News

16 Nov 2023

Snubs & Surprises at 2023 Latin Grammys

The 2023 Latin Grammys are a wrap. This year, there was no one big winner. Karol G, Shakira and Natalia Lafourcade tied with three major awards each. Venezuelan singer-songwriter Joaquina won best new artist. So you could say that women were the big winners of the night.

Karol won album of the year and best urban album for Mañana Será Bonito, and “TQG,” her collaboration with Shakira, won best urban/fusion performance. Meanwhile, Shakira won song of the year and best pop song along with Bizarrap for “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.” As for Lafourcade, she won best singer-songwriter album for De Todas Las Flores and best singer-songwriter song for the track of the same name. She also won record of the year for “De Todas Las Flores.”

See the complete list of winners here.

The show, co-hosted by Danna Paola, Sebastián Yatra, Roselyn Sánchez and Paz Vega, was held for the first time outside the United States in Seville, Spain, on Thursday (Nov. 16). The 24th annual awards show took place at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) and aired on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión.

Many of the awards went as expected. Mexican hitmaker Edgar Barrera won the first-ever songwriter of the year award and producer of the year. Shakira and Bizarrap’s “BZRP Music Sessions #53” took song of the year. And Karol G won album of the year for her history-making Mañana Será Bonito. “I want to say that it is an honor to receive this in front of so many people that I admire in music,” Karol said in her speech, visibly emotional. “To have the album of the year is too cool. This album is super special, it changed my life. Thank you all very much.”

While the Latin Recording Academy got it right in many of the categories, there were a few snubs and surprises. See below:

16 Nov 2023

Jung Kook’s ‘Golden’ Debuts at No. 1 on Top Album Sales Chart

Jung Kook’s first solo album, Golden, debuts atop Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Nov. 18), selling 164,800 copies in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 9, according to Luminate.

Also in the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart, the late Jimmy Buffett’s new studio album Equal Strain On all Parts bows at No. 3, Jason Aldean’s latest effort Highway Desperado starts at No. 6, anniversary reissues of Dave Matthews Band’s Before These Crowded Streets and Coheeed and Cambria’s The Second Stage Turbine Blade prompt their re-entries, while the physical release of Caroline Polachek’s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You pushes the album to a No. 9 debut.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.

Of the 164,800 copies sold of Golden, physical sales comprise 128,500 (all CD sales) and digital downloads comprise 36,500. As with many major K-pop releases, Golden was issued in 16 collectible CD editions, all with the same tracklist, but alternative packaging and covers, with different merchandise (some randomized) contained inside. Among the variants were retail-exclusive sold through Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart. Golden was also available to purchase across nine different digital download editions: a standard version, one with three music videos, a version with a “digitally signed” cover, two alternative cover versions, and four “voice memo” versions (each of the four came with a different short voice memo recorded by the artist as a bonus track).

Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) slips to No. 2 with 122,000 copies sold (down 91%) after debuting at No. 1 the week previous.

The late Jimmy Buffett, who died on Sept. 1, debuts at No. 3 on Top Album Sales with the final studio album he completed during his lifetime: Equal Strain On all Parts. It launches with 51,000 copies sold. The set was issued as a standard digital album, a standard CD and in two vinyl editions – a widely available Key West Blue-colored version, and an indie store exclusive Paradise Blue-colored version that contains a poster inside. Of the album’s 51,000 sold, CD sales comprise 26,000, digital album sales comprise 15,000 and vinyl sales comprise 10,000.

SEVENTEEN’s SEVENTEENTH Heaven: 11th Mini Album falls 2-4 on Top Album Sales with 22,000 (down 77%) while The Rolling Stones’ Hackney Diamonds dips 3-5 with 17,000 (down 48%).

Jason Aldean’s new studio album Highway Desperado drives in at No. 6 in its first week, selling 16,500 copies. It’s the 11th top 10, all consecutive, for the country star. He first visited the region with Relentless, hitting No. 4 in 2007.

Dave Matthews Band’s former No. 1, Before These Crowded Streets, re-enters Top Album Sales at No. 7 with nearly 15,000 sold, following a new 25th anniversary pressing on vinyl. (Essentially all of its sales for the week were on vinyl.) It was available in four vinyl variants: a standard black-colored edition, with clear, yellow and red/blue marbled version.

Another anniversary vinyl pressing brings an album back to the chart, as Coheed and Cambria’s The Second Stage Turbine Blade reaches the top 10 for the first time, as it re-enters at No. 8 with 13,000 sold (its best sales week ever). Nearly all of that sum is driven by vinyl sales, as the album garnered a new vinyl pressing for its 20th anniversary. It was available in five color variants: black transparent, yellow opaque, white with black splatter, yellow with white and black splatter and green with white and yellow splatter. Second Stage now marks the ninth top 10-charting effort for the act on Top Album Sales.

Caroline Polachek’s Desire, I Want to Turn Into You, debuts at No. 9 on Top Album Sales with a little over 11,000 copies sold (up from a negligible sum the week previous), following the album’s release on physical formats on Nov. 3. It was available in four vinyl variants, a CD and cassette tape. The album was initially released as a digital download and via streaming services in February.

Rounding out the new top 10 is TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s former leader The Name Chapter: Freefall, which drops 5-10 with 10,000 sold (down 31%).

In the week ending Nov. 9, there were 2.074 million albums sold in the U.S. (down 33.1% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 1.651 million (down 38.6%) and digital albums comprised 423,000 (up 2.5%).

There were 796,000 CD albums sold in the week ending Nov. 9 (down 35.5% week-over-week) and 845,000 vinyl albums sold (down 41%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 30.041 million (up 1.3% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 39.430 million (up 18.4%).

Overall year-to-date album sales total 85.832 million (up 6% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 69.947 million (up 10.3%) and digital album sales total 15.885 million (down 9.7%).

16 Nov 2023

Feid Delivers Medallo Swag With Latin Grammys 2023 Closing Performance

The 2023 Latin Grammys took place for the first time internationally in Seville, Spain, on Thursday (Nov. 16) — and to celebrate, Latin music’s hottest artists of yesterday and today were present. 

Among the star-studded guests was Feid, who in the midst of his European tour traveled to Spain to put colleagues and viewers alike on their feet with the Latin Grammys closing performance.

Moving away from his signature green outfits, the Colombian artist was decked out in an all-white ensemble, including his famed “Ferxxo” sunglasses.

He began his performance with an acoustic version of his song “Prohibidox,” backed by a romantic piano melody. Shortly after, he invited DJ Premier onstage to perform their hit “Le Pido a Dios.” Not only did Feid shine with his strong, live vocals, but he also had the entire room dancing — including his Medallo squad, Karol G, Ovy on the Drums and Keityn.

Feid was a five-time nominee at the 2023 Latin Grammys, including best rap/hip hop song, best urban/fusion performance, best urban music album and two songs in best reggaeton performance.

The 2023 Latin Grammys, led by top nominee Edgar Barrera, featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bizarrap, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, Christian Nodal, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Eslabón Armado, Feid, GALE, Iza, Joaquina, Juanes, Kany García, Laura Pausini, Leon Leiden, Maluma, Manuel Carrasco, Maria Becerra, Milo J, Natascha Falcão, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Paola Guanche, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Sebastián Yatra, and Shakira.

For the first time airing internationally, the 24th annual awards show took place on Thursday (Nov. 16) at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville, Spain. It aired on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión. It was broadcasted on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain.

16 Nov 2023

Christian Nodal & Kany García’s Emotional Duet ‘La Siguiente’ Steals Spotlight at Latin Grammys 2023

On Thursday (Nov. 16), the 24th annual Latin Grammys witnessed a soul-stirring collaboration as Kany García and Christian Nodal took the stage in Seville, Spain, to perform their heartfelt ranchera ballad, “La Siguiente.”

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Kany, adorned in a beautiful off-white lace ensemble and matching pointy boots, her long hair flowing, transitioned impressively from her usual playful pop persona to belt out a poignant norteña song with plenty of gusto. Backed by numerous acoustic and electric guitars, the performance painted a beautiful backdrop for the lovelorn narrative of a toxic relationship.

In a black silk shirt, with a tattooed chest adorned with gold chains, the mariacheño pioneer Christian Nodal entered the picture to match hearts with the Puerto Rican singer. Straying from elaborate choreography or flashy effects, the duo relied solely on their robust vocals to captivate the audience.

“Gracias por hacerme bohemio, México” (“Thank you for making me bohemian, Mexico”), Christian Nodal said earlier during the telecast when the sleek vaquero won a Latin Grammy for best ranchero/mariachi album for Forajido EP2.

The 2023 Latin Grammys featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bizarrap, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Eslabón Armado, Feid, GALE, Iza, Joaquina, Juanes, Laura Pausini, Leon Leiden, Maluma, Manuel Carrasco, Maria Becerra, Milo J, Natascha Falcão, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Paola Guanche, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Sebastián Yatra and Shakira.

Check back to Billboard.com throughout the night for the latest news on performances, special awards and more.

16 Nov 2023

Rauw Alejandro Performs Energetic Medley Joined By Juanes at 2023 Latin Grammys

Rauw Alejandro arrived at the 2023 Latin Grammys on Thursday (Nov. 16) with his beloved mom as his date—and soon after strutting the red carpet with his suave appeal, he took center stage at the awards ceremony.

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The Puerto Rican artist, who was nominated for best urban music album with Saturno, performed an energetic dance medley that kicked off with his own melancholic rendition of Laura Pausini’s (the 2023 Person of the Year) “Se Fue.” Wearing an all-white suit, Rauw’s watery eyes glistened as he remembered a past love. 

Shortly after, he picked up the mood by going backstage and teaming up with a group of dancers for a killer choreography as he sang his ‘80s retro-inspired “DIME QUIÉN ????” Now changed to an edgy, leather fit in red, Rauw went back on stage to perform the electro-pop “Baby Hello.” 

To everyone’s surprise, he was joined by Juanes, who in true Colombian rockstar fashion, performed an incredible guitar solo.  

The 2023 Latin Grammys, led by top nominee Edgar Barrera, featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bizarrap, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, Christian Nodal, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Eslabón Armado, Feid, GALE, Iza, Joaquina, Juanes, Kany García, Laura Pausini, Leon Leiden, Maluma, Manuel Carrasco, Maria Becerra, Milo J, Natascha Falcão, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Paola Guanche, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Sebastián Yatra, and Shakira.

For the first time airing internationally, the 24th annual award show took place on Thursday (Nov. 16) at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville, Spain. It aired on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión. It was broadcasted on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain. Check back to Billboard.com throughout the night for the latest news on performances, special awards and more.

16 Nov 2023

Drake ft. J. Cole “First Person Shooter,” YoungBoy Never Broke Again “My Address Public” & More | Daily Visuals 11.16.23

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Though Drake is gearing up for the release of his latest album (update), Scary Hours 3, the man has revisited his last album, For All The Dogs, for his latest video which has day-ones geeking out as it was a fan favorite cut.

Linking up with J. Cole for his visuals to “First Person Shooter,” Drizzy and Cole turn an office into a sports arena where they got toe-to-toe in ping pong before going head-to-head in an interesting game of chess. Was that The Office’s Kevin Malone running their office?! Nice little addition to the video.

Elsewhere YoungBoy Never Broke Again is letting his haters know he ain’t never scared and in his clip to “My Address Public, NBA and his peoples turn up in his crib where he flexes some fancy cars and iced out jewelry. That man really is a homebody though… least in his videos.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from JMilli, Peezy, and more.

DRAKE FT. J. COLE – “FIRST PERSON SHOOTER”



YOUNGBOY NEVER BROKE AGAIN – “MY ADDRESS PUBLIC”



JMILLI – “GO CRAZY”



YOUNG NOBLE FT. BIG TRAY DEE – “UNSTOPPABLE”



PEEZY – “REALIST AROUND”



BIG HIT & HIT-BOY FT. BABYSTONE GORILLAZ – “A$VP CHAUNCEY/LOAD ‘EM UP”



BOKEE BARBZ – “FINE ASS HOES”



ROSEMARIE & RODDY RICCH – “IS IT REAL?”



16 Nov 2023

2023 Latin Grammy Awards: Photos From the Show

From Shakira’s golden performance of “Acróstico” to Rosalía’s epic show opener performing “Se Nos Rompió El Amor,” the 24th annual Latin Grammys has been filled with memorable musical numbers.

Originally sung by Rocío Jurado, written by La Magdalena and Manuel Alejandro — Rosalía sang a great tribute to her native Spain — filled with gut-wrenching emotion. Others who took the stage include Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma to sing “Ella Baila Sola,” Carin León and Maluma for “Según Quién” and Rauw Alejandro, who was joined by Juanes for an epic medley of hits, kicking off with “Se Fue” – a nod to Laura Pausini who was honored with Person of the Year. Besides photos of performances, the gallery also includes candid moments between nominees either backstage or in their seats.

The Latin Grammys are taking place in FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre in Seville, and will be broadcast Stateside on the Univision network, UniMás and Galavision and throughout Latin America at 8:30 p.m. ET. Early winners include songwriter and producer Edgar Barrera, who won three awards at the pre-telecast ceremony.

Barrera is the leading nominee in this year’s awards. Other big contenders of the evening include Colombian stars Camilo, Karol G, Shakira and composer Kevyn Mauricio Cruz (also known as Keityn), each with seven nominations. Argentine producer and DJ Bizarrap has six. Pablo Alborán, Bad Bunny, Maria Becerra, Feid, Dave Cutch and Natalia Lafourcade, have five nominations each; and Santiago Alvarado, Paula Arenas, Juanes and Ovy on the Drums have four each.

See the best photos from inside the show below.

Click here to see the updating list of winners.

16 Nov 2023

Bizarrap Delivers Enthralling ‘BZRP Sessions’ Medley With Shakira & Milo J at Latin Grammys 2023

On Thursday (Nov. 16), Bizarrap‘s Latin Grammys 2023 set opened up with plenty of intrigue.

“Latin America, half of the universe! You twitch in the globe like a gesture of God, and I feel you shake with the divine haste of an infinite muscle that is going to tarnish the sun!” read a quote by Peruvian poet, César Vallejo, before the buzzy Argentine superproducer appeared.

Biza, wearing his usual black baseball cap, shades and a sporty Adidas jacket, entered the scene surrounded by a bevy of vintage analog synths and took a seat to play the keys to his latest banger, “Milo J: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 57.” Milo entered wearing a cut-up black denim top, with his signature mushroom hairdo, and began to spit the verses of the chart-topping song.

Suddenly, a dozen vibrant murga dancers appeared — a native style from Argentina and Uruguay — clad in traditional colorful garb to invigorate the moment tenfold. To amplify the mood even further, the scene segued into a bygone tango era, channeling the spirit of Carlos Gardel, as a tango singer took the spotlight to impressively deliver “Quevedo: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 52,” swapping its EDM thump for a powerful tango rhythm.

Then, to make matters even more powerful, Shakira re-created the iconic pose from her “Objection (Tango)” music video and seamlessly incorporated some of the signature moves from her 2001 hit during her performance. Joined by a group of male dancers, she launched into the chart-topping “Vol. 53.” The audience, fully engaged, sang along to the anthemic song, adding an extra layer of brilliance to the performance. It’s worth noting the significance, as she delivered this smash-hit rendition in Spain, the home country of her ex Gerard Piqué, to whom the song is infamously dedicated.

Moments after the sweltering performance, Biza and Shak won the coveted song of the year prize for “Vol. 53.” “I’m not used to talking,” admitted the reclusive beatmaker earlier that night during the pre-telecast ceremony, after winning another Latin Grammy for “Vol. 52” with Quevedo. “It’s impressive the recognition they give to this project that I started in my room with a computer.”

The 2023 Latin Grammys feature performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, Christian Nodal, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Eslabón Armado,Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Sebastián Yatra and more.

The 24th annual awards show took place at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville, Spain. It airs on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S. and is broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain. Check back to Billboard.com throughout the night for the latest news on performances, special awards and more.

16 Nov 2023

Laura Pausini Receives Person of the Year Award From Karol G, Performs Hits at Latin Grammys 2023

Laura Pausini took center stage at the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards on Thursday (Nov. 16) to perform a medley that perfectly highlighted why she’s the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year — and only the third female artist to receive the honor following Gloria Estefan and Shakira. 

Stunning in a dazzling black gown, the Italian-born, Spanish-language singer crooned to the crowd with her timeless hits “Durar,” “La Soledad,” “Viveme” and “En Cambio No.” Her impeccable powerhouse vocals were backed by a talented choir and live orchestra.

Following her performance, Pausini was surprised onstage by Karol G, who handed her the coveted Person of the Year award.

“Laura, over the years you have demonstrated unmatched talent,” the Colombian artist said in her handwritten speech. “Your lyrics have transmitted messages of love, nostalgia, life, powerful messages that have left indelible marks in the world of music and in the hearts of many of us here. Your career has been extraordinary and your influence will last over time. And it must feel incredible as a woman to have a career as legendary and memorable as yours. We thank you for giving us your talent, for giving us life with your music.”

Celebrating a trajectory that spans more than 30 years, Pausini, who had just met Karol G backstage at the awards ceremony, received her POY trophy and first and foremost thanked her parents for giving her life. 

“I’ve had a very privileged life not only for having the great pleasure of singing in Spanish, but above all, because from that day on I felt adopted like a daughter, a sister,” she said during her speech. “I know that I don’t have the same blood, but I know very well that I have family members who have raised me from a teenager until today, giving me the opportunity to be the most Latin Italian in the entire world. People who have been adopted know very well that it’s not necessary to have the same blood. Latinos are my family. I feel Latin in my way of being, thinking and feeling. It is very moving for me to receive this award.” 

Pausini was honored at the Person of the Year gala on Wednesday night (Nov. 15), where artists such as Christian Nodal, Mon Laferte, Andrea Bocelli, Luis Fonsi, David Bisbal, Carlos Vives, Anitta, and more, paid tribute to her.

16 Nov 2023

Eslabon Armado & Peso Pluma Perform ‘Ella Baila Sola’ for the First Time on TV at 2023 Latin Grammys

Mexico in the house! Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma took the stage to perform their global smash hit “Ella Baila Sola” for the first time together on television on Thursday (Nov. 16) at the 2023 Latin Grammys.

Re-creating their iconic music video, the música Mexicana stars were joined onstage by dancers who were masquerade-ball-ready. “Ella Baila Sola,” up for song of the year, made history when it was released earlier this year, becoming the first regional Mexican song to enter the top five on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart.

And while it’s a total party song that gets everyone on their feet, both Peso Pluma and Eslabon’s frontman, Pedro Tovar, were rather static onstage — perhaps soaking in the momentous night, but both making sure they expressed their Mexican pride. “¡Arriba México!” they shouted.

The 2023 Latin Grammys feature performances from Andrea Bocelli, Alejandro Sanz, Bizarrap, Borja, Camilo, Carin León, Christian Nodal, David Guetta, DJ Premier, Édgar Barrera, Feid, GALE, Iza, Joaquina, Juanes, Kany García, Laura Pausini, Leon Leiden, Maluma, Manuel Carrasco, Maria Becerra, Milo J, Natascha Falcão, Ozuna, Pablo Alborán, Paola Guanche, Rauw Alejandro, Rosalía, Sebastián Yatra, and Shakira.

The 24th annual awards show is taking place at the Conference and Exhibition Centre (FIBES) in Seville, Spain. It airs on Univision, UniMás and Galavisión in the U.S. and is broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) in Spain. Check back to Billboard.com throughout the night for the latest news on performances, special awards and more.