Latin
Page: 84
Mexican influencer and singer Yeri Mua has signed a contract with Sony Music Mexico for the recording of her first album. The signing, exclusively announced by Billboard Español, comes after Mua released four songs in the last year that positioned her among the most influential urban artists of the moment. Previously known for her fashion, lifestyle and makeup […]
With her eclectic fusions of Música Mexicana and Latin pop, Ana Bárbara has not only molded the Regional Mexican genre but righteously earned her title of La Reina Grupera (the queen of grupera music). In celebration of her 30-year career that has ultimately defined the grupero genre through 11 studio albums and various Billboard hits, […]
In a world where seasons change but legends remain, Ana Bárbara has positioned herself as an unforgettable icon in regional Mexican music and Latin pop.
Celebrating three decades of a spectacular career, the artist has excelled as the defining female voice of the grupero genre, with a mix of rhythms that has captivated millions. Throughout these years, the San Luis Potosí native has not only conquered hearts — with an extensive discography that includes 11 studio albums and 18 compilations — she has also molded the regional musical style.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From the time she debuted with an eponymous album in 1994 until she became La Reina Grupera, Altagracia Ugalde Motta (her real name) has released a succession of hits that resonate with a unique energy. Two decades ago, she delivered one of her biggest and most transcendent songs, “Lo Busqué”. “It was the first to make a crossover between pop and country,” Ana Bárbara says — and, as she can proudly claim, started a trend that now influences artists like Carín León, Chiquis and more.
Trending on Billboard
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with legendary figures such as Vicente Fernández, Bronco and Paquita la del Barrio, and has been a key player in the rise of superstars like Christian Nodal and (more recently) Majo Aguilar and Adriana Ríos. Her career not only reflects her mastery of the stage, but also of the Billboard charts. Hits such as “Me Asusta Pero Me Gusta”, “La Trampa”, “Ya No Te Creo Nada” and “No Lloraré” reached the top 10 of Hot Latin Songs, and albums like Ay Amor (1996) and Yo Soy La Mujer (2014) established her as a mainstay on Regional Mexican Albums.
[embedded content]
Ana Bárbara will be recognized with the Music Lifetime Achievement Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024. In this intimate dialogue, The Queen of Grupera opens the doors to her world, revealing more about her achievements, challenges and the passion that continues to fuel her impressive musical legacy.
This year you are marking 30 years of musical career, and you will celebrate it soon with La Reina Grupera Tour.
Cómo han pasado los años (how the years have gone by), as the song [by Rocío Dúrcal] says — and it’s been incredible. With so many things happening in life, to have life is a miracle. It’s a blessing to be celebrating with music and a tour! It’s a triple blessing. The tour is a surge of nostalgia, of history, of feelings, of ups and downs of emotions. Because in 30 years, how many stories could have been written? How many were part of my songs? I can’t express enough thanks for the gratitude that my heart feels, without a doubt.You sing, you compose, you dance. Is there an area that you enjoy the most in what involves being the superstar Ana Barbara, whether it’s recording, composing or performing live?They all have their magic. But the songwriting part of it is very exciting. It’s like, “Oh my God, I came up with this! Where did it come from? What part of the universe? Where was my soul?” When I start producing it, I see if I want guitar here or trumpet there. The creative process is like an adrenaline rush. Also, you know that a feeling crystallized, if you can call it that. A feeling that took shape. Just talking about it gets me excited. Right now I’m finishing [a song that I’m] crazy about and listening to it makes me thing: “How did I come up with this?” I know, it’s really cool. That’s an indescribable feeling.
I was listening to your most recent track, “Así bailé”. You have a very fun way of telling stories that make you smile.
If you listened to it and say, “I laughed, I smiled, it put on a good attitude,” then I have done my job. That song was to talk about the anecdote of when you meet someone and it doesn’t matter how old you are. You can be 17, 18, 40, 50 or 60 years old, be single and feel butterflies in your stomach again. Why not? That’s what I love about that song.
[embedded content]
You use norteño elements like the accordion, but it also sounds a bit country. How do you approach incorporating diverse styles into your music?
That’s something organic — that word is in style. “Lo Busqué” is going to be 20 years old, and I was lucky enough to be with Carín León at StageCoach [Festival on April 27], where he mentioned to those present that for him, that song, in his reality, was the first that made a crossover between pop and country. It is a song that marked him, and it marked me too when I wrote it.
When I wrote it, I had a lot of problems with the record label — because they told me: “Your song is neither grupera, nor ranchera, nor a ballad, nor country”. And I told them, “You know why it is nothing? Because it’s everything.” They’re songs that come naturally to me. I think it’s the impact of cultures — of traveling, of listening to all kinds of music — that makes me write that way.
Thirty years ago, when you were starting your career, regional Mexican music was even more male-dominated than it is today. What was it like to stand out and make your way as a female leader in the music scene and what challenges did you have to overcome?
The first challenge? Insecurity. It’s absolutely a man’s market. I still believe that. It’s misogynistic, and I say that with the authority of years of being in this. [A record executive] said, “We have five singles [to release], and Ana’s is going to be the fifth.” The first one, almost always, or always, is very male-focused. It’s insane! They’re career challenges that deflate your spirits.
But you keep going because of “orgullo de mujer cuando está herido”(or “a woman’s pride when it’s wounded”) — my song “Loca” (2004) says. Even if they [make you] let your guard down and say, “She’s probably going to get married or have children”, or “Oh, she’s not going to have the body she once had.”
No! If you got married, you got married; if you had a child, you bless them and move on. I have been a victim of these kinds of comments that can discourage any human being, any woman. Don’t let them make you let your guard down — you keep going, you keep fighting. If it impacts you, you have to know how to channel it. I have channeled it with my songs, through dance, concerts, and it has worked very well for me.
You proved it in February during your performance at Premio Lo Nuestro, with your medley of hits, the numerous costume changes, the choreography, and then you did a split! How do you prepare for that kind of gymnastics on stage? What’s your diet and routine like?
The worst thing that can happen to an artist, in my humble opinion, is that what they need the most is discipline or the routine to get in physical condition — to get on stage, sing and dance at the same time; daily exercise. We [artists] are always flying, traveling, going up, going down, all the time, and the only thing we don’t have is a routine. However, not having a constant of waking up in the same place — within that disorder you have to have an order.
I try to do sports at least three, four times a week. I do try to do them intensely — because imagine, singing, dancing, performing and costume changing is weight on your feet, arms and legs. Besides, you can’t become a fitness [guru], because you don’t have the time. One of the limitations is to look for schedules without routine, whether it’s in the evening, another in the morning, or at the crack of dawn. Do yoga, aerobics, things that give you the physical condition for that kind of performance.
[embedded content]
The logical thing to do when you’re not traveling, singing, promoting, taking care of your home or your family, is to rest. Well, no! In those breaks, the stress I put on my body is one that is called positive stress. Even if I’m very tired, I try to exercise to have the condition for these kinds of challenges that are award show presentations, or touring — because for each [tour] show, you need an hour and a half or two. Imagine being on stage, up there in heels at this age. [Laughs.] Yes, it’s a big challenge, queen.
You have been a judge in competitions such as La Academia and Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento. How was that experience of being on the other side of the music industry?
You can go all over the world and you will never come across a monument like a critic. It’s funny, but the critic can suddenly be cold hearted, and will only say: “Look, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta, ta”, right? I was a critic, but I have been a judge — I have also been in programs as a contestant, not only once, but many times. From that sympathy, I made my comments [as judge]. I always wanted the contestant to feel good and comfortable, and leave there having lived a nice experience. Despite how strong [it can be], I always wanted them to have a glimmer of hope. But I tried to be realistic.
Besides the tour, what else is next for Ana Bárbara?
I have other music projects with new artists. María José, a Mexican singer that I love, just recorded a song. It is a song I wrote, called “Mi Rey, Mi Santo” (My King, My Saint), and the truth is that she sings it very beautifully. She invited me to sing it with her. It’s coming out [soon] and we are very excited.
Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 will air exclusively on Telemundo Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET, and will also be available on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
Chilean singer-songwriter Cris MJ adds a second top 10 to his Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart account, as “Si No Es Contigo” debuts at No. 3 – just two steps behind his current leader, the eight-week No. 1 “Gata Only” with FloyyMenor. The former also bows at No. 72 on the overall Billboard Hot 100, the artist’s highest debut of his so far three entries.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Christopher Andrés Álvarez García, better known as Cris MJ, launched his Hot Latin Songs career just two years ago, through the No. 24-peaking “Una Noche En Medellín” in 2022. A remix of the song with Karol G and Ryan Castro, which charted separately, later took the Chilean to a No. 12 high in August 2023.
Trending on Billboard
“Si No Es Contigo,” Cris MJ’s latest top 10 debut hit — a rhythmic tune peppered with Middle Eastern sounds — is powered almost entirely by streaming activity, with 7.9 million official U.S. streams earned during the May 24-30 tracking week, according to Luminate.
That sum yields an equal No. 3 start on Latin Streaming Songs, for Cris MJ’s second top 10 in less than two months, following “Gata Only,” for nine weeks in charge starting with the April 13-dated list.
[embedded content]
Expanding on the song’s solid start, “Contigo” also earns indie label Sonar its first top 10 on Hot Latin Songs. The Orchard sub-label, in partnership with Rimas Entertainment, first logged an entry on the multimetric tally through the threeway collab, “Desde Mis Ojos” — with Chris Lebron, Jay Wheeler and Sech — for a No. 43 high in 2022.
As mentioned, Cris MJ lands in the top 10 on the airplay-, streaming-, digital sales-blended Hot Latin Songs chart for a second time after logging his first leader through “Gata Only” with FloyyMenor (chart dated April 20), the second-longest leading song in 2024, after Xavi’s “La Diabla” (14-week ruler starting the Jan. 6-dated list).
Further, the 22-year-old makes his first appearance on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, debuting at No. 91. On a global scale, Cris MJ claims a new entry on both Global charts: No. 76 debut on the Billboard Global 200 with 20.9 million streams worldwide. Meanwhile, outside the U.S. he collects 13.1 million clicks for a No. 122 start on the Global Excl. U.S. ranking.
Although it’s one of her greatest hits, La India was hesitant about recording “Ese Hombre,” the 1994 song that ultimately became a certified anthem for Latin women across generations. “I thought the lyrics were too harsh,” the Puerto Rican-born star says today. “I love men and I didn’t feel anger towards them. I thought, ‘How am I going to sing this?’”
Finding inspiration from one of her favorite artists (Rocío Jurado, who sang the song in the ’70s) and a nudge from renowned hitmaker Sergio George (who produced her breakthrough 1994 album Dicen Que Soy, home to “Ese Hombre,” and assured her the song would be a hit), La India belted the lyrics, about a man who is “a false, vain clown who is also mean and spiteful,” over her signature blend of salsa with an R&B and hip-hop sensibility. Singing with so much conviction, and with her unmatched vocal prowess, she inevitably became the voice of a generation, and a fixture in salsa music.
[embedded content]
The track peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart, where it ruled for five weeks. In fact, she has a total of 11 leaders on that tally, most of any woman artist. Over on the Tropical Albums chart, she’s had 15 career entries – also the most for any female act – with six reaching No. 1, including Dicen Que Soy, which also featrures her timeless Marc Anthony duet “Vivir Lo Nuestro.”
Trending on Billboard
Born Linda Caballero, the 55-year-old artist comes from a musical family. Both her mother and grandmother were singers and took notice of La India’s vocal abilities early on. “My grandma nurtured me with music,” says La India, who grew up in the South Bronx area in New York listening to myriad genres, including hip-hop, salsa, pop and rock. “At five [years old], I could sing songs from beginning to end, a cappella and on key.” In her teen years, she joined freestyle and house music group TKA, and says she’s “very proud” of the dance projects she released in her early 20s.
But salsa was her destiny, she adds.
“When I transitioned into salsa, everyone around me was scared at the beginning — but I wasn’t,” she says. “It was just a matter of me feeling the difference between downbeat and upbeat clave. So, I went in with my style: bringing soul, R&&, hip-hop to salsa music.”
Considered “La Princesa de la Salsa” — a moniker bestowed upon her by the great Celia Cruz, known as “La Reina of Salsa,” who La India humbly calls her godmother — La India’s powerful vocals drew the attention of stars like Eddie Palmieri, who she met in a studio session and who produced her first salsa album in 1991, and the iconic Tito Puente, with whom she went on to record a Latin jazz album. Then she teamed up with Sergio George for Dicen Que Soy, which won tropical/salsa album of the year by a female artist at the second annual Billboard Latin Music Awards.
“It’s the most innovative album of the 90s. It changed my life,” La India says. “It was huge on radio, and from there on we never looked back.” It’s an album that she also “spiritually dedicated” to Cruz, her idol. “Throughout her years of great music and excellence, she never saw me as a rival. She welcomed me into salsa tropical and said, ‘You’re going to hold your own and you’re the princess of salsa’ – she blessed me with that. In a genre dominated by men she opened doors for me. I look upon her for my strength. I continue to celebrate her, and I know she would be proud of me today.”
Set to be honored with the Pioneer Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024, La India has, across four decades, gifted women with anthems that make them feel powerful, something she doesn’t take for granted.
“I knew that through my singing, I was born to make people feel emotions,” she explains. “When I sing, I don’t just sing to sing. We’re here to do music that will last forever, and I’m proud of that.”
Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 will air exclusively on Telemundo Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. ET, and will also be available on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
Gabito Ballesteros debuts across Billboard’s album charts as The GB launches at No. 3 on the Regional Mexican Albums chart and at No. 5 on Top Latin Albums chart (dated June 8). His debut studio full-length album, released May 23 via Los CT/Instercope/ICLG, marks his first visit to any Billboard albums ranking. The GB concurrent debuts at No. 65 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, the 24-year-old’s first foray there.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The GB opens with 14,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the tracking week ending May 30, according to Luminate. Streams contribute most of the debut week activity, which equates to 19.6 million official on-demand streams of the album’s songs.
Trending on Billboard
The 22-track set is Ballesteros’ first entry on the Regional Mexican Albums and Top Latin Albums tallies, after notching previous entries across Billboard‘s songs rankings, including a No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, and two top 20 performances on the Billboard Global 200 chart.
As The GB launches at No. 3 on Regional Mexican Albums, it joins two other efforts with an equal No. 3 start in 2024 –the highest opening among the five top 10 debuts this year. Further, it gives imprint Los CT its maiden top 10 start since the regional Mexican ranking launched in 1985. Here’s the recap of those 2024 top 10 debuts:
Debut Pos., Artist, Title, Debut Date
No. 5, Oscar Maydon, Distorsión, Jan. 6
No. 3, Luis R Conriquez, Corridos Bélicos, Vol. IV, Jan. 20
No. 3, Fuerza Regida, Dolido, Pero No Arrepentido (EP), Feb. 24
No. 6, Grupo Frontera, Jugando A Que No Pasa Nada, May 25
No. 3, Gabito Ballesteros, The GB, June 8, 2024
On the song realm, “Sin Yolanda,” with Peso Pluma, leads three The GB entries on the multimetric Hot Latin Songs chart, where it opens at No. 20, powered mostly by 3.1 million official U.S. streams. The set’s previously charted song “El Boss,” with Natanael Cano, rises 50-44 (largely from 1.9 million streams), while “Lucky Charms,” with both collaborators, Cano and Pluma, bows at No. 47 (mostly from 1.8 million streams).
The album was also preceded by the No. 19-peaking “A Puro Dolor’ on Regional Mexican Airplay, Ballesteros’ banda-driven take of Son By Four’s ubiquitous pop hit, which dominated both, Hot Latin Songs and the overall Latin Airplay list for 20 weeks in 2000. The song concurrently gifted Ballesteros his third entry on the latter, where it debuted and peaked at No. 41 (chart dated April 27).
Camilo Launches Tropical Albums Era With ‘Cuatro’
Elsewhere on the Latin charts, Latin pop singer-songwriter Camilo makes his debut on the Tropical Albums chart with Cuatro. The 12-song album is the sum of three previously released three-song projects (uno, dos, tres) along with three new songs.
The effort arrives at No. 6 on Tropical Albums with a little over 2,000 equivalent album units, mostly driven by streaming activity. That sum equates to 3.2 million official on-demand audio and video streams for the album’s songs this week, with a negligible amount of activity from track-equivalent units.
As Cuatro debuts, Camilo secures his first entry and top 10 on the list, after placing three top 10 albums on Latin Pop Albums, including the No. 1-peaking Por Primera Vez (two weeks atop in 2020).
Cuatro, released May 23 via Hecho a Mano/Sony Music Latin, was preceded by one song: “Plis,” a collab with wife Eva Luna Montaner, which took the couple to a No. 36 high on Latin Airplay (March 30) and gifted the Colombian soloist his sixth top 10 Tropical Airplay (peaked at No. 4 on March 16).
When Kali Uchis first broke into the American mainstream in the mid ‘10s, listeners were quickly drawn to her warm, languid coo. But what few knew then is that the artist born Karly-Marina Loaiza was already a veritable powerhouse: writing, producing and even directing and editing her music videos.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Uchis first registered on our radar as an indie sensation with her silky EP Por Vida in 2015, where she cemented her status as a formidable talent. By 2024, she has established herself as a versatile star, seamlessly navigating English and Spanish-language projects, while consistently defying genre with her unique blend of R&B, pop, indie and Latin rhythms. “Having these two different cultures has inspired and influenced so much of everything that I do and make,” the Colombian-American artist tells Billboard Español. Her smash hit “Telepatía” from Sin Miedo (2020) alone has amassed over two billion streams to date, while peaking at a career-best No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and also spending 25 weeks on the chart.
After a trio of Billboard 200-charting releases — 2018’s Isolation (No. 32), 2020’s Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) (No. 52) and 2023’s Red Moon in Venus (No. 4) — Uchis unveiled her fourth studio LP (and second Spanish-language album) Oriquídeas, in January. The album became her highest-charting project to date, achieving remarkable success across both the American and Latin markets — peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while soaring to the pinnacle of Top Latin Albums, Latin Pop Albums, Top Albums Sales, and Vinyl Albums.
Trending on Billboard
[embedded content]
Recently a new mother, Kali Uchis will be recognized with the Rising Star award at Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024. “As an artist, I have always tried to freely express myself. I think [that] opens a door for other artists to feel free and in expressing themselves when it comes to bilingual music, Spanglish,” she tells Billboard Español. “It’s really special when young women tell me that because of me, they felt empowered to be more free in the way that they create. It’s a beautiful thing to feel that you can inspire the next generation.”
Firstly, congratulations on an eventful 2024 so far. You released a No. 1 album, and you’re a new mother!
I was pretty much working my whole pregnancy. I was touring and getting ready to release this album. I shot a bunch of music videos. I was doing as much work [as I could] — so that when I had my baby, I could just enjoy my new baby, and not have to worry about work too much.
When it comes to my child, everything else can wait. I always told myself, “One day, should God ever give me the opportunity to become a mother, I don’t ever want to be the type of person that’s like, ‘My career comes first.’” There’s a lot more to life than your career. That’s how I look at the world. So it’s been a beautiful thing to put [the album] out and see what happens. I’m now getting back into the swing of working. We’ll see if another song happens to take off from the album. But if not, I’m not really worried about it, I have my next album ready. I’m ready for my next era.
[embedded content]
You’ve navigated between the Latin and U.S. music markets with ease, which had been uncommon after first making it big in English-language music. What challenges and opportunities have you encountered in doing so?
There are so many of us that have grown up in spaces of feeling “other” — especially in the United States as a Latina, feeling like you have to [be in put a] box. Now, it’s different. But when I was growing up, you had to identify yourself on paperwork by checking a box [specifying] if you’re Black, white, Asian, Pacific Islander. I always checked the “other” box. Every day, it felt like people were trying to take away your identity, make you not proud of where you come from, and make you feel like it’s not okay to speak Spanish. Even people coming to this country changed their kids’ names to become more Americanized, so they don’t get discriminated [against]. A lot of that experience was challenging for me.
You also grew up in Colombia.
I went to school in Colombia. We were supposed to live there for the rest of my life. Then we ended up coming back to the United States. I had a tumultuous upbringing when it came to heritage, [asking] where is home and what to call home. When I came back to the United States, our house was the place where family members [stopped in] when crossing to America. It was full of immigrants. As an artist, trying to find my footing not only as a person, but as an artist, your artistic identity. All of it has played a big part in me. Being a dual citizen and having these two different cultures has inspired and influenced so much of everything that I do and make. Finding that balance was probably the most challenging part for me.
With Sin Miedo, the pushback was, “You’re never going to be accepted by the Latin market. You’re always going to be considered a gringa because of your U.S. upbringing.” Then with the English-speaking fans, the pushback was, “She’s making music that I can’t understand.” There was some shame, something out of your control. But I had the privilege of never feeling that pressure of having to be commercially successful. Now there are so many of us that have had that experience, first- and second-generation [Latinos]. It’s this new layer to Latinidad that never existed before. Now that America is becoming so Latin, it’s almost like I found my place in that, as well.
How do you and your partner Don Toliver, who’s also a well-known artist, support each other in your respective endeavors?
Whether it’s your friends, family, or partner, it’s important to support [one another’s] dreams, and ambitions. It’s great being able to be with somebody that supports anything that I choose to do, and he understands. If I want to keep making music, I can do that. He also supports me if I don’t want to keep doing that. As a mom, there’s a lot of shaming if you [either] work or don’t work.
On my end, whatever he feels he needs to do for his career, I’m here for him too. It goes both ways, and it’s important — especially when you have a baby. The relationship becomes even more layered. Both of you become responsible for this whole other human being. So it’s important to take time to still be communicating with each other, and putting energy into the relationship.
[embedded content]
You’ve done dembow (“Muñequita” with El Alfa and JT), reggaetón (“Labios Mordidos” with Karol G), neo soul (“Igual Que Un Angel” with Peso Pluma), boleros (“Te Mata”) — you’ve tapped into many genres very seamlessly.
When I make a Latin album in particular, I’m really trying to play and experiment as much as I can with all of the Latin genres that have influenced me. That’s my opportunity to have as much fun as possible. A lot of times, when [non-Latin] people think about Latin music, they just think of one type of artist or sound — and I tried to just be as free with my expression so I can show the range of Latin music and everything that inspires me.
Sometimes I surprise myself, like, “Oh, I didn’t know that I could do this sound.” For instance, my merengue song (“Dame Beso // Muévete”) on Orquídeas, that’s my first time ever doing that sound. I never thought that I could make a song like this — so it’s cool. The bolero was really fun, too.
What advice would you give to emerging artists who aspire to follow in your footsteps?
Any up-and-coming artists, I would say, “Be yourself.” Don’t ever try to be like anybody else, think about how somebody else would do something, or follow trends. Find your own light, find your own path, and do what feels right for you. That’s how you’re going to do something that’s never been done before. That is something that I’ve always stood for and lived by. I think that’s what sets you apart as the artist — solidifying your own lane, your own identity — and when you make music, that you are ultimately striving to be timeless.
Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024 will air at 9 PM ET (8 PM Central) on Sunday, June 9 via Telemundo, and can also be streamed on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
When Kany García was a child growing up in Puerto Rico, her father — a former priest who became a social worker — constantly took his three children with him to the many public housing projects where he worked.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“My dad normalized for us the idea of entering, of participating. There was always that dynamic of service, of conscience, of empathy,” García says today. The ability to listen and connect have been constant elements in García’s music, in songs that are intensely personal, but also intensely empathetic and capable of connecting on many levels. In her 17-year career, García has placed 30 songs on Billboard‘s Latin Pop Airplay chart and eight albums — including five in the top 10 and one No. 1, 2019’s Limonada — on Top Latin Albums. They include her most recent, the self-titled García, released last month.
But at the same time that Garcia, the artist, has gained global success (she just announced a 20-plus date U.S. tour), she has also spread social awareness in many areas — demonstrating sustained and vocal activism, and social commitment that is rare in the world of Latin music. For her action and conviction, García will be recognized with the Spirit of Change award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women In Music gala, airing June 9 on the Telemundo network.
Trending on Billboard
Receiving the award, says García, “On the one hand, is like an embrace — and within the effort and struggle, it’s also an opportunity to continue inspiring new generations of women who are vocal[…] how have raised their voices for my generation and for generations before me.”
In addition to helping multiple organizations, García continually promotes gender equality, feminism and LGBQT rights, and speaks often about gender violence, both in interviews and in her own songs.
“I think everyone acts according to what they understand and what their personality is,” she says when asked if artists should speak out. “For me, it’s a necessity. It’s something that goes hand in hand with touring – where you have the opportunity to see firsthand the people who are affected by your music. You’re there, and you witness the reality of each country and say: ‘How can I not speak up? How can I not contribute? How can I not communicate?’”
García actively contributes to many organizations, among them the True Self Foundation in Puerto Rico, which works for the well-being and social mobility of communities of different sexual orientation and gender identity. But García also advocates daily for those things she feels deeply on a personal level. On her Instagram feed, she often raises her voice to comment on topics as diverse as social policy and femicides and constantly engages in social issues. For example, in December, she sang at the Bayamón Women’s Rehabilitation Complex in Puerto Rico — her second visit to the center — and she also visited the headquarters of The Happy Givers, which helps seniors.
But at this moment in her life, she says, what moves her most is “everything that has to do with gender violence and the rate of femicides that exists throughout Latin America. The issue of women has been paramount in recent years.”
And it is a topic that García addresses the best way she knows: with music.
In her song “Se portaba mal” (“She Misbehave,” from the 2020 album Mesa Para Dos), for example — which she recorded with Mon Laferte — she describes in detail the daily life of an abused woman to the strains of tango (“She behaved badly, very bad/ You had to grab her and pull her hair/ Punch her three times before going to bed/ And tomorrow, ‘Forgive me because I love you,’” go the brutal opening lines).
“For me, feminism will always be important in my music — because I live the issue of inequality daily,” she says. “I love that the songs are a bridge that allow people to sit down and talk, to be aware of what we are experiencing. For me it has always been an essential part of what I have done and what has given meaning to my songs and my project.”
Billboard’s 2024 Latin Women In Music airs Sunday, June 9 on the Telemundo network (9 pm ET/8pm Central) and will stream live on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
Kany García is set to hit the road with her García Tour 2024 in North America, which will kick off Oct. 9 in Dallas’ Majestic Theatre. In support of her latest album, García, the Live Nation-produced trek will visit major U.S. markets including Chicago, New York and Atlanta before wrapping up Dec. 1 in Miami’s […]
La India will be honored with the Pioneer award at the 2024 Billboard Latin Women in Music event, Billboard and Telemundo announced Tuesday (June 4).
The Puerto Rican singer and songwriter, aka the “Princess of Salsa,” will receive an honor that acknowledges those who have pioneered new paths, broken barriers and inspired future generations through their innovative artistry, cultural impact and enduring legacy. The show will air exclusively on Telemundo this Sunday (June 9) at 9 p.m. (ET), and will also be available on the Telemundo app and on Peacock.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Since the release of her first album [Dicen Que Soy in 1994], La India ushered in a new era and sound for salsa music representing female empowerment and becoming a voice for Latinas,” says the release. “She achieved remarkable success in a historically male-dominated genre, paving the way for other female artists in salsa. By blending traditional salsa with elements of pop, house, and other genres, La India has contributed to the evolution of salsa music, inspiring future generations of artists and expanding the genre’s reach and appeal.”
Trending on Billboard
On the Billboard charts, La India has collected 11 No. 1s on Tropical Airplay, the most for a woman in that tally, and has had 15 entries on Tropical Albums, also the most for any female act, including six No. 1s.
On Tuesday, Billboard and Telemundo also announced that GALE, Sergio George, Arthur Hanlon, Elena Rose and Juliana will all take the stage in special performances and collaborations to celebrate this year’s honorees. In addition to La India, Karol G will be celebrated as Woman of the Year, Gloria Estefan will receive the Legend award, Camila Cabello the Global Impact award, Ana Bárbara the Lifetime Achievement award, Ángela Aguilar the Musical Dynasty award, Kali Uchis the Rising Star award, and Kany García the Spirit of Change award.
The show will be hosted by Mexican actress Jacqueline Bracamontes and will have Pedro Capó, Myrka Dellanos, Luis Figueroa, María José, Penélope Menchaca, Andrea Meza and Maripily Rivera among the presenters.
The Billboard Latin Women in Music franchise recognizes the importance of Latin women in the music industry and honors those who have made a positive impact in the previous year. The honors bestowed in 2023 included Shakira as Woman of the Year, Ana Gabriel as Living Legend, Emilia as Rising Star, and Thalia as Global Powerhouse, among others.