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Young Miko is sitting, legs crisscrossed, atop her purple bed, surrounded by bookshelves, a boombox and a big Tamagotchi. A microphone clutched to her chest, she’s visibly emotional, almost teary-eyed. But she’s not alone in what appears to be her bedroom. On this September evening, she’s onstage at Miami’s Hard Rock Live, and a crowd […]
Billboard Latin Music Week — the single most important, and biggest, gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world — is celebrating its 35th anniversary, taking place Oct. 14-18 at the Fillmore Miami Beach.This year’s coveted event will feature superstar speakers J Balvin, Young Miko, Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz, Peso Pluma, JOP (Fuerza Regida), Eden Muñoz, Bad Gyal, Mon Laferte,Thalia and Maria Becerra, among many others. As tradition holds, the week coincides with the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards airing Sunday, Oct. 20, via Telemundo.
Over the past 35 years, Latin Music Week has become the one, steady foundation of Latin music in this country and for the world.
Tracing back to 1990, the star-studded conferences and showcases, initially named Latin Music Seminar, sponsored by Billboard, kicked off as a one-day event in Miami featuring a two-artist showcase and awards show. In 1992, the event took place in Las Vegas, where artists such as Selena Quintanilla and Jon Secada performed at the new-artist showcase. Shakira made her debut in 1996 at a conference showcase, and that same year, José Feliciano received El Premio Billboard; Juan Gabriel was inducted into the Hall of Fame; and Gloria Estefan received the Spirit of Hope award.
Some of the biggest names in Latin music history, including Celia Cruz, Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Tito Puente, Jenni Rivera and Emilio Estefan, to name a few, have participated at Billboard Latin Music Week throughout the years. Most recently, Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, Karol G, Romeo Santos and Peso Pluma have also joined the celebration.
Below, check out a photo gallery of 35 years of Billboard Latin Music Week. To register for this year’s event, go to Billboard Latin Music Week.
Shakira
Image Credit: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Shakira arrives at the Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 22, 1999 at the Fountainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
Celia Cruz
Image Credit: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Celia Cruz laughs as she jokes with photographers upon her arrival to the Latin Billboard Music Awards on April 27, 2000 at the Jackie Gleason Theatre of the Performing Arts in Miami Beach, Florida.
Soraya
Image Credit: Rodrigo Varela/WireImage
Soraya winner of the “Spirit of Hope” award at the 2004 Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 29, 2004 at The Miami Arena in Miami, Florida.
Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony
Image Credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony arrive at the 2005 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Miami Arena on April 28, 2005 in Miami, Florida.
Shakira
Image Credit: Scott Gries/Getty Images
Shakira performs onstage during the 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on April 27, 2006 in Hollywood, Florida.
Arthur Hanlon
Image Credit: Rodrigo Varela/WireImage
Arthur Hanlon arrives at the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards on April 26, 2007 at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
Calle 13
Image Credit: Rodrigo Varela/WireImage
Calle 13 in the press room at the 2007 Billboard Latin Music Conference and Awards on April 26, 2007 at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
RBD
Image Credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
Christian Chavez, Christopher Uckermann, Dulce María, Anahi and Alfonso Poncho Herrera Rodriguez of RBD attend the 2008 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on April 10, 2008 in Hollywood, Florida.
Enrique Iglesias
Image Credit: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images
Enrique Iglesias attends a press conference and Q&A during the 2008 Billboard Latin Music Conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on April 9, 2008 in Hollywood, Florida.
Aventura
Image Credit: John Parra/WireImage
Lenny Santos, Henry Santos Jeter and Anthony ‘Romeo’ Santos and Max Santos of Aventura attend a Q&A during Billboard Latin Music Conference at Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza on April 28, 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Leila Cobo & Marc Anthony
Image Credit: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images
Leila Cobo and Marc Anthony speak at the Billboard Latin Music Conference at Conrad San Juan Condado Plaza on April 28, 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Luis Fonsi
Image Credit: John Parra/Getty Images
Luis Fonsi performs onstage at the 2010 Billboard Latin Music Awards at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot on April 29, 2010 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Don Omar
Image Credit: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images
Don Omar poses backstage during Billboard Latin Music Awards 2012 at Bank United Center on April 26, 2012 in Miami, Florida.
Leslie Grace, Gloria Trevi, Kat Dahlia & La Marisoul
Image Credit: Aaron Davidson/Getty Images
Leslie Grace, Gloria Trevi, Kat Dahlia and La Marisoul participate in 25th Annual Billboard Latin Music Conference – Q&A With David Bisbal & Lusi Fonsi at JW Marriott Marquis on April 23, 2014 in Miami, Florida.
J Balvin & Nicky Jam
Image Credit: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images
J Balvin and Nicky Jam speak at the Billboard Latin Conference 2017 at Ritz Carlton South Beach on April 26, 2017 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Leila Cobo
Image Credit: Sam Wasson/FilmMagic
Leila Cobo attends the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
J Quiles
Image Credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
J Quiles is seen performing at Oasis Wynwood during Billboard Latin Music Week 2021 on Sept. 24, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
Mana
Image Credit: Omar Vega/Getty Images
Fher Olvera and Alex Gonzalez of Mana during the State of the Latin Music Market conference as part of the Billboard Latin Music Week at The Venetian on April 25, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cardi B & Ozuna
Image Credit: David Becker/Getty Images
Cardi B and Ozuna perform onstage at the 2018 Billboard Latin Music Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on April 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Karol G
Image Credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
Karol G attends Billboard Latin Music Week 2021 on Sept. 21, 2021 in Miami, Florida.
Bernie Martinez, Bad Bunny & Bysael Martinez
Image Credit: Todd Williamson/NBC/Getty Images
Bernie Martinez, Bad Bunny and Bysael Martinez pose in the press room during the 2021 Billboard Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on May 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
Daddy Yankee
Image Credit: Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Daddy Yankee performs onstage during Billboard Latin Music Week 2021 at Faena Theater on Sept. 22, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Paquita la del Barrio & Bad Bunny
Image Credit: John Parra/Telemundo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Paquita la del Barrio and Bad Bunny on stage during the 2021 Billboard Latin Music Awards on Sept. 23, 2021 at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida.
Mariah Angeliq, Emilia Mernes, Laura Villa, Lucia Villa, & Elena Rose
Image Credit: Jason Koerner/Getty Images
“Women on the Rise – The New Generation” panel with Mariah Angeliq, Emilia Mernes, Laura Villa, Lucia Villa, and Elena Rose during Billboard Latin Music Week 2021 at Faena Forum on Sept. 22, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Bizarrap
Image Credit: Gus Caballero for Billboard
Bizarrap speaks onstage during The Sony Music Publishing Q&A with Bizarrap, Presented by Sony Music Publishing” panel at Billboard Latin Music Week 2022 held at Faena Forum on Sept. 28, 2022 in Miami, Florida.
Karol G
Image Credit: Ivan Apfel/Getty Images
Karol G attends the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards at Watsco Center on Oct. 05, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida.
Peso Pluma
Image Credit: Jason Koerner/Getty Images
Peso Pluma speaks onstage during the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards at Watsco Center on Oct. 5, 2023 in Coral Gables, Florida.
Nicky Jam & Ivy Queen
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard
Nicky Jam and Ivy Queen speak onstage at Billboard Latin Music Week held at Faena Forum on Oct. 3, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Mike Bahia & Greeicy
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard
Mike Bahia & Greeicy at Billboard En Vivo Featuring Greeicy and Mike Bahia held at the Faena Theater as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on Oct. 2, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Wisin
Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Billboard
Wisin at Billboard En Vivo Featuring Wisin held at Oasis Wynwood as part of Billboard Latin Music Week on Oct. 3, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Pepe Aguilar has never shied away from expressing what is really going through his mind. And his latest song, titled “Cuídamela Bien” — which translates to “take good care of her” — is no exception. Singing directly to Christian Nodal, who in July married his daughter Ángela Aguilar, the Mexican star is clear on his requests for him.
“Well you’re no idiot, you took from the old man the best woman,” he croons over wailing trumpets and nostalgic guitar notes. “Love her, cabrón. Show the world that you’re on the right track, and you’ve got a heart. Make her as happy as I’ve always wanted to in life.”
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Aguilar’s song is a play on words that makes the most sense in Spanish. In one verse, he sings, “Y NO DA La cara el bandido,” or, “And that bandit won’t show his face” — which could also refer to Nodal’s face tattoos. In another part of the song, he uses song titles, including Ángela’s “Ahí Donde Me Ven” and Nodal’s “Botella Tras Botella,” to wittingly express how he’s feeling.
Toward the end of the song, in a total state of emotional vulnerability, Aguilar reaffirms he’s given the couple his blessing, something he first announced publicly just a day after the wedding ceremony, which took place just weeks after the couple confirmed their relationship.
“In any lasting relationship, love is essential and respect and responsibility totally indispensable,” he wrote then. “With love, you face the most complicated challenges inside and outside your environment. … I have also been in your shoes. And after 27 years with my wife I say to you: There is no simple principle.”
Below, the lyrics to Pepe Aguilar’s “Cuídamela Bien” translated to English:
It’s not news that she’s with youWell the world knows it and everyone is a witnessSo fast time passed and my ANGEL someone else snatched her awayAnd the bandit won’t show his face
I’m going to be very clear, do things rightBecause for outlaws, mijo (son), this is not the place to beAnd I know it’s easy to be cabrónI’ve been in that situation myselfBut the one who stays is more of a man
And I’m sorry if I’m being a little rudeIt’s just that I got dumbfounded by a lucky chamaco (boy)
Take good care of herYou’ve already made her fall in loveYou already took her awayWhat am I gonna do?
She was never mineAnd I knewThat I was going to lose her
And lucky for youNow she’s with youI wish you well
Take good care of herMaybe she’s not perfectBut I assure youShe knows how to love
Roses were enough for youSo that my prideful daughterWould fall at your feet
And face-to-faceI give you a piece of adviceIf you love her well
Don’t change her because you’re very good at it
When you brought her roses, I played the strong oneAnd in the serenades I couldn’t kick you outThe eagle has already taken offAnd the one who doesn’t show his face now has shown itI admit that you’re easy to love
And I’m sorry if I’m a little rudeIt’s just that I got dumbfounded by a lucky chamaco (boy)
Take good care of her“Ahí Donde Me Ven” (There where they see me)“Botella Tras Botella” (Bottle after bottle)“No Me 100to Bien” (I don’t feel good)
Well you’re no idiotYou took from the old manThe best woman
And lucky for youNow she’s with youI wish you well
Love her, cabrónShow the worldThat you’re on the right trackAnd you’ve got a heart
Make her as happy asI’ve always wanted to in life
And in the eye of the cycloneFor my part I give you my blessingAnd I will always wish your relationship well
Pepe Aguilar is set to speak at the 35th anniversary Billboard Latin Music Week, which will feature exclusive panels, conversations and performances by Latin music’s biggest stars from Oct. 14-18 in MIami. Tickets are available now at BillboardLatinMusicWeek.com. He will also be honored with the Billboard Hall of Fame Award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will air Oct. 20 on Telemundo
Karol G tallies a second week at No. 1 spot on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 chart as “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” holds atop the ranking (dated Sept. 28). She is just the third woman in a solo role to rule the chart in 2024, after Tini and Nicki Nicole, whose “Pa” and “Ojos […]
Omar Courtz’s journey is a resonant tale of a superfan turned rising star, whose deep admiration for the icons of Latin music inspired his career — from back when he was just a fervent listener right up to performing on the legendary Coliseo de Puerto Rico (a.k.a. El Choli) alongside those very idols. His debut album, Primera Musa, which dropped on September 20 via Mr. 305 Records and Rimas Entertainment, is both a nod to his inspirations and a showcase of his exploratory urbano sounds.
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The Puerto Rican artist arrives at the New York Billboard office a few days after releasing his LP, sporting Tims, a beige baseball hat with pink accents, and a gigantic diamond-encrusted chain featuring a huge open heart that revealed bone ribs. It had engraved the names of his grandmothers on each side, and a Bible verse in the back: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.” He was thrilled to discuss the essence of Primera Musa, a title that symbolizes the multitude of influences that have propelled his artistic journey.
“Primera Musa can be many things,” he explains. “I leave it to the people to interpret it as they wish. It can be something you’ve lived, an experience, or it could be a woman.”
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The album is a personal odyssey that weaves his past, his family’s influence, and an homage to the pivotal women in his life. Its extraordinary diversity spans trap, reggaetón, R&B, Jersey club and house — each track showcasing Omar’s skill in melding diverse styles to forge a colorful listen. From the potent “Intro” with Kendo Kaponi to the introspective finale, “Luces de Colores,” his debut is a masterclass in both musical versatility and deep connection to his fans and foundation.
The rapper/singer detailed the special allure found in debut albums, which often capture the pure essence of an artist’s sound. “What happens is that for me there is a magic in artists’ first albums,” he expresses, citing Myke Towers’ El Final del Principio (2016) and Bad Bunny’s X100Pre (2018) as examples. “There’s something special that fans always say: ‘I want to hear that artist, their first delivery, their first muse.’”
Raised in Carolina, a famously tough neighborhood of Puerto Rico that also produced figures like Almighty, Anuel AA, and Rauw Alejandro, Omar reflected on the extraordinary local talent. They emerged “in my very street, literally,” he says. “There really must be something there, something duro, a kind of magic, because superstars come out of it.”
The spirit of Omar’s music is intrinsically linked to his experiences as a fan who lived through the anticipation and thrill of music releases. He highlights the pivotal role of SoundCloud in his early career, a platform that immensely facilitated the rise of new artists, particularly in the then-emerging Latin trap genre. “SoundCloud gave us the opportunity for ease, for speed, for you to create a song today and send it out to the world,” he recounts, also reminiscing about the early days when artists like Alvarito Díaz and Myke Towers would release new music every Thursday, cultivating a fervent community of listeners eager for fresh sounds.
“One of my biggest inspirations is Myke Towers,” Omar admits with a look of reverence. “His musical consistency, his delivery, his concepts are inspiring. I think he’s a lyrical genius. He just takes a notebook and starts throwing verses as if it were a string of them.”
Omar’s journey is saturated with humble beginnings and diverse experiences: “I’ve done everything from selling clothes in my uncle’s shop to washing cars, mowing lawns, and operating a pressure washer.” Amidst these hard-knock jobs, he found his true calling, starting to publish his own tracks on streaming platforms in the mid-2010s — and during the 2020 pandemic, he began to release a string of material, putting himself on the map with his Latin trap and reggaetón tracks armed with his distinctive flow.
By 2019, a significant professional relationship was forged when he met his current manager, Orlando Dávila of OD Entertainment. They bonded over a shared taste in music and artistic vision. “Omar Courtz was an artist who caught my attention from our first conversation without even knowing him […] I could see his intentions and the vision he had for his musical career right from the start, partly because we share similar musical tastes, including a fondness for R&B,” Dávila tells Billboard Español. “Omar is deeply committed to his craft, very demanding of himself, and a perfectionist.”
Omar Courtz’s hard work and artistic integrity paid off when he landed a feature on Tainy’s 2023 hit “Pasiempre,” a track that saw him holding his own among Latin trap titans Myke Towers, Arcánge, Jhayco and Bad Bunny, also starring Venezuelan producer Arca. This song not only put him on the charts, but also symbolized his arrival in the music industry’s spotlight, peaking at No. 28 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and marking his entry on the Billboard Global 200. His collaboration with Daddy Yankee, “Beachy,” also affirmed his status, doing exceptionally well on the Latin Airplay (No. 27) and Latin Rhythm Airplay charts (No. 7).
What is particularly striking about Omar’s path is how he melds his deep-seated fan experiences into his music’s DNA, striving to incite the same fervor among his listeners. He operates with a fan’s heart, tailoring his creations to meet their expectations. “I put myself in a fan’s position,” he explains, “and I ask myself, ‘If I were a fan of my music, what artist would I want to hear these songs with?’ This is how I thought when I enjoyed other artists’ albums, wishing for certain collaborations.” This creative empathy informs his choices in the studio and guides his collaborative strategies.
This synergy between artist and fan is key in his collaborations, such as with Jhayco and Arcángel during Tainy’s concert, where Omar — once a fan in the crowd — stood alongside his musical heroes. Recalling the release of Bad Bunny’s first album, he remembers how everyone gathered, eager for the first play: “We were all in the court at midnight, waiting for a sound system to come out so the whole world could listen. This communal excitement is what he seeks to replicate with his own releases, evident when he saw Primera Musa being celebrated on social media in the same way.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Omar Courtz and his incredible achievements. His debut album topping multiple global charts is a testament to his raw talent, hard work, and the unique sound he’s introducing to the industry,” Robert Fernandez, CEO of Mr. 305 Records, tells Billboard Español. “Omar’s music is resonating with fans worldwide, and this is just the beginning of his journey to greatness.”
Name: Joshua Omar Medina Cortes
Age: 26
Recommended Song: “I wanted to bring a song that refreshes every 30 seconds rhythmically. Since there is so much music [out there], people listen to the intro, chorus and verse and that’s it — they listen to very little of the theme. I wanted to renew the rhythm often bring another new color. I got together with Karbeats, my producer, and we made “Goddess.”
Biggest Accomplishment: “I’m excited that I’m reaching other countries. Puerto Rico was already very important to me because it’s my island, but to see the support from other countries, that excites me as I was excited when they supported me in Puerto Rico as well.”
What’s Next: Omar Courtz will be a panelist at Billboard Latin Music Week alongside Saiko and KBaez, presented by Cheetos.
Feid has officially signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which will be representing the multi-platinum artist in all areas globally, Billboard can exclusively announce today (Sept. 26).
With CAA’s representation—across music, film, television, endorsements, sports, business development and more—the Colombian artist is “poised to further expand his international reach and will work closely with CAA on future endeavors, including his highly anticipated world tour,” according to a press statement.
The artist born Salomón Villada Hoyos is known for his No. 1 hits on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart such as “Perro Negro” with Bad Bunny, “Luna” with Atl Jacob, “Yandel 150” with Yandel and “Hey Mor” with Ozuna. He’s also one of this year’s top finalists at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards boasting 11 entries, including Global 200 Latin artist of the year and Latin rhythm album of the year for Ferxxocalipsis, in addition to the five he achieved for “Perro Negro” with Bad Bunny.
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Feid is also a four-time Latin Grammy nominee, where he’s up for best reggaeton performance (“Perro Negro”); best urban music album (Ferxxocalipsis); and best urban song for two tracks, “El Cielo” with Sky Rompiendo and Myke Towers and “Luna.”
Additionally, his Ferxxocalipsis World Tour that sold out dates in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and more, kicked off the Latin American leg of stadium shows with two sold-out concerts in Mexico City last month. The tour will continue through December, wrapping with three consecutive sold-out stadium gigs in his hometown of Medellín, Colombia.
Feid is managed by Luis Villamizar.
Both Feid and Villamizar are set for the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Week returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including J Balvin, Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit Billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda are back in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart with “Rey Sin Reina,” which soars 26-8 on the Sept. 28-dated list. The group last rose to the upper region with “El Amor de Su Vida” in 2015.
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“Rey Sin Reina” lands at No. 8 on Hot Latin Songs thanks largely to its streaming activity during the tracking week ending Sept. 19. According to Luminate, the song earned 4.1 million official U.S. streams, a gain of 57%, from the week prior. Hot Latin Songs is a multimetric list that blends streams, digital sales and radio activity to rank the week’s most popular Latin songs in the U.S.
The streaming sum also yields a No. 10 debut on Latin Streaming Songs, the group’s first top 10 there among its five entries. Prior, the Mexicans reached their highest ranking in 2015, through the No. 14-peaking “El Amor De Su Vida.”
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As “Rey Sin Reina” leaps 18 slots in its second week, it becomes the second-biggest jump to the top 10 on Hot Latin Songs in 2024. Karol G’s “Contigo” with Tiesto, released Feb. 15, debuted at No. 48 with only one day of activity, the last day of the previous tracking week, and rallied to No. 3 in March, after its first full tracking week. Only one other song has climbed at least 15 positions into the top 10 or more this year: Tito Double P’s “El Lokeron” rallied 27-7 last week (chart dated Sept. 21).
On a global scale, “Rey Sin Reina” debuts at No. 112 on the Billboard Global 200 and at No. 93 on Global Excl. U.S., the group’s highest debuts on both charts.
“Rey Sin Reina,” composed by Omar Cárdenas and Tláloc Noriega, is one of four tracks on Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda’s latest EP Atento Aviso… Rey Sin Reyna, which rises 22-20, a new peak, on Regional Mexican Albums on the current ranking. The album’s animated artwork was designed by Álvarez’s daughters, María Isabel and María Julia.
Billboard Latin Music Week is returning to Miami Beach on Oct. 14-18, with confirmed superstars including Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Sanz and Peso Pluma, among many others. For tickets and more details, visit Billboardlatinmusicweek.com.
Amid election season, Bad Bunny is making sure that the more than three million residents living in Puerto Rico know his political stance.
In a Sept. 24 tweet, the Puerto Rican artist shared a set of photos of billboards across San Juan that read: “To vote for PNP is to vote for corruption,” “Who votes for PNP doesn’t love Puerto Rico” and “Voting for PNP is voting for LUMA.” The latter of the three is a private energy company responsible for power distribution and transmission on the island.
“Announcements paid by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio,” he captioned the post. “A Puerto Rican who does love Puerto Rico.”
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Billboard has reached out to Bad Bunny’s rep for comment.
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The billboards are in protest of the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party), one of the major political parties in Puerto Rico that traces back to 1967 and currently holds both the seat of the governor and of the resident commissioner.
The powerful PSAs also come on the heels of Bad Bunny’s latest song, “Una Velita,” in which he reflects on the devastating aftermath of the Category 5 Hurricane Maria that occurred in 2017. “There were five thousand that they let die, and we will never forget that,” he chants in the track.
“Obviously the light will go out, God knows if it’ll come back,” he continues over an intense folkloric beat. “The bridge they took so long to build, the growing river will break. A few songs on the phone for when the reception goes out. The sign was sent and they don’t want to see it, it’s up to the Boricua to want to wake up … Remember that we’re all from here, the people will have to save its pueblo.”
Always passionate and vocal about the social issues that affect the Puerto Rican community, in 2022, Benito also released a 23-minute-long documentary for “El Apagón” in which he addresses blackouts and gentrification, among other topics, taking aim at the local government for its inaction.
Music industry veteran Rebeca León, who has helped guide Latin music and culture into the mainstream and up the charts, is the recipient of the Latin Power Players’ Choice Award, which is an accolade chosen by Billboard Pro subscribers.
As founder and CEO of artist management company Lionfish Entertainment and film/TV studio Lionfish Studios, León helms a roster that includes Brazilian superstar Anitta, Venezuelan singer-songwriter Danny Ocean, rising Spanish act st. Pedro and Venezuelan reggaetón LGBTQ+ artist La Cruz. The Miami-based León also oversaw the rise of global stars like Colombia’s J Balvin and Juanes, as well as Spain’s Rosalía, whom León developed from an unknown flamenco artist.
León says working with artists she believes in is an honor and a privilege that “gives me hope for the future of music.” To that end, León and Pharrell Williams have partnered on the creation of a bicultural U.S. Latin boy band that’s set to debut this fall. Meanwhile, Lionfish Studios focuses on work that draws on León’s Cuban heritage with projects including the 2022 Father of the Bride remake starring Gloria Estefan and Andy Garcia, which was produced alongside Jeremy Kleiner of Plan B. Projects in development include one with Keshet Studios and Apple.
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Lionfish’s success follows León’s 25-plus-year career, which has included over a decade in the touring business as senior vp for Goldenvoice and positions at labels including Sony Music and EMI.
While León, who lives in Miami Beach with her three dogs, calls herself “naturally shy and reserved,” in the case of this year’s Latin Power Players’ Choice Award, she feels a responsibility to step into the spotlight. “This moment is bigger than me,” she says. “We’re in a time where women’s rights are being challenged, and there are those who want to take us backward. That is simply not acceptable.” She expresses gratitude for the recognition and for a platform “to say, without a doubt, we are never going back. This is for my nieces and all the young girls out there: Never let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do — whether with your body or your mind.”
Being voted into this position by the music industry community, she adds, “means the world to me, to have the respect of my peers, which include so many people that I admire so much.”
This story appears in the Sept. 28, 2024, issue of Billboard.
The first time George Prajin took Peso Pluma shopping for a music video, they didn’t see eye to eye. “I wanted him to go John Varvatos rock’n’roll, and he wanted to go to Burberry,” Prajin recalls. Considering that the video would also feature regional Mexican artist Luis R Conriquez for their 2022 collaboration, “Siempre Pendientes,” “I was like, ‘I don’t know about that,’ ” he adds. But, as Prajin proudly admits of the all-plaid ensemble (complete with bucket hat) that Peso insisted upon (and which perfectly contrasted with the gritty desert setting), “He was right — and after that I learned not to go against him.”
That implicit trust now goes both ways — and Prajin, 52, has earned it. As the son of Antonino Z. Prajin — who owned Prajin One Stop, a music retailer and distributor that sold to over 3,000 stores across the United States and Mexico and had more than 20 warehouses throughout Southern California in its 1980s and ’90s heyday — the music business has always been in his blood. “Some people do what they love. Some people are born into a trade. I got the best of both worlds,” he says, speaking in a green room at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., hours before a recent Peso Pluma show there.
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After graduating from University of California, Los Angeles in the mid-’90s, Prajin founded the independent label Z Records, which scored early success with Jessie Morales (known as El Original de la Sierra), an Angeleno who loved West Coast rap and Mexican music and who ruled Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart with his Homenaje a Chalino Sánchez in 2001. But when physical record sales plummeted, Prajin One Stop shuttered in the late 2000s — and so did Z Records. “It was hard to make money with music during that period of time,” he recalls. “And so, I got disillusioned. I got a little depressed — but I tried to stay very close to music.”
Prajin went on to earn a degree from Southwestern University School of Law, becoming a sports and entertainment attorney and establishing his own practice while producing music on the side — and retaining ownership of the Z Records catalog. But in 2008, thanks to his love of MMA (and friendship with fighter Tito Ortiz), he entered an entirely new world: the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Prajin spent the next decade-plus focused on representing UFC’s top talent as an agent and a manager, earning a reputation as a master negotiator. “It’s educating yourself on the deal and being two steps ahead — and knowing what you’re asking for is valid,” he says.
By 2019, Prajin — who had continued to do music business work even as he dove into the UFC world — and his practice were negotiating “massive deals” for record labels. At the same time, he noticed a catalog-driven uptick in Z Records’ revenue and, on the advice of his law partner, Anthony Lopez, reentered the industry, launching Prajin Parlay in 2021. “I was looking for something that had nothing to do with any of the clients I was representing, and I started going back into the ’90s,” he says. And so, with the new Prajin Parlay, he soon helped launch Época Pesada (a group of corrido giants who were then in their 40s) and revive the career of Lupillo Rivera.
Soon, Prajin was again focusing on music full time, and his first major signing (in partnership with Grand Records) was Mexican singer-songwriter (and future star) Junior H. But it was an early management signee who would define his storied career — and help him emerge as one of Latin music’s most powerful and admired executives.
When Prajin first met Peso Pluma (born Hassan Emilio Kabande Laija) in 2019, thanks to an introduction from his former client Morales, the then-unknown artist was walking around Prajin Parlay Studioz in Anaheim playing guitar. “I was really intrigued by him,” Prajin recalls with a far-off look in his eyes. Morales was trying to help the young artist find management to no avail; given that Prajin himself had just reentered the industry, he, too, initially passed.
Morales’ father, Herminio Morales, signed the future superstar, but soon became too ill to work. And so, by 2022, the offer was back on the table — and this time, Prajin said yes. (Herminio, who is healthy today, remains involved in Peso’s career.) “I [waited until I] felt like I could really put up my sleeves and do what I do best,” Prajin explains.
George Prajin photographed backstage at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., on Aug. 20, 2024.
Chris Polk
Apparently, that was developing a global groundbreaker who has repeatedly made Billboard chart history while helping to elevate música mexicana from “the genre that has always taken a back seat,” as Prajin puts it, to the forefront of the mainstream.
“I’m not going to take all the credit because [label] Rancho Humilde, Natanael Cano, Junior H and all these other artists brought something that first, second and third generations of Mexicans born in the United States were lacking,” Prajin says. “But Hassan took that road and connected it to the international highway.”
Prajin now admits that when he first met Peso he was a bit confused. “I couldn’t tell what type of artist he was,” he says. “I thought he was a rapper, or was he a rocker? [The last] thing I thought of was a corridos singer. When we first started talking, he told me he wanted to do reggaetón. He wanted to do everything.” (Prajin even had him record a Pink Floyd song “to see if he trusted me.”)
“I said, ‘I love that, that’s what I want, but I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it’s tough,’ ” Prajin continues, noting how in the past he’d only had fleeting success with rappers recording over banda beats. But, critically, Peso didn’t want to blend anything; he wanted to own every clearly marked lane he explored.
Together, they made a plan “to focus on his core audience, regional Mexican, and really build that. And at the same time, reach out and get a feel of these other genres and take it from there.” And they’ve done just that. In 2022, Peso made his Hot Latin Songs debut with “El Belicón,” with Raúl Vega. The following year, he scored the most entries on the chart of any regional Mexican act — and his team-up with Eslabon Armado, “Ella Baila Sola,” became the first regional Mexican song to enter the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 (where Peso has now charted 31 songs).
Peso’s third album, 2023’s Génesis, scored the highest placement on the Billboard 200 for a música mexicana album ever, debuting at No. 3. This year’s Éxodo double album also debuted in the top five, and for its second half, Peso enlisted several nonregional heavy hitters including Cardi B, Quavo, Anitta and DJ Snake. In August, Peso scored one of his biggest features yet, replacing Bad Bunny on Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s “Drunk,” off the new deluxe version of Vultures 2. (“He couldn’t believe it,” Prajin says, “because they’re so mysterious. They don’t even tell us until the song is released.”) Lately, Peso has been walking onstage to Black Sabbath; Prajin thinks he could do a rock album one day.
Their relationship has now expanded beyond just music to include Double P, Peso’s imprint through Prajin Parlay Records that launched in April 2023. (Prajin is the imprint’s co-founder and COO.) By December, Double P had signed a distribution deal with The Orchard, and in August, the label’s publishing division signed a global administration deal with Downtown.
Today, Double P’s roster boasts a tight-knit crew that shares talent — and Peso’s friendship. As CEO and head of A&R, Peso has strategically signed Mexican music acts Vega, Jasiel Nuñez, Tito Double P (Peso’s cousin and one of his co-writers) and Los Dareyes de la Sierra, among others.
“We’re building a team and going together, and that’s what I love about Hassan,” Prajin says. “Jasiel Nuñez was a friend. They made a deal — whoever makes it first is going to pull the other guy with him, and [Hassan] did that. He pulled him with him on tour. We’ve signed him. That’s their philosophy. We’re a real community.”
Plus, as Prajin says, having Peso as a partner helps him stay on top of his management game, too. “Because you really want to give the attention to Hassan, but then you don’t want to sign other artists and not give them the attention that they deserve… He’s always like, ‘Hey, make sure that everybody’s getting the attention that they need, too.’ ”
And as Prajin Parlay has proved over time, one rising tide can indeed lift all boats. In 2023, it finished atop the year-end Hot Latin Songs Publishers chart — Prajin proudly displays the trophy at his house next to his Grammy (honoring Génesis as best música mexicana album [including Tejano] at the 2024 awards). “One of the reasons why we won that publisher of the year award is [because of] Tito Double P,” Prajin says, crediting his songwriting savvy. “[He] then developed as an artist, and today, we released his first album.
“We’re providing those label services, and we’re doing it inclusive of the same management fee that any other manager would charge,” he continues. “A lot of people tell me that’s a crazy notion, but we’re not going to get rich or poor overnight.”
That same thought process led Prajin to restructure Peso’s five-year record and management deal just nine months in. Prajin had seen his early client Jessie Morales make a healthy living off music, only to end up “on hard luck,” and he never forgot it. “I always told myself, especially when I was practicing law, that if I had the chance to do this again, I would teach [artists] to not only be wary of how they spend their money, but to also build their own team. Have their own lawyer, have their own CPA. I want them to make sure that going forward, whatever they do in their lives, they’re going to make the right financial decisions. I fought hard for [Peso] to have his own [attorney in] Mexico. He has his own CPA. And then he has a person that audits the CPA.
“When I saw him making the kind of money that he was making… The artists should be the ones seeing the benefits, and that’s why we changed our deal,” Prajin continues. “I restructured it and made him a partner in Double P. It’s the right thing to do — and just one of the few times in life that something good turns into something great, because we’re killing it.”
Prajin, who is warm and attentive, says his father’s own “big heart” inspires him as an executive. “His kindness, his generosity, those are the things that have [helped me excel],” he says. “You could be a shark. But I don’t think those guys last too long. It’s all about networks. Right? I think a lot of the things that we accomplished were because I was able to pick up the phone and reach out to anyone. Everything comes full circle.”
And Prajin Parlay’s betting-inspired name tells its own full-circle story: Prajin has often said when something works, he doubles down. In the years to come, he says he’s “doubling down on everything” — beginning with Double P Records, saying the label is in the middle of completing a business transaction that will allow it to “really double down.”
“Double P Records and Prajin Parlay in five years are going to be a global brand,” he says, noting that in the next year or so he hopes to open offices and a recording studio in Madrid. He also has plans to grow the management roster and maybe even acquire other catalogs or companies. He’s also considering a sports division: “We’ve talked about it, yes,” Prajin says, adding that he and Peso are both fans of combat sports, and even share a boxing coach.
He admits that as a manager, what takes up most of his time each day is “trying to make everyone happy… I’m constantly trying to make sure everybody takes vacations, has their personal lives. You know, I’ve lived my life, I haven’t had any kids. I’ve devoted myself to my artists and to my athletes. And am I going to regret it down the road? I might. So I always tell people, ‘Think about yourself, too. This job isn’t your only focus.’ ”
Fortunately, Peso has been planning ahead for quite some time. The artist has long admired Jay-Z, and Prajin believes Peso is already following in the rapper’s footsteps to becoming a mogul himself. As for Prajin, he says his five-year plan looks a lot like an exit route, before laughing through a nervous smile: “No, I’m just kidding.”
He mentions how the other day, he and Peso were reminiscing when the artist told him, “You changed my life.”
“He changed my life as well,” Prajin says. “He’s allowed me to love music again, and also reach a lot of the goals I made for myself that I thought had passed.”
This story appears in the Sept. 28, 2024, issue of Billboard.