Latin
First Stream Latin: New Music From Junior H, Kim Loaiza, Carin Leon & More
First Stream Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs, albums and videos recommended by the Billboard Latin editors. Check out this week’s picks below. Junior H, “Nací Para Amarte” (Warner Music Latina) Once a sad boy, always a sad boy. Junior H digs deep for an ultra personal heartbreak anthem that stays true to his sad sierreño style. The 21-year-old Mexican singer-songwriter delivers “Naci Para Amarte,” powered by melancholic melodies via an acoustic guitar that pairs perfectly with his nostalgic lyrics. “If only you knew how often I keep checking my phone. What will we do? If there’s something that should never die, baby, that should be our love,” Junior H sings in his distinguished hoarse voice. — GRISELDA FLORES Explore See latest videos, charts and news See lates...
Billboard Latin’s Top 10 Social Media Wins of 2021: Bad Bunny, El Alfa, Karol G & More
In 2021, fans continued to navigate social media to keep up with their favorite celebrities. As a result, our very own @BillboardLatin Instagram account (930K at the time of publishing) will soon reach its first 1 million followers. In true Billboard fashion, we celebrate music on a daily basis, sharing chart reviews, exclusive news, and new single or album releases, to name a few, with our followers. This year, we especially enjoyed the return of live music, having artists such as Carlos Vives do Instagram takeovers from their tours. We also noticed how candid red carpet moments became a fan favorite on our social media accounts. With 2021 coming to an end, check out Billboard Latin’s top social media wins of the year: Bad Bunny and His Girlfriend at Billboard Latin Music Awards: 111K+ Li...
How the Pandemic and TikTok Fueled the Success of Kali Uchis’ Bilingual Hit ‘Telepatia’
When Kali Uchis told her father she wanted to skip college to become a professional musician, his answer wasn’t quite what she had hoped for. “ ‘There are a lot of girls prettier than you and that have a better voice than you,’ ” Uchis recalls him telling her. “ ‘What would make you stand out from them?’ ” She wasn’t dissuaded. “ ‘Well, there can be a million girls more pretty than me and with a better voice than me,’ ” she answered. “ ‘But they’ll never be me.’ ” Today, it’s precisely that other-ness that has led 27-year-old Uchis — the bilingual, bicultural, genre-bending singer-songwriter whose vocals flow effortlessly between English and Spanish — to become an unlikely star with the song “Telepatía,” a trippy fantasy in which she sings of wa...
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 ...
