Sanz to Kick-Off World Tour in Torero Style in Cordoba, Spain

Alejandro Sanz is ready to hit the road…

The 46-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter, a 15-time Latin Grammy winner and 3-time Grammy winner, has announced the first date of his upcoming tour.

Alejandro Sanz

Sanz’s concert will feature the live debut of songs from his highly anticipated new album, which will be released this spring.

The concert is set for Cordoba, Spain on July 30. Sanz will best Madonna‘s recent display of tauromaquia style by actually performing in Cordoba’s bullring. In addition to being one of Spain’s first class bullfighting venues, the 16,000 capacity Plaza de Toros is a dramatic concert setting that will also host a performance by Sting this year.

Tickets for Sanz’s show are now available from Ticketmaster. More dates are expected to be announced in the near future.

Sanz also announced through Twitter that his new album’s first single, called “Un Zombie a la Intemperie,” will be released on March 2.

Sanz’s previous album La Música No Se Toca , the twelfth of his career, was released on September 25, 2012. It spawned the hit single “No Me Compares,” staying at No. 1 for 12 consecutive weeks.

Bisbal to be Honored at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards

David Bisbal has is the voice

The 35-year-old Latin pop star will receive special honors during ASCAP‘s 23rd annual Latin Music Awards.

David Bisbal

Bisbal is receiving ASCAP’s Voice of Music Award, given to artists whose music represents the spirit of a generation. Past honorees include Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks and Luis Fonsi.

Mexican singer/songwriter Mario Domm, the lead singer for Camila and also the author of many hits for other acts, will receive the Golden Note Award, given to songwriters, composers and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients include Jose Feliciano, Victor Manuelle and Pharrell Williams.

Regional Mexican group La Original Banda El Limon de Salvador Lizarraga will receive the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award, presented to music creators in recognition for their unique and enduring contributions to Latin music. Past recipients include Ricardo Arjona, Celia Cruz and Alejandro Sanz.

The awards will also honor top Latin publishers and songwriters of 2014, with awards given to the Songwriter of the year, Publisher of the year, Independent publisher of the year and Latin song of the year, as well as awards in pop, tropical, regional Mexican, urban and television categories.

The dinner ceremony will take place March 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Martin’s “Disparo Al Corazon” Makes Impressive Debut on Billboard’s Latin Charts

It’s a shot to the charts for Ricky Martin

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer has landed his way onto Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart with “Disparo Al Corazon,” the second single from his upcoming tenth studio album A Quien Quiera Escuchar.

Ricky Martin

Martin’s ballad enters the chart at No. 35, aided by 3.2 million audience impressions gained during its first week at radio, according to Nielsen Music (week ending Jan. 18).

WKAQ, San Juan, in the singer’s native Puerto Rico, championed the song with 58 spins during the tracking week.

Entering at No. 19 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Airplay chart, Martin extends his lead for most top 20s on the chart to 40 (followed by Enrique Iglesias with 36).

It’s the 42nd hit to earn its notch on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart for Martin, and follows the set’s lead single, “Adios,” which dips 38-37 in its 17th week. Furthermore, “Disparo Al Corazon” opens at No. 7 on Billboard’s Latin Pop Digital Songs chart (1,000 downloads), trailing “Adios” at No. 4 (2,000).

The entrance marks the first ballad on the chart for Martin since 2013 when he joined former Menudo bandmate and longtime collaborator Draco Rosa as a featured act on “Mas y Mas.” The single, from Rosa’s Vida set, reached No. 27 on Hot Latin Songs.

“Disparo” was produced by Julio Reyes (Jennifer Lopez, Alejandro Sanz) and written by Martin along with Pedro Capo and Yoel Henriquez.

A video clip for the song is expected to premiere in the following weeks.

Sanz Completes Work on His 10th Studio Album

Alejandro Sanz is ready to return to the musical spotlight…

The 46-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter has announced that he’s completed work on his new album, which follows 2012’s La Música No Se Toca.

Alejandro Sanz

The Latin Grammy– and Grammy-winner informed his 11 million followers on Twitter that his tenth studio album is “officially finished,” and that a first single has been chosen.

A release date for the single and album haven’t been announced yet. Joking that he was giving fans a “little” preview of the album on Instagram, he disappointed fans with a video that turned out to capture the sound of one random chord.

Meanwhile, tickets have gone on sale for 11 summer/fall 2015 dates in Sanz’s native Spain, part of an anticipated worldwide tour in support of the upcoming spring release.

Sanz, who rose to Latin superstardom with the release of his 1997 album Más, has won 17 Latin Grammys and three Grammys. Hepreviously revealed that he had written 40 songs in preparation for the new recording, and actually recorded 18 tracks. A reported 14 songs will make it onto the final studio effort.

Lopez: The Most Followed Hispanic Celebrity on Twitter in 2014

Jennifer Lopez is all atwitter

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress and American Idol judge has made Twitter’s list of the Top 100 accounts with the most followers in 2014.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez, who has 30,024,935 followers, takes the No. 14 spot on the list and is the highest-ranking Latino/a entertainer/celebrity on this year’s chart. In all, 17 Hispanic celebrities have made this year’s final count.

Nipping at la Lopez’s “Louboutins” is Shakira.

The 37-year-old Colombian superstar comes in at No. 15 on the list with 28,228,559 followers.

Demi Lovato ranks as the third-highest charting Latino/a on the list. The 22-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress and former The X Factor judge is ranked No. 18, with 25,802,236 followers.

Here’s a look at the other Latino/a celebrities on Twitter’s year-old list:

No. 20 Selena Gomez 25,164,292
No. 25 Kaka 21,562,716
No. 30 Bruno Mars 19,427,935
No 36 Pitbull 18,648,341
No. 44 Neymar Jr. 15,677,899
No. 46 Mariah Carey 15,234,039
No, 58 Christina Aguilera 13,563,729
No. 76 Alejandro Sanz 11,837,809
No. 82 Ivete Sangalo 11,437,396
No, 84 Charie Sheen 11,328,352
No. 85 Ricky Martin 11,239,789
No. 86 Ronaldinho Gaúcho 11,180,564
No. 95 Andrés Iniesta 9,998,061
No. 96 Claudia Leitte 9,962,698

Click here to see the complete list.

Bosé to Pay Tribute to This year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Joan Manuel Serrat

Miguel Bosé is heading back to this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year tribute event.

The 58-year-old Spanish musician/actor, last year’s honoree, is among the performers set to pay tribute to this year’s Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Joan Manuel Serrat.

Miguel Bose

Bosé joins a roster of performers that includes Panamanian salsa singer Rubén Blades and Puerto Rico’s Calle 13.

The Barcelona-born Serrat will also be in the company of other fellow artists including Peruvian songstress Tania Libertad and singer/songwriter/poet Joaquín Sabina who will gather during a gala and tribute dinner on November 19 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

The tribute dinner and concert is being executive produced by Jose Tillan, with Greg Fera serving as the event’s producer. Dan Warner will be the night’s musical director and Gustavo Borner is the audio/mix supervisor.

Last year Bosé was the person of the year and was given musical tributes by Laura Pausini, Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Carlos Santana, Juanes and Alejandro Sanz, among others.

Other previous honorees include Shakira, Plácido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Gil, Juan Luis Guerra, Carlos Santana, and Caetano Veloso.

Iglesias’ “Bailando” Hits 20 Weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Enrique Iglesias is still bailando on the Billboard charts…

The 39-year-old Spanish singer’s “Bailando” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona is still holding strong on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart. 

Enrique Iglesias

Iglesias’ track holds the No. 1 spot for the 20th consecutive week, becoming the fifth song in the chart’s 28-year history to spend 20 weeks at the top.

“Bailando” joins Son by Four‘s “A Puro Dolor” (2000), Juanes‘ “Me Enamora (2007) and Flex‘s “Te Quiero” (2008) in a four-way tie for second-most weeks at No. 1.

The track is five weeks shy of matching the longest running No. 1 on the chart, Shakira‘s “La Tortura” featuring Alejandro Sanz.

“Bailando” passed Iglesias’ previous lengthiest No. 1 run when it reached 18 weeks (on September 13), exceeding “Cuando Me Enamoro” featuring Juan Luis Guerra, which had a 17-week lead in 2010.

Sanz Receives Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music

There’s a doctor in the house… And, his name is Alejandro Sanz.

The 44-year-old Spanish singer has received an honorary doctorate degree from one of the world’s foremost institutions devoted to his craft.

Alejandro Sanz

Sanz accepted the honor from Berklee College of Music in Boston on Wednesday before more than 1,200 people who had packed the school’s performance center for the sold-out event. A group of 40 students performed his music.

The “No Me Compares” singer has sold more than 23 million albums worldwide and received several Latin Grammy and Grammy awards during his esteemed career.

Sanz said that when he first heard he would receive the honor, he was delighted but thought someone wasn’t thinking straight.

“I was very happy but I thought they were crazy,” said Sanz. “But I wanted to learn about the school. It’s my first time inside a music school, and I was very happy to get to know the students.”

The school reserves the honor for artists who have the overwhelming respect of their peers. He joins the ranks of fellow Latino superstars Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Linda Ronstadt, Juan Luis Guerra and Ruben Blades.

Vives Leads The Pack of Latin Grammy Nominees

Carlos Vives is one of this year’s Latin Grammy darlings…

The 52-year-old Colombian singer, composer and actor leads the pack of Latin Grammy nominees with five nods.

Carlos Vives

Among his nominations, Vives’ latest album Corazon Profundo is up for Album of the Year, while his hit single “Volví a Nacer” is nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Illya Kuryaki & the Valderramas, a duo who take their name from the fictional television spy and former Colombian soccer player Carlos Valderrama tied Vives with five nominations, landing nods at Latin music’s top honors for best urban song and best alternative album.

Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz and Caetano Veloso, the 71-year-old pioneer of Brazil’s Tropicalia music genre, each earned four nominations.

Sanz’s album La Música No Se Toca was nominated for album of the year and best contemporary pop vocal album, while his song “Mi Marciana” was nominated for song of the year and record of the year.

Veloso, who earned a Latin Grammy lifetime achievement award last year, earned record of the year and song of the year nominations for the song “Um Abraçaço.”

Natalie Cole, whose first Spanish-language album debuted at No. 1 on the Latin Albums chart, and Draco Rosa, whose Vida marked a spectacular return for the artist from his battle with cancer, earned three nominations each.

Spanish singer and actor Miguel Bosé, 57, will be honored as the person of the year for lifetime achievement. His album Papitwo is also nominated for album of the year and best contemporary pop album.

The Latin Grammys will take place November 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The awards show will be broadcast live by Univision.

Click here for a complete look at this year’s nominees.

Prince Royce to Give Hispanic Heritage Month Performance at White House

Prince Royce will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at the White House

The 24-year-old Dominican American singer-songwriter will join Gloria Estefan, Arturo Sandoval and other musicians to bring their Latin sounds to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue next week.

Prince Royce

The latest “In Performance at the White House” program will be taped on Monday and will showcase Latin music during Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15-October 15.

In addition to Prince Royce, Estefan and Sandoval, the White House says Ricky Martin, Lila Downs, Raul Malo, Romeo Santos, Alejandro Sanz, Natalie Cole and Marco Antonio Solis also are expected to join President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, to help highlight a variety of styles of Latin music.

The first lady also will host a workshop for area students on the history of Latin music on Monday afternoon.

The entire program will be streamed live on WhiteHouse.gov on Monday. It will be also broadcast by PBS stations nationwide on October 8.