Latin
Sony Music Acquires Top Brazilian Indie Label Som Livre For $255 Million
Founded in 1969 by music producer João Araújo, Som Livre initially focused on releasing soundtracks for Globo’s soap operas and continued to specialize in compilations. A decade ago, the label shifted its strategy to developing and managing artists and became the largest producer of music in Brazil, where local music represents almost 70% of total consumption. Today, the label is home to more than 80 artists, including massive sertanejo act Jorge & Mateus, forró star Wesley Safadão and Latin Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Maria Gadú. Som Livre artists had five out of the top 10 songs in Brazil in 2020, according to the IFPI 2021 Global Music Report. They included Henrique and Juliano’s “Liberdade Provisória,” the No. 1 streaming track in Brazil in 2020. With the acquisition, Sony b...
New Live Music Platform ¡LatinUp! Offers ‘Cutting-Edge’ & ‘Innovative’ Content For Latinos: Exclusive
¡LatinUp! is a free streaming channel created by Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN), Amazon Music LAT!N, and Twitch. Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN), Amazon Music LAT!N, and Twitch have teamed up for the launch of the new content platform ¡LatinUp!, Billboard can exclusively announce today (April 1). The free streaming channel, which is marketed as a “premier live music destination to elevate Latin music, culture, and voices,” will offer music fans bilingual content including interviews and live performances of genres such as urban, pop, regional Mexican, and more, via Twitch. “What sets ¡LatinUp! apart is the cutting-edge and innovative real-time engagement opportunities on the Twitch platform between artists and fans globally,” Erik Bankston, head of branded entertainment, CMN, tells Bill...
A New ‘Location’ for Karol G, Anuel AA & J Balvin: No. 1 on Latin Pop Airplay Chart
As “Location” leads, Karol G joins a select group of female acts who have secured at least five Latin Pop Airplay No. 1s or more; Shakira has 19 No. 1s and Gloria Estefan and Paulina Rubio also have five each. Here is a recap of Karol G’s winning titles: Song Title, Artist (if other than Karol), Weeks at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1 “Créeme,” with Maluma, one, March 2, 2019“China,” with Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna & J Balvin, two, Oct. 12, 2019“Tusa,” with Nicki Minaj, 15, Feb. 15, 2020“Ay, Dios Mío!” one, Oct. 10, 2020“Location,” with Anuel AA & J Balvin, April 3 On the all-Latin-genre Latin Airplay chart, “Location” gets closer to the lead with a 6-2 push. On the airplay-, digital- and stream-blended Hot Latin Songs chart, the track remains at No. 10 for a third week af...
Karol G, Daddy Yankee, Camilo & More Latin Artists on Late-Night TV in 2021 (Updating)
Between 2018 and 2020, the demand has grown, with artists such as J Balvin, Nicky Jam, Maluma, Lunay, Natanael Cano, Anitta and Karol G, to name a few, taking the TV stage. In 2021, more and more Latin artists have performed on late-night shows. Below, check out our updating list: March 25: Karol G performs “El Barco” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon March 23: Sebastian Yatra and Guaynaa performs “Chica Ideal” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert March 19: Chesca feat. De La Ghetto & Offset perform “Como Tu (Dirty)” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! March 18: Camilo performs “Ropa Cara” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon March 9: Daddy Yankee performs “Problema” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! March 4: Nicky Jam & Romeo Santos perform “Fan De Tus Fotos” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimm...
Facebook Makes Official Music Videos Available in Mexico
Facebook has already been hosting videos in Thailand, India and the U.S., which allows artists to post their music videos on their own pages allowing fans to share, react and comment on the post. “With official music videos on Facebook, we are creating new social experiences that are about more than just watching the video, they also intend to connect people and artists through music.” said Adrian Harley, head of music label partnerships for Facebook and Instagram in Latin America. “We are excited to launch in Mexico in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, Believe and other independent labels and distributors. We have also established a partnership with EMMAC-SACM, representing all the songwriters and publisher...
J Balvin’s ‘Tu Veneno’ Hits No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart
The 40-1 surge marks the fastest ascent in over three years as Yandel’s “Como Antes,” featuring Wisin, was the last leader to arrive at No. 1 in its second charting week in October 2017. With the new No. 1, J Balvin extends his winning streak to 28 leaders maintaining his record as the reggaetón act with the most No. 1s. Among all acts however, Enrique Iglesias continues at the helm with 31 No. 1s on his career board. As “Veneno” arrives at the Latin Airplay summit, it evicts Selena Gomez’s “Baila Conmigo,” with Rauw Alejandro, from the penthouse with a 1-5 dip. “Veneno” concurrently vaults at No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay, earning Balvin his 28th No. 1. The song is Balvin’s first No. 1 without an accompanied act since “Rojo” reigned for one week on July 2020. In between he’s pla...
After Viral Success of ‘Whoopty,’ CJ Is Embracing His Latin Roots With Anuel & Ozuna Collab
“Nothing has really come out of Staten Island since Wu-Tang Clan almost 25 years ago,” CJ tells Billboard. “It’s a blessing that I get the chance to put the local scene back on the map. So, I’m cool with that.” On the mainstream side, CJ has been endorsed by artists such as Cardi B, 50 Cent, French Montana, and Busta Rhymes. Now, he’s getting the same praise on the Latin side, already landing major collaborations with Anuel, Ozuna, Farruko and El Alfa, to name a few. After imprinting his name in the hip-hope scene, he’s ready to conquer the Latin audience with his “Whoopty Latin Remix,” supported by Warner Music Latin. Read our Q&A with CJ below. You launched your career in the middle of the pandemic and already have a Billboard hit. Tell us about your beginn...
5 Uplifting Moments in Latin Music This Week (March 27)
Carla Morrison’s important PSA Carla Morrison has teamed up with PETA for a new campaign, where she’s asking everyone, including her fans, to love and protect dogs, and all animals, as opposed to killing them for fur coats, collars and cuffs. In a video ad, the Mexican crooner is seen performing her hit single “Disfruto” to her two dogs Tino and Chawiwi. “We should all have empathy and just think, ‘OK, maybe I shouldn’t buy this or I shouldn’t wear this,’ because animals . . . feel pain the same way we do,” she says. Watch it below: Karol G’s Tusa Airlines This week, Colombian star Karol G dropped her third studio album, KG0516, home to bangers such as “Tusa,” “Bichota” and “Location.” In celebration, she partnered with Spotify to give fans the ultimate musical experience. In the virt...
Dylan Fuentes Pens Emotional ‘DF’ to Shed Light on Mental Health Issues: Video Premiere
He penned the song at a much-needed time. “We are living at a time that the world is passing by so fast on social media. I know that right now, because of that and because of the confinement caused by the pandemic, many people are suffering inside or feel alone.” Through his heartfelt lyrics and black-and-white music video, which shows Dylan the artist and Dylan the person, Fuentes wants to remind those battling with mental health struggles that they are not alone. “I’m not a psychologist, I’m not a psychiatrist, I don’t know clear concepts, but what I try the most is to get away from stress and dedicate time to myself,” he concludes. Below, watch the video for “DF.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating...
Watch Adorable 4-Year-Old Surprise Her Dad by Singing Selena’s ‘Bidi Bidi Bom Bom’
Adorable 4-year-old Maliya Kabs is charming everyone with her beautiful rendition of Selena‘s anthem “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom.” The now-viral moment was caught on camera by her dad who is sitting in a car with his daughter as she shows off her multilingual skills. After becoming overwhelmed by her dad’s questions and his disbelief in her ability to speak multiple languages, she asks: “Can I just put on my songs?” She starts blasting “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and belts out the catchy chorus and instructs her dad to sing. “Canta” she tells her father, who is surprised that his little girl would even know the Spanish lyrics to this song. “It means sing,” she explains to him. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dat...
Obzesion Break Down Their Viral Hit ‘Mi Trokita’: ‘It Just Snowballed’
“People loved it so much at the concert that it made the song go a little viral and they made other people love it and then others, so it just snowballed,” he adds. “When it started picking up, the original video had half a million views in December and we celebrated hitting 1 million by releasing an official music video in January.” The new video has now raked in more than 23 million views on YouTube. On the Billboard charts, the track currently sits at No. 5 on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart and at No. 19 on Hot Latin Songs (dated March 27). “I was just happy to see the song on the charts,” Hernández says. “I didn’t really know what to think of it. In our genre, we haven’t seen a lot of artists make it to those numbers or even chart. It was s...
Jenni Rivera’s ‘Mariposa de Barrio’ Bows at No. 5 on Regional Mexican Albums Chart
Mariposa de Barrio takes its name after the eponymous biographical Netflix series based on the Rivera’s autobiography Unbreakable: My Story, My Way (2013). Mariposa, the soundtrack, starts with 2,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending March 18, according to MRC Data, with its opening sum mostly stemming from streaming activity. Rivera concurrently becomes the first woman to debut in the tally’s top 10 since her daughter Chiquis Rivera’s Entre Botellas bowed at No. 1 on the March 31, 2018-dated chart. Mariposa concurrently becomes Rivera’s 11th straight Regional Mexican Albums top 10, dating back to the No. 1 album Jenni (2018). The soundtrack was preceded by six top 10 tracks on Regional Mexican Airpl...
