Latin
J Balvin & Tokischa’s ‘Perra’ Video Removed From YouTube: Here’s What We Know
On Sunday, the music video was removed from Balvin’s YouTube channel. Neither Balvin nor Tokischa have released an official statement. The removal of the music video also came less than a week after Colombia’s vice president and chancellor Marta Lucía Ramírez said the visual was “sexist, racist, machista, and misogynistic.” “In his video, the artist uses images of women and people of Afro-descendants — population groups with special constitutional protection — whom he presents with dog ears,” she wrote in an open letter published on Oct. 11. “In addition, while walking, the singer carries two Afro-descendant women tied with neck chains and crawling on the floor like animals or slaves. As if this were not enough, the lyrics of the song have direct and openly sex...
Aventura & Bad Bunny Top the Latin Airplay Chart With ‘Volví’
Back on Latin Airplay, the new leader gives Aventura its fourth No. 1. The Dominican group first led with “Por Un Segundo” in 2009. In between, it earned two other champs: nine-week ruler “Dile Al Amor” (2010) and “Inmortal” (one week, June 2019). Bad Bunny, meanwhile, scores his 16th Latin Airplay No. 1, dating back to his first as a featured act on Becky G’s “Mayores” in 2018. His longest-winning track arrived later in the year as “Mia,” featuring Drake, topped the ranking for six weeks starting on the Dec. 29, 2018-dated list. Beyond Latin Airplay, “Volví” pushes back to the top 10 on Latin Digital Song Sales (14-9) after its debut at the summit in August. It concurrently reaches a new peak of No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay; it’s the first time Aventura has topped the chart since “...
Argentine Trap Star Cazzu is Unstoppable
You narrated Amazon Music’s Género 101: Trap Argentino, which beautifully highlights this evolution while showcasing Argentina’s rich musical history. Viewers get a glimpse of the gauchos, who were considered the first freestylers to the vibrant hip-hop scene. How did those histories impact you? I come from an area in the north of Argentina [called Ledesma], where folklore is very important and present in our lives. It’s an area where all that is still very much alive. I grew up in a very folkloric environment, and I know the roots of my country very well. It’s something that’s been part of my artistic personality. I was also a part of Argentine cumbia for a long time, which allowed me to get to know it very well. But I made [other] choices, and among them was hip-hop. When...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (October 16)
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. Nicki Nicole’s Tiny Desk Joined by an 11-member band, Nicki Nicole presented her NPR “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert” this week, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The blossoming Argentine star gave a select of her hits a different twist, kicking off with a tango-infused version of “Colocao.” She continues to flaunt her effortless swagger and soulful, powerhouse vocals in tracks such as “Mala Vida,” “Wapo Traketero” and “Freestyle.” Nicki also performed her stripped-down, ultra-personal ballad ̶...
First Stream Latin: Randy’s Album, Anitta & Saweetie’s Collab, Plus More New Music
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. Randy, Romances De Una Nota 2021, Vol. 2 (Randy Nota Loca) Randy of famed reggaeton duo Jowell y Randy has launched his solo project Romances de Una Nota 2021, Vol. 2, released four years after Vol. 1. On this 18-track set, it’s evident that Randy had creative liberty, focusing heavily on R&B above all. “No Exit,” “Las Nubes” featuring De La Ghetto, and focus track “Loquita” with Jay Wheeler are some of the best examples of the sultry R&B fusions found on this album. Randy also taps into chill EDM melodies as heard on “Remember” with The Martinez Brothers, hi...
Natti Natasha’s ‘Noches En Miami’ Leads Latin Airplay Chart
“Noches” pushes 9-1 with 10.1 million in audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 10. Natti Natasha nabs her ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as her latest single “Noches en Miami” takes over atop the chart (dated Oct. 16). “Noches” pushes 9-1 with 10.1 million in audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 10, up 54%, according to MRC Data. Stations in New York helped drive its jump, with gains in audience impressions in the tracking week from WXNY, WSKQ, and WPAT. The track, which has received remixes by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike vs. Bassjackers, and others, gives Natti her ninth leader on Latin Airplay, following two one-week champs: “Antes Que Salga El Sol,” with Prince Royce (April 17-dated tally) and “Ram Pam Pam,...
Camila Cabello Debuts New Song ‘La Buena Vida’ on ‘Tiny Desk Concert’
“I didn’t want to not do ‘Tiny Desk’ because I’m a huge ‘Tiny Desk’ fan and I didn’t know if they were going to call me back again, so, here I am,” Cabello explained. “And hopefully, next time, we’ll do it at the ‘Tiny Desk’ actual, at the NPR office, without the tiny sinus infection, but for now, this is where it’s at.” The singer jumped into “Real Friends,” “Señorita” and “Don’t Go Yet” before closing with the debut of “La Buena Vida,” which enlisted the help of the Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar. “La Buena Vida” is from her upcoming album titled Familia, due sometime this year. Cabello’s performance of the mariac...
’12 Hours with Mariah Angeliq’: How Spirituality Led Her Music Career
“It’s no coincidence how spiritual I am,” she expresses. “Apparently my grandfather was super spiritual too. I guess that’s why I was born such an intuitive, manifesting person. I believe in the law of attraction. I feel that as a human being you’re very powerful and you don’t need to be looking for so many answers. They’re all inside of you.” In the mini-documentary, her longtime producer Nely “El Arma Secreta,” her manager, her mom, and good friend all describe Mariah as a “hustler” who can spend days in the recording studio without any sleep. “I feel like it’s my time right now,” she notes. “It’s not about fame. It’s what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, have a purpose, you know? Don’t be famous just to be famous. You have to love this, breathe this, be this because it’s not eas...
’12 Hours With Prince Royce’: Repping the Bronx & Letting His Dominican Roots Shine
On the new episode of Billboard’s 12 Hours With… presented by Facebook Watch, Prince Royce shares his journey to the Billboard Latin Music Awards, where he performed “Lao a Lao” for the first time. From picking his outfits to the moment he steps off the stage, his Dominican and New York roots shine through. “My best moments were in the Bronx,” remembers the chart-topping artist. “There’s a lot of successful people that come out of New York, like J.Lo, Jay-Z, Marc Anthony, and being born and raised in New York is what brought me here. It’s something that makes you want to hustle because you want to get out of the hood.” Now, the bachata singer — who’s incorporated pop, R&B and even mariachi elements into his music — has his...
Calibash & El Día Nacional de la Banda Will Both Return to Las Vegas Next Year
Calibash and El Día Nacional de la Banda (National Day of Banda) are set to return to Las Vegas in 2022 with back-to-back star-packed lineups, SBS Entertainment announced Wednesday (Oct. 13). Set to take place Jan. 28, the banda-focused event will feature regional Mexican acts such as Los Dos Carnales, El Fantasma, Los 2 De La S, La Arrolladora Banda El Limón, La Adictiva Banda San José de Mesillas, Banda Los Sebastianes and La Original Banda El Limón, among others. Calibash Vegas, on Jan. 29, will include performances by Don Omar, Karol G, Maluma, Farruko, El Alfa and El Chacal. Both events will take place at T-Mobile Arena. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet...
17-Year-Old Iván Cornejo Continues Trend of Teens in Top 10 on Regional Mexican Albums Chart
Alma concurrently gives the Riverside, Calif.-born singer his first Top Latin Albums visit with a No. 11 debut. The set, released Aug. 20 via Manzana Records, earned 9.4 million on-demand streams of the album’s songs in its opening week. “The most challenging aspect of the recording process for me is probably the synchronization of instruments and vocals,” Cornejo adds. “Usually when I’m improvising and coming up with new songs, I’m in the comfort of my room just jamming with my cousin; but once we step foot in the studio, everything is more surreal and amplified mistakes can be more noticeable, and all I want to create is something perfect, that I’m proud of.” Cornejo’s recent popularity is fueled by his strong TikTok presence. He took a first shot ...
Latin Music Streaming Soars, US Market Share Hits 5.8% at Mid-Year: RIAA
Latin music now represents a 5.8% share of the overall U.S. market with revenues hitting $407 million in the first half of 2021 — 96% of which came from streaming for $393 million. The genre’s growth has been rapid over the past few years: The genre’s revenue for the first half of 2019 was $250 million, and then jumped to $298 in the first half of 2020. Paid streaming subscriptions grew 41% to $279 million, while ad-supported on-demand streaming revenue increased 30% to $77 million. Revenues from digital and custom radio services also rebounded, growing 24% to $37 million after a slight decline in 2020. “It’s incredible to see continued double-digit growth in Latin music — outpacing the already strong performance we’ve seen across other music segments and catego...
