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Latin

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Singer Ana Gabriel is dealing with pneumonia, which has led her to postpone three shows from her Un Deseo Más tour in Latin America.
On Tuesday afternoon (May 21), the Mexican star, who is celebrating her 50 years in music, provided an update on her health, stating that what started as a flu had worsened and that she would need a few more days to recover.

“Given the medical conditions, I’m returning to Miami to recover from this pneumonia because we don’t see a favorable change,” Ana Gabriel said in a video posted on her Instagram account, where she appears bundled up in bed and wearing a face mask. “I am still on a lot of medication, and it is my life, it is my health, it is my music, it is you. Thank you for understanding. I will keep you updated on how I am doing.”

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Ana Gabriel was diagnosed with the flu on May 14 after her first of two shows at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile. She recently postponed that concert to June 7 and another set for May 22 at the SND Arena in Asunción, Paraguay to June 11. On Tuesday, the artist known for No. 1 hits like “Ay Amor” and “Simplemente Amigos” announced that her May 25 show at the Tokyo Marine Hall Theater in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will be instead on July 26.

The global tour Un Deseo Más began in January and has visited various cities in Mexico and South America. With dates scheduled until the end of the year, it is set to arrive in the U.S. in the fall for a 24-date trek starting on Sept. 13 at the Prudential Center in New Jersey and including stops in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Las Vegas, among other cities, before concluding on Nov. 30 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. (For a complete list of dates, click here).

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Recognized as a Living Legend at Billboard’s inaugural Latin Women in Music in 2023, the revered raspy-voiced singer has been sharing messages with her fans about the tour and, more recently, about her health, apologizing “for this inconvenience I am causing you.”

“Thank you for your prayers,” she added in her Tuesday post. “You all are in my heart!”

Check out Ana Gabriel’s latest statement (in Spanish) below:

The Bésame Mucho Festival unveiled its 2024 lineup on Tuesday (May 21), featuring Colombian global star Shakira as one of the headlining acts.
Returning Dec. 21 to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for its third year, other confirmed headliners include Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Los Tigres del Norte, Juanes, Banda MS, Carlos Vives, Gloria Trevi, Paulina Rubio and more.

Bésame Mucho has established itself as a popular multi-generational event thanks to the variety of artists who perform across different stages.

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For its 2024 edition, Latin rock lovers will be able to enjoy acts such as Elefante, Belanova and Enanitos Verdes. Música Mexicana fans can catch Ana Barbara, El Fantasma, Grupo Pesado and Alicia Villarreal. The tropical junkies can dance the night away to Elvis Crespo, Bacilo and Proyecto Uno.

This will mark Shak’s second appearance at the festival: Earlier this year, she made a surprise announcement via a video message during Grupo Frontera’s set at the first inaugural Bésame Mucho Festival in Austin, Texas, in March.

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The artist used the festival grounds to tease fans with a preview of her Frontera collaboration “(Entre Paréntesis)” ahead of the release of her seventh studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.

“Hola mi gente de Bésame Mucho, I leave you with my friends from Grupo Frontera and a preview of our next song ‘(Entre Paréntesis),’” Shakira said in Spanish. The group then went on to play around half a minute of the norteño track.

Early access to presale tickets begins at 10 a.m. PT on Friday, May 24 via BesameMuchoFestival.com.

See the complete 2024 Bésame Mucho Festival lineup below:

Besame Mucho Festival 2024 Lineup

Ten years after its conception, the Bottle Rock festival in Napa Valley, California, will have a sister in 2024. Its name is La Onda, a new annual event focused entirely on the Latino audience.

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On June 1 and 2, with a multigenerational lineup headlined by Maná, Fuerza Regida, Alejandro Fernández y Junior H, attendees will enjoy two days of music, food and celebration from another cultural perspective: the Mexican culture.

Until now, Northern California, despite its growing Latino population, did not have an event of this type and magnitude, which is why the company Latitude 38 Entertainment took on the task of planning and developing a new challenge with the same proven foundations of the Bottle Rock festival.

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“As promoters [of Bottle Rock] we are celebrating 10 years,” says Dave Graham, CEO of Latitude 38 Entertainment, to Billboard Español. “In the beginning, like everything, we didn’t know what was going to happen when we started with the company. However, everything has turned out better than we could have thought, wished, or expected. Now we are ready to do something for our Latino community.”

The eclectic lineup of La Onda by BottleRock, which will offer pop, rock, cumbia and regional Mexican on three stages, also includes Farruko, Eslabon Armado, Mon Laferte, Los Ángeles Azules, and many others. (For more details, click here). Maná, in fact, is also headlining Bottle Rock, which will be held just a week earlier, from May 24 to 26.

Both festivals are already sold out, and Graham said they expect a total of 150,000 people for the three days of Bottle Rock and 70,000 for the two of La Onda.

Below, Graham answers questions about the planning, production deployment, the challenge of holding both festivals with just a few days apart, and the expectations for La Onda’s first edition.

Why did you decide to create a Latin music festival?

It’s very important for us. We have been thinking about doing this for a long time. The percentage of Latinos who go to Bottle Rock is 14%, and every year they had been asking us to do one.

Was there a need for such an event in the area?

If you live in Northern California, to go to a festival you have to travel to Tijuana, Rosarito, Los Angeles, or even Las Vegas. Moreover, the population here in Napa is 40% Latino, mostly Mexicans, and the rest of the Bay Area is 30% [Hispanic], so it’s time to celebrate Latin music, Latin food, and that culture in general.

Why the name La Onda?

Most of the people who will come to La Onda are Mexicans, and although everyone in Latin America knows what “onda” means, it is more identified with Mexicans. Everyone has their own meaning for the word “onda,” but in the end, it has to do with movement, with something fun, and ultimately when we got to that point there was no discussion about what we wanted to convey.

How long did the planning for this first edition take?

We have been working on this first edition for two years, and we estimate it will take 14 months to plan each festival in terms of logistics.

Is the production deployment the same for both festivals?

The production is exactly the same, but the design is totally different. So we will have to change everything from Bottle Rock for La Onda between the Monday after and Thursday, that is, in just four days.

Why was it decided to hold them so close together?

Because the Latino community deserves a high-level production, and if we had decided to do it later, it would not have been possible to have the infrastructure and the type of production that we have for Bottle Rock at La Onda.

Why is Maná a headlining act at both Bottle Rock and La Onda?

There are many people who go to Bottle Rock and who want to see more Latin bands. We have had Juanes, Santana, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Los Lobos. When we talk about Maná, it fits perfectly with the idea we have that the festivals be multigenerational.

The lineup of La Onda brings together artists from various music genres. How were the acts of this first edition chosen?

Again, it has to do with having a multigenerational event. For example, I wanted my son who loves Fuerza Regida to be able to go and, in five minutes walking, to go see Maná. That means, we can go together. That’s what we want: To attract young people and also adults.

I have had to ask for help from experts, but I am learning. I still have a lot to learn about music in Spanish, but I’m working hard on it. Every year we will improve the lineup and give the people what they ask for.

The clothes, photos and objects related to the iconic painter Frida Kahlo that Madonna wears in a series of photographs shared on her social media are not part of the collection of the Frida Kahlo Museum, the Mexico City institution clarified on Monday (May 20) in a press release.
Kahlo’s museum, also knows as La Casa Azul, issued the statement after the pop superstar posted a series of snapshots in which she wears a dress with floral details and an embroidered blouse, a rebozo (a very popular shawl in Mexico) and a white hat, as well as photographs of Kahlo, a pair of old shoes and jewelry that suggest they could be objects of the iconic late painter.

“A Beautiful Souvenir -visiting the family home of my Eternal Muse- Frida Kahlo in Mexico City”, wrote Madonna on her Instagram account Monday. “For me it was magical to try on her clothes and jewelry, to read her journals and letters and to look at photos I’d never seen before.”

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“It is important to clarify that, contrary to what has been mentioned in social media, Madonna, due to scheduling constraints, was unable to visit La Casa Azul during her recent visit to Mexico,” said the museum in a statement. “However, we had the opportunity for her family and staff to enjoy the museum.”

It did not specify, however, whether the Kahlo-related objects were lent during a private visit that the pop icon made to the painter’s family home in El Pedregal neighborhood on April 18.

Madonna has not yet commented on the information provided by La Casa Azul.

The Queen of Pop performed a series of shows at the capital’s Palacio de los Deportes at the end of April as part of her worldwide Celebration Tour, an occasion she used to reiterate her love for Mexican culture and especially for Kahlo. During her visit to the Kahlo family, the star wrote an emotional dedication in the guest book expressing how much the painter had inspired her, and that she considers Kahlo “a soul mate,” according to the newspaper Reforma.

La Casa Azul also expressed on Monday its gratitude toward Madonna for her dedication to celebrating and perpetuating the legacy of the painter of “The Two Fridas” and “Self-Portrait With Monkey”: “The singer’s deep admiration for Frida highlights the ongoing relevance of the artist and also underscores how her influence transcends cultures and borders, inspiring global admirers.”

Madonna expressed her passion for Kahlo furthermore by inviting Mexican actress Salma Hayek to appear on stage during her performance of “Vogue” on April 26 at the Palacio de los Deportes. The actress, who earned an Oscar nod for best actress for her portrayal of the painter in 2002’s Frida, joined the singer as a guest judge of the tour dancers dressed in a costume inspired by Kahlo.

At a fan meet in Fresno, Jay Wheeler was moved by a story of a girl who shared that his music had prevented her from ending her life. This heart-wrenching testimony and others helped inform Música Buena Para Días Malos, his seventh studio album. “The fact that my music is doing that, that’s my grand prize,” he told Billboard Español.

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With 13 tracks exploring themes from love (“14 15 de febrero”) and regret (“Admítelo”) to empowerment (“Maquillaje” ft. Noreh) and self-discovery (“Historia”), the singer’s album acts as a sonic refuge, the singer’s album acts as a sonic refuge, dancefloor-ready in some parts and offering solace and inspiration in others. He extends this therapeutic ethos to his merch, with a sci-fi twist: the aim is to parallel the auditory comfort his music provides with tangible memorabilia from hoodies to t-shirts, stickers and trucker hats.

During a conversation on Billboard TalkShopLive, the Puerto Rican star discussed how he wants to provide a “safe place” for his listeners through his music, his upcoming U.S. TRAPPii tour which kicks off on June 13 at the Madison Square Garden and more. Here are five key takeaways from our discussion with Jay Wheeler, in his own words.

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His music helped save someone’s life

When I was in Fresno, I was gonna be taking pictures with [fans]. This girl came [up] and she was crying and crying. I asked her what happened, and she said that she was gonna commit, you know, and she heard my music on the radio and stopped. Everybody [that was there] stopped to hear her story. I wanted to make that moment special for her. We hugged her and gave her merch. We took a whole bunch of pictures and I know for a fact that she went home happy.

Visually [with my merch and videos], I want you to feel the same way as you’re hearing it. The way I feel when I hear my music is like I’m going to a different world, where my spirit just left my body. This therapy is helping me just to forget the world, forget the problems, and just listen to that good music. That’s why my album is called Good Music for Bad Days [Música Buena Para Días Malos], because that’s all I was trying to focus on, making people feel like they can have a place to escape, or a safe place like music.

Bad Bunny impacted his career

I don’t want to sound like I’m fanboying but I do love Bad Bunny. I love how he merchandises his brand and how he [navigates] the music industry, because he’s very different. I think he opened the door for different people. As soon as he came out, trap [blew up]. 2016 was the era of trap, then Bad Bunny stepped away [from the genre] for a couple of months. Then he came back with something different, “Estamos Bien” and “Si Estuviésemos Juntos,” and sad songs. 

I think he opened the door for me — because as soon as he started doing that, I started [rising]. I was already making romantic music, but nobody was listening to it, because trap was the main focus. But as soon as he did [more vulnerable songs], he opened up that door. People started to look at my work. He showed the world that being different is not bad. 

Faith, Loyalty and working with DJ Nelson

It’s complicated being a new artist. Everyone sees you as a dollar sign, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing… The people who want to sign you don’t know you; they know the product you are offering. If they want to sign you to make more money with you, it means your product is doing good. At the same time, you have to be very careful, because not everyone has good intentions; some people are just trying to take all the money. Trying to see what type of [contract] we were going to sign was very difficult, because almost every single person wanted me and not my team.

I am a very loyal person — I did not want to let go of my team. And then I met DJ Nelson in his studio. I went with my team and I told him, “This is my team, I don’t want to leave them.” He told me, “If you had come without your team, I wouldn’t have signed you.” So I was like, okay, this is the place. Besides that, I also had asked God, “Father, I want to sign where you are.” And the first thing [DJ Nelson] told me was, “my children are Christians,” so I was like, “This is the way.”

How he overcomes fear for future ambitions

Every time I do these types of tours, the only thing that makes me a little bit nervous or stress — not even the shows — is the traveling. I’m scared of airplanes. Really. I’ve been traveling my whole life. That’s the only part that gets me a little bit stressed out. Mentally, I try to prepare myself. Every time I have to make those sacrifices, I think about my future kids. I’d be like, “You know what, I gotta do it for my future family and the future.” Eventually, I want to have a whole bunch of kids. My wife wants two, but I’m trying to convince her to have more.

He loves performing with his wife Zhamira Zambrano

If I had to choose one [song I enjoy performing live], I would probably say “Dícelo,” with my wife. The fact that people love a song that I have with my wife is beautiful. Sometimes you can do songs with the person that you love, and it probably doesn’t go that well. But every time that song is [performed], people go crazy, people go absolutely wild. Sometimes what people do a lot of songs and then eventually get a hit. It’s funny because the first time we collaborated on a song, it became a hit. People loved it.

She’s an artist too. She’s doing a whole tour on her own. We try to be together everywhere we go, as long as I can and she can. I admire her and I always support her no matter where I am.

Xavi earns his second No. 1 on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart as “Corazón de Piedra” advances from No. 3 to lead the May 25-dated ranking. “Corazón de Piedra” takes the top spot as the Greatest Gainer of the week, with 7.8 million audience impressions on U.S. reporting radio stations during the May 10-16 tracking week, according to […]

Bacilos’ latest studio album, Pequeños Romances, has topped this week’s new music Latin poll. In a poll published on Friday (May 17) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the duo’s newest production as their favorite music […]

A week after Myke Towers’ “La Capi” landed atop Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart, the song continues its radio success as it crowns the overall Latin Airplay chart (dated May 25).
“La Capi,” released via One World International/Warner/Warner Latina, advances from No. 3 to No. 1 boosted by a 12% gain in audience impressions, to 10.3 million, across U.S. Latin stations in the week ending May 10-16, according to Luminate.

All May 25-dated charts will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on May 21.

The merengue-flavored tune sends Shakira and Grupo Frontera’s “(Entre Paréntesis)” to No. 2 after one week in charge, with a 5% dip in audience, to 9.1 million.

With “La Capi,” Towers banks his 12th No. 1 on Latin Airplay, dating back to “Caramelo,” with Ozuna and Karol G, in 2020. Towers also enlarges his chart-topping rate to three champs this year, after “Borracho y Loco,” with Wisin, and “La Falda” hit No. 1, for one week in charge each in Feb. He ties Feid for the most No. 1s on Latin Airplay in 2024. 

Notably, out of the 18 No. 1s in 2024, Towers is the third male soloist to hit No. 1 unaccompanied by another artist. He previously led this year, on his own, with “La Falda” on the Feb. 24-dated list. Also in 2024, Xavi achieved the feat through “La Diabla” (two weeks at No. 1 in February and March), while Ozuna completed a one-week reign with “Baccarat” (March 30 chart).

Towers’ new leader joins “La Falda” and “Lala” as the third No. 1 from Towers’ album, LVEU: Vive La Tuya…No La Mía, his fourth top 10 on Top Latin Albums (No. 9 high, last December).

Elsewhere, “La Capi” holds strong at its No. 1 peak on Tropical Airplay for a second week.

Carín León’s new album will be released May 30, and it won’t be business as usual, as the Mexican star exclusively tells Billboard.
Boca Chueca Vol. 1 drops at 8 p.m. ET on May 30, and features 19 songs, including bilingual collabs with country stars Kane Brown and Leon Bridges as well as Latin icons like ranchera star Pepe Aguilar and Mexican rockers Panteón Rococo. See the full tracklist for the first time below.

But the real change, says León, starts with the album cover, a surrealist painting that shows León’s face close up, with a sinister-looking hand holding his mouth open in a crooked grimace that is a direct reference to the album’s title; “Boca Chueca” translates to “Crooked Mouth.” And that title in turn represents the album’s contents, says León.  

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“What we wanted to highlight on the cover was […] all those problems you suffer as an artist who is always exposed,” León said in a voice note he sent to Bilboard. “All those fears they carry from before. All that contributes to the music and the art we all make as artists. Making this album was like a small embrace and a conciliation with many things people think are bad, but that are also part of you. The cover has that dark look which in a way has a lot to do with us and also speaks about the reinvention in this album. It has more daring words, more of a street vocabulary. Boca Chueca has a lot to do with that less genteel side of Oscar Armando,” says León, referring to his given name, Oscar Armando Díaz de León.

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The cover art of Boca Chueca was designed by Alan Ortega, a member of León’s band who plays the pedal steel guitar but is also a painter. In fact, he did the also surrealistic cover of León’s album Colmillo de Leche, where he is depicted with a lion’s head.

Boca Chueca Vol. 1 is the studio follow-up to Colmillo, which peaked at No. 8 last year on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. Since its release, León has been getting traction as one of the top regional Mexican music stars in the market, touring arenas and performing at festivals like Stagecoach.

His new tour, also called Boca Chueca, kicks off July 22 and includes stops at Madison Square Garden and, in a departure for a Mexican act, at Wizink Center in Madrid.

As for Vol. 2 of Boca Chueca (the album), no word yet on when it will be released, but the implication is it won’t be long. Here is the full tracklist of Boca Chueca, Vol. 1.

Final Tracklist: 

1.⁠ ⁠”Cuando la vida sea trago”2.⁠ “⁠Otra vez”3.⁠ ⁠”Casi oficial”4.⁠ ⁠”Frené mis pies”5.⁠ ⁠”Círculo vicioso”6.⁠ ⁠”Que haga el paro”7.⁠ ⁠”Bebé no cambies tú”8.⁠ “⁠⁠Por eso bye”9.⁠ ⁠”Qué feo se siente el amor”10.⁠ ⁠”No sé” con Panteón Rococó11.⁠ “⁠The One (Pero no como yo)” con Kane Brown12.⁠ ⁠”Lamentablemente” con Pepe Aguilar13.⁠ ⁠⁠”Aviso importante” con Bolela14.⁠ “⁠It Was Always You (Siempre fuiste tú)” con Leon Bridges15.⁠ ⁠”Banqueteras”16.⁠ “⁠⁠1”17.⁠ ⁠”Aunque tú no lo sepas”18.⁠ ⁠”Por culpa de un tercero”19.⁠ ⁠”Despídase bien”

The second (and last) day of the Tecate Emblema festival in Mexico City was all about female power, with Christina Aguilera, Nelly Furtado and Annita gracing the stage. The international superstars all sang and spoke in Spanish, conquering the almost 72,000 attendees that packed the Curve 4 of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday (May […]