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Luísa Sonza has been announced as one of the attractions for the historic first regular-season NFL game that will take place in Brazil. She will perform the Brazilian National Anthem. Other confirmed acts include Anitta, who will perform during the halftime show. Zeeba (who is American, with Brazilian parents) will sing the U.S. National Anthem, while DJ Carola will present a set before the game begins. The event will take place on Sept. 6 at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo.
In a conversation with Billboard Brazil, Luísa described the moment as an opportunity to increase the projection of her name and career outside her country. “This is a very important exposure. But above all, representing my country to the world is the greatest honor I can have as an artist,” she said.
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The National Anthem moment precedes the start of the match, and for Sonza, it’s a time that generates a lot of anticipation for the audience. “It’s always emotional because it’s about our roots, our homeland. Being able to represent that to the world will be an honor.” Read the exclusive interview below.
How did the invitation to sing the National Anthem at the NFL event in São Paulo come about?
The invitation came through Kley Tarcitano, an artistic director who currently works in the United States and collaborates with the NFL, along with Maria Garcia, who works with the NFL and the halftime show in the U.S. and worldwide. I said yes right away! The NFL is a global event, and I was very happy to be invited to their first game in Brazil. Singing the National Anthem is always a unique moment, especially at an event of this magnitude. Representing my country is incredible.
Can you give more details about what you’re preparing for your performance?
The performance of the National Anthem always comes with great expectations. I’ve been singing since I was a child, and I always sing along with all the other Brazilians during important moments in our history, at games, and in celebrations. The anthem is always emotional because it brings our roots, our homeland, and being able to represent that to the world will be an honor.
In the United States, there is a strong connection between pop music and sports, particularly with American football. How do you see this playing in Brazil?
I believe entertainment and sports always succeed together. I’ve always followed the Super Bowl finals, the incredible shows that happen every year, and I’m very happy to be part of this moment here in Brazil.
Regarding the audience here in Brazil, do you think being part of this historic NFL event could also introduce you to a new audience?
It always adds value. Being able to perform and sing for new audiences is important for all artists. Music is very vast in Brazil, and having this kind of representation is relevant for any artist’s career.
Do you believe that this performance could also bring international exposure to your career? Is that an important point for you?
Yes. I’ve already been more present abroad, and this is a very important exposure. But above all, representing my country to the world is the greatest honor I can have as an artist. I’m very happy with the invitation.
Puerto Rican sensation Myke Towers dives deep into the superhero-inspired themes behind his upcoming album, La Pantera Negra, in an interview with Billboard News. He shares his interpretation of embracing his persona akin to suiting up like a black panther.
“First of all, I feel like I’m a superhero, whenever I’m performing or in the studio. When it’s time to do what I do, it’s like putting on the suit,” he explains. The album is slated for release Friday (Aug. 23).
Towers, known for his reggaetón, rap and trap songs including “Lala,” “La Falda” and “La Curiosidad,” is expanding his musical palette with tracks such as “En el Mar,” a song blending reggae roots with a “Bob Marley flow” and his staple música urbana influences. “I always try to do different things,” he says, hinting at the experimental vibes of the upcoming record.
A long-time collaborator of Bad Bunny’s, Towers also discussed returning to the studio with El Conejo Malo to create the track “Adivino,” a dance banger with a subtle reggaetón beat built over padded synths. On May 11, the song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 63 and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, Towers’ highest charting single to date.
The Río Piedras artist (born Michael Anthony Torres Monge) also highlighted how an encounter with Benny Blanco in an L.A. studio led to a fruitful session. “We did three songs that day, and the three songs are fire,” Towers shared, spotlighting the effortless synergy between the artists. His vibe is crazy — whenever I’m around him, he’s like laughing [all] around.”
The 20-track album features an ensemble of collaborations with artists such as Peso Pluma, Jay Wheeler, Omar Montes, Cosculluela, Yovngchimi and more, promising a multifaceted auditory experience for listeners.
On April 30, Myke Towers graced the cover of Billboard Español, in which he dove into the symbolism of La Pantera Negra and his continued ascent in the music world.
Watch Towers’ new interview with Billboard News above to hear him discuss his new album.
Los Angeles-based trio LA LOM make their first Billboard chart appearance with debut album The Los Angeles League of Musicians, as the 13-track set launches at No. 5 on the Tropical Albums chart (dated Aug. 24).
“I know I wasn’t thinking about charts when we made the record,” Zac Sokolow, LA LOM’s guitar player, tells Billboard. “We’ve been really excited to have the opportunity to share our original music with people around the world, and we’re really happy to hear that the record is resonating with people.”
The Los Angeles League of Musicians was released Aug. 9 on Verve/VLG. That gives the label its first entry and top 10 on a Latin chart in over a decade, since Natalie Cole’s Natalie Cole En Español debuted at No. 1 on both, Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts in January 2013.
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The Los Angeles League of Musicians (LA LOM is its acronym), opens at No. 5 on Tropical Albums with a little over 2,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. for the tracking week of Aug. 9-15, according to Luminate. Most of the album’s first week sum comprises traditional album sales, with a small amount of units through streaming activity. That equates to 358,000 official on-demand U.S. streams for the album’s songs.
On Tropical Albums, one unit equals 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.
With The Los Angeles League of Musicians, LA LOM banks its first entry on a Billboard chart and its first top 10 on any ranking.
Notably, it’s just the third album to debut in the top five on Tropical Albums so far in 2024, after Prince Royce’s Llamada Perdida (No. 2 start in March) and Marc Anthony’s Muevense (No. 4 debut in May). Further LA LOM marks the third top five debut by a group this decade, joining El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico’s En Cuarentena and Buena Vista Social Club’s Ahora Me Da Pena EP, both which achieved a No. 3 opening in April 2021 and May 7, 2022, respectively.
“We all have a background playing different styles of music that we heard around Los Angeles, the city we all grew up in,” Sokolow adds. “Everything from classic soul, rockabilly, country, jazz, to traditional music from Eastern Europe. When we play cumbia, we bring all these elements from the city to our music. The tropical/cumbia that’s most popular around LA is probably the pop cumbia style from Mexico you hear on the radio, but there are also some really great bands that play music influenced by the chicha from Peru, or the vallenato style from Colombia. We play our own style from Los Angeles.”
Thanks to LA LOM’s U.S. growing footprint, the group, composed of Zac Sokolow (guitar), Jake Faulkner (bass), and Nicholas Baker (drums/percussion), concurrently makes its debut on the Emerging Artists chart, at No. 18. The tally ranks the most popular developing artists of the week, using the same formula as the all-encompassing Billboard Artist 100, which measures artist activity across multiple Billboard charts.
Further, the album takes LA LOM to its first appearance on Top Current Album Sales, where it arrives at No. 44.
“What you hear on the record is pretty close to the way we play live, but we always play the best when we are playing to a room full of dancers,” Sokolow concludes. “We’ve been pretty busy touring the last couple months and have dates coming up all over the world. Make sure to come see us when we make it to your town!”
Rauw Alejandro returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart with “Touching the Sky,” as the song jumps 2-1 to rule the Aug. 24-dated ranking. The new champ marks his fifth No. 1 overall and second as a soloist after “Todo De Ti” dominated for 28 weeks between 2021-22.
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The disco-infused “Touching the Sky,” released through Duars/Sony Music Latin on May 23, lands at the summit on Latin Pop Airplay with a 7% gain in audience impressions, to 3.8 million, earned in the week of Aug. 9-15, according to Luminate. Thanks to its audience improvement the song trades places with Piso 21 and Wisin’s “La Misión,” which dips 2-1 with an 11% drop, to 3.8 million impressions.
“‘Touching The Sky’ is out! Thanks for the loveeee siempreeeee,” the Puerto Rican announced on his Instagram account almost three months ago. The song’s connection with the Latin pop audience and programmers comes after the first taste of Rauw Alejandro’s new art direction overall, where he steps out of his rhythmic music chapter and embraces the pop side he occasionally showcased in prior releases, plus welcomes a more dapper wardrobe, as he’s been teasing on socials.
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“Touching the Sky” also marks Rauw Alejandro’s first No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act, since the 28-week ruler “Todo De Ti” in 2021-22. In between, Raúl placed another champ, the Shakira collab “Te Felicito” (one week atop in May 2022). Plus, two top 10s followed: “Beso” with Rosalía (No. 2 high) and the No. 9-peaking “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 56” with Bizarrap (both in July 2023).
In sum, Rauw Alejandro has logged five career No. 1s on Latin Pop Airplay, dating back to 2020. Here’s his collection of champs:
Peak Date, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1:
June 6, 2020, “TBT,” with Sebastian Yatra & Manuel Turizo, three
March 13, 2021, “Baila Conmigo,” with Selena Gómez, two
May 8, 2021, “Vacío,” with Luis Fonsi, six
June 19, 2021, “Todo De Ti,” 28
May 7, 2022, “Te Felicito,” with Shakira, one
Aug. 24, “Touching the Sky”
Beyond the Latin Pop Airplay coronation, “Touching the Sky” rebounds to its No. 24 peak on the overall Latin Airplay chart, his first appearance as a solo singer since “Cúrame” ruled the March 5, 2022, chart.
J Balvin is gearing up to headline the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week. This year’s 35th annual event will unfold from October 14-18 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater.
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Known for his massive influence on Colombian reggaetón and global Latin music, the Medellín superstar — who is fresh off releasing his sixth solo studio album Rayo — will host a special night titled “Next Gen Reggaetón: An Evening Curated by J Balvin” during the week. The event promises an exciting lineup of surprise performances and guests, all chosen by Balvin himself.
The global superstar and entrepreneur is a highly decorated and critically acclaimed cultural icon who has won multiple Billboard Music Awards and plenty of chart accolades, including nine No. 1 tracks on the Hot Latin Songs chart, including “Mi Gente” with Beyoncé, “Ginza,” “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” with Black Eyed Peas) and a No. 1 on the Hot 100 (“I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny).
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Apart from his curation, Balvin will engage in an exclusive Superstar Q&A moderated by Leila Cobo, chief content officer for Latin/Español at Billboard, providing deeper insights into his music and influence. The session, also sponsored by Cheetos, aims to foster intimate and enlightening discussions.
“Latin music is living its most successful and globally recognized moment ever this year. But Billboard has been proudly at its side for over 35 years as the main flagbearer, supporter and ultimate opinion maker for Latin music around the world,” said Cobo in a press release. “During a year when Latin music is dominating the charts and the cultural zeitgeist, we are thrilled to return to Miami Beach, the global capital of Latin music, for this exciting week-long event.”
The announcement also highlighted the expansive lineup for this legacy event, featuring a blend of established stars and emerging talents including Bad Gyal, DANNA, Danny Ocean, Domelipa, Fat Joe, Gloria Estefan, JOP, Keityn, Lele Pons, Luis Alfonso, Maria Becerra, Mau y Ricky, Mon LaFerte, N.O.R.E., Paola Jara, Peso Pluma, Pipe Bueno, Sophia Talamas, Yeison Jiménez, and Yeri Mua, with more to be announced in the coming months. Tickets are now available here.
“We are proud of the decades-long work we have done to celebrate Latin talent and bring the community together. This year’s event will be an unmatched celebration for artists, the industry and fans,” said Mike Van, President of Billboard, in a press release.
“Miami Beach is ready to once again host Billboard Latin Music Week, an event that truly showcases the vibrant and diverse culture of our community,” added Mayor of Miami Beach, Steven Meiner. “This week not only celebrates the rich heritage of Latin music, but also highlights Miami Beach as a global destination for arts and entertainment. We look forward to another unforgettable week of music.”
Billboard Latin Music Week will coincide with the Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air on Telemundo. Latin Music Week tickets will not include access to the awards show this year. Instead, Billboard will host a special 35th-year anniversary celebration on the evening of October 18 where INSIDER badge holders will receive exclusive invitations to this star-studded event.
For more information on the Billboard Latin Music Week, updates on the schedule, and more exciting announcements, visit BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com.
The NFL is gearing up for a significant milestone by hosting its inaugural regular-season game in São Paulo, marking a historic expansion of American football into South America.
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Amid this groundbreaking event, Brazil‘s own baile funk superstar Anitta will kick off the halftime show, Billboard can exclusively announce Tuesday (Aug. 20). Her performance is set to meld the vibrant spirit of Brazilian music with the exhilarating intensity of American football. “I am incredibly excited to perform in São Paulo at the NFL’s first game in my home country of Brazil,” the artist tells Billboard Español. The event is taking place September 6 at 8:15pm ET.
Steering Anitta’s presentation are NFL’s head of music, Seth Dudowsky, Senior vp of global event operations & production, Jon Barker, and director of event presentation & content, Tim Tubito, all in collaboration with Production Club. “When we talked about artists that we wanted to work with, Anitta was at the top of that list,” explains Dudowsky. “We don’t want to come in and make this very American and Western. We want it to weave into the culture of the environment that we’re at,” adds Jon Barker.
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In a discussion with Billboard Español, Anitta, Dudowsky, and Barker delve deeper into the preparations and expectations for this unprecedented NFL game, sharing their visions of blending sports, music, and culture to create an unforgettable experience for fans around the globe.
How do you feel about performing at the historic NFL game in São Paulo, the first of its kind in South America?
Anitta: I am incredibly excited to perform in São Paulo at the NFL’s first game in my home country of Brazil. Growing up here has completely shaped me as an artist and, of course, as a person. So it means everything to be able to bring fans around the world the excitement and joy of our amazing music and culture. It’s really a dream come true to be a part of this moment.
Courtesy of NFL
Seth and Jon, how was Anitta decided on for this halftime show at the NFL’s first game in São Paulo?
Seth Dudowsky: We wanted to make sure that coming to Brazil, we were putting on the spectacle and the level of quality that you expect from an NFL event. Also, doing it in a way that felt natural and embracing the culture of São Paulo and Brazil. The most authentic way to do that is to work with artists and performers who are from those places. Artists who have been not only a face of Brazilian music, and what that represents around the world, but also being an icon in America as well. This creates a bridge for us to come from American culture down to São Paulo. When we talked about artists that we wanted to work with, Anitta was at the top of that list. It’s been an amazing opportunity, not only to have her perform at the game and help us create an incredible game-day experience for the fans, but also to help be an ambassador so that fans understand we’re coming down to Brazil. We’re going to do it in a special way that celebrates Brazilian culture.
Jon Barker: American football is becoming a global sport, and we are starting to play more games in different parts of the world. The opportunity to bring our game to São Paulo, Brazil, to South America, is really exciting. When you think about an opportunity to work with an artist like Anitta, it just elevates everything that we’re going to do. We don’t want to come in and make this very American and Western. We want it to weave into the culture of the environment that we’re at, so that fans who are coming to this game can identify with the entire experience. Anitta just brings that one hundred times for us, because she’s such a wonderful talent.
Anitta, have you previously followed American football? If so, what does this sport mean to you personally?
Anitta: I love sports in general, and I’m one of those fans who screams in front of the TV! With American football it would be no different. As a Brazilian, I love getting together with friends and family to have a barbecue and to cheer.
How do you plan to connect with an audience that might be experiencing both Anitta and NFL football for the first time?
Anitta: Music is something that brings us all together, no matter where you’re from or what your background is. Football does the same, so I think that uniting force from both music and football creates a natural connection to the audience. I hope this global audience will really enjoy the performance.
Seth and Jon, how important is local culture in choosing a halftime performer for international NFL games?
Barker: Extremely important. It’s part of the overall environment that we create. I know we’re talking about halftime, about Anitta, but it sits in the way that we think about decor and the use of color and pattern, and how that reflects local culture. It’s in the music selection that we use in pregame DJs and artists who are going to be singing the national anthems for both countries. It shows up in many different ways, not just in the music that we select at halftime. It’s integrated along the journey. When you start to see the decor pattern that we’re using, you’ll see that it’s reflective of Brazilian culture.
Dudowsky: We’re going to make sure that we are representing and being authentic to the culture there. One of the most direct and effective ways to make it feel like I’m seeing something that’s not just another regular season game [with] the way we’re using art, imagery, and music. To go back to Anitta, we’ll have assets that are going to be created both in Brazil and America. For the fans in Brazil, it’s to make sure that they feel like we’re doing something authentic with an artist they recognize and love. But also for American fans to see that content, to see Packers-Eagles highlights. With Anitta and Brazilian music, it gives [Americans] that feeling that this is unique and special, even if [they’re] not actually going to São Paulo to experience it.
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The NFL is focusing on global expansion and bringing American football to new audiences. As a Brazilian artist, how do you see your role in this initiative?
Anitta: Seeing the NFL grow football internationally has been great to watch, and when I saw they announced the first game in South America, I felt like the stars were aligning. I know many football fans out here in Brazil, so having the opportunity to perform for so many of my fans here and beyond is an amazing experience.
Jon and Seth, how do you ensure that the music appeals to both longtime NFL fans but also new audiences?
Dudowsky: On the music strategy point, one of my biggest beliefs is that music is universal, just like sports is. Every country on earth has their own version of what they love in sports and what they love in music. You won’t find a corner of the planet that doesn’t have those two things as part of that culture. While it’s universal, it’s also specific. Everybody’s music choices and opinions on music are personal. So we know not every single piece of music everybody’s going to love, and that’s okay. We try to work with artists that are authentic and are uniquely themselves and represent a space in music. We speak a lot with our office counterparts in Brazil and Latin America. We work with labels and trusted sources, artists, agents, tastemakers, people that really are on the ground and know what’s relevant.
Barker: It’s such a great line that sport and music are universal, and they don’t need to be translated; they just carry over. Who would have ever thought that playing John Denver in Munich, 70,000 people would just stop doing what they’re doing and sing together in unison? It happened! Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t. We experiment, and we see what hits and what doesn’t. You’ve got a different audience inside the stadium at varying ages, a different audience tuning in television locally, and a different one tuning in the United States.
How do we listen and learn from the local community? And how do we weave that into this game and create the environment that we want new fans in São Paulo to experience? That’s the process we go through, and I hope that each year we get better and better at it.
Anitta, can you give us a hint about what viewers can expect from your halftime show?
Anitta: While I want to keep a lot of elements of the show a surprise, I can tell you I will perform Brazilian funk! I can’t wait to do this in front of so many Brazilians at home, as well as the global audience who will be able to see the show as well. It’s going to be big, and I’m excited for everyone to see what we have in store.
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Last words?
Barker: I don’t want to be hyperbolic but we’re about to do something historic, bringing our game to a place that’s never been played before. The excitement that is bouncing off the walls at our headquarters in New York and Seth’s offices in Los Angeles is palpable. How we’ve been received in [Brazil] from the day we made the announcement that we’re coming has been overwhelmingly welcoming. I’m proud that I can be a part of something like this, being part of the NFL, and being part of a group that’s bringing this game to Brazilians, and have them, hopefully, experience it and love it the same way that we all do here.
Dudowsky: One of the things that keeps me energized and passionate about being at the NFL for over a decade is the opportunity to not only learn about these cultures, but to be a part of something that is happening for the first time. Whether it was in Munich or the first Super Bowl in Las Vegas, when a city gets the opportunity to do something like this for the first time, it just feels extra special. The energy, the passion that especially Brazilian fans come with, we couldn’t be more excited to see it with our own eyes and to be a part of it; and to see what the country and fans of Brazil do with this game going into the future.
Working with a global icon like Anitta has only made everything we’re saying even more tangible. Her team has been amazing. She has been fantastic. We’re excited to have Anitta and all the energy and excitement that she brings. It’s only going to add to what we know is going to be a really special and historic night in São Paulo.
Becky G is hitting the road in the fall with her 2024 Casa Gomez: Otro Capítulo Tour, Billboard can exclusively announce Tuesday (Aug. 20). The Mexican-American pop star is set to kick off her 14-date stint on Oct. 11 at The Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. She will visit fans in key cities such […]
President Nicolás Maduro lashed out at Venezuelan singer and influencer Lele Pons in a video posted on his Instagram and TikTok accounts, amid the tension generated by the recent Venezuelan presidential elections in which he declared himself the winner. The video was released after the massive opposition march on Saturday (Aug. 17), which brought together thousands of people in Caracas and other cities worldwide, including Tokyo, Mexico City and Miami.
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“Eleonora ‘Lele’ Pons wants to impose a government in #Venezuela through a concert in Miami, but who said she is a politician? Lele Pons is not the #CNE! Do not underestimate Venezuela, you do not know the spiritual power of this #People!” reads the description of Maduro’s TikTok video.
“Who said that Lele Pons and the artists that she is calling, just like the concert in Cúcuta, should determine the life of an entire country?” the Chavismo leader said. “So they think that because some artists were going to sing, the next day they would invade Venezuela. Be careful with manipulations, be careful. And you can conspire from Miami, but in Venezuela, the Venezuelans rule. As we did with the artists at the concert in Cúcuta, so will the people of Venezuela, today even more strongly.”
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Shortly after, Pons reacted in a video on her TikTok account captioned, “You will not silence me! VENEZUELA WON 🇻🇪❤️.” The artist also shared some images on Instagram of her participation in the march, during which she carried the flag of her native country, accompanied by Venezuelan artists Danny Ocean, Elena Rose, Marko and Joaquina, among others.
Pons is the Venezuelan influencer and singer with the most followers on social media, with more than 53.4 million followers on Instagram alone and 32.5 million on TikTok. She has been vocal about the irregularities in Venezuela’s elections, where the opposition claims to have evidence that its candidate, Edmundo González, obtained the majority of the votes.
On Aug. 9, she did an Instagram Live with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, during which the politician answered questions from her followers and announced Saturday’s massive event aimed at the international community.
See Lele Pons’ TikTok below:
Kesha fans were sent for a loop on Sunday (Aug. 18) after claims that the “Eat the Acid” singer’s name was removed from the video credits of Pitbull‘s 2013 hit “Timber.” According to screenshots posted on Reddit of what appeared to be the altered credentials for the visual for the single from Mr. Worldwide’s Meltdown […]
Kenia OS and Steve Aoki’s “Replay” has topped this week’s new music Latin poll. In a poll published on Friday (Aug. 16) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for Kenia and Aoki’s first collaborative effort as their […]