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Jhayco‘s latest single “Torii” has topped this week’s new music Latin poll. In a poll published on Friday (May 31) — in support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — music fans voted for the Puerto Rican artist’s latest track as their favorite music release of the week. “Torii” generated nearly 25% of […]
From career milestones to new music releases to major announcements, Billboard editors highlight uplifting moments in Latin music. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week.
Karol G & Silvestre Dangond in the studio
Karol G is working hard in the studio, and she’s not doing it alone. The Colombian hitmaker took to social media to announce that her and Silvestre Dangond are working on new music together. It would mark the first time Karol and the vallenato singer collaborate.
“No one knows what this means to me,” Karol wrote in Spanish on Thursday (May 30). “Yesterday I was in the studio working with Silvestre Dangond on a song that has us both in love, that demands us both and most importantly that represents home, Colombia!!!! What a great vallenato … to cry, to feel, to live!!!! Long live music! Long live the things we can feel with it and the things we can make you feel through it! THANK YOU for this invitation Silvestre !!!! WHAT A MOMENT.”
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Karol G is set to embark on her Mañana Será Bonito European Tour, with her first show June 8 in Zurich. She wraps the European leg July 23 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.
Check out the photos from Karol and Dangond in the studio.
Danna is the new face of MAC’s Viva Glam
The Mexican singer and actor has been unveiled as the new face of MAC Cosmetics’ Viva Glam campaign. On Friday (May 31), the beauty brand announced that Danna stars in the 30th anniversary of #MACVIVAGLAM. She’s also debuting a philanthropic new hue called M·A·Cximal Silky Matte Viva Glam Lipstick.
“It’s an honor to be a part of the #VIVAGLAM story,” Danna captioned an Instagram post. “VIVA GLAM supports a number of charities working to make the world a better place, sexual equality, gender equality, racial equality and environmental equality. All funds from the sale of the lipsticks go 100% to local organizations in each country.”
See Danna’s lipstick here.
Duki’s metro station
Ahead of his historical show at the new Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on June 8, the Santiago Bernabéu metro station will be renamed “Estación Duko” in his honor. Duki is set to sing in front of 65,000 people, becoming the first urban artist to fill this iconic stadium.
The Spanish capital has played a fundamental role in the career of the Argentine rapper, who has mentioned it in several of his songs, such as “Don’t Lie” with Quevedo. Duki returns to Madrid since performing there for his Desde el Fin del Mundo tour in 2023, selling out two dates at the WiZink Center.
Estación Duko
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Gustavo Dudamel receives honorary degree from Harvard
It’s graduation season and Gustavo Dudamel couldn’t help but show off his new milestone. The Venezuelan conductor received an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from the prestigious University of Harvard. Following the ceremony, Dudamel captured the special moment on social media with a heartfelt message.
“Receiving an honorary degree from Harvard University thrills me deeply,” Dudamel captioned an Instagram post. “As a child in Barquisimeto, I could not have imagined that I would one day be recognized by this extraordinary institution.”
He continued: “Education is perhaps the greatest gift we can give. Throughout my life, it has helped me establish my sense of identity, both as an individual and as a member of a global community. When the challenges of the world begin to overwhelm us, I believe the best way to persevere is to approach one another with curiosity, empathy and a desire to learn. It is only through knowledge and understanding that we can heal, inspire and lead the world to a more compassionate future.”
Karol G to be honored at Billboard Latin Women in Music
The Colombian hitmaker is set to be honored with Woman of the Year at the Billboard Latin Women in Music 2024. Karol G will be recognized on June 9 for her extraordinary milestones and unparalleled impact on the music industry. The show will air exclusively on Telemundo at 9 p.m. ET, and will be simultaneously available on the Telemundo app and Peacock.
See who else will be honored during the ceremony here.
In our Latin Remix of the Week series, we spotlight remixes that the Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors deem to be exceptional and distinct from the rest. We might not publish a review every week. This is our selection today. At the onset of 2024, Argentinian sensations Luck Ra and Khea kicked off the year with a compelling dance track […]
This week, Billboard’s New Music Latin roundup and playlist — curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors — features fresh new albums from artists such as Grupo Firme, Manuel Medrano, Carín León, and Manu Chao, to name a few. A handful of new albums were released on Friday (May 31), including León’s Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Olga Tañón’s Así Soy Yo, Mau […]
New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard’s Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week’s picks below.
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Carín León, Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 (Socios Music)
It’s no secret that Carín León’s musical influences are extremely diverse: In fact, he once told Billboard that the first song he learned to sing was Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” when he was little boy, and that he had sort of fallen into singing regional Mexican because of where he was born in Sonora, Mexico — a region where that genre rules. In just a few years, he’s become one of the most important exponents of música mexicana today — singing over both R&B beats and a norteño accordion — globalizing the once-considered-niche style. Now, he’s fully embracing his experimental roots in Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 where he doesn’t hold back from showing off just what a chameleon he is in music and how innovative he can be.
From pop (“Otra Vez”), R&B (“Despídase Bien”) corridos tumbados (“Casi Oficial), alt-rock (“Frené Mis Pies”) and even cumbia ska (“No Sé” with Panteón Rococó), it’s important to note that León doesn’t totally abandon the ranchera sound that made him the star that he is. The 34-year-old singer elevates his core sound by incorporating subtle influences he’s taken from country and R&B. One thing is clear, whatever genre he’s singing in, León sounds right at home, cementing himself as one of the most versatile and eclectic artists in Latin music. It’s important to listen to the album from top to bottom to get the full Carín León experience. It’s a tour de force album that has set the bar high for future releases — and this is just the first volume of two. — GRISELDA FLORES
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Olga Tañón, Así Yo Soy (Opción1 Entertainment)
If the opening title track is any indication, Olga Tañón is embracing life to the fullest (and with no rules) on her new studio album. In “Así Soy Yo,” –-a refreshing mambo reggaetón jam — she makes it clear that she’s not changing her ways for nobody. What remains consistent, however, is her reign as “La Mujer de Fuego” (the woman of fire), bringing to life 10 tracks that, for the most part, are innovative merengue fusions: “Vamos A Ser Feliz” with Christian Alicea, “Escondidos” with Sergio Vargas, and the Eddy Herrera-assisted “Ya No Soy Ajena” — a clever response to Herrera’s 2001 mega hit “Tu Eres Ajena.”
The Puerto Rican tropical star also experiments on Así Yo Soy: Her powerhouse vocals and empowering, relatable lyrics shine on the vallenato tune “Enseñame,” with Jorge Celedon and Lenier, while she takes on música Mexicana on “Amarte Me Hace Daño” and punk rock on “Tu Quieres Que Contigo Yo Me Vaya.” The set wraps with the ultra personal ballad “No Sé Quien Soy,” in collaboration with Lenier. — JESSICA ROIZ
Mau y Ricky, Hotel Caracas (Warner Music Latina)
For their third studio album, Mau y Ricky literally returned to their roots by taking a three-month trip through their native Venezuela, 15 years after moving to Miami as children. Led by producer Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde, Fletcher), and inspired in music they listened to since their childhood, the Montaner brothers created songs using entirely acoustic arrangements, a lot of horns and brass, while experimenting with pop, funk, Latin and urban sounds.
The result is Hotel Caracas, a 16-track set that includes the previously released singles “Vas a Destrozarme,” “Pasado Mañana,” the Guaynaa-assisted “Gran Día” and “Canción 2,” as well as collaborations with Arcángel on “Hasta Olvidarte” and Ilegales in “Espectacular.” Each comes with a music video filmed in different corners of Venezuela, along with a 15-episode documentary on their exciting journey, directed by Daniel Durán and available here.
“Hotel Caracas is a journey into the future while reconnecting with our roots,” Mau y Ricky say in a press release. “We revisited our passion for writing songs without following formulas or rules, driven by curiosity.” With songs that also include “Muriendo de Miedo,” “David Beckham,” “Amarte Tanto” and “Karma,” among others, it’s a fun ride from start to finish, full of nostalgia, humor and good vibes. — SIGAL RATNER-ARIAS
Gusi, Monte Adentro (Gaira Música Local)
Gusi embarks on a profound, introspective journey to reconnect with his Caribbean roots while infusing them with pop sounds in Monte Adentro. “This album is an invitation to look at that place where we belong,’ Gusi passionately shared during the launch of his new album in Miami on May 30. “Many of us have arrived in the United States with a latent dream that never stops. But we always have an invisible thread there that ties us to some place, some corner.”
This seven-track set is a collaborative project between Gusi and iconic Latin producer Emilio Estefan Jr. Together, they worked at Crescent Moon Studios in Miami, which, in Gusi’s words, “being at that studio felt like an award.” They worked on the album for ten days; Estefan chatted with Billboard during the launch and explained how, for him, music has to be done quickly to maintain its magic. “Music is like love; you click, and you fall in love fast, and you fall out of love fast, too,” he says.
The album aims to celebrate the diversity of Latin America, and it’s beautifully represented in this album full of rich fusions of accordions, trumpets and guitars with Gusi’s sweet vocals, as we hear in “Amores No Correspondidos,” “Me Voy Contigo” and the folkloric flauta de millo-featuring “Mil Ave Marias.” Meanwhile, the focus track gives the album its name and encompasses all the meaning it has for Gusi, as well as the importance of always wanting to return to his roots. — INGRID FAJARDO
Omar Montes, Lola Índigo & Las Chuches, “EL PANTALON (RUMBAS)” (Sony Music Latin)
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Spanish singer Omar Montes joins fellow hitmakers Lola Indigo and Las Chuches for a vibrant collaboration on “El Pantalon – Rumbas”, creating a summer explosion. This cheerful flamenco rumba fused with urban music is a remix of Las Chuches’ classic 2004 hit “El Pantalon.” “I’m looking around the square to buy some pants/ Let them fit me very tight, let them fit me hesitantly,” they sing in unison — while, in the video clip, they are seen walking through a local market, as (you guessed it) they look for the famous pants. — LUISA CALLE
Manuel Medrano, Perfecto (Warner Music México)
Manuel Medrano takes his time between albums, and that’s why they come out so well. Perfecto comes three years after Eterno, and it was worth the wait. Perfecto is sophisticated, yet commercial, an album that explores pop, funk, dance and soul with elegance and attitude. “Verano En NY” is just like its title-chill, urban, fun; “Este Cuento” is uptempo pop with mixes of dance and acoustic guitars; “Luna” (with Arthur Hanlon on piano) is a sweeping acoustic ballad, backed by atmospheric strings; and “Miel” is pure disco. Throughout, Medrano’s deep, distinctive voice and well-crafted lyrics shine, always a welcome combination. — LEILA COBO
Grupo Firme, “El Beneficio de la Duda” (Music VIP Entertainment)
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Grupo Firme is known for its party songs, but how well they do ballads? In “El Beneficio de la Duda”, composed by Joss Favela, Eduin Caz unleashes an emotion that is rarely seen in his music. This norteño ballad, accompanied by the accordion’s lament, is short and beautiful. “I don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, but I’ll be grateful if someday you give it to me,” Caz implores in the video, singing in the rain and showing another aspect of his great musicality. — L. Cobo
Manu Chao, “Viva Tú” (Radio Bemba)
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There’s something nostalgic and poetic about “Viva Tú,” Manu Chao’s latest single that pays homage to heartfelt connections. The eternal troubadour captures the simple joys of life, weaving them into a tribute that feels both personal and universal. It thrives on the heart-rending strums of a nylon guitar set to a mellow rhythm of a rumba; while, flamenco-styled vocal embellishments further enrich the tune. The track announces his upcoming solo studio album, out later this year — the first since 2007’s La Radiolina. “Cada día que me enamoro,” he sings, honoring everyday heroines from the baker to the sweeper, each verse blooming with admiration, celebrating the unassuming beauty of daily interactions. — ISABELA RAYGOZA
Listen to more editors’ Latin recommendations in the playlist below:
Do you speak Anitta? It may sound like a rhetorical question given the Brazilian star’s universal hits, but it’s actually the name of a temporary Spotify activation at the Museu da Língua Portuguesa (National Museum of Language) in São Paulo. Open until June 2, visitors will get to “dive deep” into the world of the […]
Daddy Yankee’s “Que Tire Pa’ ‘Lante” demanded attention that YouTube viewers couldn’t resist, as the Puerto Rican’s superstar’s dancehall-reggaetón hit has entered the Billion Views Club.
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Released in 2019 by El Cartel Records and Warner Chappell Music, this track not only highlights Daddy Yankee’s verbal agility — seriously, try rapidly repeating “Que tire, que tire, que tire, que tire, que tire, que tire, que tire” like he does — but it also cleverly integrates the dancehall classic “Murder She Wrote” by Chaka Demus & Pliers, crafting a relentless rhythmic powerhouse.
The music video — directed by Marlon Peña and set against a neon-lit urban desert — is a compelling showcase of global street-dance talent. Dancers from varied backgrounds burst into the scene, each adding their distinctive style to the exhilarating dance-off presided over by Daddy Yankee. His dynamic presence and powerful performance ensure viewers are glued to their screens, reflecting the song’s energetic call to keep the dance momentum strong.
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The visual also features inventive bitmoji cameos from Latin juggernauts such as Anuel AA, Bad Bunny, Darell, Natti Natasha, Wisin and Lennox.
Beyond its visual appeal, “Que Tire Pa’ ‘Lante” boasts impressive chart success, reaching the No. 1 spot on multiple Billboard charts, including Latin Airplay, Latin Rhythm Airplay and Argentina Hot 100.
This track marks Daddy Yankee’s eighth victory lap as a lead, featured artist or collaborator in the YouTube Billion Views Club, joining the ranks of “Despacito” with Luis Fonsi, “Con Calma” with Snow, “Dura” and more.
Watch the “Que Tire Pa’ ‘Lante” video below.
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Maintaining a long-lasting and loving relationship in the music industry is not an easy task. Just recently, Christian Nodal and Cazzu — one of Latin music’s most beloved couples — called it quits recently after a nearly two-year relationship, and after having their first child in 2023. The unexpected split was confirmed on their social media […]
Taylor Swift transformed the renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium into a musical party on Wednesday (May 29), performing to a euphoric crowd of approximately 65,000 fans. It wasn’t only a night full of music and excitement but a triumphant return for Swift, who had not played in Madrid since 2011, with only about 4,000 people in attendance […]
A decade ago, Banda MS decided to become independent after ending its contract with Ferca Producciones, the company that managed the group distributed by Universal Music. The conditions to continue working directly with the transnational company did not convince Sergio Lizárraga, the Mexican band’s musical director, so he decided to venture out and create his own company.
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It was then that Lizos Music was born as an independent label with offices in Mexico (Mazatlán) and the United States (San Diego) that over time would become an inspiration and example for others. Currently, a large number of solo artists and groups of the genre are managed on their own terms.
Launching his own label has had a positive outcome. Banda MS became the highest-grossing band in Mexico, having sold out some of the most important venues in the country. On the Billboard charts, it has 34 entries on Hot Latin Songs, including 10 in the top 10; 16 entries on Top Latin Albums; and 45 on Regional Mexican Airplay chart, the same as the iconic Banda El Recodo, which has an 80-year career.
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The successful solo release of Edén Muñoz (formerly the frontman of Calibre 50) was also one of the company’s achievements, as well as the development of new artists such as Los 2 de la S and Plan de Escape.
Lizárraga, the CEO of Lizos Music, spoke with Billboard Español about the company’s milestones, major accomplishments and challenges, and what’s to come.
How did you decide to create Lizos Music?
The truth is that it was not something planned, it was the circumstances that personally made me think about launching a record label. I remember that Universal put us under very harsh conditions as if we were a band that was just starting out and we had already come a long way, and that motivated me to start my own label.
What were the expectations when you started?
The expectations were very high, very optimistic. We developed the company as we went along. We did not know many things, but all the doubts were dispelled along the way. One thing leads to another, and you discover more and more things, more tools — and people join us to help the project grow. There is no doubt that everything starts by taking the first step.
Since Lizos’ success, do you feel that regional artists have followed your example?
It was an example of life, that it is possible to be independent both musically and as a company. Before it was unthinkable to do an independent project in regional Mexican music. Generally all the artists of the genre had to have someone to do the technical and administrative part and we broke with that.
At the record label level we also proved that it was possible. I don’t want to sound pretentious but I believe in teamwork — and there were key people for that. I am a producer, and people with knowledge of the digital world joined me. And in effect, we were an example for many record labels that were born later on.
At any time did you think about giving up?
We never thought of throwing in the towel, because we did very well in every way — economically, musically. We had the independence of being able to record the songs we wanted, the day we wanted, and to give it the promotion we wanted. So that part makes the artist have control of its content, when to release it, when to leave it or when to remove it.
What have been your main challenges and how did you overcome them?
There have been many challenges since the formation of the company. First, to compete with bands that were already established and with a long trajectory. Then, to find something that made us different — and we achieved it with romantic songs. The public liked that kind of lyrics, and to this day it is something that distinguishes us.
What do you consider to have been the greatest achievements?
One was definitely the launching of Edén Muñoz as a solo artist after his departure from Calibre 50. With his first song “Chale,” it was a success; his career was shaped over the course of two years. We are also proud of what has happened with Los 2 de la S — we started from scratch and they have advanced steadily in their career. We are now working with developing artists, such as Plan de Escape.
Does being independent have limitations?
We made an alliance with Sony Music for Snoop Dogg’s track [“Qué Maldición” from 2020] with the intention of reaching other territories and learning how the major labels do things, as well as knowing if we are doing things right. In the end, the result was very positive, and we realized that we are not far from how they work internationally. So it was a good decision.
How do you see Lizos Music a decade after its creation?
Nothing is easy, but at the moment I see a solid company in every sense: solid departments with people who already have roots in the company at the marketing level, at the distribution level. We are getting better and better positioned, we are doing very well without saturating ourselves with many artists — in order to give time to each one, especially to those who are in development.
What are the plans for the future with the company?
Definitely the plan is that there is no plan. We must continue to make our artists great, we must continue with the idea of continuing to grow. In order not to fall, we have to keep on climbing, as the saying goes.