Karol G’s “El Makinon” Video Joins YouTube’s Billion Views Club

Karol G is celebrating a big (machine) streaming hit…

Two years after its music video was released, the 32-year-old Colombian superstar and Mariah Angeliq’s girl-power anthem “El Makinon” has surpassed the billion-views mark on YouTube.

Karol GThe three-minute clip for “El Makinon” is Karol G’s seventh entry to the Billion Views Club as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. She also claims No. 10 on YouTube’s Global Top Artists and No. 15 on U.S. Top Artists 

Featured on Karol’s 2021 KG0516 album, the infectious head-bopping, hip-swaying reggaetón song produced by Neo is about breaking all the rules with the girls.

“El Makinon,” slang for a “big machine,” tells the story of a girl who’s been independent since she was 16 years old, and now that she’s older, she still depends solely on herself.

“El Makinon” debuted at No. 9 on Hot Latin Songs and later peaked at No. 6 on the tally.

Most recently, Karol G performed a medley (“QLONA,” “Labios Mordidos” and “Ojos Ferrari”) at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, November 19. She also won two awards: top Latin female artist and top Latin touring artist. During her acceptance speech, she thanked her loyal fanbase.

“These awards mean the connection is there between all of you and me. I think you’re more than fans — you’re part of the team and the family. I give you half of all this because nothing would’ve been possible without you,” she said. “I always say awards are special because they’re an extra validation to what we do, but like I said before, to have your unconditional love, with or without music, with or without a tour, that will always be the best present ever and that’s what I hope will never fail or go away.”

Cardi B to Participate in TikTok’s Global Live Music Event, “TikTok in The Mix”

The clock is TikTok-ing for an extra special event featuring Cardi B.

The 31-year-old half-Dominican American Grammy-winning rap superstar will take part in TikTok in The Mix, the social media app’s first-ever live global music event for fans.

Cardi BIt’s all part of TikTok’s continued foray into the music world.

In addition to Cardi B, others set to headline the event include Anitta, Niall Horan and Charlie Puth.

The event will take place on December 10 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz.

Additionally, rising stars Isabel LaRosa, Kaliii, LU KALA and Sam Barber will perform as part of TikTok’s emerging artist program, TikTok Elevate.

For those unable to attend the event in person, In the Mix will be streamed globally via TikTok Live.

“I really love my TikTok fans and I’m very excited to be able to bring The Show to the TikTok In The Mix event,” Horan said in a press statement. “I’m also very much looking forward to performing in such a special venue and putting on an amazing show for all the fans that will be present on the day and also all the fans that will be watching from all over the world live on TikTok.”

“No other platform mixes music, creativity and community like TikTok. With In The Mix, our goal is to bring the For You feed to life for fans at the venue and on TikTok,” added Paul Hourican, global head of music partnerships and programming at TikTok. “Our vision is to create a show that is reimagined for the TikTok era and our music-loving global community.”

In the Mix is an all-ages event, with tickets available to purchase exclusively on TikTok. Fans who follow the headlining artists on TikTok are able to receive a special code allowing them to purchase tickets presale tickets on from Friday, October 27 at 9 a.m. PT.

Tickets go on general sale starting Thursday, November 2 at 9:00 am PT.

For more information, search for “In the Mix” on TikTok or visit the event’s website here.

Bad Bunny Featured in New Edition of 2K’s Best-Selling ‘WWE 2K23’ Wrestling Title

It’s game on for Bad Bunny

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar is officially making his big crossover into video games; he’s featured in a new edition of 2K’s best-selling WWE 2K23 wrestling title.

Bad BunnyTake-Two Interactive’s 2K division announced the WWE 2K23 Bad Bunny Edition, available as of Friday.

Bad Bunny is a well-known WWE fan, having participated in the San Juan Street Fight at WWE’s Backlash 2023 premium live event — where he defeated Damian Priest.

Bad Bunny, WWE 2K23 Icon EditionThe playable Bad Bunny character in WWE 2K23 wears the Adidas Men’s Tech Fall 2.0 Wrestling Shoe and clothing he wore at Backlash 2023.

The news comes after Bad Bunny announced dates for his Most Wanted Tour across North America.

“Following the global success of Bad Bunny’s new album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana last week, and his historic match at WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico, we are excited to continue to collaborate with the biggest artist in the world and continue to break records with the WWE 2K23 Bad Bunny Edition,” said Neil Lawi, WWE’s head of music.

The Bad Bunny Edition of the game is available for $139.99 (list price) and includes the WWE 2K23 Icon Edition with the Bad Bunny Superstar Pack, which features the following content: The playable version of Bad Bunny; Bad Bunny Diamond tier MyFaction EVO card, which can upgrade to Pink Diamond; Bad Bunny MyFaction logo, nameplate and background; LWO Puerto Rico shirt part for Superstar Creator; and 15,000 VC (the game’s virtual currency).

The WWE 2K23 Icon Edition also features the Ruthless Aggression Pack, featuring John Cena’s early “Prototype” character, as well as “Leviathan Batista, developmental rookie versions of Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton, the John Cena Legacy Championship and WrestleMania 22 Arena; along with other content.

Players who already own WWE 2K23 can buy the Bad Bunny Superstar Pack as a stand-alone purchase for $9.99. The Bad Bunny Bundle also is available for $89.99; that includes the WWE 2K23 Cross-Gen Standard Edition, the Bad Bunny Superstar Pack, Bad Bunny Bonus Pack and 32,500 VC.

https://twitter.com/WWEgames/status/1715401461507797263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1715401461507797263%7Ctwgr%5Ee7bf34c31047cbe8e3f40a9f6385bf7c32cb4d20%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2023%2Fdigital%2Fnews%2Fbad-bunny-wwe-2k23-game-playable-character-1235763550%2F

Spotify Names Shakira Its Latest EQUAL Global Ambassador 

It’s Equal time for Shakira

The 46-year-old Colombian superstar has been named Spotify’s EQUAL Global Ambassador for the month of September, coinciding with the DSP’s celebration of “Shakira Day” on September 29th.

ShakiraIt also coincides with the 25th anniversary of her seminal album, Dónde Están Los Ladrones?, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album.

Over the last 12 months, Shakira has seen a 138.5% increase in streams on the platform, according to Spotify.

Her native country, Colombia, surpasses this global increase with a 213% growth during the same period.

Following her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month, “Te Aviso, Te Anuncio (Objection Tango)” saw more than a 260% increase in U.S. streams on Spotify.

Selena Gomez’s Rema-Collaboration “Calm Down” Surpasses One Billion Streams on Spotify

Selena Gomez is celebrating a music milestone…

The 31-year-old Mexican American actress/singer’s collaboration with Rema, “Calm Down,” has hit one billion streams on Spotify.

Selena Gomez, Rema, Calm Down“I’m so grateful,” declared Gomez via Instagram Stories and Twitter. “Love you @heisrema!”

The billion-stream milestone is particularly special for Rema, as it’s the first time an African artist-led track has reached the number, per a press release.

“It’s a blessing. It’s not just a big win for me, my team and family, it’s also a big one for the culture. I feel really happy and I’m really proud of the fans as well for going back to the song and putting people on the song. Shout out to the DJs and everyone who made this possible,” the singer said in a press statement.

Over on the Billboard charts, “Calm Down” fared particularly well.

The crossover hit topped Billboard’s Adult Pop Airplay chart dated May 13, marking Rema’s first leader on the list. It also topped the all-format Radio Songs chart and Pop Airplay chart.

“Calm Down” also topped the Rhythmic Airplay chart for four weeks in May-June. On the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, the song has hit No. 3, becoming Rema’s first entry and Gomez’s ninth top 10.

Rema, from Nigeria, released the original version of “Calm Down” in February 2022 as a single from his debut solo LP, Rave & Roses. Its remix with Gomez arrived last August, and that version’s official video premiered in September.

Disney+ to Begin Streaming Rosario Dawson’s “Haunted Mansion” in October

Rosario Dawson’s latest film will be bringing the fright to Disney+ soon.

Haunted Mansion, starring the 44-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist, will begin streaming on Disney+ on October 4.

Rosario Dawson, Haunted MansionThe feature, inspired by the famed theme park ride at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland, opened in theaters on July 28.

Directed by Justin Simien and penned by Katie Dippold, the film tells the story of a woman (Dawson) and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help them rid their home of supernatural squatters.

In addition to Dawson, the cast includes LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Chase W. Dillon and Daniel Levy, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto as The Hatbox Ghost.

The film also will be available at digital retailers on October 4, including Prime Video, Apple TV and Vudu.

Bad Bunny Ties J Balvin on YouTube’s List of Artists with Most Videos on Billion Views Club with 14

Bad Bunny is a YouTube sensation… 

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has logged his 14th music video with more than 1 billion views on YouTube as a lead, featured artist or collaborator with his collaboration on Nacho’s “Báilame (Remix),” also featuring Yandel.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny now ties J Balvin’s record as the artist with the most videos in the Billion Views Club.

The official music video of the infectious “Báilame (Remix)” came out on August 11, 2017, and features Nacho, Yandel and a then-rising Bad Bunny performing the song together. Nacho’s original track peaked at No. 5 on the Hot Latin Songs chart in October 20217.

Earlier this year, Bad Bunny earned his 13th title in the coveted video club with his collaboration on J Balvin’s “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola,” also released in 2017. Other of his titles on the list include “Te Bote (Remix),” “Mayores,” and “No Me Conoce (Remix)” — all of which have now surpassed 2 billion views.

Bad Bunny’s next five videos in line to enter the Billion Views Club are: Lunay, Daddy Yankee & Bad Bunny’s “Soltera (Remix)”; Prince Royce, J Balvin, Bad Bunny, DJ Luian & Mambo Kingz’s “Sensualidad”; Bad Bunny’s “Yonaguni”; Arcángel & Bad Bunny’s “Me Acostumbré”; and Farruko, Bad Bunny and Rvssian’s “Krippy Kush.”

J Balvin and Bad Bunny previously surpassed previous titleholders Ozuna and Justin Bieber.

Bad Bunny Celebrates History-Making 1 Billion Spotify Streams for “Tití Me Preguntó”

Bad Bunny is celebrating his the latest streaming hit…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar recently visited Spotify’s newly launched Billions Club series.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny stopped by the series to enjoy a “Billions Brunch” with some of his closest friends and collaborators.

“The feeling of having 1 billion streams for this song right now is the same emotion I felt when I got 5,000 plays for the first time,” Bad Bunny said. “For me, it’s just as big knowing that there are people who want to listen and want to enjoy what you make.” 

The song in question is “Tití Me Preguntó,” a track from his historic Un Verano Sin Ti album that officially reached 1 billion Spotify streams on January 23.

According to Spotify, Bad Bunny has 12 songs with more than 1 billion streams each on the platform — more than any other artist in Spotify history. He has accumulated 58 billion streams on the service, reigning as Spotify’s most-streamed artist of the year for the past three years.

In the video, Bad Bunny feasted on a lavish meal set on several plaques that commemorated his other songs with over 1 billion Spotify streams, including “Yonaguni,” “Dákiti” (with Jhayco) and “MIA” (with Drake).

In addition to basking in his record-breaking streaming success, the “Después de la Playa” singer also recounted the story behind the creation of “Tití Me Preguntó.” When tasked with telling the story of the song in 10 seconds, he replied, “That’s impossible. That’s a lifetime of love and romance.”

“It’s a song that was born very spontaneously,” he added. “All of the people mentioned in the song exist in real life. Nothing I say in that song is a lie, including the part where I say I want to fall in love, but I can’t.”

Nonetheless, Bad Bunny declined to specify which aunt he was singing about, because “they’ll get jealous and create a mess.”

Toward the end of his Billions Club episode, Bad Bunny made sure to thank his fans for their continued support, as well as his mother and father for believing in him “not just in music, but with every decision [he’s] made” in his life.

Bad Bunny has earned 11 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including his sole No. 1 single “I Like It” (with Cardi B & J Balvin). On the Billboard 200, he has notched five top 10 projects, two of which have reached the ranking’s summit: El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo (one week) and Un Verano Sin Ti (13 weeks).

All Seasons of Lana Parrilla’s “Once Upon a Time” to Begin Streaming on Hulu in September

It’s once more time for Lana Parrilla.

All seven seasons of ABC’s Once Upon a Time, starring the 46-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress as Regina Mills/The Evil Queen, will start streaming on Hulu on September 1.

Lana ParrillaThe fairytale drama has been streaming exclusively on Disney+ since it left Netflix; it will now be shared by the two Disney entertainment platforms.

Exclusivity, considered paramount in the early stages of the streaming wars, has taken a back seat to media companies’ push for additional revenue and profitability. The strategy shift has led to original HBO series streaming on Netflix, for example, with NBCUniversal’s Suits also finding its way to the global streamer.

At Disney, there has been increasing cross-pollination between previously walled-up Disney+ and Hulu.

Once Upon a Time is considered a quintessential Disney+ series as it has been built on classic Disney IP, including most Disney princesses.

The move comes as both Disney+ and Hulu shed dozens of series and specials earlier this year in a cost-cutting measure as Disney is preparing to roll out a single streaming app with programming from both Hulu and Disney+ by the end of this year.

Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam HorowitzOne Upon a Time, which streamed on Hulu during its run on ABC, blends the fantastical and real worlds with fairytale characters living in Storybrooke, ME. Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas and Lana Parrilla star.

Taylor Zakhar Perez’s “Red, White & Royal Blue” Becomes Prime Video’s No. 1 Film Globally in Its Premiere Weekend

Taylor Zakhar Perez’s latest project is a Primetime hit…

The 31-year-old half-Mexican American model and actor’s romantic comedy Red, White & Royal Blue, an adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s bestselling novel, has become the No. 1 film globally on Prime Video in its premiere weekend.

Taylor Zakhar Perez, Red White & Royal Blue,The film, which launched on Amazon Prime Video on August 11, is now among Prime Video’s top three most-watched romantic comedies of all time, according to Amazon, which wouldn’t disclose the two other films Red, White & Royal Blue would be joining in the top

Amazon is also touting “a huge surge in new Prime membership signups” due to the film’s release. The company didn’t say how they determined this, though this generally measured as the title was the first one an account watched after subscribing to a streaming service.

“The phenomenal debut of Red, White & Royal Blueis a true testament to the entertaining and inspired storytelling led by the creative minds behind it. Matthew López, McQuiston, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and the entire talented filmmaking team hit it out of the park,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon MGM Studios. “We are so proud of this delightful, heartwarming film and could not be more thrilled with the response from fans–existing and new.”

Red, White & Royal Blue centers around Alex and Prince Henry who have a lot in common: Stunning good looks, undeniable charisma, international popularity … and a total disdain for each other. Separated by an ocean, their long-running feud hasn’t really been an issue, until a disastrous—and very public—altercation at a royal event becomes tabloid fodder, driving a potential wedge in U.S./British relations at the worst possible time.

Going into damage-control mode, their families and handlers force the two rivals into a staged “truce.” But as Alex and Henry’s icy relationship unexpectedly begins to thaw into a tentative friendship, the friction that existed between them sparks something deeper than they ever expected.

The film adaptation is directed by López who also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Ted Malawer.

Red, White & Royal Blue also stars Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Fry, Ellie Bamber, Thomas Flynn, Malcolm Atobrah, Akshay Khanna, Sharon D Clarke, Aneesh Sheth and Juan Castano.