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Kali Uchis remembered her humble beginnings in music on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at Billboard Latin Music Week, where she sat for a Superstar Q&A moderated by Billboard Español‘s associated editor Isabela Raygoza at The Fillmore Miami Beach on the second day of the event.
The Colombian-American artist — who just wrapped up her Sincerely, Tour in U.S. arenas and announced the Latin American leg for 2026 — released her first mixtape, Drunken Babble, in 2012, during a time of struggle, while she was living in her car. The mixtape instantly caught the attention of A$AP Rocky, Diplo and Snoop Dogg, who shared her music on his blog, Raygoza said.
“I really started at the bottom,” the bilingual singer-songwriter said, adding that artistry and music have always been first for her. “I never had it in my head ‘I have to be this successful or make these numbers.’ I was very naïve in the industry. I’ve just always been an artist. I love to make things.”
During the conversation, Uchis also revealed that she almost left her biggest hit, “Telepatía,” out of her sophomore album, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) from 2020. “It had to grow on me. I loved it when I made it and then I was like, ‘hmmm, I don’t know,’” said,
Kali Uchis graced Billboard‘s cover in October, delving into motherhood, touring on a bus and refusing to choose one language over the other to sing in. Read the full story here.
Spanning more than 30 years, Latin Music Week is the largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year’s event once again hosts panels, marquee conversations, roundtables, networking and activations, in addition to its celebrated Billboard En Vivo showcases.
Latin Music Week also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
Trending on Billboard Drake is always repping for Toronto, and he celebrated in style with the Blue Jays punching their first ticket to the World Series since 1993 on Monday. The 6 God was living and dying with every pitch of game 7 as the Blue Jays won a classic behind a George Springer go-ahead […]
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Daddy Yankee, who now goes by DY, is back and all smiles as he climbs to the top of Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart with “Sonríele,” as the song soars from No. 7 to No. 1 on the chart dated October 25. This milestone marks his official return following a brief hiatus, now fueled by a spiritual transformation.
“‘Sonríele’ is a song that came from a very real place, of faith and hope,” DY tells Billboard. “The mission of this song is to become medicine for those who listen to it. Seeing it reach No. 1 fills me with gratitude to God, to my audience, and to the entire team that believed in this message. Thank you for continuing to connect with my music, even in this new stage of my life.”
“Sonríele,” released July 10 as the first single of DY’s ninth studio album, Lamento en Baile, flies to No. 1 on the overall Latin Airplay chart after a 46% boost in audience impressions, to 9.1 million, earned on the Oct. 10-16 tracking week, according to Luminate.
The song becomes DY’s 29th ruler on Latin Airplay and first since 2023. The singer-songwriter previously ruled through “Ulala,” with Myke Towers in 2023. In between, he notched two top 10s, “Panties y Brasieres” with Rauw Alejandro (No. 8, 2023) and “Bonita” (No. 5, 2024).
“Sonríele” marks DY’s first solo chart-topper since “Remix” in 2022. Overall, this adds to his total of nine unaccompanied No. 1 hits, a streak that began with the 15-week reign of “Rompe” in 2005. Plus, with the new win, Yankee ties Bad Bunny with 29 rulers, the fourth-most following J Balvin (39), Ozuna (36) and Enrique Iglesias (32).
Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “Sonríele” remains strong atop the Tropical Airplay chart for a fourth week. Further, DY secures his first top 10 on the Hot Latin Rhythm Songs chart where the song rallies 24-8.
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The former duo Arcángel and De La Ghetto is set to reunite next year in a tour that will take place in the U.S and Latin America. The plans were announced by Puerto Rican hitmaker De La Ghetto during his Music and Sports panel at Latin Music Week 2025 on Tuesday (Oct. 21).
“It’s happening next year,” the Puerto Rican star said, responding to an audience question. “My album is dropping in November, his in December, so I told him at a Bad Bunny concert that it was time [to tour]. We’re working on it as we speak.” Adding that the string of shows will make stops in the U.S. and Latin America, including shows in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The two parted ways in 2007 to pursue solo careers.
De La Ghetto took center stage at Latin Music Week alongside Carlos Arroyo, former NBA, sports executive, and fellow artist Jowell (of Jowell y Randy) for a conversation of the intersection of music and sports.
“I’ve always seen that many athletes want to be in music and many musicians want to be in sports,” Jowell said. “There are many similarities. Discipline and talent go hand in hand in both. And secondly, a lot of us athletes or musicians come from small towns and find an outlet in music or sports to be successful. The kids in these neighborhoods, half of them want to be producers or musicians, and the other half want to be athletes.”
Meanwhile, Arroyo confessed that he imagined himself in a studio or singing on stage, but today, as a basketball icon, he’s focused on inspiring the new generation of dreamers. “We live a privileged life, and because we’re so focused on our career and doing things righ, we forget that there are children out there who are being inspired by music or sports. We can’t forget that.”
Spanning more than 30 years, Latin Music Week is the single-most important and largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year’s event once again hosts panels, marquee conversations, roundtables, networking and activations, in addition to its celebrated Billboard En Vivo showcases.
This year’s star-studded lineup includes Aitana, Alofoke, Anuel AA, Bebeshito, Carlos Vives, Carín León, Danny Ocean, DJ Khaled, Daddy Yankee (DY), Emilia Mernes, Ivy Queen, Gloria Estefan, Grupo 5, Kapo, Laura Pausini, Luck Ra, Netón Vega, Olga Tañón, Óscar Maydon, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Rawayana, Suzette Quintanilla, Tokischa, Xavi and Yailin La Más Viral, to name a few.
Latin Music Week also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
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Rod Stewart has a few grandchildren, but YUNGBLUD isn’t one of them (despite what the punk rocker used to think).
While guesting on Capital FM on Tuesday (Oct. 21), YUNGBLUD opened up about how he mistakenly believed that the iconic singer-songwriter was his grandfather for about a decade. “So, basically, my mum never had a dad,” he said on the radio program. “My nan was always a very imaginative lady, and my nan would lie to me.”
“She’d put me in a foot bath and lie to me and say that Rod Stewart was my grandfather for, like, my formative years,” YUNGBLUD continued, laughing. “So up to about 9 years old, I thought Rod Stewart was my grandad.”
It wasn’t until he and his grandmother were out grocery shopping one day that he finally learned the truth. “I remember by the checkout, I picked up a Rod Stewart CD,” YUNGBLUD recalled. “[I was], like, proper quivering lip, like, ‘Nan, when’s granddad coming home?’ And everyone at the checkout started laughing … And that was the day I found out Rod Stewart was not in fact my grandfather.”
But while there’s no “blud” relation between YUNGBLUD and Stewart, it sounds like the latter is down to welcome the former into the family. According to the “Parents” musician, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer sent him a sweet DM after finding out about the childhood delusion.
“He says, ‘Alright my wee grandson!’” YUNGBLUD said of the exchange. “And I was like, ‘Rod Stewart, man.’”
The interview comes about a month after the release of YUNGBLUD’s collaboration with Aerosmith, “My Only Angel,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. The track will appear on a joint EP the two rock acts are working on.
Watch YUNGBLUD explain how he thought Stewart was his grandfather for the first 10 years of his life above.
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Recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Kenny Chesney will bring his No Shoes Nation back to Sphere in Las Vegas in 2026, when he brings his high-energy concert experience to the venue for five shows in June. The new shows are slated for June 19, 20, 24, 26 and 27.
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“You can’t truly understand until you start playing music with all the people there, feeling that energy and the way the visuals and the songs just consume people,” Chesney said in a statement. “The more I watched the fans having this experience I’m sure they couldn’t imagine, the more ideas I had – both to reconfigure some of last year’s songs, and a few songs that seemed like they should get this immersive treatment – and wanted to do.“I think there are so many ways for people to play this venue, but I feel pretty sure nobody has had more fun there, brought more joy – or that freewheeling Sandbar experience – than No Shoes Nation,” he continued. “And wherever they sat, we could hear ‘em, too. So, if you didn’t get to see it, c’mon! And if you did, well, come live those songs again – because this isn’t something you get to do every single year!”
In May 2025, Chesney launched a 15-concert run at Sphere, thrilling fans with his signature beach-and-party vibe, which celebrates island living and fun times, in addition to giving fans hit song after hit song. In the process, Chesney became the first country artist to headline the 17,600-seat venue, which is known for its immersive sound and visual spectacle.
Tickets for the upcoming 2026 Sphere shows will go on sale starting Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster. The shows will feature a refreshed Guitars, Tiki Bars experience, and VIP package holders will have access to a Vibe Room with a surf shop and bar.
See the show announcement below:
Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, visit the event’s website.
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Italian superstar Laura Pausini exclusively revealed the cover art and details for her upcoming albums Yo Canto 2 and Io Canto 2, which honor Hispanic and Italian singer-songwriters, respectively, at Billboard Latin Music Week 2025. The Spanish-language LP will feature covers of hits by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny and Mexican idol Joan Sebastian, the singer teased Tuesday (October 21) during her Icon Q&A at the prestigious gathering in Miami.
In a lively conversation with Leila Cobo, Billboard‘s director of content for Latin/Spanish, Pausini surprised the audience with a live performance of her cover of “Turista,” recounting how she connected with Bad Bunny’s music and how she was introduced to the world of the late regional Mexican singer Joan Sebastian.
She said she met the former years ago during a tribute to Gloria Estefan. She explained that “Turista,” included on Bad Bunny’s celebrated album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (2025), is a song she personally loves and finds has a similar style to her own. Her version was released on digital platforms last April.
“Benito wrote to me and said he never imagined one day I would sing one of his songs,” Pausini said emotionally. “I love the idea so much, and how important it was for me to do it with my style. Many people think we’re opposites, but not like that.” She praised the way Benito used the word “turista” to refer to the end of a relationship. “Tourists don’t have the time to see the flaws of cities, only the beautiful things, so I found it very intelligent.”
Regarding Joan Sebastian, she said she entered his universe through the algorithm on digital platforms when she listened to music by Juan Gabriel and Marco Antonio Solís.
Have you played Billboard’s Latin Music Week Crossword?Play now!
Pausini said the Spanish version of Yo Canto 2 will include 20 tracks, and the Italian version, Io Canto 2, another 20. The bridge between the two albums, due for release in 2026, is the first single, “Mi Historia Entre Tus Dedos” (“My Story Between Your Fingers”), the 1994 song by singer-songwriter Gianluca Grignani that became a hit in both Italy and Latin America thanks to its versions in both languages.
The covers of her upcoming albums depict Pausini as a warrior in silver clothing on the Italian album, and in a light, veiled dress on the Spanish version. What they have in common is an imposing silver sword made up of three microphones.
The singer, who will be honored with the Billboard Icon Award on Thursday (October 23) during the Billboard Latin Music Awards, announced that the promotional tour for her new LPs will begin in Spain in March 2026 and continue in Latin America until June.
Spanning more than 30 years, Latin Music Week is the single-most important and largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year’s star-studded lineup includes Aitana, Alofoke, Anuel AA, Bebeshito, Carlos Vives, Carín León, Danny Ocean, DJ Khaled, Daddy Yankee (DY), Emilia Mernes, Ivy Queen, Gloria Estefan, Grupo 5, Kapo, Laura Pausini, Luck Ra, Netón Vega, Olga Tañón, Óscar Maydon, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Rawayana, Suzette Quintanilla, Tokischa, Xavi and Yailin La Más Viral, to name a few.
Latin Music Week also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
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As Afrobeats gains momentum outside of West Africa, where it originated, Latin artists are fully embracing the rhythm and fusing it with their own signature sounds. Such is the case for Goyo, Humby, Kapo, Ozuna and Venesti, who were part of the Afrobeats panel at Billboard Latin Music Week 2025 on Tuesday (Oct. 21).
Moderated by Billboard‘s Jessica Roiz, the conversation focused on respecting the culture, roots and pioneers that have fueled this genre in Africa, and how Afrobeats has influenced their latest projects, including Goyo’s debut album Pantera.
“This movement is so big and it has brought so many opportunities for Latin artists who sing Afrobeats but are not from Nigeria,” the Colombian star said. “It is important to respect the roots and culture; but restlessness has led to the Afrobeats movement that is being mixed with hip-hop, R&B, and Nigerian music. We have to give importance to Africa through this genre that unites us.”
Meanwhile, hitmaker Ozuna spoke candidly about how experimenting with Afrobeats opened doors for him and got him out of a comfort zone that reggaetón was becoming. “I didn’t know much about the rhythm, but I was interested in learning, I was into reggaetón, and this rhythm opened doors for me.”
He added that the key to continue growing the movement is unity and collaboration. “We did it with reggaetón and it worked for us. Afrobeats is a movement that needs unity. It needs artists like me to collaborate with new artists. I was given that opportunity when I began my career, and now it’s our turn to do it with the new artists, and with the newest artists. This is a chain; we’re all on the same boat.”
Have you played Billboard’s Latin Music Week Crossword?Play now!
Both Colombian artists Kapo and Venesti also dabbled in Afrobeats early on in their careers. After recording in other styles, it was Afrobeats that gave both these rising artists their biggest hits, including Kapo’s “Ohnana” and Venesti’s “Umaye.”
“This song marked a turning point,” Venesti explained. “I was going through a moment in the creative process where others would tell me, ‘This is what you have to do.’ But when I signed with AP Global, my label, they told me, ‘Be yourself.’ I recorded ‘Umaye’ with a $50 microphone. It was my first number one hit on Billboard. ‘Umaye’ is a poem turned into a song.”
“We are born with that feeling; it’s something I can’t explain,” Kapo added. “We created ‘Ohnana,’ and it connected with many people. It wasn’t my beginning, but it has contributed a lot. We have role models in the world who do it so well.”
Spanning more than 30 years, Latin Music Week is the largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year’s event once again hosts panels, marquee conversations, roundtables, networking and activations, in addition to its celebrated Billboard En Vivo showcases.
Latin Music Week also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
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The convergence of film and music as powerful vehicles for cultural storytelling took center stage on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at Billboard Latin Music Week 2025.
Presented by Sony Pictures, Sony Music Latin, and Rancho Humilde, the “Shaping the Future of Film and Music” panel at the Fillmore Miami Beach brought together industry leaders Afo Verde (chairman and CEO, Sony Music Latin Iberia), Jimmy Humilde (CEO and founder, Rancho Humilde), and Sanford Panitch (president, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group). Moderated by Billboard’s Leila Cobo, the panel unpacked strategies and collaborations between music and cinema that highlight cultural movements and elevate underrepresented communities.
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For Humilde, the explosive growth of Rancho Humilde during the pandemic fueled the idea of creating a platform for storytelling through film. “When COVID happened, my business partner Jay Dee [of Herencia de Patrones] and I sat there coming up with what’s next,” he said. “The world stopped — that’s when Rancho Humilde was born. [We went] from millions to hundreds of millions, where everyone was hearing what we were doing, but no one really understood our culture.” This realization set the stage for Rancho Humilde’s entry into filmmaking.
Have you played Billboard’s Latin Music Week Crossword?Play now!
Humilde envisioned this as a celebration of Mexican-American culture, not confined to any traditional genre or region. “Everyone wants to put us in a box, in a space that we can’t grow out of. But we’re saying, no, this is the time. This has been done in pop, hip-hop, rap, in films like Boyz n the Hood and Friday with Ice Cube. Now we need to have it in Latin music.”
“Hollywood has had an incredible history of transferring the electricity of an artist to an actor,” Panitch remarked. “Latino audiences make up 30 to 40% of the box office on every movie, which reflects the incredible opportunity to tell fresh, authentic stories that resonate.” Humilde added, “The big percentage of moviegoers are Latinos. Thank God that the majority are Mexican Americans, 65% in the U.S. — people we need to serve. Not just Mexicans, but all Latinos, period.”
Afo Verde highlighted how music and cinema represent a natural evolution of artists’ creative expressions. “In the ’50s, [artists] needed to sing in recording studios; in the ’60s, they had to play instruments; in the ’70s, they learned how to tour; in the ’80s, the [music] video came out; and later, it was social media. It’s common to ask how things evolve, and now, it’s filmmaking. Not every artist will become an incredible actor, [but exploring film] is a great outlet for creativity and reaching audiences in new ways.”
Latin Music Week coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock.
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On Tuesday (October 21), Argentina and Colombia united for Billboard Latin Music Week in a conversation where two superstars of Latin American folk music shared their experiences: Soledad and Silvestre Dangond.
During the panel “Desde La Raíz” (“from the root” in English) moderated by Ezequiel Ruiz of Billboard Argentina, the award-winning Argentine singer-songwriter and the Colombian vallenato star discussed the importance of preserving original sounds.
“It’s important that there are purists. [At first] they told me I was killing vallenato. However, that kept me going and brought me to where I am,” said Dandong proudly. He has brought his own style to the genre across the 18 albums that make up his discography, always including at least two native songs. “That’s how I grew up; I grew up watching the great exponents of vallenato. I lived it and I breathe it.”
For her part, “La Sole,” as many call her, shared how she began to carve out a space for herself in the industry. “I come from a small town, where musical culture is very strong,” said the artist born in Arequito, in the Argentine province of Santa Fe. “When the big names were no longer around, I thought I could have a place, my own place, but continue that legacy,” she recalled, thanking her father for buying the 5,000 records ordered by the first record label that signed her (Sony Music) to continue her contract. “He borrowed money to solve it at the time. My old man always believed in me, and to this day, I write songs dedicated to him.”
Have you played Billboard’s Latin Music Week Crossword?Play now!
Both figures agreed on the reason they represent their countries through their voices: to love what they do, honor it, and enjoy it. However, they have very personal views on the future of folk music.
In Soledad’s case, she admitted that she’s more open to the music being made by young people in Argentina today. “Sometimes there are things I don’t like as much,” she confessed, “although I must admit that some people look to folklore for elements to fuse with their sounds.”
With his characteristic laid-back personality, Dandong stated that he isn’t critical of the music currently being made in Colombia. “I also did what I wanted; age defines what one sings. Let’s let people mature and let’s do less criticism and more accompaniment,” the singer emphatically declared. In recent months, he has released collaborations with Emilia, Banda MS, and Carín León, demonstrating his openness and interest in conquering and experimenting in new markets.
Spanning more than 30 years, Latin Music Week is the single-most important and largest gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. This year’s star-studded lineup includes Aitana, Alofoke, Anuel AA, Bebeshito, Carlos Vives, Carín León, Danny Ocean, DJ Khaled, Daddy Yankee (DY), Emilia Mernes, Ivy Queen, Gloria Estefan, Grupo 5, Kapo, Laura Pausini, Luck Ra, Netón Vega, Olga Tañón, Óscar Maydon, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Rawayana, Suzette Quintanilla, Tokischa, Xavi and Yailin La Más Viral, to name a few.
Latin Music Week also coincides with the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to air Thursday, Oct. 23, on Telemundo and Peacock, where Bad Bunny will be honored as Top Latin Artist of the 21st Century.
