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Los Tigres del Norte has always been known for addressing political issues and social justice in its songs, with strong and direct lyrics, and for giving a voice to immigrants who have come to the U.S. in search of a better life. Amid recent immigration raids by President Donald Trump’s administration, the band’s latest single, “La Lotería,” is no exception.
“It always breaks your heart to leave your land because the tree no longer provides good shade … It’s not that they want to change their flag; although far away, they always long for their roots,” goes the song released on Feb. 6 under Fonovisa.
“I think it comes at a time when we were already seeing what was coming,” Jorge Hernández, lead vocalist and leader of Los Tigres del Norte, tells Billboard Español. “The song is narrated according to how life has led us.”
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Last year, during presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ campaign, Los Tigres performed at her rally in Phoenix. The appearance aligned with the Mexican band’s continued support for Democratic candidates during U.S. presidential elections. In the past, it has endorsed Hillary Clinton (2016) and Joe Biden (2020), and has used its platform to get Latinos to go out and vote.
“We had the opportunity to work on this Kamala Harris campaign, hoping that we would have the pleasure of having another type of government, but well, such is life. Now we have to adapt and do what we have to do,” Hernández says. “I think this moment is very important for all of us Latinos, it’s a crucial moment for everyone.”
“We also have to see what the Mexican government will grant to those people who for some reason have not been able to settle in the United States,” he adds about the fate of the people deported.
The norteño music band known for classics such as “De Paisano a Paisano,” “La Carta,” “Jefes de Jefes” and “Somos Más Americanos” left its native Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1970 — two years after the group’s foundation — and has established itself in San Jose, Calif., since then.
When asked if he fears any kind of retaliation from President Trump for being the voice of many immigrants in the U.S. and for having supported the Harris campaign, the musician stays focused.
“I don’t think negatively,” he says. “We have always participated when we are called not only in the U.S., in different countries and for different organizations. It’s part of our job. We have been identified with Latinos since the ’70s, so it’s nothing new for us. If there were to be something against us, well, we would have to see what process we would follow. For now, we are calm.”
“We did what we had to do as human beings and as citizens of this country and as citizens of our Mexican Republic,” Hernández concludes. “We will continue to move forward fighting for those people who have no voice.”
The 64th annual Viña del Mar International Song Festival, taking place Feb. 23-28, has announced a panel of nine distinguished judges across music, journalism and entertainment. This eclectic group, renowned in their respective fields, is set to evaluate the international and folk competition entries, determining the winners of the coveted Gaviota de Plata awards.
Leading the panel is Megamedia journalist Rodrigo Sepúlveda, known for his presence on Meganoticias Alerta and the daily radio program Alerta en Romántica. Joining him will be the Grammy-winning duo Bacilos, comprised of Jorge Villamizar from Colombia and André López from Brazil, who are also scheduled to take the stage on Feb. 23. They are known for their hits such as “Pasos De Gigante” and “Caraluna” which charted on Hot Latin Songs at No. 8 and 16, respectively.
Emilia Dides, a singer and Miss Chile 2024 who made significant strides at the Miss Universe pageant last year, brings her musicality to the jury. The jury also includes Catalina Edwards, a journalist, TV and radio host from Megamedia and Radio Infinita. Chilean artist and member of the group 4F (Los Cuatro Fantásticos de la Música) Kidd Voodoo joins as judge and will also take the mic on Friday, Feb. 28. The panel will also feature Chilean actor Jorge López, known for his roles in telenovelas such as Soy Luna and Élite.
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Claudio Narea, an iconic figure in Latin American rock music and a co-founder of the legendary Chilean band Los Prisioneros, brings a wealth of musical history and influence. His deep roots in rock music, and timeless hits such as “Tren Al Sur” and “Estrechez de Corazón” will make him a key judge. Adding a classical touch to the jury is Paolo Bortolameolli, an acclaimed conductor linked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a prominent figure in Chile’s and global classical music scenes.
Finally, Nicolás Oyarzún, an actor from Megamedia known for his roles in Chilean series, will bring the drama and emotive power of acting to the jury.
Superstars including Carlos Vives, Marc Anthony, Duki, Carín León and more will be gracing the stage at the 2025 Viña del Mar Festiva.
Warner Music Group announced changes to its division overseeing Argentina and Chile on Tuesday (Feb. 11), bringing in Tomás Talarico as the new managing director of Warner Music Southern Cone (née Cono Sur), effective immediately. He succeeds Guillermo Castellani, who will stay on as a consultant during the transition. Talarico will report to Alejandro Duque, president of Warner Music Latin America.
Talarico brings extensive industry experience, having founded MOJO, an independent record label and digital distributor, in 2014. Under his leadership, MOJO expanded across Argentina, Chile and Peru, becoming a key player in the tropical and urban music markets. The company has collaborated with approximately 150 artists and labels, managing audiovisual production and music publishing. According to the hiring announcement, MOJO’s success includes more than 50 Gold and Platinum certified singles and multiple industry awards, including eight Gardel Awards and two Pulsar Awards.
Throughout his career, Talarico has played a significant role in developing emerging artists such as ECKO, Grupo Zumbale Primo, Kaleb Di Masi, Papichamp and Uriel Lozano, among others. He was also a key contributor to the collaborative project Un Poco de Ruido. He’s also a musician, having released five rock and pop albums as a guitarist and singer-songwriter.
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Before founding MOJO, Talarico was a pioneer in digital music distribution, working with companies focused on MP3 and ringtone sales. His early career included a role as a supervisor at Tower Records.
Duque praised Talarico’s entrepreneurial mindset and ability to bridge music and technology “to the service of artists,” also praising Castellani role in developing the careers of major Warner artists such as Maria Becerra and Tiago PZK.
Talarico expressed excitement about joining WMG, highlighting the opportunity to utilize the resources of an international label to support the region.
“To be able to tap into the resources of a major label to superserve the exceptional talent in this region is an incredible opportunity,” he said. “I also want to pay tribute to the remarkable Guillermo Castellani who has nurtured such a strong team and played a huge role in the wider music industry. He leaves big shoes to fill, and I’m looking forward to building on his legacy!”
Castellani reflected on his time at Warner Music, which dates back to early 2002, and lauded the support of Duque and the Warner Music Southern Cone team.
“I am grateful to the family of Warner Music Southern Cone for allowing me to enjoy my work every day: without them it would have been impossible to reach the goals we achieved,” he said. “I wish Tomás success in writing the following chapter in the Southern Cone. I am sure that he will lead Warner Music in its continuous growth so that it will remain a magnet for new music talent in this part of the world.”
Ronald Day, president of entertainment and chief content officer at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, is stepping down from his position, the company announced. His departure, scheduled for this Thursday (Feb. 13), follows a recent contract renewal and comes at a time when Telemundo is experiencing unprecedented success in the ratings.
Day’s resignation coincides with Telemundo’s remarkable achievement of leading the prime time slot among Spanish-language networks in the U.S., sparking industry speculation about the timing and reasons behind this decision. “Today, at the peak of this great success, I am making another equally significant decision,” Day, who has been at the helm of the company for seven years, also announced on social media on Monday (Feb. 10).
In his post on Instagram, Day revealed his future plans, which include writing a book and embarking on a speaking tour across universities in the U.S., Latin America, and Spain. “[It] will bring me closer to my purpose: to inspire and train a new generation of executives and entrepreneurs ready to transform history, just as I can proudly say I did as I close this cycle,” he wrote.
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Day added, “Thanks to a brilliant team of creatives and leaders that I hold close to my heart, and to a Hispanic audience that has been key in my career as an immigrant in the U.S.”
Since joining Telemundo in 2018, Day has been instrumental in defining the network’s content direction. “A media executive with more than three decades of experience in Hispanic entertainment, he led the development and production of multiple seasons of our successful reality shows La Casa de los Famosos, Los 50, Exatlón, and Top Chef VIP, as well as our highly rated live specials including the Billboard Latin Music Awards and Miss Universe,” Luis Fernández, chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, said in a statement shared with Billboard. “Most recently, he helped me reorganize Telemundo Studios and position them for future growth under Javier Pons leadership.”
Last June, Day was Billboard Español‘s executive of the month. In its second annual edition, Billboard‘s Latin Women in Music 2024 significantly boosted its viewership on Telemundo, shattering previous records. The event witnessed a staggering 541% increase in audience interactions across TV, digital platforms, Peacock, and social media compared to the 2023 show. The gala, which honored stars such as Karol G and Gloria Estefan, not only attracted 109.6 million minutes of video views — a 20% increase from 2023 — but also dominated its prime time slot, outperforming Univision by significant margins in key demographic groups.
Read his full Instagram statement here.
Spanish hitmaker Quevedo is set to return to Latin America with his Buenas Noches Tour, his first trek there in two years. His most ambitious tour in Latin America to date, the “Gran Vía” singer will launch his 14-date stint in Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes on April 23. He will then take his […]
Grupo Frontera is addressing the backlash following allegations of supporting Donald Trump.
On Friday (Feb. 7), the Mexican-American band shared a statement on their Instagram Story, clarifying that they do not align with any U.S. political party.
“We want to clarify that Grupo Frontera has NO affiliation not alliance with any political party that’s against immigrants and the Latino community,” Grupo Frontera wrote in Spanish. “Like many of you, our families and [group] members have fought and struggled for a better future, and we will always take our people’s side, defending our roots and values.”
The Texas-based Música Mexicana band added, “It’s important you know that the opinions of our friends and family don’t represent Grupo Frontera. We are immigrants, we are from the border, and Grupo Frontera will always be by and for the people.”
Grupo Frontera — which includes members Adelaido Solís III (“Payo”), Juan Javier Cantú, Julián Peña, Alberto Acosta, Carlos Guerrero and Brian Ortega — came under fire after a viral video showed the grandmother of a band member celebrating Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, according to The Latin Times.
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As fans began to react to the viral clip, Grupo Frontera remained largely silent on social media.
The controversy coincided with Trump’s promise to begin large-scale deportations when re-elected, a move that would heavily impact Latinos.
“i will no longer support grupo frontera because, how are you voting for Trump while being latino? mind you I live in their surrounding era and it’s heavily latino populated too like???” one fan wrote on X.
According to the LT, other various social media responses included: “Make music in English now,” “Never come back to Mexico,” “Latinos are the ones who listen to your music, and you’ve let us down,” “This kind of betrayal comes at a high price” and “We should cancel them all.”
Artists such as Residente, Selena Gomez, Lupillo Rivera, Becky G, Chiquis and Ángela Aguilar have spoken out against the deportations.
Grupo Frontera will be performing at Billboard THE STAGE during SXSW in Austin on March 14.
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Rey del Carnaval
Jay Wheeler has been named the 2025 Rey del Carnaval de Miami (King of the Carnaval), joining past crownholders such as Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, and Chayanne, to name a few. The Puerto Rican artist will also headline the popular Calle Ocho street festival held March 9 in Miami, Fla. “Joining the list of so many legendary artists who have represented Miami Carnaval as kings and queens is an indescribable privilege,” Jay Wheeler expressed during a press conference held Thursday (Feb. 6) at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. “This is a special moment in my career and I am proud to represent our vibrant heritage as part of this incredible annual celebration of culture, music and community.”
Jay Wheeler
Kiwanis Club of Little Havana
Gente De Zona’s 25th Anniversary
Gente de Zona is turning 25 after kicking off its music career as a duo in 2000. To celebrate, Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom Martínez have released a two-part single. Titled “Cositas Bonitas de eso Se Trata,” the artists reeled in four new Cuban artists to tell the story of a long-lasting and healthy relationship. “Cositas Bonitas” in collaboration with El Kamel and L Kimii is about dating and getting to know each other, while “Se Trata” in collaboration with Dany Ome and Kevincito El 13 is about commitment and building a future together. The former is a saucy reparto and the latter, has more pop elements laced with the Cuban-urban genre. According to a press release, both songs are part of the forthcoming Reparto by Gente de Zona album, and are the most romantic tracks on the project.
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Intimate Night with Arjona
In a very rare appearance, Ricardo Arjona celebrated his new album, Seco, with an intimate showcase in Miami, Fla. The exclusive event, held for select press and a small group of fans, took place Tuesday (Feb. 4) at the Adrienne Arsht Center, where Arjona performed songs from his new set, such as “Mujer,” and timeless hits including “Historia de un Taxi,” “Te Conozco,” and “Fuiste Tú.” In the midst of the presentation, the Guatemalan singer-songwriter shared life anecdotes, the album’s creative process, and even his dream of owning a bar in New York City. See a small recap of the evening below.
Daddy Yankee’s Birthday
Daddy Yankee might be in a legal battle with his ex-wife Mireddys González, but he’s keeping positive in the midst of it all—at least that’s what he’s showing fans on social media. This week, the former reggaetón hitmaker celebrated his 48th birthday (Feb. 3) alongside family and friends in Puerto Rico. “The faith community surprised me by celebrating my birthday last night,” he said in an Instagram post. “Honestly, they caught me off guard and surprised me. What a gift from heaven! When you least expect it, God always finds a way to cheer you up and never lets you down. Thank you to all the pastors, evangelists and artists of the kingdom who volunteered for this surprise party. Also to my AYALA family, who never miss a dance. Blessings to all, we had an extremely good time.” Check out DY’s surprise party in the below videos and photos.
Bad Bunny can’t help but flash his pearly white smile in new Super Bowl ad for Ritz Crackers that also features Aubrey Plaza and Michael Shannon. But his positivity and happy-go-lucky attitude make him an outsider at the Ritz Salty Club, a lounge located in Utah’s salt flats where everyone is … salty. The ad […]
This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new music from artists including collaborations by Xavi and Manuel Turizo, Calle 24 with Fuerza Regida, as well as a new bachata album from Natti Natasha produced by Romeo Santos. Xavi and Manuel Turizo teamed up for the first time for a […]
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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Natti Natasha, Natti Natasha en Amargue (Pina Records/Sony Music Latin)
Natti Natasha continues to explore the sound of bachata on her fourth studio album, Natti Natasha en Amargue, a 10-track set produced by the king of the genre himself, Romeo Santos. From the opening song “Desde Hoy,” through “Escasez de Besos” and “Cansada,” the Dominican singer shows off her deep, raspy voice as she addresses topics such as heartbreak and betrayal with empowering lyrics of growth and self-respect. The set includes the previously released singles “Tu Loca” and “Quiéreme Menos,” as well as a collaboration with Ozuna, “Ya No Comparto,” in which a couple decides their fate after infidelity.
Santos’ trademark is felt from beginning to end, with elegant arrangements, instrumentation and back-up vocals providing a solid framework for the singer. “All these songs are an offering of love and gratitude to the Dominican Republic and to all those who have embraced bachata, in all its forms, especially to my great friend, songwriter and producer Romeo Santos,” says Natti in a statement. The union of both artists is a success. While they’re not reinventing the wheel by any means, Natti Natasha en Amargue sounds like an instant classic. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
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Xavi & Manuel Turizo, “En Privado” (Interscope Records)
For Xavi and Manuel Turizo’s first collaborative effort, you’d expect them to go either the música Mexicana or pop-reggaetón route — but never a bachata. “En Privado” (in private) is just that, a surprising fusion between the tropical Dominican genre (one that Turizo has dominated) and Xavi’s signature tumbados románticos sound. Produced by Andy Clay, the track is a dedication to “la mas chula del barrio” (the most beautiful girl in the block), with a lot of hard-to-decline invitations and exciting promises. “I’m going to steal you, I’m going to maintain you/ A night in Cancun, and the next in Dubai,” Turizo chants, while Xavi also proposes: “Everything you want, my sweetheart/ I’ll even erase the girls I have on Instagram.” — JESSICA ROIZ
Silvestre Dangond & Emilia, “Vestido Rojo” (Sony Music Latin)
Silvestre Dangond’s melodic vocals could carry the entire song without any other instruments in two, but when his voice joins the vallenato’s accordion, there’s an explosion of rhythms that make this song so catchy. Argentine star Emilia joins Dangond at the minute-mark, adding her velvet vocals to the cumbia track. “Vestido Rojo” is almost like a call and response with Dangond expressing his desire to be with the women in red who seems to be playing hard to get. But he may be overthinking it. Her response? “I didn’t want anything but now I’ll give you everything,” she sings. The Colombian artist says of his collab with Emilia in a statement, “Her way of interpreting gives a new dimension to ‘Vestido Rojo’, and together we achieved a song that we hope will connect deeply with the public.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Calle 24 x Fuerza Regida, “Como Estrella” (Street Mob/Warner Music Latina)
“Como Estrella,” the latest collaboration between Calle 24 and Fuerza Regida, captivates with its evocative blend of somber brass, warm nylon strings, and introspective lyrics. Traversing the themes of perseverance and celestial guidance, the song is layered with Diego Millán’s soaring vocal range and JOP’s impactful interjections. As the chosen theme for Netflix’s series Prison Cell 211, “Como Estrella” superbly enhances the dramatic narrative. “Being part of the Prison Cell 211 soundtrack is a very important step in my career,” Diego Millán shared in a press release. “This series portrays an intense and raw reality, full of strong emotions and personal struggles, and ‘Como Estrella’ fits perfectly with that story. It’s a song that speaks of absence, memories, and the strength left behind by those who are no longer with us.” — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Los Tigres del Norte, “La Lotería” (Fonovisa)
Los Tigres del Norte return to political-social corridos — with the double-meanings and metaphors that have characterized the group’s career of more than half a century. The song’s title is named after to a typical Mexican board game that’s similar to Bingo. Penned by Luciano Luna, the lyrics compare the characters on “la lotería” game to real-life situations and people, referring to current issues that governments have not been able to resolve. “This life is just like the lottery and there are some who play the brave/ They do everything to climb the ladder because the crown makes them influential,” Los Tigres sings in its well-known traditional northern style. The first single from the group’s upcoming album is accompanied by a very special music video: a short film made by filmmaker Sergio Arau, creator of the acclaimed documentary Un Día Sin Mexicanos, which takes on even more value in these times of uncertainty that immigrants are experiencing. — TERE AGUILERA
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below: