Peso Pluma & Eslabon Armado Make Billboard Hot 100 Chart History with “Ella Baila Sola”

Posted on April 17, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado are making Billboard Hot 100 history…

The 23-year-old Mexican singer and the American Regional Mexican group have each logged their first Top 10 on the Hot 100 with “Ella Baila Sola” on the chart dated April 22, 2023.

Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma’s “Ella Baila Sola” soars 17-10, led by 24.4 million streams, up 30%, as it wins the Hot 100’s top Streaming Gainer trophy, and jumps 6-3 on Streaming Songs.

Quartet Eslabon Armado, from California, and Peso Pluma, from Mexico, each reach the Hot 100’s top for the first time – as “Ella Baila Sola” makes history as the first regional Mexican song ever to hit the Hot 100’s top 10.

The genre has surged this decade, due in part to exposure on TikTok and other social media, with Gera MX and Christian Nodal’s “Botella Tras Botella” having become the first regional Mexican Hot 100 hit in May 2021, peaking at No. 60.

After “Ella Baila Sola,” Peso Pluma also has the second-highest-charting regional Mexican Hot 100 hit: “La Bebe,” with Yng Lvcas, rises to a new No. 17 best on the latest, April 22-dated chart.

The next-highest-peaking such hits: Yahritza y Su Esencia’s “Soy El Unico” (No. 20, April 2022 – it debuted at that rank, the highest entrance for a regional Mexican song) and Fuerza Regida and Grupo Frontera’s “Bebe Dame” (No. 25, this January).

Among Latin genres, regional Mexican’s arrival in the Hot 100’s top 10 follows that of Latin pop, which, after English-language hits by Gloria Estefan in the 1980s (plus Los Lobos’ “La Bamba,” in Spanish) surged in the late ‘90s and beyond thanks to songs (in varying degrees of English and Spanish) by Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin, among other stars.

At the same time, Marc Anthony helped tropical break through on the chart. In more recent years, Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi’s pop-centered, mostly-Spanish-language “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, spent a then-record-tying 16 weeks at No. 1 in 2017, while, this decade, Bad Bunny, with Spanish-language songs, has carried the torch for Latin rhythm in the top 10.

As for Latin music overall, Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma earn the Hot 100’s third Spanish-language top 10 this year, following two Latin pop hits: Bizarrap and Shakira’s “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” (No. 9, January) and Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” (No. 7, March).

“Ella Baila Sola” was released on Prajin Parlay/DEL Records, both of which likewise appear in the Hot 100’s top 10 for the first time.

The collaboration concurrently achieves a second week at No. 1 on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, where it became the first leader for both Eslabon Armado and Peso Pluma.

“We didn’t expect for the song to make so much noise!” Pedro Tovar, lead singer for the former act, and the song’s sole author, told Billboard upon its coronation. “I really liked the song when I first wrote it, but I didn’t really expect it to be such a big hit. I previewed it on my stories on Instagram and, two days after, it went viral on TikTok, and that’s when I knew that the song was going to do big numbers.”

“Normally I don’t expect to chart with songs,” Peso Pluma marveled. “We just enjoyed the process of doing it.”

The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.

Erika Ender Sells Song Catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Erika Ender is cashing in…

Hipgnosis Song Management has acquired the song catalog of the 48-year-old Panamanian-American singer and songwriter, who co-wrote the 2017 smash hit “Despacito” alongside Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

According to the company, Hipgnosis has acquired a 100% interest in Ender’s publishing copyrights — including the writer’s share of performance — in all songs in her catalogue published, released or utilized through her Sony Music Publishing deal from 2007 through 2019, which includes more than 25 No. 1 songs.

“Despacito,” originally released in January 2017 and later in a bilingual version with Justin Bieber, spearheaded a global Latin movement made possible by streaming. The remix peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — where it ruled for 16 weeks — and spent 56 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart.

To date, the original version has more than 8 billion views on YouTube. It also won three Latin Grammy awards, including song and record of the year. The Bieber-assisted version received nominations for both song and record of the year at the 2018 Grammys.

Ender has also penned songs for other artists like Los Tigres del Norte, Chayanne, Gloria Trevi and Prince Royce.

In 2017, Ender became the youngest person to be inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The amount paid for Ender’s catalog was not disclosed but it further highlights the interest in Latin or Spanish-language music catalogs.

“Erika Ender has defined Latin music for the last 30 years,” Merck Mercuriadis, chief executive and founder of Hipgnosis Song Management, said in a statement. “Her more than 40 Number 1 singles have made her one of the most successful and influential songwriters of all time. Over the last 5 years Despacito has ruled the airwaves and helped to drive the new LATAM domination going to Number 1 in 47 countries, but Erika is so much more than that one song with a rich catalogue of many incredible songs. I’m delighted to welcome her to the Hipgnosis Family!”

“I am very excited about this partnership with Hipgnosis. I’ve always believed that music is eternal,” added Ender. “I’m confident my songs are in good hands with Merck and his team, and they will do their best to keep my catalogue active, present and alive, as they honor and recognize that the songs are the seeds to the entire music industry, the message that touches and marks people’s lives and where it all begins.”

Daddy Yankee Serves as World Baseball Classic Ambassador, Releases WBC Anthem “Chispa”

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is getting in the game…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar is serving as the ambassador for the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

As part of his ambassadorial duties, Daddy Yankee throws his superstar status behind an anthem for the current tournament, “Chispa,” which he co-produced with Play-N-Skilz.

According to a statement from organizers, “Chispa” will be featured across WBC and MLB social platforms, and with the Classic’s coverage, in-park activations and more.

Also, Daddy Yankee is expected to attend several games played at loanDeport park in Miami throughout the tournament, which he launched by throwing out the first pitch last Sunday (March 12) before the Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico game.

Much has happened in the year since Yankee announced his retirement from music.

Born Raymond Ayala, Daddy Yankee ends his touring career on a high, with his La Ultima Vuelta trek raking-in $197.8 million and 1.9 million tickets sold over 83 shows in 2022, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore.

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That’s by some distance the biggest tour of his career, and behind only Bad Bunny among Latin artists.

Yankee’s collaboration with Luis Fonsi, “Despacito,” last year extend its reign as the most-viewed music video on YouTube, by hitting the magical 8 billion streams milestone. And his final album, 2022’s Legendaddy, gave Yankee a career-high No. 8 peak on the Billboard 200, his second top 10 appearance on the all-genres chart.

Daddy Yankee’s beloved Puerto Rico is one of 20 nations competing in the Classic, which reaches its climax March 21 in Miami. Sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), it’s the sport’s premier international competition — essentially, the world cup for baseball.

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

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

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.

The 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.”

Netflix Orders Reggaeton-Themed Comedy Series “Neon,” Starring Tyler Dean Flores

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Tyler Dean Flores is bringing a little reggaeton to Netflix…

Netflix has given a series order to Neon, a comedy series starring the Puerto Rican actor.

The project is set in the world of the musical genre that birthed the song “Despacito,” the second-most-viewed video ever on YouTube.

Flores, Emma Ferreira, Jordan Mendoza and Courtney Taylor star in the series, which hails from creator Shea Serrano with Max Searle set as showrunner.

Serrano, the author of The Rap Year Book, is behind Amazon Freevee series Primo with Mike Schur and Searle is co-showrunner of the second season of Chad and co-exec producer of Dave.

The eight-part series focuses on three friends who move from a small town in Florida to Miami with the hopes of making it big in the world of reggaeton. The show chronicles not only their larger than life dreams but the harsh comic realities of attempting to make it in the music industry.

Flores (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) plays Santi, a budding reggaeton artist who, with the help of his friends, Ness, played by (Ferreira) and Felix, (Mendoza) and A&R rep, Mia (Taylor) hopes to become the biggest reggaeton star in the world. Or at least make rent.

The series is executive produced by Serrano and Searle. It comes from Scooter Braun’s SB Projects with Braun executive-producing alongside Scott Manson and James Shin. Kyle Vinuya is co-executive producer. Mendoza also serves as consulting producer.

Flores’ previous credits include The Dark Knight Rises, When They See Us and Chicago Fire.

Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” Video Hits 8 Billion Views on YouTube

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee continue extending their reign…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican singer and 45-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton star’s music video for global sensation “Despacito” has logged 8 billion views on YouTube.

In the process Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s video extends its reign as the most-viewed music video on YouTube — by a long shot.

The closest competitor to the nearly five-minute clip for the 2017 smash hit is Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” which has raked in 5.8 billion views.

“Who would of thought that a melody over my guitar that morning in my house would be listened to in so many places, by so many people,” Fonsi wrote on social media celebrating the song’s new milestone. “It’s been almost six years and I still can’t believe it. The words THANK YOU don’t cover it. 8 billion views, sounds so nice.”

Fonsi continued thanking those who made it all possible, including Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber who jumped on the remix, his co-writer Erika Ender, producers Andrés Torres and Mauricio Rengifo and video director Carlos Pérez, to name a few, and his island of Puerto Rico, where they filmed the video, featuring former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera.

“Despacito,” released via Universal Music Latino in January 2017, is the gift that keeps on giving. Four months after the music video made its debut on YouTube, it hit the 1 billion mark back when it got a boost from a bilingual remix that featured Bieber.

Five years ago in May, the remix with Bieber reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made global history. Furthermore, “Despacito” topped the Hot Latin Songs chart for a record 56 (non-consecutive) weeks, spending the most weeks at No. 1 for any title since the chart’s inception in 1986.

Bad Bunny’s “Me Porto Bien,” with Chencho Corleone, Logs Milestone 20th Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Bad Bunny is still behaving well… And, he’s earning a place in Latin music history.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar and Chencho Corleone’s “Me Porto Bonito” has logged a milestone 20th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart dated October 8, becoming the 12th song to spend at least 20 weeks atop the tally in its 36-year history.

The song’s 20th week at No. 1 benefits from 8 million U.S. audience impressions earned in the week ending Sept. 29 (up 18%), according to Luminate.

Meanwhile, though it dips 4% in streams to 12 million earned in the week ending September 29, it holds strong at No. 1 on the Latin Streaming Songs chart and moves 4-2 on the overall Streaming Songs chart.

On the sales front, “Me Porto Bonito” falls 14%, to 1,000 downloads sold, in the same tracking period.

As it drops 1-2 on Latin Digital Song Sales, it cedes the No. 1 spot to another one of Bad Bunny’s songs: “MIA,” featuring Drake — which last took over atop the chart for one week in October 2018.

As mentioned, “Me Porto Bonito” joins 11 other tracks that have held strong at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs for at least 20 weeks or more since the chart’s inception in 1986.

Here’s the leaderboard:

Weeks At No. 1, Title, Artist
56, “Despacito” Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee, featuring Justin Bieber
41, “Bailando,” Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Bueno & Gente de Zona
30, “El Perdón,” Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias
27, “Dakiti,” Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez
26, “Pepas,” Farruko
25, “La Tortura,” Shakira featuring Alejandro Sanz
24, “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life),” Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin
22, “Ginza,” J Balvin
20, “Me Porto Bonito,” Bad Bunny & Chencho Corleone
20, “Te Quiero, Flex”
20, “Me Enamora,” Juanes
20, “A Puro Dolor,” Son By Four

Further, Bad Bunny is the third act to have two different songs spend at least 20 weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs (he previously notched 27 weeks at No. 1 with “Dakiti,” with Jhay Cortez). Both Enrique Iglesias and J Balvin have also logged a pair of 20-week No. 1s. Iglesias did it with “Bailando” (41 in 2014-15, featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona) and “El Perdon” (30 in 2015, with Nicky Jam), while J Balvin ruled with “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)” (24, 2020; with Black Eyed Peas) and “Ginza” (22, 2015).

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, has the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs, with 56 weeks in 2017-18.

Elsewhere, “Me Porto Bonito” rebounds to No. 4 on Latin Airplay for a second week (7-4). The track led the all-genre tally for one week on the Aug. 20-dated ranking.

Jhayco Earns First No. 1 as a Soloist on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special first for Jhayco…

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart with “Sensual Bebe” on the August 13-dated ranking.

The song marks his fifth champ on the all-Latin genre list, and his first as a soloist, unaccompanied by another act.

“Hitting No. 1 with a solo song was an overdue milestone for my career,” Jhayco tells Billboard. “We’ve been working towards that for quite some time and there are more to come. I don’t doubt it.”

“Sensual Bebe” climbs from No. 7 to lead Latin Airplay after a 29% surge in audience impressions, to 9.3 million, earned in the U.S. in the July 1-7 tracking week, according to Luminate.

The track simultaneously takes the Greatest Gainer honors of the week on two charts, as it advances 5-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay.

“Sensual” gives JhayCo — who formerly performed as Jhay Cortez — his fifth leader on both lists, and first unaccompanied by any other collaborator. Jhayco’s first Latin Airplay No. 1 arrived through “Dakiti,” a co-billed collaboration with Bad Bunny, which spent two weeks at No. 1 (December 2020-January 2021). It also earned him three Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2021. The song concurrently won him the fourth-longest command in the history of the all-metric Hot Latin Songs, ruling for 27 weeks, behind only Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber (56 weeks); Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailando” (41 weeks); and Nicky Jam and Iglesias’ “El Perdón” (30 weeks).

Back on Latin Airplay, Jhayco leads for the first time as a soloist, unassisted by any other act.

Here’s a recap of his wins:

Peak Date, Title, Artist (if other than Jhayco):
Dec. 26, 2020, “Dakiti,” with Bad Bunny
June 12, 2021, “Fiel,” Los Legendarios, Wisin & Jhay Cortez
Feb. 5, 2022, “Ley Seca,” with Anuel AA
Jan. 8, 2022, “Emojis De Corazones,” with Wisin & Ozuna featuring Los Legendarios
August 13, 2022, “Sensual Bebe”

While a now-established radio champ, “Sensual” debuted at No. 44 on the Latin Airplay chart dated March 26 and snatches the No. 1 spot in its 21st week (following three weeks in the top 10); it’s the longest climb to No. 1 in 2022 thus far. Let’s take a look at the tracks with the most weeks to No. 1:

Weeks to No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1
21 weeks, “Sensual Bebe,” Jhayco, August 13
19, “Buenos Días,” Wisin & Camilo, July 23
19, “Ley Seca,” Jhay Cortez & Anuel AA, Feb. 5
18, “Remix,” Daddy Yankee, August 6

“Sensual’s” Latin Airplay domination arrives days after he performed in Las Vegas on August 3 as part of his Timelezz world tour — which kicked off May 7 in the same city — in support of his sophomore effort Timelezz, the No. 2-peaking set on Top Latin Albums (September 18, 2021).

“Sensual Bebe” is the first single from Jhayco’s next studio album.

Daddy Yankee Earns 26th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Remix”

Posted on August 3, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is remixing his way to the top of the charts…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and composer has reached the summit of Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Remix” reaches the No. 1 spot after 18 weeks to lead the August 6-dated ranking.

The veteran singer now has 26 No. 1s on the chart, still the fourth-most among all acts.

“Remix” soars 11-1 with a 63% increase in audience impressions (rising to 10.58 million for the week) in the tracking week ending July 31, according to Luminate. It also takes the Greatest Gainer trophy among the 50-title deep list.

Among the song’s greater radio supporters were New York and Washington, D.C. markets, starting with WSKQ with 1.4 million impressions (up 27%) and WXNY with 843,000 (up 93%), both in NY. Meanwhile WLZL and WDCN in D.C. showed an increment of 147% (121,000) and 400% (300,000), respectively.

The tracking week included Daddy Yankee’s La Última Vuelta tour launch on July 25 in Denver, which likely fueled promotion around the track in radio stations.

The trek in support of his Legendaddy album which debuted at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums (April 9) — his seventh champ.

Here are the five acts with the most No. 1s on Latin Airplay:

35, J Balvin
32, Enrique Iglesias
28, Ozuna
26, Daddy Yankee
22, Wisin

“Remix” is the first of three singles from the Legendaddy album to secure a spot on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart. It was succeeded by “Por Última Vez,” with Bad Bunny (No. 44 debut and peak, April 23) and “Hot,” with Pitbull, which hits a new high of No. 25 on the current chart week.

As “Remix” rallies to the summit after 18 weeks, it becomes Daddy Yankee’s second-longest climb to No. 1 among a collection of 26 champs (dating back to “Rompe” in 2005).

Here’s a look at his longest marches to the top during his Latin Airplay 17-year career history:

Weeks to No. 1, Peak Date, Title, Artist (if other than Daddy Yankee)

19 weeks, Nov. 17, 2018, “Zum Zum,” with, RKM & Ken-Y & Arcangel
18 Weeks, August 6, 2022, “Remix”
17 weeks, Feb. 25, 2012, “Lovumba (Prestige)”
16 weeks, Jan. 23, 2016, “Vaiven”
14 Weeks, July 13, 2019, “Soltera” with Lunay & Bad Bunny
14 Weeks, Sept. 14, 2019, “No Lo Trates,” with Pitbull & Natti Natasha
14 Weeks, May 30, 2020, “Definitivamente,” with Sech
14 Weeks, Dec. 5, 2020, “La Santa,” with Bad Bunny

Daddy Yankee Announces Retirement with Final Album & Tour

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is officially retiring from music.

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and songwriter, known as the “King of Reggaetón,” will culminate his musical run with Legendaddy, his first new studio album in 10 years, and a world tour.

Born Raymond Ayala, Daddy Yankee’s career exploded with 2004’s breakthrough hit “Gasolina,” launching a genre that altered the sound and business of Latin music and became a global phenomenon.

Daddy Yankee had hinted at retirement and a last album and tour during an interview at Billboard’s Latin Music Week last year, but had yet to make an official announcement.

“Today, I’m announcing my retirement from music by giving you my best production and my best concert tour,” Daddy Yankee said in a statement in a press release issued on Sunday, March 20. “I will say goodbye celebrating these 32 years of experience with this new collector’s item, the album Legendaddy. I’m going to give you all the styles that have defined me, in one single album.”

Daddy Yankee’s Legendaddy will be released on May 24 at 8:00 pm ET.

His La Última Vuelta World Tour, a five-month trek, is set to kick off on August 10 in Portland, Oregon and run through December. Pre-sale tickets will go on sale on March 25, with a general public sale to follow on March 30. A full set of current tour dates is available on his official website.

Daddy Yankee has had six No. 1s on the Top Latin Albums chart, starting with 2004’s Barrio Fino, the first-ever reggaetón album to hit that spot. As of March 2022, he’s seen 76 entries on Latin Airplay and 86 on Hot Latin Songs, including the record-shattering “Despacito” alongside Luis Fonsi.

“I like to say I took the bullets,” he told Billboard in 2021 of bringing reggaetón to the mainstream music market. “I wanted people to understand my essence, where I come from, what I represent. But at the same time, I wanted to take my culture to the very top. I can’t tell you there was a formula. Reggaetón was initially only known on the East Coast. When I released Barrio Fino, the West Coast didn’t get it. I’d go to Los Angeles or Mexico and people knew Daddy Yankee, but they didn’t know what reggaetón was. I had to take the culture with me everywhere so it became permanent instead of fizzling out like other genres where artists simply promote themselves. When I did promotion, I talked about all the artists in my album: ‘This is me. But this album also features Zion & Lennox, Plan B, Ivy Queen.’ I had to play their music and say, ‘This is them. This is reggaetón.’”

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