad in black leather pants and a slick blazer — took the spotlight for a riveting three-minute rock solo. Armed with frenetic fretwork and screeching riffs, the man impressed with every improvisational note, and the crowd loved it.
Towards the end of his solo, he kneeled to the floor, and raised his guitar high, thus resurrecting the glory days of hard rock for the current times.
For the first time in its more than six-decade history, the Viña del Mar International Song Festival is being livestreamed in the United States, exclusively on Billboard.com, Billboard’s YouTube channel, and via Twitter @Billboard. The six-day festival continues Christina Aguilera on Feb. 23; and ending with Camilo on Feb. 24. All headliners will perform at 8 p.m. ET.
Find the rest of the week’s schedule below:
Thursday, Feb. 23: Christina Aguilera
Friday, Feb. 24: Camilo