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On an overcast winter afternoon in McAllen, Texas, all six members of Grupo Frontera are huddled around an oversize white box, staring gleefully at its contents. They peel back the tissue paper wrapping to reveal a present their stylist has gifted them just a few days shy of Christmas — a mound of plush Polo […]
With International Women’s Day (March 8) just around the corner, and Women’s History Month in full swing, the editors of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español have compiled 28 of the best Latin music anthems by female artists. The list includes powerful songs across different music genres that may have marked a before and after in […]
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, the organization has begun unveiling Sonic IDs for each host city, or “audio brands that celebrate diversity, creativity and the unifying power of sport through music,” produced by a local producer, according to a press release. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See […]
Shakira called off her concert in Santiago, Chile, tonight (Sunday, March 2), just hours before the show at Estadio Nacional was scheduled to go on.
“I am heartbroken that I cannot sing for you today for reasons beyond my control,” the Colombian superstar wrote in a statement posted on social media. In her note, she explained that there were safety concerns regarding her stage production at the stadium, which is located in Santiago’s Ñuñoa district. Shakira was expected to perform at Estadio Nacional for two nights, both of which were sold out.
It’s the second Latin American city to be postponed citing local production issues on Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour, following the cancellation of her Feb. 24 show in Medellín, Colombia — and the third total that she’s had to reschedule since bringing her world tour to the region in February. On doctor’s orders, Shakira couldn’t perform in Lima, Peru, on Feb. 16, as she was hospitalized with an abdominal condition.
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“To my fans,” Shakira wrote in her Sunday update, “you who have been with me for more than 30 years know more than anyone else my professional ethics and how much I strive to always give you the best. For a year I have worked tirelessly, night and day, on the smallest details to achieve an unforgettable experience for my fans as they deserve and as we have been able to enjoy together during the concerts I have been performing.”
The star expressed that connecting with fans every night on tour “is a big part of what makes me wake up every day wanting to celebrate life,” then broke the news that her performance in Chile must be postponed:
“You can imagine how painful it is for me as an artist to see that after so many efforts to come to this country that I love so much, my show in Chile on this occasion must be rescheduled due to circumstances beyond my control or that of my production.
“When an artist travels to a country, their production and team become directly dependent on the local producers. My staff and I trusted at all times that the production company hired by the local promoter would follow to the letter the specifications that were diligently provided by us so that a show of the magnitude of this one could take place.
“The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour, which I wanted to start in my home, Latin America, is the biggest tour of my career and currently one of the biggest productions in the world. With a stage that weighs 62 tons, unfortunately we have found that the floor of the place where my stage would go is uneven and is not properly stabilized to ensure the safety of my band, dancers, my fans and myself.
“There are two things I would never compromise and that is the safety of my team and my fans, and I would never offer you a show below the quality standards you deserve.”
Shakira intends to return to Chile as soon as possible — even if she has to “inspect the floor and every last screw in the structure that supports my stage” herself, she says.
On the event’s ticketing page, Fenix Entertainment shared the same information in a statement on Sunday: “We regret to inform you that during the assembly process of the show scheduled for today (March 2) at the Estadio Nacional de Santiago de Chile, we have encountered technical problems beyond the control of the artist and their production that prevent the correct development of the concert, since the floor where the stage would be located is uneven.”
The next city on Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour itinerary is Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she’s set to perform at Campo Argentino de Polo on March 7-8.
See her full note about the Chile concert postponement here.
Their fans had eagerly awaited since Tuesday (Feb. 25), when the event had to be canceled due to a massive blackout in Chile, and Morat did not disappoint. In their debut at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival, the Colombian pop-rock band got the “monster” of Quinta Vergara excited with a show full of energy and heart.
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On a luminous stage, the Bogota quartet composed of Simón Vargas, Juan Pablo Isaza, Juan Pablo Villamil and Martín Vargas sounded impeccable as they performed hits like “No Se Va,” “Salir Con Vida,” “Por Si No Te Vuelvo A Ver” and “Amor Con Hielo,” which the audience sang along to from beginning to end, belting out the lyrics with emotion. It wasn’t long before they were awarded the Gaviota de Plata (Silver Seagull) award, and finally, they also took home the Gaviota de Oro (Gold Seagull), the highest honor given by the audience at the event.
“You can’t imagine know how much we dreamed of being here,” one of the members expressed just before receiving the Gaviota de Oro. “Thank you, really. We love you with all our soul.”
Morat’s setlist also included “París,” “Llamada Perdida,” “Besos En Guerra” and, for the big finale, “La Policía.”
“How wonderful Viña, how wonderful!” the band exclaimed before ending their debut performance at the Chilean festival. “You can’t imagine the dream we are fulfilling here. Thank you so much for all the support, for all the love.”
With hits including “No Se Va,” “Besos en Guerra” and “Cuando Nadie Ve,” Morat debuted in 2016 with the album Solo el Amor y Sus Efectos Secundarios, and received a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist the same year. Morat’s fourth and latest LP, 2022’s Si Ayer Fuera Hoy, gave the band their first entry on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart, peaking at No. 18.
Later on Saturday, Sebastián Yatra returns to Quinta Vergara to close the festival. Yatra, with almost a dozen No. 1s on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart — including “Robarte un Beso” with Carlos Vives, and “Tacones Rojos” and “Un Año” with Reik, to name a few — had previously performed in Viña del Mar in 2019 with a full show, as well as the previous year during Vives’ concert, joining him on “Robarte un Beso” — something he did again on Wednesday during Vives’ performance.
The 64th edition of the Viña del Mar Festival kicked off Sunday (Feb. 23) with a riveting set by Marc Anthony. Since then, artists like Myriam Hernández, Ha*Ash, Carlos Vives, Carín León, Incubus, Duki, Eladio Carrión and Kid Voodoo have performed at the Quinta Vergara. All nights are livestreamed in the United States online at Billboard and Billboard Español.
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements and those little important moments, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
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Andrea Bocelli in Venezuela
On Feb. 22, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli performed in Venezuela’s Estadio Monumental Simón Bolívar, where Venezuelan singer-songwriter Nella was a special guest. The two shared the stage to sing anthemic songs like “Bésame Mucho” and “Vivo Por Lei.”
“Infinite gratitude,” Nella wrote on Instagram. “This is one of those moments that I will treasure and keep in my heart for the rest of my life. Grateful to everyone who accompanied me and made this day possible.”
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Karol G Honors Shakira
Karol G shared an emotional message on her Instagram stories on Friday (Feb. 28), honoring fellow Colombian hitmaker, Shakira. The “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” singer took to social media to express how much Shakira means not just to to her but all of Latin America. “Her songs and her story have represented our country and the Latin industry for decades and it’s inspiring to see her shine like never before, or better yet, shining like always,” Karol wrote. “Sending you a hug from afar, enjoy it all.” Shakira is currently on tour with her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran trek, recently wrapping up her string of shows in her native Colombia.
‘El Gordy y La Flaca’ Hosts on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Television hosts Lili Estefan and Raúl de Molina, best known for their show El Gordo y La Flaca, were honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday (Feb. 27), where music stars Thalia, Gloria and Emilio Estefan were in attendance.
“Lili is Emilio’s niece by blood,” Gloria began here speech at the ceremony. “I’m so proud of Lili, she always knew who she wanted to be and worked so hard to get there. People always say, ‘Oh, you helped Lili’ but we did nothing. She did this all on her own.”
Mexican star Thalia spoke a few words in honor of her good friend Lili Estefan, saying she is a reference to many Latin women who look up to her. You can watch the entire ceremony here.
Marco Antonio Solís References Kendrick Lamar
Mexican icon Marco Antonio Solís referenced Kendrick Lamar‘s hit “Not Like Us” during a concert in Argentina. Solís incorporated the 2024 diss track at Estadio Centenario (Resistencia) on Sunday (Feb. 23), and even added Lamar’s viral dance moves from his Super Bowl halftime performance in New Orleans. Solís first danced to the mariachi song “El Celoso,” which then transitioned into “Not Like Us.” It was indeed a fan-favorite moment as the crowd erupted in a roar.
Check out the moment below:
Carlos Vives’ Sweet Moment at Viña
Colombian star Carlos Vives performed at Viña del Mar on Wednesday (Feb. 26), where he was awarded with Gaviotas de Plata and Oro. One of the most memorable moments from his set was when he serenaded his wife Claudia Elena Vásquez with “Volví a Nacer.” “I want to share with you something very special, this song was composed during a difficult moment of my life,” he prefaced the song. “We all spend difficult nights, but we know that the next day the sun rises. I composed this song for a person at a very special moment and from this song things changed in my life, and I want to dedicate it to everyone because I know that at some point we will all be born again.” The couple shared a passionate kiss to seal his performance.
After a massive blackout in Chile led to the cancellation of Tuesday’s show (Feb. 25), Morat and Sebastián Yatra will finally perform on Saturday night (March 1) at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival 2025, held at the Quinta Vergara amphitheater in the coastal city of Viña del Mar. Both acts will play approximately one-hour shows as part of the week-long festival which kicked off on Sunday, February 23.
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Headlining Colombian pop rock band Morat is slated to take the stage at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET, and Yatra is scheduled for around 11:15 p.m. ET, after the presentation of comedian Pedro Ruminot.
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Like all previous days, you can watch the performances in the U.S. exclusively on Billboard.com and BillboardEspanol.com.
With hits including “No Se Va,” “Besos en Guerra” and “Cuando Nadie Ve,” Morat debuted in 2016 with the album Solo El Amor y Sus Efectos Secundarios, and received a Latin Grammy nomination for best new artist the same year. Its fourth and latest LP, 2022’s Si Ayer Fuera Hoy, gave the band its first entry on the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart, where it peaked at No. 18. On Tuesday, the band is making its debut at the Chilean festival.
Yatra, with almost a dozen No. 1s on the Billboard Latin Airplay chart — including “Robarte un Beso” with Carlos Vives, “Tacones Rojos” and “Un Año” with Reik, to name a few — had previously performed in Viña del Mar in 2019 with a full show, as well as the previous year during Vives’ concert, joining him on “Robarte un Beso.”
The 64th edition of the Viña del Mar Festival kicked off Sunday with a riveting set by Marc Anthony and since, artists like Myriam Hernández, Ha*Ash, Carlos Vives, Carín León, Incubus, Duki, Eladio Carrión and Kid Voodoo have performed at the Quinta Vergara. Morat and Yatra will finally have their turn tonight.
All nights are livestreamed in the United States on Billboard and Billboard Español. Performances can be viewed on the player in this story beginning at 7:15 p.m. ET.
Argentinian trap star Duki lit up the 2025 Viña del Mar International Song Festival on Friday (Feb. 28), making his debut at the Quinta Vergara as the headliner of the urban music night that would also feature Puerto Rican hitmaker Eladio Carrión and Chilean artist Kidd Voodoo.
Showcasing his impressive flow, Duki kicked off his set with the pulsating “GIVENCHY,” dressed in jeans, black jacket and T-shirt and silver chains. The face-tattooed singer looked like a rock star accompanied by drums, bass and guitar, while the audience chanted along with him at the top of their lungs. Behind him, fire images were blazing on the huge screens.
“Thank you so much, everyone! How are we doing tonight, Viña? Thanks for the love,” he said amid the screams of the audience after performing hits including “Si Te Sentís Sola,” “Pininfarina,” “Además De Mí” and “Sin Frenos,” his 2021 track with Bizarrap and Carrión. “A slightly more intimate, more sung moment is coming up. I hope you like it,” he announced shortly after, performing “Buscarte Lejos,” but soon he had everyone on their feet jumping to “Harakiri.”
With the energy high in the venue, Viña hosts Karen Doggenweiler and Rafael Araneda presented him with the Gaviota de Plata (Silver Seagull). “This is the first award I’ve received in my entire career,” said Duki, dedicating it to his followers and his parents, and also thanking urban acts from Chile who helped opened the doors for him in the country.
But the show didn’t end there. The Argentine star continued with “Duki: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 50,” which he started a cappella with an impressive flow before the music kicked in. Then came the reggaeton “Te Traje Flores,” as well as the No. 1 hit on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 “Los del Espacio,” originally performed with LIT Killah, Tiago PZK, Emilia, Rusherking, Big One and FMK.
Among others, he sang the rockier “No Me Llores” and his 2019 trap hit “Goteo,” a powerful track that alludes to the image of “dripping” in wealth and style, symbolized by luxury brands like Gucci, Nike, Philippe Patek, Rolex, and Cartier.
In the end, Duki didn’t take home just the first award of his career — he also received the Gaviota de Oro (Gold Seagull), the highest recognition awarded by the Viña del Mar audience. Visibly moved, Duki wiped away tears, kissed his trophy, and with great humility thanked his fans and his parents again, who proudly watched their son triumph from the front row. “Thank you for making my dream come true,” he said.
To close, the 28-year-old rapper once again had the “monster” chanting along with “Malbec,” “She Don’t Give a Fo” and “Nueva Era,” before disappearing from the stage.
Viña del Mar 2025 kicked off Sunday with a riveting set by Marc Anthony and since, artists like Myriam Hernández, Ha*Ash, Carlos Vives, Carín León and Incubus have performed at the Quinta Vergara. Viña will continue Saturday (March 1), as the festival concludes with the Colombian group Morat followed by Sebastián Yatra. Both were originally scheduled for Tuesday (February 25), when the show was canceled due to a massive blackout in Chile.
Esta semana, nuestro resumen y playlist de Nueva Música Latina — curado por los editores de Billboard Latin y Billboard Español — incluye colaboraciones entre Ivy Queen y Nanpa Básico, Fonseca y Rawyana, Zhamira Zambrano y Noreh, así como un nuevo EP de Nicky Jam. El astro del reggaetón lanzó el EP de siete pistas Sunshine, en el que estuvo trabajando desde finales del […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
Nicky Jam, Sunshine (NJ Music/Virgin Music Group)
After releasing Insomnio last year born from one of his “darkest moments,” Nicky Jam makes a radiant comeback with Sunshine. The seven-track EP bursts with confidence and conviction, initiating with the risqué reggaetón number “Dile a Él.” The vibe escalates as Nicky Jam ventures into Jersey club territory with “Roxxxstar,” a collaboration with Geo that promises sheer wildness.
The release features just one more collaboration, bringing in French-born African producer 4Rain on the outro track “Awita” — a sensually engaging tune that channels flirtatious, sunny vibes. Throughout the EP, the reggaetón maestro experiments with a splash of Afrobeats in “No Se” and dives into Brazilian funk with the track “Mine,” showcasing his versatility and enduring influence in the urbano genre. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
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Fonseca & Rawayana, “Venga Lo Que Venga” (Sony Music Latin)
Colombian star Fonseca and Venezuelan band Rawayana come together in a poetic vallenato pop collab that invites us to embrace the present and face life’s challenges with an optimistic attitude. “If the world ends/ May this catches us together/ May the archaeologists of the future/ Don’t know if we were two or one,” says part of the chorus.
“‘Venga Lo que Venga’ (Come What May) came about without pretensions, with the idea of having a good time, making music together,” Fonseca says of the collaboration in a statement. “What emerged was a song full of energy, with a call to loyal love, hope and, of course, a touch of environmental awareness. All of this wrapped in resilience and good vibes in the face of anything that faces us with the world daily.” With its romantic, uplifting message, “Venga Lo Que Venga” will be part of Fonseca’s next album. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Ivy Queen & Nanpa Básico, “Coincidimos” (Ivy Queen Musa Sound Corp)
Puerto Rican star Ivy Queen shines in “Coincidimos,” a departure from her signature hard-hitting rap verses and reggaetón hits that have cemented her as one of the leading forces of música urbana. For this collaboration with Colombian lyricist Nanpa Básico, Ivy sings over hypnotizing Afrobeats about an undeniable energy between two people who are just finding their perfect rhythm. Marking a new era for Ivy, this is the first of a series of tracks she’ll release ahead of her upcoming 10th studio album. About the collab, Nanpa Básico shares: “It is a great honor to collaborate with Ivy. She is an artist I admire a lot. It’s a great song that will get everyone dancing.” — GRISELDA FLORES
Zhamira Zambrano & Noreh, “Me Hubiese Gustado” (Dynamic Records)
Venezuelan singer Zhamira Zambrazo joins forces with her talented compatriot Noreh in a moving pop ballad about two people who love each other but know they are not meant to be together. Zambrano’s sweet, melodious voice is beautifully complemented by Noreh’s velvety tones. “You don’t accept the end because you love me or you’re afraid to start over,” she sings, while he responds, “Even if I don’t know how to stay, it’s no lie that I loved you.” It is Zambrano’s first release since becoming a mother last September (excluding the Christmas song “Santa” with her husband Jay Wheeler), and marks the first single from her upcoming debut album, scheduled for release later in the year. — S.R.A
Marcos Witt, “Al Estar Aquí” feat. TAYA (CanZion)
Christian music star Marcos Witt presents a new version of his 1991 hit “Al Estar Aquí,” this time accompanied by TAYA. The instrumentation and harmony of both voices merge with the ’90s feel of this anthem that is refreshed with the powerful but sweet voice of the Australian artist, who sings for the first time in Spanish. The track will be part of Witt’s upcoming duets album, Legado, to be released in May. — TERE AGUILERA
Pedro El Rapero, “Me Gusta” (Miami Sound Agency Corp.)
It’s not the collaboration with J Balvin that many were hoping for after their viral encounter at the 2024 Billboard Music Week, but Pedro El Rapero’s “Me Gusta” is an apt follow-up to his latest singles, the merengue “Hasta El Final” and the rap song “Prime.” In this Jersey club and trap fusion, the 13-year-old tenderly sings about the thrill of an adolescent love. “I know that sooner or later she will notice that I like her/ I like her/ Oohhhh, that idea scares me,” he signs in the chorus of the song, with which Pedro continues demonstrating his innate flow and charisma. The music video for “Me Gusta,” filmed in the streets of New York City, premieres Saturday (March 1). — S.R.A.
Check out more Latin recommendations this week below: