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In the “The Stars Behind the Star” franchise, the editors of Billboard Latin and Billboard Español share stories that have not yet been told about those who are not usually in the spotlight. Think “everything you don’t see on camera” or “everything that happens behind the scenes.” These unsung heroes are essential to an artist’s team and their foundation. Today, we highlight celebrity photographer Jose “Chepe” DeVillegas.
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Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and proudly raised by his Puerto Rican Mother and his half-Cuban and half-Puerto Rican father, he feels himself very Puerto Rican.
Jose “Chepe” DeVillegas, commonly known as “Chepe” in the entertainment industry, has gained the love and trust of many within the field. He has photographed well-known artists such as Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Julián Gil and Natti Natasha. Chepe has also covered all the Latin music red carpets and conducted special photoshoots for various media outlets including Univision, Telemundo and Billboard, as well as numerous concerts over the years.
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In October, he was part of this year’s Billboard Latin Music Week, creating a behind the scenes visual experience with Billboard’s Chief Content Officer for Latin and Español, Leila Cobo.
Photoshoot “Chepe” for Ivy Queen
Jose “Chepe” DeVillegas
“I think it’s fascinating to be with Leila and see how she connects from a Young Miko to Alejandro Sanz, to Pepe Aguilar. And I don’t see that all the time. I think it It is very unique and special, her footprint in the Latin music industry. And I think that she has a lot of respect from generations of artists, from the new ones to the icons,” DeVillegas adds about this experience.
In the live music performances and entertainment industry, many elements come together, and numerous details are meticulously managed behind each concert, tour and festival. In an interview with Billboard, Jose “Chepe” shared his insights into the behind-the-scenes process of creating captivating experiences and memorable moments.
Photoshoot “Chepe” for Julián Gil
Jose “Chepe” DeVillegas
Who was the first celebrity you photographed?
I always tell people my godfather in this is Julián Gil. I didn’ t know much about his career because the last soap opera I saw was “Marimar.” So, I know that he did several soap operas, but I never saw any of them. But during the very high political time in Puerto Rico in 2019, I was always seeing him all the time, you know, on social media, on YouTube. Then I heard that they were having a play in Orlando and I told the promoters because at that time I was already taking the market in Orlando and I told them, look, when you see this figure, I want to be the photographer because I know they are very strong.
So, they gave me access to everything and every time they wanted to see the camera, they paused and I said, “Ah, this one does like the camera.” Then he approached me because he suddenly looked at me like, I didn’ t approach him or anything. This is a strategy that I’ ve always had. Kind of like mirroring the client. If they talk to you, you talk to them.
So, Julián approached me and said: “I want to see the photos.” And I showed him the pictures on my camera. It was a play that he did. So, after the play, he came up to me and asked me. So, I showed him, and he said, ‘ Wow, so good.’ Send it. I said, ‘ Okay, great.’ So, I sent it to him. Right away, he started following me. And he posted the pictures right away and tagged me. And after that he took me to every station in Orlando, every TV station, introduced me to everybody as his friend and photographer.
Jose “Chepe” DeVillegas
How difficult is it to gain trust in the industry?
I know there are many, many better than me. But I know I’m only one, you know? I’ m my own, there’ s nobody else like me. And I like connecting with people to the, depending, you know, on how far that can, they allow or the connection that we have together. I’ m interested in showing people what they want to show the people. And I want to protect their image. And I think when the artist realizes that, that you don’ t want to harm them, they lower their guards.
So, I try to make them feel good and I see how they flow and I, you know, I can adapt. And I respect them and I, you know, and I make sure I get respect.
Who have been your biggest inspirations?
A lot of photographers that maybe were getting the jobs that I wanted hmm and two of them that I kept coming up a lot was Alex Tamargo and his dad and his brother; they all work in the industry. So, I would see, if you know, see a great photo, it would say ‘Photo by Alex Tamargo’ all the time. And I tried to follow him. And I remember I would write him stories and say, oh, man. Okay, I’ m going to work with you. Your photos are great. He was really kind. And then the same was with Omar Cruz. Let’ s say, people in Español magazine or like Charitin will post a throwback photo that was iconic. It will always say Omar Cruz.
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Despite dealing with a handful of lawsuits that claim he is a sexual predator and having his homes on both coasts raided by the Feds, Sean “Diddy” Combs is still kicking it in Miami. The disgraced Bad Boy mogul was seen on film out and about, and even producer Stevie J was with him, too.
Wes Watson, an influencer, fitness trainer and “life” coach, shared a clip and photo of Diddy at a cafe. Apparently, Watson was on a coffee run and spotted Diddy at a spot called Pura Vida.
“Came to just GRAB a SHOT of ESPRESSO and I Ran into DIDDY‼️,” was the caption of the pic that showed a smiling Diddy looking at Watson’s phone.
In the clip, Diddy throws up an L with his fingers and say “Love.”
We wouldn’t say the predicament Diddy finds himself in the type of movie anyone would want to be in. Respectfully.
And clearly, Stevie J is still Team Diddy. No wonder he offered up 50 Cent the fade.
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Diddy, known also as Sean Combs, had his homes in Los Angeles and Miami raided on Monday (March 25) in connection to a federal sex trafficking investigation. A video of Diddy surfaced online and showed the mogul simply walking around a Miami airport.
TMZ shared the footage of Diddy, 54, walking around Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport and was reportedly stopped by law enforcement officials.
According to an eyewitness, Diddy was waiting on other people who were part of his entourage who too were stopped by investigators although it isn’t known if anything came of it. The Department of Homeland Security officers appeared on the scene while the Bad Boy Records honcho was on a private jet.
Rumors online persisted that Combs was attempting to flee the country but considering that he isn’t under arrest, it does not appear that Diddy is on the run.
Thus far, four Jane Does, and one John Doe have been questioned by the Southern District of New York, who is said to be leading the criminal investigation.
This story is still developing and as new details emerge, we will update our reporting.
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Photo: ANGELA WEISS / Getty
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Jazz In The Gardens (JITG), an annual music festival in the city of Miami Gardens, returns to the Florida city for its 17th year. For this year’s festivities, the weekend will play host to performances from the likes of Maxwell, Summer Walker, Babyface, and a host of local legends.
Jazz In The Gardens kicks off officially on Saturday, March 9 at the Hard Rock Stadium with a power-packed lineup of the previously mentioned Summer Walker, Davido, Jazmine Sullivan, Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Jaheim, Omarion, Tink, Eric Bellinger, and Pheelz along with a DJ set from the legendary Kid Capri.
On that same night, DJ Nasty 305 will rock the “Welcome To The Crib” seat featuring Miami stars Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina, Ball Greezy, Major 9, Michael Sterling, and dancehall legend, Wayne Wonder.
On Sunday, March 10, Maxwell, Babyface, Jeezy, and Scarface will take to the stage with Rickey Smiley as the host. From there, DJ Cassidy brings his Pass The Mic Live! event to the Hard Rock Stadium audience with Lil’ Kim, T.I., Too $hort, Uncle Luke, Tamia, Marsha Ambrosius, and October London on the help out.
Jazz In The Gardens is working in partnership with the Black Promoters Collective (BPC) to bring this event to the masses. Along with the music performances, on Friday, March 8, JITG will honor a quartet of police chiefs from neighboring districts via a special luncheon honoring Black women leaders. The honorees are Chief Delma Noel-Pratt of Miami Gardens, Chief Stephanie Daniels of Miami-Dade, Chief Cherise Gause of North Miami, and Chief Harvette Smith of North Miami Beach.
Tickets for this year’s Jazz In The Gardens start at 186.30 for a two-day general admission pass, along with a titanium entry pass listed at $1,500. To get your tickets for one of the hottest festivals of 2024, click here.
To learn more about Jazz In The Gardens and the city of Miami Gardens, click here.
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Photo: Getty
Calvin Harris has been tapped as the featured entertainer for the 2024 Pegasus World Cup. One of the premier equestrian events in the world, Pegasus brings together thoroughbred racing with music and entertainment for a day-long, festival-style experience.
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This year’s event takes place Saturday, January 27 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida and Harris will hit the stage shorty after the day’s races are complete, performing at Gulfstream’s track-side Carousel Club. Other performers include DJ Tyson O’Brien, and TikTok star and DJ Xandra Pohl, with more to be announced later.
Though he was a headliner at Coachella back in April, Harris has spent most of the year performing in Europe, so Pegasus will mark the DJ’s first major North American appearance in almost nine months (Harris does have a Vegas date at XS Nightclub later this month). Tickets for the 2024 Pegasus World Cup Presented by Baccarat are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com. Prices start at $175 and go up to $1,619. VIP tickets, that get you entry into the Carousel Club to see Harris start at $400.
Pegasus owners The Stronach Group and 1/ST partnered with Palm Tree Crew to curate the entertainment for this year’s event. The music and events collective, founded by Kygo and his manager Myles Shear, also helped to curate the lineup for last year’s edition, bringing out One Republic, Chantal Jeffries and Kygo himself (with a Joe Jonas cameo) for the post-race concert.
In addition to the performances, the 2024 Pegasus World Cup will feature an exclusive viewing area of the horse race for guests of title sponsor Baccarat. Dubbed the “Baccarat Garden at Carousel Club,” the space will include a private bar with drinks served in Baccarat glassware. Baccarat is also the Official Trophy Purveyor for Pegasus, and their crystal “Pegase Horse in Black,” valued at $47,000, will be presented to the Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner.
The exclusive “Flamingo Room,” meantime is a — literally — elevated experience, with Groot Hospitality hotspots Gekkō, Komodo, Papi Steak, Swan, and Casadonna providing food for the day while guests take in the races from a bird’s eye view. Performers in the Flamingo Room will include Harlem-based bandleader and jazz singer Dandy Wellington. Groot Hospitality founder Dave Grutman owns a number of restaurants that are fixtures on the Miami scene, but says he chose “venues [that will] complement the high-energy and lively atmosphere of the race.”
“The Pegasus World Cup continues to redefine the experience of Thoroughbred horse racing by collaborating with partners who exemplify innovation and excellence,” says Belinda Stronach, Chairwoman, Chief Executive Officer and President, 1/ST. “Baccarat, Palm Tree Crew and Groot Hospitality, each leaders in luxury, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality, bring unique elements that fuse with 1/ST’s world-class Thoroughbred racing and wagering to create an electric event that is truly Miami!”
“Palm Tree Crew is thrilled to partner with Belinda Stronach and the 1/ST team for the second straight year for the Pegasus World Cup,” said Myles Shear, Co-Founder of Palm Tree Crew. “We are excited to bring our brand, people, vibe, and energy to make the Pegasus the premier luxury sporting and lifestyle event in South Florida.”
Karina S.N. Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Cal Sport Media
Of course at its core, Pegasus is a horse race, but not just any horse race. The 2024 Pegasus World Cup is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in thoroughbred racing, with this year’s edition featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (GI); the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Turf Invitational (GI); and the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (GIII) with a purse of $500,000.
When David Sinopoli answers the phone, he’s at his Miami nightclub Jolene, rolling joints.
Sinopoli, along with member of his staff, are prepping roughly 1,000 joints as part of the gift bags artists will be getting at III Points, the festival Sinopoli co-founded in 2013, which launches its 2023 edition on Friday (Oct. 20) at Miami’s Mana Wynwood center and its adjacent blocks. Other goodie bag items include crystals and magic mushrooms. (But not too many, as in past years, a few artists got so high that they had trouble getting onstage.)
“It’s become [a tradition] where we can all get together, eat some food, everyone plays music,” Sinopoli says of this annual rolling session. “It’s really nice, fun and quite wholesome.”
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It’s also one of the personal touches that have made III Points a standout on the U.S. electronic festival circuit over the last decade, while also elevating Miami one of the crown jewels cities in the country’s electronic scene. It’s founders grew up in Miami, and the lineup is 60% local acts — Coffintexts, Jonny From Space, Nick León — along with 2023 headliners including Skrillex, Fred again.., Iggy Pop, Caroline Polacheck, Grimes and Black Coffee. The food vendors and visual artists are also all from the city, as are many of the 50,000 people who attend over its two days.
“I think it’s just very authentically Miami, and a real time capsule of Miami sonically and visually right now,” Sinopoli says of putting on a festival with an identify and real personality. “I think people feel that when they come.”
III Points is able to rep the city so well because Sinopoli and his team — “they’re connected here 365” — know it so intimately. Sinopoli is also the co-owner of Space, the city’s 24-hour bacchanal of a nightclub that he, along with Davide Danese and Coloma Kaboomsky, took over in 2016. He’s also the owner and operator of Factory Town, a 190,000-square foot arts and nightlife complex built in a World War II-era mattress factory, as well as the cocktail bar Floyd and Jolene, the intimate “sound room” where Sinopoli and his some staff are rolling Js.
David Sinopoli
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Born in New Jersey, Sinopoli relocated to Fort Myers with his family when he was 15. He was diagnosed with cancer while in high school, once spending five months in isolation at a Durham Children’s Hospital. A bone marrow transplant from his brother eventually brought him back to good health, and after he finished high school, Sinopoli went to college in Gainesville. He rose through that city’s nightlife scene then making a name for himself in South Florida, where he founded III Points in 2013 with his business partner Erica Freshman. Their statement-making debut lineup featured James Murphy, Jamie xx and DJ Shadow, a crew that was 180 degrees away from the big-name EDM DJs dominating the city’s club scene in that era.
Carving out a place for underground and indie-leaning electronic music, and getting acts to town that might otherwise never play there, “is part of the reason I started III Points,” Sinopoli says.
Routing a tour to Miami has long been financially challenging for artists, with many acts just skipping the city altogether. “To play Miami and be supported by Orlando and Tampa on the way down almost doesn’t make sense [for artists],” Sinopoli says. “A lot of time Orlando and Tampa don’t support the same things Miami does. Miami is in Florida, but it’s not f–king Florida.”
III Points has also been embraced within the industry for booking new acts agents are excited about, but who don’t often yet have major name recognition. Sinopoli says while such signings “maybe are not making the most sense financially,” they payoff is in fresh lineups, industry goodwill and the opportunity to break artists and grow along with them.
As the festival has expanded Sinopoli says many agents now just block off the weekend in advance then look for an offer from III Points. This is easier given the fest happens in the fall, the opposite side of the year from Miami’s other major electronic music festival, Ultra. While there’s some lineup overlap, each largely does its own thing, with Ultra driving loads of business at Space, Factory Town and Floyd each March.
Business was also shored up when III Points partnered with electronic festival behemoth Insomniac Events in 2019. The company took an ownership stake in Space and became partners in all of Sinopoli’s business ventures. “They sat with us for a long time before they stepped in in some of the areas we really needed them,” he says. “They let us make mistakes first, before they were like, ‘We can help you with that.’”
“I’m not even 40 yet,” he continues, “so I’m learning so much by mistake, and sometimes you can’t afford to keep making mistakes, because it will put you out of business.”
Insomniac has been especially helpful in training him and his team in marketing and budget management. “We would think we made money or only lost that much money,” he says, “then the real report would come out and it’d be like, a swift kick in the stomach. They helped us understand that you start with this budget, then every 30 days you cut it down, then cut it down again.”
The partnership was especially stabilizing in the pandemic and its aftermath. In 2020, III Points moved its dates four times: “It was [Insomniac’s] backing that allowed us to do it,” Sinopoli says. “If it was up to us, we would have cashed in and walked away.”
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The peace of mind of solvency allows for a focus on music and experiences. When assembling lineups, the team first considers who hasn’t been to Miami in awhile, and who’s never been at all. Sinopoli also dreams up the moments and vibes he’d like to create, then plugs in the artists mostly likely to conjure them. This worked especially well in 2017, when The xx played the mainstage with a glowing light on the festival’s giant disco ball (“the largest disco ball on the southeast!”) that gently twinkled on the side of the warehouse wall.
“It almost looked like raindrops, then all sudden this cold drizzle of rain started coming down on the crowd.” Sinopoli looked next to him and saw his production manager was crying. “Because it wasn’t something we could have planned,” he says. “It was like this f–king God moment.”
This weekend will, fingers crossed, deliver other such magic. III Points’ six stages will host the aforementioned headliners, along with Explosions In The Sky, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Alice Glass, SBTRKT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Moscoman & Whitesquare and many other stars and up and comers culled from both around the world and around the block.
Sinopoli laughs when asked if he feels like he runs the city’s electronic scene. “No! No, no,” he insists, listing a dozen names of people on his staff that help make it all possible. He’s been having a lot of big-picture conversations about the festival’s ten-year anniversary, but his days are more about details, like lights on the disco ball and joints rolled with love.
“We’re so deep in the bubble that I don’t really even grab on to any outside significance of it,” he says. “It’s really just about the next show.”
Sebastián Yatra, Chencho Corleone, Vico C, RBD, Carin León, Maria Becerra, Young Miko and Eladio Carrión were among the more than 50 Latin music stars that took center stage in Miami for the 2023 edition of Billboard Latin Music Week (Oct. 2-6). Some of the biggest names in Latin music made their way to Miami […]
With studios in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and Washington D.C., SiriusXM can now also call Miami “home.” The audio entertainment company has officially opened their “state-of-the-art” broadcast complex that will operate in South Beach. SiriusXM is also set to launch a new Latin pop channel, Hits Uno, on Friday (May 5) which will become the station’s 17th Spanish-language channel.
“I’ve been with the company 15 years and when they told me that we were opening a state-of-the-art in Miami, in the hub of Latin music, I got so excited,” says Bryant Pino, director of Latin music programming at SiriusXM, who hosted artists such as CNCO and Zion & Lennox during a soft launch of the studios in March. “As a company, we’re doing things that really matter and are important, especially with what’s going on with Latin music right now.”
Latin music revenues in the United States hit an all-time high in 2022, exceeding the $1 billion mark on the wings of 24% growth that outpaced the overall market. According to the RIAA’s year-end Latin music report for 2022, total revenue jumped from $881 million in 2021 to $1.1 billion, with Latin music’s overall share of the total music market lifting from 5.9% in 2021 to 6.9%.
Opening studios in Miami and launching a new Latin channel is an acknowledgment of the culture’s growth, says Azu Olvera, SiriusXM’s senior director of Latin talent and industry relations.
“We’re not thinking of Latin as a backseat but as a driver of success and engagement. And when were coming up with the concept for the new channel, we wanted put together all these hits in one single channel that reflects the genre’s diversity.”
During the days leading up to Hits Uno, SiriusXM will host special live shows, including an intimate performance by Carlos Vives, an interview with Pitbull and a Becky G town hall-style conversation.
“With Hits Uno, we’ll be able to represent today’s Latin music fan,” adds Pino. “Back in the day you were a rockera, or reggaetonero but not both. Now, it’s cool to be eclectic, to listen to everything. We’re not a local radio station, this is not a Miami station but rather a nationwide platform so we’re going to be exposing people to global hits across all genres.”
The Howard Stern Show is airing live from the new Miami studios on Monday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 3. Stern, who has been working from home in recent years, will be joined live in the studio by special music and celebrity guests.
“Miami is an incredibly rich center for music and entertainment,” Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s resident and chief content officer, said in a statement. “SiriusXM Miami will capture the city’s unique culture and character and bring it to audiences across North America. We’re thrilled to have Howard kick things off in the biggest way with three exceptional days of shows, followed by a star-studded lineup of programming that showcases the broad array of content we offer, including the diverse and vibrant music emanating from the Latinx community.”
All aboard, baby. Groove Cruise announced the lineup for its January 2024 voyage from Miami to The Bahamas on Wednesday (April 12).
Billboard can exclusively announce that Diplo, Tiësto and John Summit captain the lineup, with a strong crew of artists including Disco Lines, Gabriel & Dresden, Joel Corry, LP Giobbi, So Tuff So Cute, VNSSA rounding out the bill.
Additionally, the party will feature hosted stages by brands including LP Giobbi’s Femme House, Diplo’s Higher Ground and Summit’s Off The Grid. The boat will also host artist hosted games and activities like blackjack, bingo, volunteer opportunities, mentorship sessions and mental health workshops.
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The festival is largely sold out, although a few premium packages remain. The event will take place on the Norwegian Encore. Able to host 4,000 guests, this is the biggest ship Groove Cruise has employed to date.
The festival at sea departs from Miami on January 24, sailing to The Bahamas for a beach part on Great Stirrup Cay and returning to U.S shores on January 28. The event, produced by Whet Travel, marks the Groove Cruise’s 20th anniversary.
“I can’t believe it’s been 20 years,” Groove Cruise founder Jason Beukema tells Billboard. “When I first had the idea of Groove Cruise as a 25-year-old kid from Michigan with no money, not a single DJ contact, and not knowing anyone in the cruise industry, I never thought that two decades later I would be booking international superstars like Tiësto on a near billion dollar cruise ship.”
“Our first sailing,” he continues, “was a 125 person cruise in 2004, and it’s been incredible to witness lifelong friendships flourish out of that initial cruise and to hear how it changed people’s lives. It’s been humbling to watch the community and experience it evolve into the world class event it is today.”
While Groove Cruise helped innovate the festival cruise model two decades ago, they’ve since become a hugely popular format for live music consumption. In the dance world, HARD has hosted Holy Ship since 2021, while earlier this year Insomniac Events announced the maiden voyage of their EDSea cruise happening in November.
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Mariah Angeliq caught up with Billboard News to discuss the criticisms that inspired her latest single “Ricota,” running away from home to pursue music and how she thrives as a woman in reggaeton.
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“I [grew up] listening to music because of my mom. She has a love for music and named me Mariah because Mariah Carey was her favorite artist,” she explains. “When I was like 9, I realized yeah, I wanna be on the screen. That could be me.”
The Miami native has seen much success in a short time, including her breakout single “Perreito,” which she performed at Billboard’s 2022 Latin Music Week and later with the chart-topping “EL MAKINON” alongside Colombian star Karol G.
Mariah recalled meeting producer Nely “El Arma Secreta” at age 16 and was motivated by the Luny Tunes hitmaker to begin singing in Spanish. “For all my teenage years, I was singing in English and thinking to myself that I was going to be like the next fire R&B American artist,“ she tells Billboard.
Around that time, Mariah ran away from home to fully immerse herself in the pursuit of music, something she says her family didn’t take seriously early on. Despite the lack of enthusiasm from her loved ones, she pressed forward. “We always know as artists that we’re going to make it,” she says. “I always believed in myself, and in my music.”
Her most recent single, “Ricota,” came in response to Internet “haters” hurling insults at the 23-year-old singer regarding her weight. “They started saying I was fat and I’m not here looking for validation. I think what that’s what the message of the song is,” Mariah explains. “Society has such a distorted perspective of beauty. But while I was getting all those negative comments, I received a DM saying that I was ‘bien ricota,’ so I got inspired.”
When it comes to navigating reggaeton, which for most of its history has been male-dominated, she draws on inspirations like Ivy Queen and her own “boss” energy. “I feel like I’ve navigated or learned to navigate through it really well because of my attitude and my strong character. You just gotta learn to speak up for yourself and have a voice.”
Mariah will embark on a European tour this summer, and possibly a U.S. tour to follow.