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New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Quevedo, Buenas Noches (DQU Productions/Rimas Entertainment)
After being MIA for quite some time — just as he had a breakthrough year in 2022 with the ”BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 52″ — Spanish hitmaker Quevedo is making a triumphant return with BUENAS NOCHES, his second album bur first under a new distribution deal with Rimas Entertainment. Describing this comeback — which will also include a tour — as “the most beautiful phase of my career,” his sophomore set truly stands out. The 18-track LP is packed with club-ready hits, including one with Pitbull himself (“MR. MOONDIAL) that’s reminiscent of the early 2000s, a dreamy 80s-like synth-pop tune with Aitana (“GRAN VÍA”) and a neo-reggaetón bop with La Pantera (“HALO”).
And while sonically this may seem like a rager album packed with party anthems, its lyrics are quite introspective, after all, this album was inspired by Quevedo’s late-night reflections, he expressed in a press statement. And it just so happens to be thoughts that are ultra relatable, as he sings about sex, love, heartbreak and even loneliness with other collaborators like De La Rose, De La Ghetto, Yung Beef, Sech, Rels B and Sin Nombre. His signature deep vocals soar in this nearly hour-long album that ushers a new, exciting era for Quevedo. — GRISELDA FLORES
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Maluma, “Cosas Pendientes” (Paris LG LTD/Sony Music Latin)
With the sounds of an acoustic guitar, Maluma opens the first verse of his new single, “Cosas Pendientes,” which translates to “Things Pending.” This song marks a return to the essence of his beloved 2015 era, “Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy,” taking it to new heights but a bit more pretty and more dirty. Reconnecting with an old love to resolve pending issues, he sings in the chorus: “Apparently she didn’t forget me/she’s still waiting/she wants to ignore me/but the tension is seen, felt.” The song is tied to a short film of revenge and glamour, including a surprise appearance by Colombian actor Luis Alfredo Velasco, known to fans as Dúver Cruz or Manín of La Reina del Flow. The video also highlights Maluma’s signature sound while he shaves his head, signaling an official symbolic return to the early days of his career. — INGRID FAJARDO
Grupo Frontera & Oscar Maydon, “¿Qué Te Parece?” (Grupo Frontera)
Grupo Frontera is on a romantic streak. Following their lovey-dovey hit “Hecha Pa’ Mi,” the group reels in Oscar Maydon for “¿Qué Te Parece?” (what do you think?). On the joyful, feel-good cumbia-norteño track, the two Música Mexicana acts serenade a beautiful lady, offering them the perfect dream date: “What beach should I take you to drink wine and have a romantic dinner? / What shoes do you like? What purse do you want? So I can gift it to you,” Maydon’s sugary vocals declare. “If you tell me yes, we’ll travel to Paris, I already have your lock,” he continues in the chorus, referring to the Pont des Arts, also known as the Love Lock Bridge in France. A playful music video, directed by Sauna and produced by Oriental Films, captures Frontera and Maydon performing the song on a tennis court, where they are surrounded by a diverse group of bachelorettes. — JESSICA ROIZ
Gilberto Santa Rosa, Debut y Segunda Tanda, Vol. 2 (B2B Music)
“El Caballero de la Salsa” Gilberto Santa releases Debut y Segunda Tanda Vol. II, a continuation of a project that began in 2022 and that includes a mix of new songs and reinterpretations of past hits. From the first chords of “Piedra y Agua,” through “Como Si Fuera Nuestra” – both debuts – Santa Rosa makes us dance with bright brasses, powerful choruses and his unmistakable style and voice. The list of new songs includes, among others, “Tratando de Acercarme,” which stands out for its softer rhythm and instrumentation, and the cheerful “Fin de Semana” with Gerardo Rivas. As for covers, there are “Vamos a Ver” by David Torrens, “Tun Tun” by Kelvis Ochoa — with and infectious chorus and romantic lyrics — and “La Marea” by Rubén Blades for a gran finale.
“This album represents for me the opportunity to explore and present something different, but always maintaining my essence,” the salsa icon said in a press release. “Is an invitation to share my love for music, in all its forms, and to dance or grieve together once again.” It is a work worthy of any Latin New Year’s Eve party and adds to the extensive repertoire of one of the most beloved artists of the tropical genre. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Kevin Kaarl, “Esta Noche” (Kevin Kaarl)
There’s a warmth to Kevin Kaarl’s “Esta Noche,” an ultra nostalgic song that brings to mind the magic of ’90s pop and rock en español. Listening to the Mexican indie artist’s singular and soothing vocals is almost disarming, and it’s easy to get lost in the song’s folky vibe as Kaarl sings emotionally and vividly about love and heartbreak, injecting pathos in every verse. “Esta Noche” was produced by his twin brother, Bryan Kaarl, who first joined Kevin for “Te Quiero Tanto.” The new track’s music video is the first installment of a trilogy of visuals that will culminate in a short film. “Esta Noche” is the first single off his forthcoming studio album, ULTRA SODADE. — G.F.
Leo Rizzi & Lasso, “QUEBRANTO” (Atlantic Records Spain)
As a nostalgic nod to South American rock of the ’80s, emerges the new collaboration between Spanish-Uruguayan singer-songwriter Leo Rizzi and Venezuelan Lasso called “QUEBRANTO.” The pop single manages to capture the magic of legendary Argentine rock riffs and the essence of the music of that golden age. In the lyrics, the pair sing about finding a way out of pain and the desire for redemption in the face of life’s trials. The music video encapsulates that same nostalgia, with retro visuals and the artists’ ’80s aesthetics, transporting us back to that era. — LUISA CALLE
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
Bomba Estéreo is heading to Mexico City to raise its voice against gender violence. The Colombian duo will give a free concert at the Zócalo on Nov. 30 as part of a campaign for 25N — or International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is recognized globally on Nov. 25 — announced the capital’s Ministry of Culture on X.
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“This great concert will be held as part of the 16 days of activism against gender violence, a campaign that begins on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women,” the secretariat said in its message on Thursday (Nov. 21).
The band, led by vocalist Li Saumet, will join the list of Mexican and international acts who have performed in the country’s most important public square, and the second largest in the world after Tiananmen Square in China.
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The 16-day campaign of activism against gender violence was proposed as “a key opportunity to renew commitments and demand concrete measures and accountability from decision makers,” according to UN Women.
UN Women explains that this movement emerged as an initiative in the run-up to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, a visionary plan to achieve gender equality and advance the rights of women and girls worldwide.
The presentation of Bomba Estéreo will feature the participation of Mexican singer-songwriter Samantha Barrón as the opening act for the show, added the Ministry of Culture.
Bomba Estéreo formed in Bogotá in 2005 as an experimental project led by musician and audio-visual artist Simón Mejía y Saumet, and has been one of the strongest proposals in the alternative/Caribbean/dance music scene since their 2010 hit “Fuego.”
Bomba’s 2022 song with Bad Bunny, “Ojitos lindos,” reached No. 7 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart and peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The duo has also received 10 Latin Grammy nominations and has shared the stage with artists such as Luis Fonsi and Will Smith.
Bomba Estéreo will return to Mexico after its successful participation in the Hera HSBC Festival, dedicated exclusively to artists and bands led by female singers, held Aug. 24 at the Curva 4 of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, home of F1 in the country.
Below, check out the announcement of the Secretary of Culture of Mexico City regarding the duo’s concert at the Zócalo.
¡BOMBA ESTÉREO EN EL ZÓCALO!El próximo 30 de noviembre a las 19 horas, el grupo colombiano Bomba Estéreo se presentará en el Zócalo. Este gran concierto se realizará como parte de los 16 días de activismo contra la violencia de género, campaña que inicia el 25 de noviembre,… pic.twitter.com/ztwdhd6e5Z— Secretaría de Cultura de la Ciudad de México (@CulturaCiudadMx) November 22, 2024
Manuel Turizo is taking fans to his native Montería (located 30 miles away from the Caribbean Sea in Colombia) through his fourth studio album, 201, out via La Industria Inc. and Sony Music Latin. The name is an homage to the apartment number of where he grew up, and which “represents all those dreams I had since I was a child, all those young desires,” he previously told Billboard.
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With the 12-track that includes already released singles “Mamasota” with Yandel, “De Lunes a Lunes” with Grupo Frontera, and “Que Pecao’” with Kapo, Turizo welcomes fans to his roots.
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“For me, this is what the Caribbean sounds like,” he says in a new interview with Billboard. “This is where I get drunk and have a good time with my people, where I live my life. It’s my home. The idea [of this album] is that people enjoy it and at the same time want to party. December is coming!”
After achieving newfound success with “La Bachata” and “El Merengue,” both of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart, Turizo dives into other eclectic rhythms.
He flirts with salsa on focus single “Sigueme Besando Asi”; teams up with Elder Dayan Díaz (son of the iconic Diomedes Díaz) on the heartfelt vallenato “La Ex de Mi Amigo”; and dabbles in country music on “Yo No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar” with Alok.
“I like trying different and new things. At the end of the day, it’s about having fun with music,” he explains. “I think that if you do the same thing all the time, you lose the magic. I wanted it to sound original, but at the same time not to make a copy of what already exists. Instead, I wanted to propose an authentic flavor with something different. I took the time to find a unique identity for each song.”
Like his third studio album, 2000 (named after his birth year), 201 is representative of his true identity — one that he’s been faithful to since kicking off his music career.
“Manuel Turizo has never been a character,” he elaborates. “I never wanted to create something different from what Manuel is — that’s why my stage name is the same as my birth name. Everything around Manuel is like that, including my music. What I feel is that if my fans connect with my music, it’s because they see the world the same way I do. They connect with my thoughts. It’s where I can link my music with my personal life.”
Liste and stream 201 below:
Guadalajara, Mexico-born singer-songwriter Jasiel Nuñez scores his first entry on a Billboard albums chart with La Odisea, his second studio effort, which launches at Nos. 8 and 6 on the Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts, respectively (dated Nov. 30).
La Odisea, a double album comprising 20 tracks, was released Nov. 7 on Double P Records, home to Tito Double P, who also placed a top 10 debut on both charts in 2024. The set starts with 9,000 equivalent album units earned in the tracking week of Nov. 8-15, according to Luminate.
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Streaming activity contributes to the majority of La Odisea’s first week-sum, which equates to 12.7 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs, while the remaining units stem from a negligible amount of activity from sales and track-equivalent album units. On Top Latin Albums, one unit equals to one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.
In addition to label mate Tito Double P, Nuñez follows the footsteps of the eight other regional Mexican soloists who achieved a top 10 debut album this year. In total, 19 albums across Latin genres launched in the top 10 on Top Latin Albums in 2024, 12 of which (by groups and solo singers) belong to the regional Mexican genre.
Here is that striking list of regional Mexican top 10 debuts on Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums charts in 2024:
Debut Date, Debut Pos., Title, ArtistJan. 6, No. 9, Distorsión, Oscar MaydonJan. 20, No. 5, Corridos Bélicos, Vol. IV, Luis R ConriquezFeb. 24, No. 7, Dolido Pero No Arrepentido (EP), Fuerza RegidaMay 25, No. 10, Jugando A Que No Pasa Nada, Grupo FronteraJune 8, No. 5, The GB, Gabito BallesterosJune 15, No. 8, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carin LeónAug. 3, No. 1, Mirada, Ivan CornejoAug. 10, No. 2, Pero No Te Enamores, Fuerza RegidaSept. 7, No. 2, Incómodo, Tito Double POct. 26, No. 9, Next, XaviNov. 2, No. 7, Que Sigan Llegando Las Pacas: Extended, Chino PacasNov. 23, No. 8, La Odisea, Jasiel Nuñez
With La Odisea, Jasiel Nuñez scores his first entry on his first try on any albums chart, after placing six songs on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, five through Peso Pluma partnerships.
In addition to two Peso Pluma collabs, “Bipolar,” which also features Junior H, and “Me Activo,” 24-year-old Nuñez places a third song from La Odisea on the tally–which combines radio airplay, streaming activity and digital sales into its formul–, there, “En Mi Mundo,” also with Pluma, debuts at No. 31.
Nuñez also steps onto the all-genre Billboard 200, where La Odisea starts at No. 167.
Ela Taubert’s biggest childhood dream came true when she nabbed the coveted best new artist award at the 2024 Latin Grammys. Earlier that night, she debuted her new collaboration with Joe Jonas, “¿Cómo Pasó?” — another major accomplishment.
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“I couldn’t believe it,” she tells Billboard of her special night. “For me, it was the craziest thing to see Karol G, Feid, Sebastian Yatra and Carlos Vives all reacting to my win. I respect them a lot. In the end, it’s a very hard road and seeing them at the top makes you want to keep working hard. They have a pretty big impact on emerging artists like me.”
Taubert was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia by a family of “big music lovers,” and even credits her late uncle — who was the only musician in the family — for her musical talents. Inspired by Taylor Swift, Adele, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Reik, and Jesse y Joy — and with the support of her mom, who “worked her whole life to literally bring me to where I am” — Taubert dived into the music industry.
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First, she sang covers. “Si Te La Encuentras Por Ahí” by Feid and “Don’t You Remember” by Adele are amongst her memorable ones — both showcasing her melancholy and dreamy vocals.
The former went viral on TikTok, received Feid’s stamp of approval, and landed her on Billboard’s On the Radar Latin feature earlier this year. The latter put her on Colombian hitmaker Julio Reyes Copello’s sight when she was a young, aspiring singer. Taubert is an alumni of the inaugural generation of Universal Music Latin’s Abbey Road Institute & Art House Academy.
“I learned not to compare myself, to listen to myself — [and] I met my team with whom I make music today,” she recalls. “It was a really cool process and evolution because I got to know myself artistically and began to connect my childhood dreams to what I do.”
At the end of the program, Taubert dropped her EP ¿Quién Dijo Que Era Fácil?, marking her official debut release under Universal Music Latin in 2023. “That’s where my new era began,” she says. “It was the best decision of my life because I love them, and I have a wonderful team.”
Since, she’s shared stages with Alejandro Sanz, Diego Torres and Morat, and even opened for Karol G during her Mañana Será Bonito tour. Today, the 24-year-old artist, now residing in Miami, Fla., is making the rounds with her new Joe Jonas collab, an electrifying bilingual version of her original “¿Cómo Pasó?” released this February, which has reached No. 12 on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Airplay chart.
“This year, I decided to write to Joe on Instagram thanking him for inspiring me so much and that I hope to meet him one day,” she relates. “Funnily enough, he wrote back. I’m still in shock because, so many things are happening to me that I dreamed of as a child.”
Below, learn more about this month’s Billboard Latin Artist on the Rise.
Name: Ela Taubert
Age: 24
Recommended Song: “¿Cómo Pasó?” (feat. Joe Jonas)
Major Accomplishment: “Everything that’s happened to me this year has been incredible, but I think it would be taking my mother’s and grandfather’s last name to places where no one would have imagined. I promised my grandfather when he passed away that I would always keep his legacy alive. In my house we are all women, my grandfather was the only man in the house, and the Taubert was going to stay there. That is the most beautiful and special achievement, taking my name far away and connecting with people around the world.”
What’s Next: “Definitely more music! We are working hard and I feel like each song shows a new stage. I am going to do my first festivals and I hope to announce more concerts soon. I will also be giving [new] surprises soon — like the Joe Jonas one that I kept a secret for a long time!”
After a trajectory that spans over 20 years, Zion y Lennox are parting ways. Zion (real name: Felix Gerardo Ortiz Torres) announced the news on his Instagram account, where he revealed that after a “careful evaluation” since the beginning of 2024, he made the decision to separate from his long-time duo member, Lennox (real name: […]
Luis Fonsi is on a winning streak. The Puerto Rican star is celebrating 25 years in music with a big tour that’s set to wrap in his beloved home country next year. His LP El Viaje just won a Latin Grammy for best pop vocal album, and the set is nominated for a Grammy in the best Latin pop album category. He’s also set to make his debut on the big screen on Friday (Nov. 22) as the male lead Rafael Reza, in the indie film Say a Little Prayer.
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Fonsi has acted before in television and theater, and making the leap from that to movies was in his plans– just not so soon, the “Despacito” hitmaker tells Billboard.
“It was an unexpected opportunity. It was one of these things that you think about and say to yourself, ‘Eventually I would love to dive into that world and see what doors open.’ But I wasn’t there yet,” Fonsi explains. “I was literally in the middle of working on an album and a tour — but a friend of mine, who is also connected to the movie’s production team, sent me the script, saying they were looking for the male lead role. I was already thinking it would be a ‘no’ even before reading the first page. I read it all the way to the end during a flight from Miami to Madrid, and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, this could be interesting.’”
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Say a Little Prayer, a rom-com starring Fonsi, Vannessa Vasquez, Jackie Cruz and Vivian Lamoli, centers around three best friends (Adela, Ruby and Cristina) who live in San Antonio, Texas and have had little-to-no luck in their romantic relationships. They resort to reciting a powerful prayer to find their “lost” husbands, which brings about chaos in their friendship — but it also brings Rafael into their lives. His magnetic charm as art curator and former musician seduces two of the friends, but only one has his heart.
“I could see myself — not only through the character, but through these stories. We’ve all gone through similar things, because it’s a film about friendship, family and love. So, I thought it would be the right first step,” says Fonsi, adding that he worked with an acting coach for the film. “I felt extremely comfortable shooting the film. There was never a moment of panic or thinking I didn’t belong there. The fact that I got to write the music also gave me a lot of confidence.”
Fonsi wrote the film’s official song, “Prayer in Your Eyes,” which his character performs during a date with Adela (Vasquez). He wrote and produced the song in two days thinking he didn’t need to turn it in until after he had shot his scenes. “I didn’t know it was going to be part of the story; I thought it was going to be the credits song of the film so I kinda put it off,” he says with a laugh. “Literally three days before I traveled to San Antonio to do my scenes, Patrick, the director, is like, ‘Hey, I really need to hear the song. We’re shooting a scene around it.’ Good thing is I work well under pressure. And I’m proud of the song. It has a little bit of country influence. It’s not country music, it’s a pop song but I automatically transported myself to San Antonio. It’s in English and that was fun too because I don’t do a lot of writing in English.”
The significance of his first big break on the big screen isn’t lost on Fonsi. As someone who has broken records in Latin music and changed the genre’s landscape with his global smash hit “Despacito,” he’s excited about contributing to the diversification of the film industry. Hispanic and Latin actors continue to remain excluded or left behind in Hollywood, according to a 2023 USC Annenberg Study, despite Latinos now making up nearly 20% of the U.S. population.
“I’m out here promoting Latin music every day, wanting it to be global, and there’s a lot of room to grow when we talk about Latin actors and directors in film,” says Fonsi. “For me, it has been so powerful to move the needle in Latin music and be part of what has happened with Latin music worldwide. And if I can move the needle ever so slightly in the film industry and be part of it, it’s going to make me feel so proud.”
Currently on his 25 Años Tour, which will wrap in March in Puerto Rico, Fonsi is reflecting on his latest wins, including a Latin Grammy for an album that captures his journey across these 25 years.
“El Viaje is very special to me,” he explains. “From the beginning, it was always an album; I wasn’t trying to write a radio-friendly song and a bunch of other songs. It started off as a concept album, every song is a place, city, a celebration of my 25-year journey. It meant the world to win because it reaffirmed that they got what I was trying to say. To get a nomination for the Grammys was icing on the cake. These past 25 years, there’s been so much evolution, not being afraid of reinventing myself,.
He continues to reflect: “I love that in every phase of this career, there’s something new they throw at you, and you figure out how to make it work within your world without really abandoning who you are as an artist. That’s what makes it fun.”
Directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri and written by Nancy De Los Santos-Reza, Say a Little Prayer premieres Friday in select AMC theaters across the country.
The cast and crew attend a private screening of Say A Little Prayer in San Antonio.
New Cadence Productions.
Shakira is doing a good deed. The superstar has announced that she will be giving away her personal car, a 2022 Lamborghini Urus, to one lucky winner. The contest — in partnership with Univision and in support of her latest single “Soltera” — was launched on Shakira’s Instagram on Wednesday (Nov. 20). “A promise is […]
Mexican music star Ana Bárbara has signed a global publishing deal with Kobalt, the company tells Billboard. The indie publisher will administer all of the Mexican music star’s catalog and future recordings. Bárbara’s previous publisher was Ingrooves Music Publishing. The deal comes on the heels of Bárbara’s Reina Grupera U.S. Tour, which celebrated her 30th […]
Mexican opera singer Esteban Baltazar, who has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna in Italy, was arrested over the weekend by agents of the capital’s Attorney General’s Office at the Mexico City International Airport, accused of sexual abuse by his former romantic partner, the […]