State Champ Radio Latin
Page: 346
Every month, Billboard Latin editors will feature a small group of new or relatively unknown artists whose music we love. Think “diamantes en bruto,” or “diamonds in the rough.” These are newcomers who have yet to impact the mainstream — but whose music excites us, and who we believe our readers should make a point to discover.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Our recommendations this month are emerging artists that we met during Billboard‘s 2022 Latin Music Week in Miami. Check them out below:
Artist: Blondiak
Country: Colombia
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Singer-songwriter Blondiak struck me as a relatable, humble musician who is eager to grow and keep honing his craft. The Latin urban artist from Colombia, who works independently with the support of his family through their very own company, BK MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT LLC, has a dozen songs published on his YouTube channel, including the reggaetón tunes “Se cansó” (She got tired) and “Algo más” (Something more), and the tropical infused banger “Guaya,” which he released earlier this month. Blondiak, 22, was nominated this year for a Latino Show Award in his native country, in the developing artist category. Based in Miami since four years ago, he says he is 100% dedicated to music, and that his next plans include releasing an album, collaborating with other artists and promoting his music through Latin America. I am curious to see where he’s at five years from now. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Song for Your Playlist: “Guaya”
Artist: King David Dembow
Country: Puerto Rico
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: At Latin Music Week, a very eager emerging artist approached me introducing himself as “a Boricua who does dembow music.” With a royal name, King David Dembow launched his first official single last year, “Rompele,” and is signed to indie label High End Entertainment. The dembowsero newcomer has released many singles that best showcase his fast-paced beats and witty lyrics, as heard in “Calle,” “Ella Eh,” and the recent “Calor.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Song for Your Playlist: “Calor”
Artist: Daniel Arana
Country: Mexican-American
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Daniel Arana is all about intentionality. The Mexican-American urban artist released his debut album, DALE, on a full moon — when energetically it’s the strongest — and his lyrics are all about spotlighting queer love and relationships. “My goal is to help mainstream Latin music become more LGBT-friendly, and to help the Latinx community become more open-minded, while helping those struggling to be who they are,” he told the Billboard team during Latin Music Week. While he is more traditional-leaning sonically, with reggaetón drums powering his songs, lyrically, he’s less traditional. For example, “Lento,” which is part of his latest LP, is about coming out and embracing his queer identity. — GRISELDA FLORES
Song for Your Playlist: “Lento”
Artist: Eduardo Galán
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Venezuelan Eduardo Galán really stood out not only because of his commanding presence, but because of his charisma and his bubbly personality. I was gladly surprised to find out that his song “Te Prometo” (I promise you) is just an extension of that — an infectious, positive tropical pop tune that invites you to dance and to smile. “And I promise to take you to heaven, to make you touch the sun,” the singer-songwriter, who lives in Spain, sings in his mother tongue. “This life is too short not to try,” he goes on. He is certainly giving music his best shot.
Also worth mentioning: His ballad “Bienvenida” (Welcome) dedicated to his young baby girl, with a cute music video starring his then-pregnant wife. With a music style somewhat reminiscent of Chino y Nacho or Chayanne, Galán is releasing music independently through Eduardo Galán Group. He plans to debut two new singles in November and January — one Cuban jazz and one merengue, he told Billboard Español — as he prepares for his first concerts in Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla next year. — SRA
Song for Your Playlist: “Te Prometo”
Artist: J Molina
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: J Molina represents a growing number of Mexican-born artists dabbling in reggaetòn. The singer-songwriter, born in Monterrey, Mexico and currently residing in Texas, was one of the many emerging artists I came across during Latin Music Week, where he passionately talked about growing the reggaetón scene in Texas. After launching his career in 2010, Molina took it upon himself to create his own opportunities — launching his indie label The Kingz Factory in 2021 to release his own music and help develop up-and-coming local urban acts, such as La Yadi, who’s featured in his latest single “Tabú.” With a few singles under his belt, Molina’s reggaetón can be described as melodic and subtle as opposed to hard-hitting or raunchy. His rhythmic beats are powered by the traditional reggaetón drums. — G.F.
Song for Your Playlist: “Tabú”
Artist: Nora González
Country: Mexico
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: I first discovered Nora González in 2021 when she was a two-time Latin Grammy nominee, and was excited to see her networking at Latin Music Week. González, who also has promising collaborations with Lupita Infante and Vicente Fernandez Jr., is still a rising act in her own right. Her powerhouse and mature vocals bring a refreshing, bilingual touch to traditional mariachi music, which has ultimately dubbed her the “Charra Millennial.” Originating from Chihuahua, Mexico, and a Berklee College of Music alumn, González is recently making the rounds with her seven-track set Xtina, where she gives Christina Aguilera’s biggest hits a Regional Mexican tribute. González is signed to and managed by CHR Records. — J.R.
Song for Your Playlist: “Pero Me Acuerdo De Ti”
Artist: Shiela
Country: Mexico, Nicaragua
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: If her mix of cultures — Nicaraguan-Mexican-American — is any indication, Shiela is an emerging Latinx artist who’s delivering innovative Latin R&B rhythms. With her sultry voice, the Texas-born, Miami-based artist brings to life her empowered lyricism, as heard in recent singles “Estas Mal” and “Soltera.” Shiela is inspired by artists such as Sade and Selena Quintanilla, and has already graced the renowned stages of SXSW and Austin City Limits Music Festival on multiple occasions. Shiela officially kicked off her career in 2017 with the debut single “Runaway,” and dropped her debut, bilingual album Chilita in 2021. — J.R.
Song for Your Playlist: “Estas Mal”
Artist: Wanton Chulito
Country: Cuba
Why They Should Be on Your Radar: Amongst the many aspiring artists at Latin Music Week, I came across Wanton Chulito (real name: Yoandris Wanton). Hailing from Santiago de Cuba, the Texas-based singer-songwriter is fusing traditional Cubaton rhythms with other genres such as bachata and dembow. With the mission of getting more eyes and ears on his music, Wanton has strategically collaborated with many artists, including dembow act Bulova and Cuban artist El Taiger. — J.R.
Song for Your Playlist: “Candela” (feat. Bulova)
Artist: Victor & Gabo
Country: Venezuela
Why They Should Be On Your Radar: Victor & Gabo is a Venezuelan duo formed by Víctor Portillo and Carlos Espinoza who I met on the first day of Latin Music Week. They shared a little about their story and passion for music. Listening to them now, they are a fusion of fresh tropical-urban and romantic melodies, featuring Gabo’s chanteos and Victor’s sweet, higher range. Theo du recently released their new single, “Cantinero,” a song that mixes regional Mexican music with pop and Latin rhythms, proving their versatility. — INGRID FAJARDO
Song For Your Playlist: “Cantinero”
Hunkered down in Bogotá, Colombia during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Camilo was itching to hit the road with his debut studio album, Por Primera Vez. But as soon as the live entertainment industry re-opened, the Colombian singer-songwriter announced his first-ever world tour, kicking off in Spain.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Now, his exciting and successful 2021 debut tour makes way to his fandom, La Tribu, worldwide in a new HBO concert special called Camilo: El Primer Tour De Mi Vida — slated for a Nov. 18 release — also marking his debut on HBO.
The documentary, which received its first trailer on Wednesday (Oct. 19), follows Camilo behind the scenes as he prepares for his shows and performs hits from his debut set and sophomore album Mis Manos, such as “Tutu,” “Mareado,” “Bebé,” “Tattoo,” “KESI,” and “Por Primera Vez,” to name a few. The special also features intimate moments alongside his fans and loved ones, including his wife, fellow artist, and director Evaluna Montaner.
“For six months we toured incredible places that I never imagined I would visit with my music,” Camilo said in a press statement. “We shared the stage with artists who became friends, we met wonderful people from all over the world, and so many incredible things happened that changed our lives forever. I am happy because those moments were all documented and now, thanks to HBO Max, we can share them with La Tribu, who is the force behind my career. It fills me with pride to be able to open this door for them to sing along and relive the tour, and to also meet the people who are with me every day and make it possible for my songs and my music to be our meeting point.”
Camilo: El Primer Tour De Mi Vida premieres at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 18 via HBO Latino and streamed on HBO Max in the U.S. and Latin America.
Watch the trailer for the documentary below.
From hits to slam dunks! Ozuna is officially the new owner of a basketball team in Puerto Rico, the Baloncesto Nacional Superior de Puerto Rico (Basketball National Superior – BSN) announced on Monday (Oct. 17).
The sports organization revealed that the chart-topping artist has acquired Los Brujos de Guayama. Due to the franchise’s transfer to the municipality of Manatí, the team has been renamed to Los Osos de Manatí (Manatí Bears). With Juan Aubín Cruz Coliseum as their home venue, Los Osos de Manatí become the first BSN team in that municipality since 2017.
“Owning a Puerto Rico National Superior Basketball franchise has been one of my greatest dreams, for which we have been working for some time,” the “Diles” singer said in a statement. “I feel a lot of passion for this sport and being able to be part of this family fills me with great pride. Thanks to the BSN for opening the doors for me and to everyone who has made this possible. See you next season at the new house of Los Osos in Manatí.”
Ricardo Dalmau, president of the BSN, added: “It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Ozuna to the BSN family. The commitment shown throughout this entire process gives us confidence in what his management will be in charge of the new Osos de Manatí. I take this opportunity to thank Rafael Rodríguez for his commitment to the league and the Brujos de Guayama franchise, which he led for the last 10 years.”
Ozuna joins a growing number of Latin artists that have ventured into the sports world by purchasing basketball teams in Puerto Rico. The list includes moves from Bad Bunny, who became the co-owner of Los Cangrejeros de Santurce and Anuel AA, who purchased Capitanes de Arecibo along with his manager Frabian Eli, in 2021.
Instead of flocking to basketball like their fellow hitmakers, duo Wisin & Yandel is placing all bets on baseball as new co-owners of Criollos de Caguas, the latest champions of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (LBPRC).
Ozuna collects his sixth top 10 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart as his latest full-length, OzuTochi, debuts at No. 5 on the list dated Oct. 22. The set concurrently opens at No. 4 on Latin Rhythm Albums.
OzuTochi begins with 8,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 13, according to Luminate. While most of the album’s first-week total derives from streaming-equivalent album units, 500 stem from traditional sales and track-equivalent units combined.
On the multimetric Top Latin Albums chart as measured in equivalent album units, each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.
The songs on OzuTochi logged 11 million on-demand official streams in its opening week. The 18-track set was released Oct. 7 via Aura/Sony Music Latin and is billed as Ozuna’s fifth studio album as a soloist. The set follows a collaborative release with Anuel AA: Los Dioses, which earned Ozuna his fifth No. 1 on the all-Latin albums tally (February 2021).
Ozuna’s debut effort, Odisea, bowed at No. 1 in September 2017. It held strong at the summit for 46 weeks, tying with Bad Bunny’s X100PRE for the third-most among all acts since Top Latin Albums launched in 1993 (behind Benito’s 70 weeks atop with YHLQMDLG and Gloria Estefan’s Mi Tierra, a total of 58).
In total, of Ozuna’s seven charting efforts on Top Latin Albums, five have reached No. 1 (Odisea, Aura, Nibiru, Enoc and his collaborative set with Anuel AA, Los Dioses).
Back to OzuTochi, as mentioned, the set also starts at No. 4 on Latin Rhythm Albums. As it sends X100PRE to No. 5, it ceases Bad Bunny’s domination of the top four, a feat his endured for 13 consecutive rankings (since the July 23-dated ranking).
OzuTochi was preceded by “Somos Iguales,” a collaborative song with Tokischa, featuring Louchie Lou and Michie One. It hits a new peak of No. 34 on the current multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart. The pair’s first joint track samples Louchie Lou and Michie One’s 1993 tune “Rich Girl.” The new Caribbean-rhythmic version was produced by DJ Luian, Mambo Kingz, Jowny, and Hydro. (“Rich Girl” was later refreshed by Gwen Stefani’s 2004 song of the same name, featuring Eve. Both versions of “Rich Girl,” and “Somos Iguales,” all call back to the song “If I Were a Rich Man,” from the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof.)
“Somos Iguales” also pounces to the No. 1 rank on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart, as it rallies 13-1 with 9 million in audience impressions, up 55%, earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 16. It’s a 29th win for Ozuna. Meanwhile, Tokischa, Louchie Lou and Michie One, all top the list with their first chart entry.
It’s the classic underdog story.
The genre of dembow — a Dominican style of music identified by its playful, rapid drum pattern and carefree energy — began as a musical pariah, rejected by both mainstream and underground communities in its birthplace. “When I’d go to the television and radio stations, they’d say, ‘No, we can’t play that,’” El Alfa told Billboard in March. “But you step in the streets, and all you could hear was dembow.”
At that time, dembow faced relentless criticism and resistance due to what one Dominican Republic government official recently referred to as “sexual and obscene content” (not too dissimilar to what reggaetón acts faced early on in Puerto Rico). But in recent years, the genre has taken the world by storm. Latin stars across the board, including J Balvin, Rosalía, Camilo, Natti Natasha, Daddy Yankee and Justin Quiles, have tapped into the genre in the last year alone, collaborating with dembow mainstays Chimbala and El Alfa, as well as the genre’s iconoclastic up-and-comer, Tokischa.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The genre has experienced greater awards show presence (Tokischa and Rosalía live-debuted “Linda” at the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards), as well as Billboard chart highs (El Alfa’s “La Mama de la Mama” reached No. 9 on Hot Latin Songs last May). Its biggest stars are now transcending local nightclubs, performing across the global and and even packing arenas (El Alfa played a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden in 2021).
While many non-Dominicans were exposed to dembow by way of El Alfa, today, a number of dembow artists are sharing the spotlight, including Tokischa, Rochy RD, Yomel El Meloso, La Perversa, Braulio Fogon, Gailen La Moyeta, Leo RD, Kiko El Crazy and Bulova, among others.
“Dominican Dembow is survival hood music and embodies Dominican Black joy — its all ancestral from the dance movements to the diasporic drum patterns,” says dembow historian, Jennifer Motaval. “Throughout the years we’ve seen it evolve in production and lyricism, captivating global audiences. The music rose organically despite the many barriers — that is monumental.”
Below, Billboard explores the evolution of dembow by way of some of its most iconic musical moments.
1990: Shabba Ranks, “Dem Bow”
The genre dembow pulls its name from Jamaican dancehall artist Shabba Ranks’ anti-imperialist (and unfortunately, anti-gay) anthem “Dem Bow,” Jamaican Patois for “they bow.” The forever-sampled track became a catalyst for the Dominican genre, and sister genre reggaetón, both by way of “reggae en espanol.”
1993: DJ Boyo, “Mujeres Andadoras”
Within three years, Ranks’ riddim found its way to Quisqueya. Arguably the founder of Dominican dembow, DJ Boyo worked painstakingly to usher in a sound suited for a population responsible for the sweat-inducing tempo of merengue. “Mujer Andadora” arrived on the heels of Panamanian “reggae en espanol” godfather El General’s “Tu Pum Pum,” but was met with disdain from both radio DJs who mainly played salsa, bachata and merengue, and local spanish-language hip-hop artists. It remains the first example of Dominican dembow, before the sound became fully solidified.
2006: Los Andolocos, “Ando Loco”
Thanks to the rise of the internet and blogs, dembow was able to begin blossoming without the help of major television and radio stations. The track “Ando Loco” by Los Andolocos was the first to gain large-scale recognition in the Dominican Republic, being spun at clubs nationwide. This time period was also extremely fruitful for reggaetón across the way in Puerto Rico.
2010: Pablo Piddy, “Quisqueyano Dembow”
The 2010s can be understood as dembow’s springtime. An outpouring of popular tracks and artists bolstered the genre, like rapper-turned-dembowsero Pablo Piddy, Monkey Black, El Alfa and Chimbala, among others. Because of Piddy’s lyrical abilities, tracks like “Quisqueyano Dembow” brought a new level of composition and structure to the genre.
2012: Chimbala, “Baila Con Lo Pie”
While he started off producing records for dembow greats like El Alfa, Chimbala, aka el pequeñito, stepped into full artist mode with the danceable “Digo E” and “Con Lo Pie.” Both tracks mark a pivotal moment for the ever-rising dembowsero, and remain dance favorites two decades later.
2014: La Materialista, “La Chapa Que Vibran”
Standing tall as one of the most recognizable women in the dembow genre, La Materialista made waves with her 2014 single, “La Chapa Que Vibran.” Moments like this (including Milka la Mas Dura’s “Dale Ven Ven” in 2009) were extremely noteworthy in a genre that like many others, did not prioritize creating space for women artists until much later in its history. Around the same time, other Dominican women in the urbano genre were also rising, like Amara la Negra and La Insuperable.
2017: Bad Bunny feat. El Alfa, “Dema Ga Ge Gi Go Gu”
El Alfa and Bad Bunny’s “Dema Ga Ge Gi Go Gu” brought much of the larger Latin Urban music audience to dembow. The Puerto Rican megastar became a major supporter of the genre, collaborating again with El Alfa (2018’s “La Romana”) and sampling other dembow artists like Chimbala and Rochy RD. While Conejo Malo was among the first of mainstream artists to tap into the explosive genre, he certainly wasn’t the last, with Rosalia, J Balvin, Jowell y Randy, among others boasting a dembow track under their belts.
2020: Tokischa & Yomel El Meloso, “Desacato Escolar”
Dembow received the shake-up of a lifetime in 2020 by way of budding rapper-turned-genre mainstay Tokischa. Within a space historically dominated by male artists (save standouts like La Materialista, La Insuperable and Milka la Mas Dura), Toki burst onto the scene with sex-positive lyricism, bringing along a number of other female dembow acts, like Yailin la Mas Viral and La Perversa. She foreshadowed her mark on the genre with the opening line of “Desacato Escolar”: soy una nena rebelde.
2021: El Alfa, CJ & El Cherry Scom, “La Mama de la Mama”
It was the dembow single heard ’round the world. In summer of 2021, El Alfa, CJ and Cherry Scom’s “La Mama de la Mama” dominated the streets and the charts, marking El Alfa’s (and arguably the genre’s) most noteworthy mainstream breakout moment, outside of a major outside collaboration. The electrifying single peaked at No. 9 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, marking a career high for El Alfa and the dembow genre.
The woman who is believed to have inspired beloved Mamá Coco, the grandmother in Pixar animated musical film Coco, has died. María Salud Ramírez Caballero was 109 years old when she passed away Oct. 16 at her home in Michoacán, Mexico. Her death was confirmed by Michoacán’s Secretary of Tourism, Roberto Monroy, who on Twitter referred to Ramírez Caballero as “a tireless woman and life example who inspired this beloved character that went around the world.”
Pixar has not formally acknowledged that Ramírez Caballero was the inspiration for Mamá Coco, but the similarity between the real life woman and the animated character was undeniable. The similarities led many over the years to declare she had indeed been the template for Mamá Coco, and tourists were known to go to her home and take photographs with her next to a Coco poster.
Ramírez Caballero, a potter by trade, was born and died in the small town of Santa Fe de la Laguna, in Michoacán, one of Mexico’s many beautiful and colorful small towns. And like the film’s Mamá Coco, had children (three), grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Her picturesque hometown is very close to Lake Pátzcuaro, one of Mexico’s best-known destinations for Day of the Dead, the crux of Coco. In the 2017 film, a young boy named Miguel goes into the land of the dead on Nov. 1 – Día de los Muertos — to find his great grandfather, father to Mamá Coco.
Ramírez Caballero is expected to be buried Tuesday in her hometown.
Mamá Coco was voiced by Mexican actress Ana Ofelia Murguía, who is now 88 years old.
After dipping her toes in the Los Angeles fashion industry as a merchandiser and “not really feeling it,” veteran music publicist Romina Magorno discovered her passion for public relations when she got her first big break at D Baron Media in 2006.
“I took the gig as an assistant at a 30K pay cut, which was insane, but it was in my gut. Something told me I was made to be in public relations,” says Magorno, who credits D Baron Media founder and CEO Diana Baron as the mentor who taught her how to be a true, traditional publicist.
At the agency, Magorno worked on projects like Los Lonely Boys, JoJo, Leann Rimes and All-American Rejects, to name a few. She relocated to Miami in 2010, where she worked at Nevarez Communications and tackled her first Latin projects, including Daddy Yankee, Chyno y Nacho, Elvis Crespo and Amelia Vega. Two years later, in September 2012, she decided to launch her own public relations agency.
“I realized that in order for me to really solidify myself in this space (Latin at that time), I needed to branch out on my own,” she explains. “I was also about to have a baby and wanted more flexibility with my time.”
Magorno now spearheads her own boutique public relations and marketing firm, Imagine It Media, with a foundation in music, entertainment and communications strategy for the U.S. Latin crossover markets, Mexico and Latin America. The Miami-based agency also specializes in talent wrangling, strategic brand partnerships and event media management.
In the past 10 years, Imagine It helmed major projects for Camila Cabello, The Spongebob Movie soundtrack, Justin Quiles and LMFAO’s Sky Blu, among others. Currently, the company’s roster includes Anitta, Tainy, Farruko, Myke Towers, Piso 21, Jorge Drexler, Steve Aoki, C. Tangana, Yahritza y Su Esencia and newcomer Un León Marinero, to name a few, as well as corporate clients NEON16, Sony Music Latin and NTERTAIN.
Below, learn more about Magorno and her agency.
What were some initial challenges when you first opened?
The credibility. I had shifted markets and did not really have super solid relationships and I found bookers, producers and journalists had their favorites and it was a challenge for sure. But I persevered and eventually, the phone calls and emails were answered. I am a people person, it’s hard to say no to this face. Ha! JK.
In your 16-year career, how do you keep motivated with your business?
Breaking new talent. Giving them my platform to really break into the market. Nowadays with streaming, it’s just so amazing to have an endless jukebox of artists and music to discover. For example, the Latin folk music movement is really making noise and having a revival. We most recently signed an indie artist from Mexico, Un León Marinero, who is in this space. He is an incredible songwriter and musician and I am so excited to show the world his talent. You have to check out his music.
What drives you to want to work with an artist?
There are many components to this question. Talent, of course, but also that I really connect with the person behind the music. It is something that is very important to me. Another component when I started my own thing, what drove me then, was to retain one big client so that I would have leverage on my hands. Having big artists means a lot of the opportunities are incoming, and although that is wonderful, what really drives me is moving things and opening doors for the up and comers. I have artists that have been with me for many years and at the beginning, media would shut the doors over and over again. Eventually, the doors opened and the feeling of accomplishment for me is so rewarding.
Who do you turn to for business advice or who has taught you the most about the business?
It’s always good to have a few people you can go to. My fellow PR colleagues Kary An Diaz and Nini Veras have been solid when it comes to advice on work-related things. But there are two people who have helped me see things clearly and supported me on so many facets, Ivelisse Malave and Lex Borrero. These executives have always been my cheerleaders and I am so thankful to have them in my life and to get to work together on projects.
What’s the most crucial advice you can offer to up-and-coming publicists?
Focus. Stay behind the scenes. Work with integrity and really learn to not only offer PR services but also to know and understand strategy. I see so many of the new schools of publicists who have no real understanding of what it is to sit and build a strategy. This is something I wish I would have learned a lot earlier on in my career, but things were a lot different then too.
Rauw Alejandro, Chiquis, Jesse & Joy, and Sebastián Yatra are set to perform at the Latin Grammy Awards, the Latin Recording Academy announced Monday (Oct. 17). The first group of confirmed artists also includes the 2022 Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
All are nominated for the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards, which will be held on Nov. 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Alejandro, who was a 2020 best new artist nominee and won his first golden gramophone last year, has eight nominations this year that include recording of the year and song of the year for “Te Felicito” with Shakira, and “Agua” with Daddy Yankee and Nile Rodgers, respectively. Yatra, previously nominated for a Grammy and nine Latin Grammys, is a four-time nominee this year, including album of the year for Dharma and song of the year for “Tacones Rojos.” Jesse & Joy, winners of the Grammy and six Latin Grammys, are nominated this time for best pop vocal album for Clichés; and Latin Grammy winner Chiquis is nominated for best banda music album for Abeja Reina.
Marco Antonio Solís, meanwhile, has been honored with five Latin Grammys and nominated for six Grammys, and this year is recognized as Person of the Year 2022 by the Latin Recording Academy.
The 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on Univision on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
The Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised ceremony in which the winners in most categories are announced, will take place before the broadcast. Additional details about this ceremony will be announced soon.
Ahead of The Rudeboyz, Adam Levine and Maluma‘s upcoming collaboration, titled “Ojalá,” Billboard can exclusively share behind-the-scenes photos from the music video shoot.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Directed by Diane Martel via NEON16 & Sony Music Latin, the pictures show candid moments between Levine, Maluma and his longtime collaborators, producing duo The Rudeboyz (Chan El Genio and Kevin ADG), who crowd together in front of a screen to watch the scenes and in one, the director makes an appearance where she’s huddling with the artists.
Los Rudeboyz, Maluma and Adam Levine with “Ojalá” music video director Diane Martel
Guillermo & Maria Juliah
“Ojalá,” where the Maroon 5 frontman sings in Spanish for the first time, marks the debut single from The Rudeboyz’s upcoming first album. Set to be released Thursday (Oct. 20), The Rudeboyz captioned a teaser of the track with the following message: ️”A very important release for us with people we admire a lot!! Keep your eyes on this !! @maluma @adamlevine.”
The Rudeboyz, who were recently signed by Tainy‘s NEON16, have produced hits for artists such as Shakira, Sech, Jennifer Lopez, Prince Royce and Sebastián Yatra, among others.
Back in June, Levine had already hinted at a possible collaboration with the Colombian hitmaker. He posted a photo of them on Instagram of the two hanging out in a studio and wrote, “World ain’t ready.”
Los Rudeboyz, Adam Levine and Maluma at the “Ojalá” music video shoot
Guillermo & Maria Juliah
The collaboration comes after allegations that the Maroon 5 frontman had been unfaithful to wife Behati Prinsloo, who is currently pregnant with the couple’s third child. In September, influencer Sumner Stroh claimed Levine had affair with her, and alleged that the rocker told her he was thinking of naming his upcoming baby Sumner.
Levine later issued a statement, denying that he had an affair. “A lot is being said about me right now and I want to clear the air. I used poor judgment in speaking with anyone other than my wife in ANY kind of flirtatious manner,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. “I did not have an affair, nevertheless, I crossed the line during a regrettable period in my life. In certain instances it became inappropriate; I have addressed that and taken proactive steps to remedy this with my family.”
