Selena Gomez Replaces Kylie Jenner as the Most-Followed Woman on Instagram

Selena Gomez is officially the Queen of Instagram

With 381 million followers, the 30-year-old Mexican American singer and actress has officially become the most-followed woman on Instagram.

Selena GomezThe “Lose You to Love Me” singer dethroned Kylie Jenner, who has 380 million followers. 

While Gomez is the most-followed woman on the platform, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo is the most-followed person in general with 551 million followers. Another soccer superstar, Lionel Messi, follows with 432 million.

Gomez’s most recent post is a sultry snap posted on Wednesday (February 22), in which the star is seen sipping on a cocktail at a restaurant.

“I deleted this one time because I thought maybe it was too much but eh,” she captioned the photo.

The Only Murders in the Building actress returned to personally posting on her Instagram page in January, more than four years after she deleted the app from her phone and gave posting rights to a a member of her team due to her unhealthy relationship with the platform. “At one point Instagram became my whole world, and it was really dangerous. In my early 20s, I felt like I wasn’t pretty enough. There was a whole period in my life when I thought I needed makeup and never wanted to be seen without it,” she previously told InStyle.

She added, “Taking a break from social media was the best decision that I’ve ever made for my mental health. I created a system where I still don’t have my passwords. And the unnecessary hate and comparisons went away once I put my phone down. I’ll have moments where that weird feeling will come back, but now I have a much better relationship with myself.”

Meta & iHeartRadio Bringing J Balvin’s VR Concert Experience to Life in February

J Balvin is embracing the futurum

Meta and iHeartRadio have joined forces to bring to life the 37-year-old Colombian superstar’s “J Balvin Futurum: A VR Concert Experience.”

J BalvinCreated specifically for virtual reality, the 180-degree concert experience will offer state-of-the-art visuals and performances such as a custom-built lighted stage, seven backup dancers and Balvin strapped to a 15-foot robotic arm that moves to the beat of the music.

Balvin will perform 17 of his biggest hits, including  “La Canción,” I Like It” and “Mi Gente,” all of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

“I’m always looking for new and innovative ways to expand access to art and the VR space is one with limitless opportunity,” said Balvin in a press statement. “The whole show has a futuristic vibe including some crazy robotics twice my size. It will be one of my wildest shows ever and I’m grateful to Meta and iHeart for the unique collaboration and the platform to explore my passion for technology in a way that allows my fans to experience my music together in a different way.”

Produced in partnership with iHeartRadio, the “J Balvin Futurum” show — which kicks off at 6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET on February 17 — is part of the iHeartRadio Concert Series in VR.

Balvin joins previous performers such as John Legend, Carrie Underwood and Kim Petras.

J Balvin Futurum: A VR Concert ExperienceTo watch the VR concert, fans can subscribe to the event by clicking here.

Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro users can watch in Horizon Venues by downloading the app.

Shakira’s Bizarrap-Collab “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” Breaks Spotify Records

Shakira is making a record-breaking splash on Spotify

The 45-year-old Colombian superstar’s Bizarrap-collaboration track “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” released earlier this week, has skyrocketed to the top of Spotify’s Top 50 Global chart.

ShakiraIn addition to reaching the top, collaboration has become the Latin song with the most streams in a single day in 2023, breaking the record for most streams by a track on a given day in Spain and Colombia.

With more than 15 million streams, “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” has quickly become the top song in Spanish-speaking markets, including Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico, and has made it to the top 10 in Switzerland (7), Luxembourg (5), and Malta (6).

“Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” has become a viral sensation, with people worldwide taking it as an empowerment song perfect for lifting one’s spirit after a heartbreak.

In the lyrics, Shakira seemingly addresses the end of her relationship with Gerard Piqué and his new girlfriend, Clara Chía Marti.

The track includes jaw-dropping phrases like “I am worth two of 22.” Fans believe it’s a reference to the age difference between her and Clara.

Shakira also mentions that she gave so much to someone that acted like a “champion” but when she needed him, he gave her “his worst version.” The quote could be about Piqué’s alleged infidelities, and the rocky end of their relationship.

Shakira and the retired Spanish soccer player went their separate ways in 2022 after 11 years together.

Following the split, Shakira returned to music with a volcano-strength force, releasing the chart-topping singles “Te Felicito” and “Monotonía.”

Shakira’s Bizarrap-Collab “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” Makes YouTube History

The music video for Shakira’s latest single is breaking YouTube

The clip for the 45-year-old Colombian superstar’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” in collaboration with hit Argentine producer Bizarrap, has broken a YouTube record.

ShakiraThe music video for the song was viewed more than 63 million times on YouTube in its 24 hours, making it the most watched Latin song in that time frame in the platform’s history.

The previous record was held by Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” remix with Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber, which reached 25 million views in that same time frame. Shakira and Bizarrap more than doubled that amount of views on their video’s first day out.

“Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” has taken the world by storm, as Shakira seemingly addresses the end of her 11-year relationship with Gerard Piqué, as well as his new girlfriend Clara Chía Marti.

Shakira and the former soccer player separated last year. They have two children.

In the song, Shakira sings that “I’m worth two 22-year-olds,” adding: “You swapped a Ferrari for a [Renault] Twingo/You swapped a Rolex for a Casio.”

She also declares that “a she-wolf like me isn’t for rookies” (in reference to her own 2009 single) and “I was out of your league, which is why you’re with someone just like you.”

Sofia Carson to Participate in Variety’s “FYC Fest: The Shortlist” Virtual Event

Sofia Carson has made the shortlist

The 29-year-old half-Colombian American actress/singer will take part in Variety’s second annual FYC Fest: The Shortlist.

Sofia CarsonIt’s a virtual event featuring 13 panels with the top contending filmmakers and artisans that were shortlisted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences in the documentary film, international film, song, hair and makeup, animated short, live-action short film and visual effects categories.

Other Latinx artists joining Carson include Selena Gomez, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Santiago Mitre.

Each conversation will last for 15 minutes and be moderated by a Variety editor.

Conversations include:

  • Colm Bairéad, director and writer of “The Quiet Girl”
  • Edward Berger, director, producer and writer of Netflix’s “All Quiet on the Western Front”
  • Jason Billington, VFX supervisor of Amazon Films’ “Thirteen Lives”
  • Sofia Carson, performer and Diane Warren, songwriter of “Applause” from the film “Tell It Like a Woman”
  • Chanda Dancy, composer from the Sony Pictures film “Devotion”
  • Alexandre Desplat, composer for Netflix’s “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
  • Simon Franglen, composer; Joe Letteri, senior VFX supervisor; and Julian Howarth, sound mixer for Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of the Water”
  • Selena Gomez, co-songwriter of “My Mind & Me” from the Apple TV+ documentary “My Mind & Me”
  • Alejandro G. Iñárritu, director, producer and writer of Netflix’s “Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”
  • Charlie Mackesy, author and co-director of the animated short film “The Boy, the Mole and the Horse”
  • Santiago Mitre, director, producer and writer of Amazon Films’ “Argentina, 1985”
  • Sukari Jones, songwriter; Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, executive producers and songwriters of “Good Afternoon” from Apple TV+’s “Spirited”
  • Steve Boeddeker, sound mixer; Geoffrey Baumann, VFX; and Camille Friend, hair artist, from Disney’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Registration is free but required for access. Register at today at https://varietyshortlist.splashthat.com/.

Ice Spice Named to Shazam’s 2023 Predictions Playlist of Artists with Potential to Breakthrough

Ice Spice could be headed for a breakthrough

Shazam has unveiled its annual predictions playlist, compiling a 50-track selection of artists, including the 23-year-old half-Dominican American rapper, who have the potential to have a breakthrough year.

Ice SpiceBased on the music discovery app’s predictive data and algorithms and in collaboration with Apple Music’s global editorial team, this year’s selection of artists show early indicators of future growth, including consistent momentum in Shazam activity, as well as discovery trends in more than one country.

Ice Spice, Rosa Linn, Charlieonnafriday, Young Miko and Benson Boone top Shazam’s artists with global breakthrough potential.

“It’s very cool to me that people from all around the world can discover my music through [Shazam],” Rosa Linn told Apple Music per a press release. “They can hear the song, like it, and instantly find out that it’s me who is singing it. I gain fans and listeners and it directly impacts streaming.”

“Shazam has always been so useful for me whenever I needed to find the title of a song playing,” Ice Spice added. “I’m happy that it exists!”

Additionally, for the first time, Shazam is spotlighting artists who are gaining popularity regionally. Nigeria’s Carterefe, France’s Adé, Japan’s natori, Colombia’s KEITYN and Spain’s Munic HB have all made the list due to their budding stardom.

“I believe Shazam is an important gateway for my music to be discovered, especially in this busy lifestyle we live in,” natori, whose “Overdose” was the most-Shazamed debut single within J-Pop over the last year, told Apple Music.

Listen to the Shazam Predictions 2023 playlist exclusively on Apple Music worldwide at apple.co/shazampredictions23.

Bad Bunny’s “Callaíta” Becomes His Latest Billion Views Club Entry on YouTube

Bad Bunny has another billion reasons to smile…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar’s music video for “Callaíta,” his collaboration with Tainy, has surpassed the billion-view list on YouTube.

Bad BunnyThe song was released on May 31, 2019, three years prior to the release of Bad Bunny’s history-making album Un Verano Sin Ti.

With its serene intro and seagull squawking from afar, the banger encapsulates the essence of the record’s eternal summer energy — it is the outro track of Benito’s latest groundbreaking LP, after all.

The visual already feels like a classic, with Bad Bunny rocking his famous buzzed triangular hairstyle from the late ‘10s. The video follows a woman who loves taking shots at the bar, but she’s low-key otherwise. Then, a group of beach- and partygoers hit the shores where there’s a merry-go-round spinning on the sand, and Benito gets his chance with the quiet gal.

A few weeks apart from Un Verano Sin Ti dropping, “Callaíta” reached one billion streams on Spotify this year.

“Seeing that ‘Callaita’ became what it became is insane. It’s humbling that people still connect with the song after so many years,” Tainy recently told Billboard Español of the song reaching the milestone on Spotify. “You get a sense of those classic songs that you grew up listening to and still hear today, and can’t comprehend how they still connect with people after so many years. I’m happy that we were able to create a song that has stood the test of time.”

The producer continued: “We always had dreams about things we wanted to do, but they had a limit. Because we didn’t think it was possible for people like me — where I come from, who I am, our position in the world — and to see that I’ve been able to exceed that by a billion from what I initially thought could be possible, it just makes you feel like this is all blessings. [I’m] just here to have a responsibility of inspiring more people that could do twice as much as what [I’ve] done. That’s the most special part for me.”

In all, Bad Bunny has a total of nine titles in the coveted Billion Views Club on YouTube.

Jenna Ortega’s “Wednesday” Notches 5.9 Billion Minutes Viewed in Debut Week

Jenna Ortega’s latest project is drawing heavy traffic…

The 20-year-old Mexican and Puerto Rican actress’ series Wednesday landed at the top of Nielsen’s U.S. streaming charts in its first week on Netflix with a massive 5.9B minutes viewed.

Jenna Ortega, WednesdayThat’s the second highest weekly viewing total for a streaming title since the beginning of 2020 — just behind Stranger Things (which generated over 7B minutes viewed in the week following the release of Season 4 Volume 1).

The impressive numbers for Wednesday almost make it easy to look past the four other titles that hit over 1B minutes viewed the week of November 21 to November 27.

Dead to Me came in at No. 2 on the chart with 1.46B viewing minutes. The Crown and 1899 tied for third place with 1.1B minutes viewed. The film Slumberland also notched 1B viewing minutes. Netflix also took home the subsequent two spots on the chart with Manifest and NCIS.

Here’s the full Top 10, with streaming service, title, number of episodes (“1″=feature film) and minutes of viewing:

Jenna Ortega, Wednesday, Nielsen

Bad Bunny: Spotify’s Most-Streamed Artist for Third Consecutive Year

Bad Bunny is (three) ringing in the New Year with a bang…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican global superstar has generated more than 18.5 billion streams in 2022, landing him the title of Spotify’s top artist for the third year in a row—the first artist ever to claim such an accomplishment.

Bad BunnySpotify celebrated the artist’s success with 1,000 of his biggest fans, collaborators, and supporters in Mexico, the top market to stream his music over the last three years.

Spotify and Rimas (Bad Bunny’s label) joined forces to throw the ultimate after-party at Ragga Club in Mexico City to celebrate the end of his World’s Hottest Tour.

Artists Rauw AlejandropaopaoJowell & RandyCarin LeonDanna PaolaKim LoaizaJuan de Dios PantojaMario BautistaBuscabulla, and Arcángel were among some of the guests toasting Bad Bunny.

The artist even took to the stage in a surprise special performance where he thanked everyone for streaming his music and for celebrating this incredible moment with him. He surprised the crowd with an improvised performance of his hit “Despues de la Playa,” and with acoustic versions of “Neverita,” “Callaita,” and “El Apagon” with the backing of a Dahian El Apechao’s live merengue band.

Bad Bunny, Spotify Three RingsKey to the celebration was the Ring Ceremony, where Jeremy Erlich, Spotify’s Global Head of Music Content, joined Bad Bunny for a celebratory moment on behalf of Spotify.

“Congratulations on the three-peat—the first time any artist is the most streamed for three years in a row,” he shared. “An epic showing for a career-defining year.”

Then, Jeremy presented the artist with three championship-style rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, to symbolize each year he was the top-streamed global artist on Spotify.

Spotify also created five plaques, each representing a Bad Bunny track that has passed the one billion stream mark—“Yonaguni,” “Callaita,” “LA CANCIÓN,” “Te Boté – Remix,” “No Me Conoce – Remix”—and Jeremy presented some of these to him as well.

Bad Bunny’s music hasn’t just made an impact for the artist: It’s also contributed to the growth of reggaeton and trap Latino worldwide. Reggaeton listening grew 147% from 2018-2020, and trap Latino listening grew 187% in the same timeframe. Meanwhile, newcomers are still finding and falling in love with Bad Bunny’s music. Over the past 90 days, 95 million listeners played one of his tracks for the first time, with 51% of those plays occurring outside of Spanish-speaking markets.

What’s more, his fourth studio album, Un Verano Sin Ti, topped the world’s most-streamed album list in 2022, and the rest of his albums continue to have staying power. His first album, X 100PRE, is still ranked in the Top 100 most-streamed albums globally, coming in at slot 68. And out of the six Latin albums in the Top 50 most-streamed albums globally this year, three of them were Bad Bunny’s: Un Verano Sin Ti (#1), YHLQMDLG (#8), and EL ÚLTIMO TOUR DEL MUNDO (#21).

Guillermo Díaz to Co-Host “Scandal” Rewatch Podcast “Unpacking the Toolbox”

Guillermo Díaz is unpacking his toobox

The 47-year-old Cuban American actor and Katie Lowes will host Unpacking The Toolbox, a podcast that will feature conversations about the political thriller Scandal as they rewatch the series from start to finish.

Guillermo DiazReliving the show’s most memorable moments, the podcast will be produced by Shondaland Audio.

Diaz and Lowes will share behind the scenes stories, fun facts, on set memories and a healthy dose of laughs – sometimes inviting their co-stars, writers, crew members and maybe even superfans to reminisce and relive the making of Scandal together,” the podcast description reads.

Unpacking The Toolbox is one of two podcasts Shondaland Audio has announced in partnership with iHeartMedia.

Unpacking the Toolbox is expected to debut in 2023.

Diaz portrayed Diego “Huck” Muñoz on the drama series.