Anuel AA to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Anuel AA is heading to the Latin American Music Awards

The first wave of performers has been announced for this year’s Latin AMAs, with the 30-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer among those set to take center stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

Anuel AAAnuel AA will perform “Más Rica Que Ayer” during the show.

Other performers include newlyweds Guaynaa and Lele Pons, who will perform a medley that includes their latest collaboration “Abajito”; Myke Towers, who will perform his newest track “Mi Droga”; and Prince Royce, who will surprise viewers with an unreleased song.

Additionally, Spanish newcomer Bad Gyal and Regional Mexican crooner Eden Muñoz will make their Latin AMAs debut. The former will deliver her single “Chulo,” and the latter will offer his viral solo hit “Chale!

Nominations for the 2023 awards — based on streaming, sales, radio airplay, tours, and even social media interactions data provided by Billboard and Luminate during the eligibility period (February 12, 2022, through February 4, 2023) — are led by Bad Bunny with 11 nominations. He’s followed by Becky G and Daddy Yankee, each with nine nominations; at eight nods each are Grupo Frontera, Karol G, Rauw Alejandro, Romeo Santos, and Rosalía.

Meanwhile, Muñoz, Bizarrap, Blessd, Grupo Frontera, Los Lara, Luis Figueroa, Luis R Conriquez, Quevedo, Santa Fe Klan and Yahritza y Su Esencia are nominated in the best new artist category.

Carlos Vives and Pepe Aguilar will be recognized as 2023 Latin AMAs Legacy honorees. This year’s ceremony will be co-hosted by Galilea Montijo, Julián Gil and Natti Natasha.

For the first time since its debut on October 8, 2015, on Telemundo, the ceremony will be broadcast live simultaneously on Univision, UNIMÁS and Galavisión after TelevisaUnivision acquired the rights from dick clark productions in September.

Erik Estrada to Guest Star on This Week’s 80s Night-Themed Episode of “The Masked Singer”

Erik Estrada is masking up…

The 74-year-old Puerto Rican actor will appear on this week’s episode of The Masked Singer.

Erik Estrada, Young MC, Charlene Tilton, The Masked SingerEstrada won’t actually compete on the Fox series, but he will appear to hand out special clues that provide hints to the identities of each player.

Estrada’s appearance is part of the show’s “80’s Night.” He is best known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn “Ponch” Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983.

Estrada, Dallas star Charlene Tilton and Young MC will all deliver clues that evening, with Young MC opening the show with a performance of his hit single “Bust a Move.”

The Masked Singer enters Season 9 with 21 contestants include “Mustang,” “Axolotl,” “California Roll,” “Dandelion,” “Moose,” “Gargoyle,” “Jackalope,” “Doll,” Polar Bear,” “Night Owl,” “Rock Lobster,” “Gnome” and more to be announced. Tim Chappel is this season’s costume designer.

Celebrities unmasked so far in Season 9 include Lele Pons as Jackalope, Malin Akerman as Squirrel, Michael Bolton as the Wolf, Grandmaster Flash as Polar Bear, Debbie Gibson as Night Owl, Howie Mandel as Rock Lobster, Sara Evans as Mustang and Dick Van Dyke as Gnome.

The Season 9 contestants “boast a combined 28 Emmy nominations, six Grammy wins, 10 gold albums, four Golden Globe nominations, five medals, 26 books, two Tony Award nominations, five Lifetime Achievement Awards, four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a combined 95,231,000 records sold.”

Season nine will introduce all-new themed episodes, including “ABBA,” “New York,” “DC Superheroes,” “Sesame Street,” “80s Night,” “Movie Night” and more.

Anthony Ramos to Compete in MLB’s All-Star Celebrity Softball Game

Anthony Ramos is stepping up to the plate…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actor will compete in Major League Baseball’s All-Star Celebrity Softball Game.

Anthony RamosThe game will form part of the star-studded lineup of events for the MLB’s first-ever All-Star Saturday during All-Star Week at Los Angeles’s Dodger Stadium, including the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Saturday Extra Innings concert.

Ramos, who starred in the film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights, will compete alongside QuavoJoJo SiwaRob Lowe, CC Sabathia, Simu Liu, Chloe KimCoi Leray, Zachary Levi, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jennie Finch, Andre Ethier, Desus Nice, The Kid Mero, The Miz, Lauren Chamberlain, Natasha WatleyLele Pons and Lisa Fernandez.

More celebrities will be announced in early July.

The All-Star Saturday Extra Innings concert, All-Star Futures Game and the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game are all included with the purchase of an All-Star Saturday ticket, which are now available to purchase at AllStarGame.com.

Ticket prices currently range from $25 to $140. Gates at Dodger Stadium open at 2 p.m. on July 16 with the first 10,000 fans to receive a special All-Star souvenir giveaway.

Demi Lovato to Guest Star on Paris Hilton’s Netflix Series “Cooking with Paris”

Demi Lovato is spending one night in Paris’ kitchen…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American actor/singer will guest star on Paris Hilton’s upcoming Netflix series Cooking with Paris.

Demi Lovato

“That’s hot…literally,” Hilton says, adding a new spin to her iconic catchphrase, in the trailer for the new reality series.

Cooking with Paris sees the media personality tackle a range of recipes, from savory main dishes to succulent desserts, with guests including Lovato, Kim Kardashian West, Nikki Glaser, Saweetie, Lele Pons, and Kathy and Nicky Hilton.

But half of the fun comes from the host’s unconventional, and often chaotic, cooking practices. She flattens burgers with a diamond encrusted spatula and dredges meat while donning a flashy feathered ensemble.

The trailer sees Hilton navigate a variety of complex kitchen tools and familiarize herself with a number of cooking staples including tongs, lemon zest and tomatillos – all while looking fabulous, of course.

“Any b*tch can cook,” Hilton says, reciting Joyce Wilde and Jacki McClure’s cookbook.

Cooking with Paris debuts on Netflix on August 4.

Facebook Watch Renews Gloria Estefan’s Interview Series “Red Table Talk: The Estefans”

Gloria Estefan isn’t leaving the (red) table anytime soon…

The 63-year-old Cuban singer-songwriter, producer, actress and entrepreneur’s Red Table Talk: The Estefans, a spin-off of Jada Pinkett Smith’s interview series, has been renewed for an additional 12 episodes.

Gloria Estefan, The Estefans

Facebook Watch has ordered the supersized order after the first season debuted in October 2020.

The series is hosted by Grammy winner Estefan, her daughter and rising musician Emily Estefan and El Gordo y La Flaca host Lili Estefan.

New episodes will debut later this year on Facebook Watch and will highlight the three generations of women, as they come together with family, celebrity guests and experts.

The first season featured discussions with Michelle RodriguezRosie O’Donnell, the family of Vanessa GuillénKate del Castillo and Lele Pons.

Red Table Talk: The Estefans is produced by Westbrook Studios with Pinkett Smith, Estefan, Ellen Rakieten and Miguel Melendez serving as executive producers.

“We’ve missed you, Red Table Talk: The Estefans fans and can’t wait to see you again. Taking on the iconic Red Table has been an immense privilege and enlightening journey for myself, Emily, and Lili,” said Gloria. “We look forward to continued exploration, growth, and healing in our upcoming episodes – and with my red gavel, much more than the ‘rhythm’ is gonna get you.”

Red Table Talk creator and executive producer Pinkett Smith added, “It’s been an honor to work with Gloria and her family on a project that means so much to all of us. By inviting us into their lives, with such honest and vulnerable conversations, the Estefans have touched the hearts of people everywhere, shining the light on topics that aren’t traditionally discussed in the Hispanic community. We are looking forward to the new episodes of Red Table Talk: The Estefans. We hope you will join The Estefans and the entire Red Table Talk community as we continue the journey of healing with important, honest conversations that hopefully will inspire understanding, unity and encouragement all over the world.”

Mina Lefevre, Head of Development & Programming, Facebook Watch said, “Each episode of the Estefans has been truly impactful, and Gloria, Emily and Lili have opened up the Red Table to a whole new audience. The Estefans tackled complex issues with vulnerability, awareness, and poise that truly resonated with our audience. I’m looking forward to seeing what they bring to the Red Table in 2021.”

Whindersson Nunes Takes Home One of the Top Prizes at YouTube Streamy Awards

It’s a stream come true for Whindersson Nunes.

The 2020 YouTube Streamy Awards, honoring the best of online entertainment, have been revealed, with the 25-year-old Brazilian comedian, singer, and YouTuber taking home one of the top prizes.

Whindersson Nunes

Nunes, whose YouTube channel whinderssonnunes ranks among the most subscribed in Brazil, was named the International winner during its virtual ceremony.

Swizz Beatz took home the Live Series award.

The 42-year-old part-Puerto Rican artist, producer and DJ and Timbaland won the prize for Verzuz, their weekly, real-time, virtual DJ battles.

Lele Pons didn’t go home empty-handed.

The 24-year-old Venezuelan internet celebrity, YouTuber, actress and singer won the Documentary award for digital series The Secret Life of Lele Pons.

The Streamy Award in the Sports category went to Ryan García, who continues to rise to acclaim beyond the ring.

The 22-year-old Mexican American professional boxer most recently starred in Bad Bunny‘s “Yo Visto Así” music video.

The 2020 YouTube Streamy Awards are executive produced by dick clark productions and Streamy Awards founders, Drew Baldwin and Joshua Cohen.

Here’s the winners list for the 2020 Streamy Awards:

OVERALL AWARDS
Creator of the Year MrBeast
Show of the Year Instant Influencer • James Charles
International Whindersson Nunes (Brazil)

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Breakout Creator Charli D’Amelio
Collaboration David Dobrik and Justin Bieber – SURPRISING PEOPLE WITH JUSTIN BIEBER!!
Crossover Will Smith
First Person Emma Chamberlain
Live Streamer NICKMERCS

SHOW AWARDS
Indie Series Chris and Jack
Live Series Verzuz
Live Special MrBeast’s $250,000 Influencer Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament
Podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty ‎
Scripted Series A Heist with Markiplier • Markiplier
Unscripted Series UNHhhh • WOWPresents

SUBJECT AWARDS
Animated Jaiden Animations
Beauty James Charles
Comedy Sarah Cooper
Commentary ContraPoints
Dance BFunk
Documentary The Secret Life of Lele Pons
Fashion and Style Wisdom Kaye
Food Tabitha Brown
Gaming Dream
Health and Wellness Chloe Ting
Kids and Family Ryan’s World
Learning and Education Mark Rober
Lifestyle Larray
News HasanAbi
Sports Ryan García
Technology Marques Brownlee

CRAFT AWARDS
Cinematography Peter McKinnon – Peter McKinnon
Editing Hayden Hillier-Smith – Logan Paul
Visual and Special Effects Aaron Benitez – Aaron’s Animals
Writing CalebCity – CalebCity

Jesse y Joy Release Latin Rendition of the Holiday Classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” for Amazon Music Lat!n

Jesse y Joy are hoping to get you into the holiday spirit…

Amazon Music LAT!N has launched a wave of festive content to get music lovers in the holiday spirit, from themed playlists to video interviews, and beyond, including an Amazon Original song from the Mexican Latin Grammy-winning brother & sister duo.

Jesse & Joy

Kicking off this weekend, customers can enjoy Jesse y Joy’s Amazon Original song “Te Deseo Muy Felices Fiestas,”a Latin rendition of the holiday classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

The Mexican duo is also teaming up with Amazon and its “Delivering Smiles” holiday campaign to give back to charitable organizations and the communities they serve this season.

Lele Pons gives the timeless song “Let It Snow” a Spanglish tropical twist in “Let It Snow (Navidad, Navidad, Navidad).”

“Lele Pons and Jesse & Joy are incredibly talented artists who are chart-toppers in their respective genres, so we knew they would create something very unique, exciting, and fresh- and they also share our passion for the holidays,” says Rocio Guerrero, global head of Latin Music at Amazon Music. “Their bilingual takes on classic tunes will delight fans.”

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jose Feliciano’s iconic holiday classic “Feliz Navidad,” 30 artists including CNCO, Jon Secada, Frankie J, Jencarlos Canela, Pablo Montero, Julio Iglesias, Jr., , Jason MrazGloria Gaynor, Patricia Manterola, and Lin-Manuel Miranda have joined forces for a special anniversary edition.

“Jose Feliciano’s ‘Feliz Navidad’ has been part of our holiday celebrations for generations! The opportunity to bring fans a fresh take on this beloved classic in honor of the song’s 50th Anniversary was a joy,” Guerrero says.

“Christmas is such a special time and we as a team were so excited to bring reimagined holiday favorites for our fans to enjoy,” Guerrero adds. “To bring fans extra holiday joy, we worked on exclusive holiday-themed content to go along with each song, as well as playlists to get fans through the season.”

According to Guerrero, Amazon does not plan on releasing more original Latin holiday songs, but fans will be able to enjoy the exclusive Christmas-themed content throughout the season. Listen and watch it here.

Spotify Developing Original Audio Programming for the U.S. Latino Podcast Audience

Spotify is investing in Latinx voices…

The Swedish digital music service has created a team to develop original audio programming for the growing U.S. Latino podcast audience.

Spotify

Spotify, which over the last two years has made a sizeable investment into non-music audio formats like podcasting, will work with Latinx creators to produce both English- and Spanish-language programming.

Javier Piñol, who for the last two years has served as head of studios for Spotify in Latin America, will lead the group.

“As we continue to grow we want to make sure we’re developing content that is relevant to our audiences. Our mission is to bring the U.S. Latinx consumer the streaming access they want and need, all in one place,” said Courtney Holt, global head of studios and video for Spotify.

Latinos represent 18 percent of the U.S. population, or more than 60 million people, and they are listening to podcasts more than ever before. A quarter of Latinos age 18 and up in the U.S. have listened to a podcast in the last month, according to an Edison Research report published June 30. The report also found that the majority of Latinos started listening to podcasts within the last year.  

As a global platform, Spotify has invested in podcasts for Latin American markets, including Fausto and Se Regalan Dudas in Mexico and Café da Manhã in Brazil. Earlier this year, reggaeton artist J Balvinreleased the original podcast Made in Medellín, promoting the six-episode series during his Super Bowl halftime performance alongside Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.

“We have seen our podcast content consumption grow in Latin America, and now, we’re focusing on giving the U.S. Latin market well deserved attention as the best destination to consume relevant Latin podcasts,” added Holt. Spotify is already in business with digital creator and singer Lele Pons, who is developing a podcast for its platform.

Spotify reaches 286 million monthly users in 79 countries. The company has 130 million subscribers to its ad-free service. In addition to expanding its podcast programing in the U.S., the company is also beginning to bring local versions of its originals to other markets, per a Reuters report. It is starting with scripted series Sandra, which will get adaptations in countries including France and Mexico.

Lele Pons Opens Up About Her Struggle with OCD & More in New YouTube Series, “The Secret Life of Lele Pons”

Lele Pons is getting up close and personal with her more than 40 million social media followers.

The 23-year-old Venezuelan internet celebrity, YouTuber, actress, singer, model and host has released her new YouTube series The Secret Life of Lele Pons, where she reveals her lifelong struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other mental health conditions.

Lele-Pons

“It’s very personal and it took a while for me to actually to be super open because at first I was embarrassed about it,” Pons tells Billboard. “But over the time, I’ve learned to be strong.”

Launched in partnership with YouTube in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the five-part series documents Pons’ journey from childhood to present day, her therapy sessions, and how living with OCD has impacted her career as an influencer and musician.

“I’m kind of nervous about it, you know,” says Pons of launching the show. “It’s very personal and it took a while for me to actually to be super open because at first I was embarrassed about it. But over the time, I’ve learned to be strong. Now, I’m ready to let people in my life. This is my little secret and I’m basically telling them, ‘Here’s my secret, now take care of it.’ It’s the first time I show the world my vulnerable side. I owe it to my fans because they’ve been vulnerable with me.”

The Secret Life of Lele Pons airs a new episode every Tuesday on her YouTube channel.

Anitta to Perform at This Year’s Premio Lo Nuestro Awards Show

Anittais readying for a high-profile performance…

The 25-year-old Brazilian singer, a four-time nominee in 2019, is set to perform at this year’s Premio Lo Nuestro awards show.

Anitta

The “Veneno” singer and New Artist of the Yearcontender joins a roster of new additions that includes JBalvinYandelJuanesManáPepe AguilarJoss FavelaNacho, and Zion y Lennox.

Anitta previously took the stage alongside J Balvin at least year’s how, giving a sizzling performance of their hit collaboration “Downtown.”

Marc AnthonyDaddy YankeeNatti NatashaAnuel AA and OzunaThaliaLele PonsFuegoPrince RoyceFarrukoPiso 21IntocableDe La Ghetto, Pedro CapóReikChristian NodalLali and Silvestre Dangondare also confirmed to perform at the annual ceremony.

The awards will be hosted by Maite PerroniAlejandra Espinoza and salsa singer, Victor Manuelle.

The 31st edition of Premio Lo Nuestro will air on Univisionon Thursday, February 21, live from American Airlines Arenain Miami starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.