Gente de Zona Earns First No. 1 in Five Years on Billboard Tropical Airplay Chart with “Soy Yo,” Featuring Wisin & Don Omar

Gente de Zona has made a triumphant return to the top of the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart…

Soy Yo,” the first collaboration between the Cuban reggaeton duo comprised of musicians Alexander Delgado and Randy Malcom, Wisin and Don Omar, has reached the summit of the Tropical Airplay chart dated July 9.

Gente de Zona“Soy Yo” tops the list with a 17% increase in audience impressions, to 8.03 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 3, according to Luminate (rising 2-1).

It trades places with Prince Royce and Maria Becerra’s “Te Espero” after its four-nonconsecutive-week reign (with 5.8 million impressions and a 24% dip).

“Soy Yo” becomes the first No. 1 for Gente de Zona in over five years, since “La Mala y La Buena,” with Alex Sensation, placed the Cubans in the penthouse in February 2017 for two weeks.

In between, the duo scored 20 entries — among those, a collection of 10 top 10s — including “A Mi Manera,” with Dale Pututi, Jacob Forever, featuring Baby Lores, Eddy K, Los 4, El Chacal, El Micha, El Chulo, which debuts at No. 24 on the current chart.

Don Omar and Wisin, meanwhile, clock their 10th and fifth champ, respectively.

For Don Omar, “Soy Yo” grants him a second No. 1 via his new label Saban Music after a more than eight-year hiatus on the chart. Prior to the nine-week champ “Se Menea,” with Nio García (December 2021), Don Omar scored eight chart-toppers, his last one in April 2021 (“Dutty Love,” with Natti Natasha).

Here’s a recap of Don Omar’s No. 1s on Tropical Airplay:

Peak Date, Title, Artists (if other than Don Omar)

Aug. 20, 2005, “Reggaetón Latino”
Sept. 10, 2005, “Ella y Yo,” Aventura featuring Don Omar (two weeks atop)
July 1, 2006, “Angelito VI” (two weeks)
Dec. 16, 2006, “Los Hombres Tienen La Culpa,” with Gilberto Santa Rosa (two weeks)
May 5, 2007, “Nunca Había Llorado Así,” with Victor Manuelle
Nov. 13, 2010, “Danza Kuduro,” Don Omar & Lucenzo (18 weeks at No. 1)
July 23, 2011, “Taboo” (three weeks)
April 7, 2012, “Dutty Love,” featuring Natti Natasha
Dec. 25, 2021, “Se Menea,” with Nio García (nine weeks)
July 9, “Soy Yo,” with Wisin & Gente de Zona

“Soy Yo’s” coronation returns Saban Music to the top of Tropical Airplay. As previously mentioned, the label’s first win through Don Omar, arrived with “Se Menea’s” nine-week reign starting Dec. 25, 2021. The tribute to the late Celia Cruz, “El Carnaval de Celia: A Tribute (La Vida Es Un Carnaval/ La Negra Tiene…)” by Kyen?Es? saw the label at the summit for the first time in September 2020.

Elsewhere, “Soy Yo” continues forward progress on the all-genre Latin Airplay chart through a 7-4 climb; the highest Gente de Zona has ranked since its featured role in Chyno Miranda’s “Quédate Conmigo,” which also features Wisin (No. 7 high, 2017).

The Late Rivera Wins Six Trophies at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

She may be gone… But Jenni Rivera has not been forgotten.

The late Mexican American singer, known as la Diva de la Banda, proved to be one of the big winners at the 2013 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Jenni Rivera

Rivera, whose influence and sales rose in the wake of her tragic death last December in a plane crash in Mexico, won six awards, including Artist of the Year and Regional Mexican Album of the Year for La Gran Señora, which was coincidentally released the week after her death.

Edward James Olmos, Rivera’s Filly Brown co-star, introduced a tribute segment to the singer, pointing out that just a year before, she had herself performed live on the awards stage.

“We want to remember her a little bit differently — as the woman, the friend, the mother, the daughter,” he said, before a video montage focusing mainly on Rivera’s family life and humanitarian work.

Her parents, Pedro Rivera and Rosa Saavedra, and two eldest  daughters, Janney “Chiquis” Marín and Jacqueline Marín, accepted her posthumous awards.

Meanwhile, Don Omar – who performed his current hit, “Zumba” at the show – had garnered 18 finalist nods — a record tied only by Tito El Bambino in 2010 — and took home 10. They include Songs Artist of the Year, Male and Airplay Song of the year for “Dutty Love,” featuring Natty Natasha.  Don Omar also won Streaming Artist of the Year and Streaming Song of the Year for “Danza Kuduro,” featuring Lucenzo.

Prince Royce, the young urban/bachata singer and soon-to-be La Voz Kids coach who has dominated the charts since his debut in 2011, won four awards, including Albums Artist of the Year, Male.

Romeo Santos, Shakira and La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho won three awards each, as did Natty Natasha, who is featured in Don Omar’s “Dutty Love.” Teary-eyed, she dedicated her last win to “all Latinos — those who leave their homelands to pursue their dreams.”

This year’s awards featured a series of premiere performances, including Carlos Vives with Michel Teló (who won Song of the Year for his global hit  “Ai Se Eu Te Pego“).

Mexican rockers Maná, who won Albums Artist of the Year, duo or Group and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group, also received the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award for the philanthropic work of their Selva Negra Foundation, which has worked in environmental causes for nearly 20 years.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honors the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin music, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts.

The awards were broadcast live on Telemundo from the BankUnited Center in Miami.

Click here to see the full list of winners.

Don Omar Leads the Pack of Billboard Latin Music Awards Finalists

It’s no wonder he’s called Don Omar

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer/actor, born William Omar Landrón Rivera, is the don of this year’s  Billboard Latin Music Awards, earning 18 finalist nods, including Artist of the Year; Social Artist of the Year and Streaming Artist of the Year. Last year, Don Omar was the leader of the pack with 16 finalist nods.

Don Omar

In addition, Don Omar is nominated as Songs Artist of the Year, Male; Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Songwriter of the Year. His album Don Omar Presents MT02: New Generation competes for Latin Rhythm Album of the Year and Digital Album of the Year. Three of Don Omar’s hit songs — “Dutty Love,” featuring Natty Natasha, “Hasta Que Salga El Sol” and “Danza Kuduro” — are finalists in various song categories.

Romeo Santos comes in second, with the bachata star earning 12 nods. Wisin & Yandel and the late Jenni Rivera tied with 11 nods each. Prince Royce and Pitbull, major finalists last year, also returned with 10 and nine nods respectively, while newcomers 3BallMTY earned eight.

Meanwhile  regional Mexican acts La Arrolladora Banda el Limón de René Camacho and Gerardo Ortiz nabbed seven and six nods, respectively, while rockers Maná with five and pop act Ricardo Arjona with three.

The 2013 Billboard Latin Awards will be broadcast live on Telemundo on April 25 from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Florida.

The Billboard Latin Music Awards honor the most popular albums, songs, and performers in Latin Music, as determined by the actual sales, radio airplay, streaming and social data that informs Billboard’s weekly charts during a one-year period from the issue dated February 4, 2012, through this year’s January 26, 2013, issue.

Click here for the full list of nominees.

Prince Royce Ties Romeo Santos for Most Premio Lo Nuestro Nods

Call it a “battle of the bachateros”

Romeo Santos and Prince Royce will battle it out for top honors at Univision’s Premio Lo Nuestro during the show’s 25th anniversary on February 21, 2013.

Prince Royce

The 31-year-old Dominican/Puerto Rican singer, the former front man for Aventura, and the 23-year-old Dominican singer tied for most nods, at seven each. Santos and Prince Royce will battle it ou for Tropical Album of the Year, Tropical Male Artist of the Year, and Tropical Song of the Year.

Reggaeton superstar Don Omar, meantime, received six nods, including Artist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year for his mega duet with Natti Natasha, “Dutty Love,” and Album of the Year for his Don Omar Presents Meet The Orphans 2: New Generation.

Barcelona-raised urban artist Juan Magan is up for Best New Artist, along with four other awards. He faces stiff competition from 3Ball MTY, who cleaned up at this year’s Billboard’s Mexican Music Awards.

Mexican rock group Maná earned six nominations, and will compete against with Don Omar, Jenni Rivera, La Arrolladora Banda el Limon de Rene Camacho and Santos in the Artist of the Year category.

Sibling duo Jesse & Joy, the big winners at the Latin Grammys, are up for five awards, including Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “¡Corre!” as well as Album of the Year for ¿Con Quién Se Queda el Perro?.

Juanes was recognized for his critically acclaimed MTV Unplugged album with four nods, tied with Beto Cuevas and Victor Manuelle.

Daddy Yankee, Alejandro Sanz, Paulina Rubio, Ricardo Arjona, Chino y Nacho, Gerardo Ortiz, La Original Banda El Limón, La Banda El Recodo and Wisin y Yandel each earned three nods.

View the full list of 130 nominations in 33 different categories here and cast your vote until December 23, then tune into Univision on February 21 for the awards show.

Natti Natasha: Reggaeton’s Next Big Star

It may be a traditionally male-dominated genre… But that hasn’t stopped Natti Natasha from carving out her place in the world of reggaeton.

The 25-year-old Dominican singer, who credits her musical godfather Don Omar and his record label with helping her make her mark in the genre.

Natti Natasha

“It is a privilege to be with the company and to be supported by such a recognized artist as Don Omar, since I consider him a brother and a teacher, because he has taught me much through his own experiences,” Natasha, whose real name is Natalia Alexandra Gutierrez Batista, recently told Efe in an interview with Efe.

Natasha says the opportunity to be part of the Orfanato Music Group came two years ago, when Don Omar walked into the New York studio where she’d just recorded a song with producer Link-On.

After listening to the track, the reggaeton star called her and asked that she come back to the studio, where he greeted her warmly and praised her work with Link-On.

The video of Natasha’s  first single with Don Omar, “Dutty Love,” has logged more than 34 million hits on YouTube, and the cut will be part of Orfanato’s upcoming release Meet The Orphans: The Next Generation.

From an early age, Natasha—who attended the School of Fine Arts in Santiago when she was only 8—has always had an enormous admiration for artists like Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill and Jerry Rivera, and felt great admiration and affection for Hill, who she still calls one of her favorites.