MEXICO
Shakira arrived on Tuesday (Jan. 21) in Mexico City, where she will stay for a few days to conduct general rehearsals for her stadium tour Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, kicking off on Feb. 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Local TV station Milenio showed the moment the Colombian superstar arrived this afternoon on a private plane at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), on the outskirts of the Mexican capital. The publication Excélsior also shared a video on social media. Escorted by her private security and elements of the National Guard, Shakira spent a few minutes greeting dozens of fans who were waiting with items alluding to her, hoping to greet her up close or get her autograph.
Shakira said in front of the cameras that she was in Mexico City because she has seven concerts scheduled in the capital. The hitmaker of “Monotonía” and “Soltera” recently revealed on the Brazilian show Domingão com Huck that she had chosen the North American country to rehearse and finalize the details of her highly anticipated trek.
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In brief statements to the Mexican press, Shakira shared how she’s been preparing her new adventure that will take her back to international stages after almost seven years since El Dorado, her previous world tour.
“It has been a very healing process, for me and for many women, and for many people who have accompanied me from the start,” said the singer-songwriter. “I am very happy to be here in Mexico, a country that has supported me, understood me, loved me, and I love you with all my heart,” she added.
In response to a question about what she liked the most about Mexican cuisine, the Colombian star said she was craving to taste some traditional tacos or flautas, a style of tacos filled with chicken or beef and topped with green or red sauce.
According to the promoter Ocesa, the Barranquilla native returns to the country setting a new record by becoming the first artist to give seven consecutive shows at the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), gathering about 455,000 people in total. The concerts will take place on March 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, and 30, with tickets sold out, as per Ocesa.
Prior to this, Shakira will arrive in the border city of Monterrey, where she has two shows scheduled at the BBVA Stadium on March 12 and 13. She will also make a stop in Guadalajara, where she will offer two concerts at the Akron Stadium on the 16th and 17th of March.
A request for more details on her stay in Mexico sent by Billboard Español to the promoter and the singer’s record label was not immediately answered.
Shakira announced last October that the U.S. leg of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran world tour would move from arenas to stadiums due to high ticket demand, so the dates for the U.S. were postponed for May, immediately after her tour through Latin America. In December, she added several additional dates for North America.
The euphoric and loving screams of the crowd made Fito Páez blush. The Argentine rocker admitted that the clamor for his free Saturday night (Jan. 18) show in Mexico City’s Zócalo made him feel “modesty.” Visibly moved, he thanked the 80,000 people who attended the Plaza de la Constitución, according to figures from the city government, but also those who followed the concert on social media and public television.
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“How beautiful it is to be here!” said Páez, who appeared on the imposing stage dressed in a fluorescent yellow sweater and a red cape that matched the show’s lighting design. “Please save energy because you will need it,” the musician from Rosario added before starting his first concert of 2025 with his iconic song “El Amor Después del Amor.”
The concert at the country’s main public square settled a pending debt with his Mexican fans, after postponing a presentation originally scheduled for September due to a domestic accident that resulted in five fractured ribs and forced him to suspend a series of shows in Mexico and Colombia.
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It was also the prelude to three shows that the legendary icon of rock en Español will perform this week in Mexican territory, with two dates at the National Auditorium on Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan. 21-22), and one more at the Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara on Jan. 26 — all part of his Páez 403 tour, which celebrates 40 years of his first album, Del 63, and the 30th anniversary of Circo Beat.
The concert of the 61-year-old rocker, with which the Government of Mexico City inaugurated its free musical shows of 2025 at the Zócalo, was even mentioned at the presidential conference of last Friday (Jan. 17). “Fito Páez is Fito Páez!” said Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum in response to a reporter’s question about the singer-songwriter’s visit.
On the Plaza de la Constitución, or Zócalo, a huge Argentine flag was waved from the front rows, with many people of the South American country in attendance to see one of their most respected and beloved musicians, but also curious and old fans, and even new followers who met him through Netflix’s bio-series El Amor Después del Amor. “This is bursting, how beautiful!” Páez, who kept his dialogues short but seemed to enjoy the moment, told the audience.
Accompanied by a large band of musicians and his inseparable piano, he pleased the crowd with a repertoire of his most well-known songs, including “Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazón,” “Cadáver Exquisito,” “Un Vestido y Un Amor,” “Tumbas de la Gloria” and “Naturaleza Sangre.” He also sang classics such as “Al Lado del Camino,” “Circo Beat,” “Brillante Sobre el Mic,” “Ciudad de Pobres Corazones,” “A Rodar Mi Vida” and “Dar es Dar,” which made the audience vibrate.
Previously, the Argentine group El Juguete Rabioso and the Mexican band Rey Pila served as opening bands.
“Ciao, my loves. What an unforgettable night! Health, money, and love for everyone. Thank you for this great honor, for having received us all the people of the city,” Páez said as a farewell. “Know that we appreciate this from the bottom of our hearts.”
With the energy of the audience still high, the rocker reciprocated the affection performing “Mariposa Technicolor” and “Dale Alegría,” which marked the end of his presentation.
Fito Páez’s show adds to the long list of concerts that national and international artists have offered at the capital’s Zócalo, including Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Pixies, Caifanes, Rosalía, Interpol, Grupo Firme, Shakira, Juan Gabriel and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, among many others.
The romantic songs of Los Temerarios, those that captivated four generations in Mexico and the United States, were sung along by thousands Friday night (Dec. 20) at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City — in the first of the last two concerts of the band’s farewell tour, Hasta Siempre, with which they’ll close a story of almost half a century.
“We have reached the end, the end of these 47 years! We will always carry you in our hearts. Thank you for what you made us live during all this time. It has been wonderful!” said an emotional Gustavo Ángel to the 65,000 people who packed the venue, according to figures from promoter Ocesa.
It was a nostalgic and very special night for the group, led by brothers Adolfo and Gustavo Ángel, and their loyal fans, many of whom have been followers of their music from the old days, when they attended their concerts in popular venues in municipalities on the outskirts of the Mexican capital. Many others maintained their taste for the group’s music after having migrated to the U.S., and made their songbook part of their connection to Mexico.
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“We are going to sing those songs with which you fell in love, got married, had children and grandchildren,” the vocalist and guitarist told the audience after performing “Tu Infame Engaño,” one of their classics from the ’80s.
“Our beloved audience, 47 years of being here and you experiencing it with all your heart. There is nothing we can say to reciprocate your affection,” added keyboardist Adolfo Ángel, prompting a thunderous applause.
The audience, mostly made up of women between 30 and 60 years old, sang along at the top of their lungs to songs like “Vivo Enamorado de Ti,” which opened the show, followed by the aforementioned “Tu Infame Engaño,” “Una Tarde Fue,” “Como Te Tecuerdo,” “Como Quisiera Volver,” and “Ya Me Voy Para Siempre.”
The extensive repertoire also included songs like “Ven Porque Te Necesito,” “Acepta Mi Error,” “Porque Te Conocí,” “Una Lágrima No Basta,” “Eres Un Sueño,” “La Mujer Que Soñé,” “Me Partiste el Corazón” and “Te Quiero.”
The show lasted about three hours, during which Los Temerarios performed more than 30 songs — those that catapulted them as one of the most beloved and successful Hispanic bands of the past four decades, and with which they achieved feats like 41 entries on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and 47 entries on Top Latin Albums.
“The emotions are at their peak. If you see teary eyes around, it’s pure gratitude,” said Adolfo Ángel, who recalled that “Tu Última Canción” was inspired by an ex-girlfriend whose relationship ended in a phone call.
The Hasta Siempre Tour of Los Temerarios began in February 2023, and this year accounted for more than 30 shows in cities in Mexico, the U.S., and Central America, including Mexico City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Monterrey, San José, Houston and Atlanta, among others.
In the Mexican capital, before their last performances at the GNP Seguros Stadium, the group packed eight nights at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico since last February, gathering about 160,000 people in total, according to promoter Zignia Live.
On Saturday (Dec. 21), Los Temerarios will repeat the feat for the last time at the GNP Seguros Stadium, lowering the curtain after 47 years.
Keyboardist Adolfo Ángel Alba and singer Gustavo Ángel Alba, from the group Los Temerarios, during a concert at the Arena Monterrey on Feb. 29, 2024, in Monterrey, Mexico.
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Mexican music is undergoing a revolution, and at the epicenter of this new wave of talent is Luis Ernesto Vega Carvajal, better known as Netón Vega. At just 21 years old, the young musician has achieved global success as a co-writer for tracks such as “La People” by Peso Pluma and Tito Double P, “Rubicon” by Peso, and “Si No Quieres No” by Luis R. Conríquez.
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The latter song, on which he also sings, is one of five that he currently has on the Hot Latin Songs chart as both composer and performer, including “La Patrulla” with Peso Pluma, “Linda” and “Chino” with Tito Double P, and “Presidente” by Gabito Ballesteros, Natanael Cano, and Conríquez.
“The fact that my songs reached Hassan (Peso Pluma) allowed them to reach all these artists, with whom I now share a great friendship,” explains Vega, who is ready to write his own story now as a singer, in an interview with Billboard Español.
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On Friday (Dec. 20), he will release “Loco,” the first single from his debut album, slated for January 24, 2025.
“Now it’s my turn to perform my own songs. I have prepared 18 and I am very excited for everyone to hear all that I can offer because I don’t just do corridos tumbados; I really like rap and even romantic songs,” explains the singer-songwriter, who has more than 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify thanks to his collaborations.
When asked if at this stage he will have the support of those to whom he has given key songs in his career, the answer is blunt: “There is a union with the artists of Mexican music today as never before, we support each other unconditionally, it is a brotherhood. So they will be with me in my first album Peso Pluma, Luis R. Conríquez, Tito Double P, Víctor Mendívil, Oscar Maydón and Alemán, who is from the same place where I was born”.
Vega was born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, but moved to Culiacán, Sinaloa, at a young age. He learned to rap on the streets and later began to write.
“I didn’t write corridos tumbados. I composed romantic songs, reggaetón, everything. I wrote traditional corridos; people from the United States requested them a lot. That’s how I started making money,” he shares, adding that he also grew up listening to music from groups like Intocable and Juan Gabriel. “Then I mixed everything I knew and created my own style,” he continues. “As for the lyrics, I make sure they are not too aggressive.”
Amid so many emerging artists, the competition becomes stronger every day, and this is something he is very aware of. “However, I believe that we can continue our careers if we work and keep doing new things all the time,” he says. “At least that’s what I am willing to do.”
With the release of his debut album, he will also have the opportunity to perform in front of an audience for the first time with three concerts scheduled in Mexico early next year: February 27 at the Escenario GNP Seguros in Monterrey, March 1 at the Pepsi Center in Mexican City, and March 9 at the Auditorio Telmex in Guadalajara.
“This is a very important challenge. I understand that having millions of listeners is not the same as having people come to see me and pay for a ticket,” concludes Vega, undoubtedly an artist to keep an eye on in 2025.
Contrary to superstition, Friday the 13th (of December) was not an unlucky day for Morat. Instead, the Colombian pop-rock band scored one of its biggest feats by celebrating the first 13 years of their musical career with a resounding, sold-out show in Mexico City. With an attendance count of 65,000 people, according to figures from promoter Ocesa, it was the first of three consecutive nights at the GNP Seguros Stadium, where Morat is closing a series of stadium shows in a dozen countries.
Moreover, the band managed to get hundreds of their Mexican fans to accept the challenge of attending the concert dressed in pajamas, seeking to break a Guinness World Record. Multicolored sleepwear made of flannel, cotton and satin was the predominant attire among attendees to adorn the beginning of the end of Un Último Sueño, Gira Los Estadios (One Last Dream, The Stadiums Tour).
Thus, it became a double celebration, with sold-out tickets for three shows in the Mexican capital for a total of about 195,000 people, Camila Fernández as a special guest, and the recognition of being the most popular Colombian pop band of the moment.
“This show is important to us for several reasons: Today, Dec. 13th, we celebrate 13 years together. 13 years ago, the question arose, ‘What if we start a band?’” said lead vocalist and guitarist Juan Pablo Isaza to the audience. “Playing now for so many people is incredible. It looks just like we imagined it.”
Just as he and his fellow band members Juan Pablo Villamil (guitar), Simón Vargas (bass), and Martín Vargas (drums) imagined it 13 years ago, the evening was a dream come true. From the start, the Bogotá quartet enchanted the audience with crowd-pleasers such as their 2016 hit “Cómo Te Atreves,” which catapulted the group to fame outside their native country. The show transformed into a retrospective journey honoring love and heartbreak, while the audience — mostly comprised of young women, teenagers, and girls — sang along at deafening volumes.
Camila Fernández — daughter of Alejandro Fernández and granddaughter of the iconic ranchera music performer Vicente Fernández — served as the guest of honor on this special night. Accompanied by traditional mariachi, she performed a very Mexicanized version of “Debí Suponerlo,” unleashing applause and cheers from the audience.
In a night of celebration, the audience sang and dedicated to Morat the classic “Mañanitas,” and the group appeared surprised and grateful for the gesture.
Of course, the climax came with “No Se Va,” their 2019 single which three years later Grupo Frontera turned into a massive hit, becoming the fifth regional Mexican song in history to enter the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent 20 weeks and reached No. 57.
Un Último Sueño, Gira Los Estadios achieved the unimaginable for Morat: filling 25 stadiums, in 15 cities across 10 countries, with an attendance total of 800,000 people.
“It’s no coincidence that we decided to close the tour here. This has been an incredible night!” expressed Martín. Morat’s show this Saturday (Dec. 14) will be broadcast live via streaming for Disney+ subscribers in Latin America. For the Sunday (Dec. 15) show, the opening act will be Venezuelan singer-songwriter Joaquina.
Luis Miguel took his spectacular 2023-24 world tour to a new level on Saturday (Nov. 30), on what was a historic night for the Mexican superstar during his debut at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City. It was the first of two consecutive nights at the venue, and it also marked the beginning of the end of the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time, according to Billboard Boxscore figures.
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With all tickets sold out and an attendance of 65,000 people, as reported by the promoter Ocesa, it was one of the most massive concerts of the famous performer ever recorded in the country. The dubbed “Sol de México” is expected to repeat the feat on Sunday (Dec. 1).
The singer magnified the show he has been presenting on the tour — which began in the summer of 2023 at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina — to match a venue as imposing as the GNP Seguros Stadium, with huge screens that allowed attendees to appreciate every detail of the show from any angle.
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Known for his obsession with perfection in his productions, Luis Miguel’s concert also surprised attendees with the quality of the audio, which showcased his voice potently. Visibly pleased, the performer appeared on the impressive stage elevated by a platform, impeccably dressed in his classic black suit, white shirt, black tie, black patent leather shoes and black silk socks.
It was the beginning of an unforgettable and magical night for the star and his fans, who sang along to each of Luis Miguel’s songs throughout the performance — those that have catapulted him as one of the greatest Latin stars. Saturday’s repertoire was not much different from what he has presented at other shows on the tour, with pop hits, including “Será Que No Me Amas,” “Amor, Amor, Amor,” “Suave,” “Culpable o No,” “Hasta Que Me Olvides” and “Dame,” as well as a segment dedicated to boleros with songs like “Como Yo Te Amé,” “Solamente Una Vez,” “Somos Novios” and “Todo y Nada.”
One of the most celebrated moments came with the traditional mariachi segment and the special dedication to his beloved Mexico, with the classics “Guadalajara,” “La Bikina” and “La Media Vuelta.” With a pyrotechnics show and the legendary “Cucurrucucú Paloma” — a Mexican huapango-style song written by Tomás Méndez in 1954 — Luis Miguel ended his show with a big ovation from his loyal audience.
After Sunday night’s show at the GNP Seguros Stadium, the artist has two more performances in Mexico’s capital, at the Arena Ciudad de México, on Dec. 8 and 10. Both dates are the result of the rescheduling of his Oct. 23, 24 and 28, which Luis Miguel had postponed due to unspecified health problems.
Although the singer had chosen Mexico City to close a spectacular world tour that grossed $318.2 million and sold 2.2 million tickets in its first 146 concerts, as reported in September by Billboard Boxscore, this week he surprised his fans by announcing on his Instagram Stories that the tour will instead end on Dec. 17 in Buenos Aires, at the Campo Argentino de Polo.
Hundreds of people packed several streets of the Historic Center of Mexico City on Friday (Nov. 22) to listen and see live Puerto Rican star Rauw Alejandro, who sang from a balcony of a legendary mansion in a brief concert that went viral on social media. Dressed in the official jersey of the Mexican National […]
Mexican opera singer Esteban Baltazar, who has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Teatro Comunale di Bologna in Italy, was arrested over the weekend by agents of the capital’s Attorney General’s Office at the Mexico City International Airport, accused of sexual abuse by his former romantic partner, the […]
The third and last day of the Corona Capital 2024 festival on Sunday (Nov. 17) turned into an old friends reunion, fulfilling the teenage dream of guitarist Jack White who, along with singer-songwriter St. Vincent, was invited by the legendary Paul McCartney to join him on stage in what was the ex-Beatle’s debut at a Latin American music festival and the grand finale of his tour in the region.
In his fourth performance on Mexican stages — and his first time at the famous festival in Mexico City — McCartney achieved the feat of gathering the largest number of attendees the Corona Capital has seen in its 14-year history, according to promoter Ocesa, with nearly 82,000 people.
On the Vans stage, iconic rocker Iggy Pop starred in one of the most anticipated moments, giving a masterclass of what a rock lion does at 77 years old alongside special guests including Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner.
Beck, the “güero” cherished by Mexicans, reaffirmed his connection with the country, where he reunited with dear friends and colleagues at the festival, and practiced his Spanish.
For her part, former Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon raised the bar for women and delivered an experimental show that captivated the audience. Jack White, one of the stars on the third day of the festival, also led one of the most anticipated performances and, at the start of his set, performed a cover of Iggy Pop’s classic “I Wanna Be Your Dog.”
In total, Corona Capital 2024 brought together about 225,000 people over its three days, counting 74,000 on Friday, 69,000 on Saturday, and Sunday’s 82,000.
Below are five of our favorite moments from Day 3 of the Corona Capital 2024 festival. (Here are the recaps for Day 1 and Day 2).
McCartney’s masterful closing with St. Vincent and Jack White
Paul McCartney made his Latin American music festival debut an epic moment. On Sunday (Nov. 17), the former Beatle invited St. Vincent and Jack White to join him on the main stage of Corona Capital in Mexico for a masterful performance of “The End” in front of nearly 82,000 attendees, according to concert promoter Ocesa.
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Living legend McCartney captivated generations with his performance at the Mexican music festival, marking the closing of the Latin American leg of his Got Back Tour.
“¡Hola México! ¿Quiúbole, banda? Tonight I’m going to try to speak a little Spanish. It’s awesome to be here again,” McCartney said as he greeted an ecstatic audience using Mexican slang. Parents and children gathered around the main stage, some of them dressed in colorful outfits that emulated the iconic cover of the Beatles’ 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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The British icon performed a repertoire that spanned his extensive career, from the classics of the Liverpool quartet to his solo hits. The setlist included songs such as “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Letting Go,” “Got to Get You Into My Life,” “Come On to Me,” “Let Me Roll It,” “Let ‘Em In,” “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” “Band On The Run,” and “Let It Be.”
The first guest of the night was St. Vincent, who took the stage to accompany him on guitar on “Get Back.” The artist had had a celebrated performance the day before, and with this number, she closed a masterful pass through Mexico and the Corona Capital.
McCartney appeared happy during his performance at the marathon rock event. On several occasions, he paused briefly to explain some things to the audience. “This is the first song the Beatles ever recorded,” he said in Spanish before singing “Love Me Do.”
The excitement was at its peak when Jack White, who had performed on the Vans stage a couple of hours earlier, took the stage, showcasing his talent and guitar skills. Alongside McCartney and St. Vincent, he created an unforgettable moment and one of the most spectacular closings that Corona Capital has seen in its 14-year history.
The show ran until around 2 a.m. on Monday (Nov. 18), about 40 minutes longer than scheduled. This is something McCartney has done at other festivals when the moment calls for it, just as it happened at the 2009 Coachella festival in Indio, Calif.
With his participation in Corona Capital, McCartney concluded a busy week in Mexico with a series of concerts as part of his Got Back Tour. The tour began on Nov. 8 in the northern city of Monterrey and continued on Nov. 12 and 14 at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City.
The legendary musician began the Latin American leg of his tour on Oct. 1 in Uruguay, then visited Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and Colombia. The tour will continue in December to France, Spain and the United Kingdom.