Farruko to Perform from Puerto Rico During ABC’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” Program

Farruko will be helping millions ring in the New Year…

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 will return to Puerto Rico for its second annual Spanish-language countdown, with the 31-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper set to perform.

FarrukoPresented by ABC and dick clark productions, the program will be broadcasting live La Isla del Encanto for the coveted New Year’s celebration at the DISTRITO T-Mobile in the Puerto Rico Convention Center, with the night’s first countdown kicking off at 11:00 pm ET on December 31st.

Roselyn Sanchez will return as co-host and Farruko has been confirmed to perform a medley of hits.

“We will have an enchanting night and are so very pleased to share our beautiful Island and welcome 2023 with a bang!” Sanchez said in a press statement. “What a blessing to be a part of the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve tradition from my home island of Puerto Rico that represents and means so much!” Farruko added.

Last year’s inaugural Spanish-language countdown from Puerto Rico coincided with the celebration of the 500th anniversary of San Juan’s founding and featured global reggaeton star Daddy Yankee with a hometown performance in his native San Juan.

“We are very excited to again host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on our Island to lead the countdown in welcoming 2023. Puerto Rico’s participation in this high-caliber event celebration will allow us to continue projecting to the world everything we have to offer as we head into our peak tourism season,” said Pedro Pierluisi, Governor of Puerto Rico. “We will again be front and center on national television to promote Puerto Rico’s beauty, culture and attractions and continue driving our booming tourism industry and economic development”

Sanchez and Farruko join the previously-announced lineup, which includes 18-time host Ryan Seacrest and co-hosts Liza Koshy, Jessie James Decker, Ciara, Billy Porter, and D-Nice, as well as artists Aly & AJ, Armani White, Bailey Zimmerman, Ben Platt, Betty Who, Ciara, Dove Cameron, Finneas, Fitz & The Tantrums, Halle Bailey, Lauren Spencer Smith, Maddie & Tae, Nicky Youre, Shaggy, TXT, and Wiz Khalifa. 

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 airs live on Saturday, December 31 starting at 8:00 pm ET on ABC.

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

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.

Luis Fonsi & Daddy YankeeIn 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.

Rauw Alejandro to Perform at This Year’s Latin Grammy Awards

Rauw Alejandro will be taking the Latin Grammys stage… 

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican singer and songwriter will perform as part of this year’s Latin Grammy Awards show, the Latin Recording Academy.

Rauw AlejandroHe’s among the first batch of confirmed artists that includes Chiquis, Jesse & Joy and Sebastián Yatra.

In addition, the 2022 Person of the Year, Marco Antonio Solís, will also perform.

All are nominated for the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards, which will be held on November 17 at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Alejandro, who was a 2020 best new artist nominee and won his first golden gramophone last year, has eight nominations this year that include recording of the year and song of the year for “Te Felicito” with Shakira, and “Agua” with Daddy Yankee and Nile Rodgers, respectively.

Yatra, previously nominated for a Grammy and nine Latin Grammys, is a four-time nominee this year, including album of the year for Dharma and song of the year for “Tacones Rojos.”

Jesse & Joy, winners of the Grammy and six Latin Grammys, are nominated this time for best pop vocal album for Clichés; and Latin Grammy winner Chiquis is nominated for best banda music album for Abeja Reina.

Solís, meanwhile, has been honored with five Latin Grammys and nominated for six Grammys, and this year is recognized as Person of the Year 2022 by the Latin Recording Academy.

The 23rd Annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on Univision on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, beginning at 8:00 pm ET.

The Latin Grammy Premiere, a non-televised ceremony in which the winners in most categories are announced, will take place before the broadcast. Additional details about this ceremony will be announced soon.

Rosalía Lands First No. 1 Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart as a Solo, Unaccompanied Act with “Despechá”

It’s a special first for Rosalía

The 30-year-old Spanish singer and songwriter’s “Despechá” tops Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart, as the song advances from No. 3 to lead the October 8-dated survey.

RosaliaIt’s Rosalía’s first No. 1 as a soloist, unaccompanied by any other act.

“Despechá” rules with a 19% increase in audience impressions to 9.34 million earned in the U.S. in the week ending October 2, according to Luminate.

It concurrently spends a second week atop Tropical Airplay — her second champ on that chart.

The new Latin Airplay coronation arrives almost five months after Rosalía captured her last No. 1 through a collaboration, since “La Fama,” featuring The Weeknd, led the tally for one week on the May 14-dated ranking.

While Rosalía boasts five total Latin Airplay No. 1s, with “Despechá,” her fourth straight leader, the Spaniard checks off a new milestone. The track is both her first chart entry and first No. 1 as a soloist unaccompanied by any other act. Three of her previous four No. 1s were collaborations in a lead role, while one, 2020’s “Relacion,” by Sech, Daddy Yankee and J Balvin, featured her alongside Farruko.

Further, “Despechá” crowns Latin Airplay in its eighth week, the fastest trek to the top among Rosalía’s five No. 1s. Let’s look at the songs’ ride to the summit:

Weeks to No. 1, Title, Artist (if other than Rosalía), Peak Date
14 weeks, “Yo X Ti, Tu X Mi,” with Ozuna, Dec. 28, 2019
11 weeks, “Relación,” Sech, Daddy Yankee & J Balvin featuring Rosalia & Farruko, Sept. 26, 2020
11 weeks, “La Noche De Anoche,” Bad Bunny & Rosalía, April 24, 2021
13 weeks, “La Fama,” Rosalia featuring The Weeknd, May 14, 2022
8 weeks, “Despechá,” Rosalia, Oct. 8, 2022,

Elsewhere, “Despechá” holds steady at its No. 7 high for a second week on the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart which blends airplay, digital sales, and streaming activity.

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

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 BillboardHot Latin Songs chart dated October 8, becoming the 12th song to spend at least 20 weeks atop the tally in its 36-year history.

Bad BunnyThe 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.

Bad Bunny Earns 19th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Titi Me Preguntó”

There’s no questioning Bad Bunny’s popularity… 

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican superstar has notched his 19th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Titi Me Preguntó” climbs 7-1 on the September 24-dated ranking.

Bad BunnyIt’s the third track from Bad Bunny’s historic, chart-topping album Un Verano Sin Ti to lead the all-genre tally.

“Titi Me Preguntó” tops Latin Airplay just a month after “Me Porto Bonito,” with Chencho Corleone, ruled for one week (August 20-dated ranking).

Un Verano Sin Ti’s second single, “Moscow Mule,” earned the set its first champ (list dated July 30).

“Titi Me Preguntó” visits the summit for the first time after a 25% boost in audience impressions — to 9 million — earned in the U.S. in the week ending September 18, according to Luminate.

It sends Romeo Santos and Justin Timberlake’s “Sin Fin” to No. 3 after its debut at No. 1 the week prior.

His 19th No. 1 breaks Bad Bunny from a tie with Ricky Martin for the eighth-most champs among all acts since Latin Airplay launched in 1994.

Here’s a look at the scoreboard:

35, J Balvin
32, Enrique Iglesias
28, Ozuna
27, Daddy Yankee
22, Wisin
21, Maluma
20, Romeo Santos
19, Bad Bunny
18, Ricky Martin

Further, “Titi Me Preguntó” reaches No. 1 on Latin Airplay in its fifth week. Notably, the only song out of his 19 hits to match “Me Porto Bonito’s” equal trek to the penthouse. Previously, “Qué Pretendes,” with J Balvin, reached the top in its sixth week (August 10, 2019).

In addition to its Latin Airplay coronation, “Titi Me Preguntó” advances 3-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay, Bad Bunny’s also 19th champ there. With the move, he matches Wisin as a solo act and Wisin & Yandel for the fourth-most No. 1s, behind Daddy Yankee and J Balvin’s 34 leaders and Ozuna’s 27.

Elsewhere, “Titi Me Preguntó” holds strong at No. 13 for a third nonconsecutive week on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart after its No. 5 debut and peak in May. Plus, it’s one of two titles still ranking in the list’s top 20 among the nine tracks from his No. 1 LP, Un Verano Sin Ti, currently on the chart.

Nicky Jam to Receive Billboard Hall of Fame Award at Billboard Latin Music Awards

Nicky Jam is standing hall

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American artist will receive the Billboard Hall of Fame award at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Nicky JamThe special award will recognize the reggaetón artist, actor and entrepreneur for his prolific work that transcends musical genres and languages.

He is also set to perform at the awards show, which will take place on Thursday, September 29, at the Watsco Canter in Miami and will broadcast live on Telemundo beginning at 7:00 pm ET.

Nicky now joins past Billboard Hall of Fame recipients including Alejandro Fernández, Banda El Recodo, Carlos Vives, Daddy Yankee, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Franco de Vita, Joan Sebastian, José José, Marc Anthony, Marco Antonio Solís, Mongo Santamaria, Rocío Dúrcal and Vicente Fernández.

Born Nick Rivera Caminero, the half Puerto Rican, half Dominican star is considered one of the pioneers of reggaetón with more than three decades of music.

The 13-time Billboard Latin Music Award winner is known for his Hot Latin Songs No. 1 hits such as his Enrique Iglesias-assisted “El Perdón,” which topped the chart for 30 weeks in 2015, and “Hasta El Amanecer,” which ruled for 18 weeks.

Currently, he’s making the rounds with his singles “Sin Novia” and “Ojos Rojos,” which topped both the Latin Airplay and Latin Rhythm Airplay charts in April.

Maria Becerra Releases New Single “Automático”

It’s an automatic smash for Maria Becerra.

The 22-year-old Argentine singer and former YouTube star has released the new single “Automático.”

Maria Becerra,A conceptual track that focuses on getting freaky inside a car, and a state-of-the-art music video filmed in a mechanical shop, Becerra pays homage to old-school reggaetón in the new single.

Penned by Becerra and produced by Nico Cotton, the Argentine singer told Billboard she got inspired by the pioneers of reggaetón to bring this melody to life.

When asked which special guest she thinks would make for the dream remix, Becerra simply said Daddy Yankee.

“Hopefully it happens before he retires,” she expressed during this week’s Live with Billboard Latin.

 

“Automático” comes four months after Becerra’s single “Ojalá” and forms part of her sophomore album La Nena de Argentina, out later this year.

Christina Aguilera to Receive Spirit of Hope Award at Billboard Latin Music Awards

It’s a spirited time for Christina Aguilera.

The 41-year-old half-Ecuadorian American actress and pop star will receive the Spirit of Hope award at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Christina AguileraThe special award — which was established in 1996 in honor of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla — will recognize Aguilera for her philanthropic and humanitarian contributions beyond her musical work.

Aguilera will also perform during the awards show, which will take place on Thursday, September 29, at the Watsco Canter in Miami, and will be broadcast live on Telemundo beginning at 7:00 pm ET.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards — where Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists with a staggering 23 nods across 13 categories — will be simulcast on Telemundo, Universo, Peacock, the Telemundo App, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional.

In addition to her musical accolades, including more than 75 million records sold worldwide, five No.1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, the artist also known as Xtina has lifted her voice to help end the cycle of domestic abuse, been a longtime supporter and ally to the LGBTQ+ community, raised awareness about HIV/AIDS research, and traveled the globe to help feed children in poverty-stricken areas.

Aguilera joins past Billboard Spirit of Hope recipients including Gloria Estefan, Emmanuel, Willy Chirino, Olga Tañon, Maná, Los Tigres del Norte, Ricky Martin, El General, Soraya, Juan Luis Guerra, Shakira, Ricardo Montaner, Juanes, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Carlos Santana, Luis Fonsi, and Maluma.

J Balvin Reclaims Crown as Artist with Most Videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club

J Balvin is YouTube’s ’s Billion baller…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer’s “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” music video in collaboration with Black Eyed Peas has surpassed 1 billion views, officially making him the artist with the most videos in YouTube’s Billion Views Club once again, according to the video platform.

J Balvin“Ritmo,” which was released on October 11, 2019, on YouTube, marks Balvin’s 12th entry as a lead, featured artist or collaborator. Prior to reclaiming the crown this week, Balvin was tied with Justin Bieber with 11 music videos each with a billion views.

In 2016, he became the first Latin urban artist to reach 10 digits with a video on the platform with “Ay Vamos.” He was only the third Latin artist to reach a billion views, following Enrique Iglesias’ “Bailando,” featuring Gente de Zona and Descemer Bueno, and Romeo Santos’ “Propuesta Indecente,” both in 2014.

Balvin also has one of the top five fastest videos to reach the billion-view mark with “Mi Gente,” surpassing the number in 103 days.

“Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life)” samples Corona’s ’90s hit “Rhythm of the Night,” fusing hip-hop and pop with Balvin’s incendiary and infectious take on reggaeton.

The track topped the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs and Hot Latin Songs

charts in 2020, becoming the Peas’ first leader on each ranking and Balvin’s first on the dance chart.

The video, which shows scenes from the Bad Boys for Life movie, now joins the Willy William-assisted “Mi Gente”; “X (Equis)” with Nicky Jam; “Con Altura” with Rosalia; “China” alongside Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, and Ozuna; “No Me Conoce (Remix)” with Jhayco and Bad Bunny; “Ay Vamos”; “I Like It” with Cardi B and Bad Bunny; “Ahora Dice” with Chris Jedi, Ozuna, and Arcangel; the Farruko-assisted “6AM”; and “Safari” featuring Pharrell Williams, BIA, and Sky in the billion-views club.