Latin
Flow La Movie, Producer Behind Chart-Topping Hit ‘Te Boté,’ Dies in Plane Crash at 38
Puerto Rican producer Flow La Movie has died at age 38 in a plane crash, Billboard can confirm. According to early reports of the news, the producer/artist, born José Angel Hernandez, was one of the seven passengers in a private plane that crashed Wednesday (Dec. 15) near Las Américas International Airport in the Dominican Republic. Among the victims are also his partner Debbie Von Marie Jimenez Garcia and their children. The plane was headed to Florida. The company that owned the private plane took to social media to confirm the accident and the names of the victims. “For Helidosa, this accident causes us great pain and sorrow. We stand in solidarity with the affected families that, along with us, are going through a difficult time,” they said in a statement. Explore See latest videos, ch...
Flow La Movie’s Death Mourned by J Balvin, Juan Magan & More
The producer behind chart-topping hits such as “Te Boté” and “AM,” Flow La Movie has died at age 38 in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday (Dec. 15), and the music world is mourning his loss. The producer/artist, born José Angel Hernandez, was one of the seven passengers in a private plane that crashed near Las Américas International Airport in the Dominican Republic. “For Helidosa, this accident causes us great pain and sorrow. We stand in solidarity with the affected families that, along with us, are going through a difficult time,” the company that operated the plane said in a statement. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Flow’s partner Debbie Von Marie Jimenez Garcia and his son, Jayden Hernandez, were also among the victims. Spanish artist Juan...
Music Executives Remember Mexican Icon Vicente Fernández: ‘The Hearts of the Industry Are Heavy’
A mass for Vicente Fernández was televised Monday (Dec. 13) live from his Los 3 Potrillos ranch in Guadalajara featuring a beautiful tribute by his family and longtime mariachi, as well as fans chanting his songs and bidding their final goodbyes. While colleagues and family members gathered in person to honor the life of “El Rey de la Ranchera,” others, including key industry figures, who weren’t in attendance shared what it was like working closely with Fernández and about the significance of his legacy. In an official statement given to Billboard, Pepe Garza, programming director at L.A.’s Que Buena 105.5/94.3 FM station and founder of Premios de la Radio, said: “Whenever you listen to a Vicente Fernández song, it’s going back to that time when you were happy. That, to me, is the most im...
Vicente Fernandez, Towering Icon of Mexican Music, Dies at 81
Vicente Fernández, the towering icon of Mexican ranchera music whose powerful voice defined the lives of generations of fans throughout Latin America, died Sunday morning (Dec. 12) in a hospital in Guadalajara, his family confirms. The cause was complications following surgery for a cervical spine injury after a bad fall last August. Fernández had remained hospitalized since then in stable but serious condition. Over the last 24 hours, his condition deteriorated, according to official posts from his medical team on his official Instagram account. He was 81 years old. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Immediately recognizable for his elegant charro outfits and hat, his bold mustache and his dazzling smile, Fernández was only five-foot-7 but had the stature and bearing of a giant. H...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (December 11)
From career milestones and new music releases to major announcements and more, Billboard editors highlight the latest news buzz in Latin music every week. Here’s what happened in the Latin music world this week. Maestro Cares Foundation Gala After a two-year, pandemic-forced hiatus, Marc Anthony and Henry Cárdenas’ Maestro Cares Foundation gala returned live and full force. Colombian star Fonseca performed as the first guest of the evening, and Maestro Cares co-founder Anthony closed with a performance with his full band and special guest Will Ferrell, who played the cowbell on “I Need to Know.” The actor and producer was honored earlier in the evening with the Courage to care award for his philanthropic efforts. “The last time I was here was at my quiceañera,” quipped the actor ...
Inside Badchella: Highlights From Bad Bunny’s ‘P FKN R’ Concert in Puerto Rico
Bad Bunny went big and went home at his “P FKN R” show in Puerto Rico on Friday night (Dec. 10), which also marked his first concert in over two years since his X100Pre Tour. Lines at San Juan’s Estadio Hiram Bithorn began to wrap around the stadium hours before gates opened at 4 p.m. Unofficially coined “Badchella” because of its Coachella-inspired aesthetics, the Puerto Rican artist gave attendees the ultimate fan experience. Explore Explore Bad Bunny See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news As soon as doors opened, fans walked through the Bad Bunny museum that included two huge Bad Bunny inflatables and displayed actual belongings of the artist such as his Bugatti car and countless awards, to name a few. Outside the stadium, a carnival atmosphere with variou...
The Year in Charts: Los Bukis, Grupo Firme & More Top Latin Tours of 2021
Touring in the Latin realm returned in a big way after live music was sidelined by the ongoing pandemic, which shut down any iteration of an in-person concert for nearly 18 months. With the numbers to prove that Latin music is in demand and that fans are more than ready to see their favorite Latin artists live — even if that means having to wear a mask during the entirety of the show — nine of the 40 top tours of 2021 were by a Latin act. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Landing a top 10 spot on the list is Mexican grupero band Los Bukis, who reunited after 25 years for a sold-out stadium tour produced by Live Nation. A week after announcing a three-date tour in June, and selling out those dates in a matter of hours, Los Bukis added additional d...
Latin Artist on the Rise: How Micro TDH Took His Music From the Andes to the World
Venezuelan singer-songwriter and rapper Micro TDH presents today (Dec. 9) his sophomore studio album called Nueve. The 14-track set, which comes four years after Inefable, is his debut album under Warner Music Latina. “It has music for all kinds of people, for all kinds of tastes,” Micro tells Billboard. “An album made with a lot of sweat, a lot of effort, and a lot of blood.” But most importantly, he says, the set “contemplates all the facets of Micro TDH and preserves the essence of the beginning and also my sound today.” Explore Explore Micro TDH See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Dec. 9 release date is appropriate, as Micro, who has studied numerology for many years, says the number nine is representative to his career and ideology. “You begin to ...
Christian Nodal Merges Past and Present of Regional Mexican Music for ‘Botella Tras Botella’ Tour
At 22 years old, Christian Nodal has rewritten the rules of regional Mexican music, navigating between traditional music and hip-hop and setting a record of No. 1s (13) for a solo act on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart. On the heels of his chart success, Nodal brought his Botella Tras Botella Tour to Inglewood on Friday Night (Dec. 3), performing his biggest hits to a sold-out crowd at the YouTube Theater, and was joined by surprise guests, including Mexican hip-hop acts Gera MX and Akwid. Explore See latest videos, charts and news Nodal is a Gen-Z sensation who is refreshing regional Mexican music with his mariacheño (mariachi and norteño) sound. And despite using social media to air his grievances to break free from Universal Music, Nodal won a Latin Grammy in September and ...
Carlos Vives’ Despues De Todo Tour Launches With a Colombian Parranda in Miami
It was 1:00 a.m. and Carlos Vives was hosting a meet-and-greet with fans at the FTX Arena (formerly American Airlines Arena) in Miami. Backstage, he was happy and tireless just moments after wrapping up the first show of his highly-awaited Despues de Todo tour on Friday (Dec. 3). Explore See latest videos, charts and news Marking his first U.S. trek since 2018, Vives was itching to hit the road. He dubbed it Despues de Todo because “after everything we have been through, returning to North America, to so many beloved places, to see unforgettable friends and special audiences again, makes this truly a historic moment for me,” the Colombian singer-songwriter said. That same backstage energy was seen when he stepped onstage. Vives officially launched his Despues de Todo tour at 10 p.m. follow...
Everything to Know About Wisin & Yandel’s New Single, Tour & Album — Is This Their Last?
Reggaetón’s duet kings – Wisin & Yandel — have gotten back together for the first time since the pandemic for the new single “Recordar,” an Afrobeat jam co-produced by EDM king David Guetta. The pair have a new album due out in March or April, La Ultima Misión, featuring all new, previously unreleased tracks, including “Recordar.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news In an exclusive Instagram Live chat with Billboard, the pair – speaking from Wisin’s La Base studios in Puerto Rico — spoke to us about the new single, their upcoming tour and whether this could be their last album. Is La Ultima Misión the last Wisin and Yandel álbum? It’s ambiguous. Wisin: We have to think of a memorable end. We have a great album, with great friends, colleagues. Our intention is to close with ...
Sony Latin Iberia Chief Afo Verde Talks Adele, Taking Risks & Cooking on ‘Latin Hitmaker’ Podcast
Afo Verde has been chairman and CEO for Sony Music Latin Iberia since 2012, overseeing the music careers of more than 400 artists, including superstars like Ricky Martin, Shakira, Marc Anthony, Maluma, Ozuna, Romeo Santos, Carlos Vives, Camilo and Rauw Alejandro. Explore Explore Afo Verde See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news But before being a music executive, Verde was a producer and musician — he played guitar with Argentine reggae band La Zimbabwe — who also considered becoming a professional soccer player and an architect and whose life changed after performing as an opening act at a UB40 concert. Verde is featured in this week’s episode of “Latin Hitmaker,” the Billboard podcast that tells the stories of the visionary executives behind the artists and ...
