Jenni Rivera Enterprises Agrees to Worldwide Distribution Deal with Sony Music Latin & The Orchard

The music of the late Jenni Rivera has a new home…

Jenni Rivera Enterprises has signed a worldwide distribution deal with Sony Music Latin and The Orchard to cover the late singer’s catalog.

Jenni Rivera

Rivera, a legend of Regional Mexican music through her career, died in a plane crash in December 2012, at the age of 43.

“In Sony Music Latin and The Orchard, we found exceptional partners for the next era of Jenni’s music,” said Jenni Rivera Enterprises CEO and Rivera’s sister, Rosie Rivera, in a statement. “Her music meant everything to her, and still does to so many people. Our commitment and highest responsibility is to maintain its integrity and impact. The Orchard and Sony Music Latin feel the exact same way.”

Between 1999 and 2012, Rivera released 12 studio albums and four live albums, five of which reached the top two slots on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart.

After her death, her popularity grew exponentially; two compilation albums and four additional live albums that were released in the four years following her passing all reached No. 1 on the Top Albums chart as well.

“Jenni Rivera’s contributions to the Regional Mexican genre are unparalleled,” The Orchard COO Colleen Theis said in a statement. “We are honored and excited to team up with Sony Music Latin and Jenni Rivera Enterprises to leverage our global network and bring her music to the world in a new way.”

As part of the deal, a “multi-tiered global marketing campaign” will be rolled out in order to push Rivera’s music and give it a new shine, according to a press release accompanying the announcement. Her music and catalog was previously distributed by Universal/Fonovisa, though, unusually, she had retained control of her masters throughout her career.

“We’re humbled and honored to be able to work alongside Rosie and [brother] Juan Rivera on Jenni’s legacy,” Sony Music U.S. Latin president Nir Seroussi said in a statement. “It’s an opportunity for her music to reach new audiences and for us to pay homage to a generation-defining superstar. She’s going to continue making history.”

Ozuna’s “Odiesa” Registers Largest Streaming Week Ever for a Latin Release

There’s absolutely no sophomore slump for Ozuna

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer’s second studio album, Aura, has scored 2018’s biggest week for a Latin album, and the largest streaming week ever for a Latin release.

Ozuna

Ozuna’s album, released on August 24 via VP Entertainment/DimeloVi/Sony Music Latin, earned 49,000 equivalent album units in the week ending August 30, according to Nielsen Music— largely driven by streaming activity. Of that sum, 7,000 were in traditional album sales. Aura arrives with 55.34 million on-demand audio streams earned for its songs in its debut tracking frame.

Aura arrives at No. 7 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and makes for Ozuna’s first top 10. It also gives Ozuna his second No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart, where it bumps his first album (and first chart-topper), Odisea, from No. 1 to No. 2.

Odisea falls to No. 2 in its 53rd week on the list. It has been No. 1 on the list for 46 nonconsecutive weeks, the second-most weeks atop the chart in its 25-year history. (Only Gloria Estefan’s Mi Tierra has more, with 58 weeks leading the list.)

Additionally, Ozuna is the first act to replace itself at No. 1 since March 16, 2013, when Jenni Rivera, who died the previous December, took over for herself at No. 1. Her Joyas Prestadas: Pop replaced her own La Misma Gran Senora at No. 1.

Ozuna is also the first act to concurrently rank at Nos. 1 and 2 on the chart in a year-and-a-half. It last occurred when Juan Gabriel was Nos. 1, 2 and 3 on the January 28, 2017-dated chart with Los Duo 2Mis Rancheras Queridas and Hoy Manana y Siempre, respectively. Gabriel died the previous August.

Aura is the highest-charting Latin album on the all-genre Billboard 200 since Romeo Santos’ Formula: Vol. 2 debuted and peaked at No. 5 on the March 15, 2014-dated list (from 85,000 copies sold, back before the list transitioned to an equivalent album units-ranked tally).

The Billboard 200 ranks the week’s most popular albums in the U.S. across all genres of music, while the Top Latin Albums chart ranks the week’s biggest albums within the Latin genre. Both charts rank titles based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units are comprised of traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

Sony Music Latin Partners with Jenni Rivera’s Siblings to Develop Regional Mexican Stars

Jenni Rivera’s family is keeping her legacy alive…

Juan and Rosie Rivera, siblings of the late Mexican American Banda and ranchera singer who passed away in December 2012, have joined Sony Music Latin in a new venture to develop the next generation of regional Mexican stars.

Juan & Rosie Rivera

The announcement was made in Los Angeles earlier this week, where the Rivera family and Sony executives officially signed and agreed to commence a partnership between the Rivera’s Linea, LLC, and Sony.

“Juan and Rosie have been in the [music] game since they were born,” said Nir Seroussi, Sony Music Latin president, in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “Juan is very focused and chill. Rosie is very sharp and eloquent. We’re confident that Linea will soon become a major player in the market.”

It’s been nearly five years since Rivera died in a plane crash, while working in Mexico and since that time, numerous projects themed around the Long Beach, California, -born recording artist have been released, from albums to reality shows and merchandise.

Rosie, whose close-knit relationship with Jenni was undeniable, has spent the last five years helping to complete some of her sister’s dreams from releasing music to caring for her foundation and making sure she was there for her sibling’s children.

This new chapter, Rosie said, continues to honor her sister, but it’s different in that she will now have a more active role in the industry along with her brother, which is something that Jenni encouraged them to do years ago. While Jenni was signed to Fonovisa, under Universal Music Latin Entertainment, this new venture with Sony has nothing to do with Jenni music other than the fact that she always wanted to help launch the careers of others.

“I think Jenni would be very happy,” says Rosie. “I can see her smiling with tears of joy and her wide eyes. She invested so much love and discipline in her dreams. She told us she envisioned this for Juan and myself and she’s cheering us from heaven.”

In 2013, Rosie announced a similar venture, but it was in the form of a new label called JRE/Divina Music, which had already been in the works in 2010, two years before the singer died. That label was established to complete Jenni’s goals and that was met by supporting other artists. The new chapter begins with joining forces with Sony.

Rosie, an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, is the youngest of the Rivera family of singers. Since her sister’s death she has gone more public about her own struggles in the hopes of helping others. In 2015 she founded the movement Sister Somalia to support women who have been victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, drugs and domestic violence in Latin America. Additionally, Rivera is active in her family’s Christian outreach ministry, helping single mothers find affordable housing through the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation.

Besides overseeing the Jenni Rivera estate with his sister Rosie, Juan is a recording artist with nearly a dozen albums to his name and has appeared in several reality shows with his family of singers that includes Lupillo Rivera and Chiquis Rivera.

Seroussi said that more details will be unveiled soon and those aspiring artists hoping to break into the business through the regional Mexican genre will have a chance to participate. The Sony executive wouldn’t confirm or deny what types of projects will be unveiled, but he reassures that they will be part of a thrill ride.

“This is a very special venture,” Seroussi said. “Having Juan and Rosie makes it that more exciting. Many things are going to happen.”

Chiquis Rivera Partners with Estrella Jalisco & Lyft to Promote Safe Cinco de Mayo

Chiquis Rivera is offering Lyfts

The 31-year-old Mexican American singer and beer brand Estrella Jalisco have partnered with Lyft to promote a safe Cinco de Mayo, the unofficial day of fiesta adopted as a national holiday in the U.S.

Chiquis Rivera

As part of the partnership, Estrella Jalisco will offer up to 10,000 discounted round-trip Lyft rides in the Los Angeles area on May 5 during peak hours (5 p.m. – 5 a.m.). The “Horas extras” singer and Estrella Jalisco kicked off the partnership at special event in East L.A. earlier this week.

“My values and cultural pride are aligned with Estrella Jalisco, and giving back to my community is at the core of my principles – especially when it comes to encouraging safe celebrations on one of the largest drinking holidays of the year,” Rivera said in a statement.

The singer added: “I’m not only proud to share my cultural heritage with Estrella Jalisco, but I am also proud to support a Mexican brew that takes a responsible approach to celebrating Cinco de Mayo.”

Chiquis Rivera

“We know that many beer lovers like to celebrate on Cinco de Mayo, and through our partnership with Lyft we’re able to help them celebrate the holiday responsibly,” Yonathan Bendesky, brand director for Anheuser-Busch, Mexican Imports, said.

In October, the Rivera family and Estrella Jalisco partnered for the Jenni Rivera hologram, which made its debut at the annual Day of the Dead event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Gabriel’s Death Causes Spike in Sales & Streams of His Catalog

Juan Gabriel’s death continues to impact the music charts…

The Mexican singer’s death on August 28 has caused a spike in sales and streams of the his repertoire.

Juan Gabriel

JuanGa’s U.S. album sales jumped to 37,000 in the week ending September 1, up 846 percent from the previous week.

Five of his albums dot Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart (dated September 17), with four in the tally’s top 10. His Los Duo 2 ranks the highest, hopping 5-2 (up 1,412 percent to 9,000 copies). The last album he released in his lifetime (on Aug. 5), Vestido de Etiqueta: Por Eduardo Magallenes, slides 1-3 (despite a 192 percent jump in sales, to 5,000 copies) after crowning the September 3 and September 10-dated charts.

Gabriel becomes only the third act to have five simultaneous top 10s. He joins two other acts who achieved the distinction in death: Selena (who died in 1995) and Joan Sebastian (2015) each had five albums in the top 10 in the weeks following their deaths.

Gabriel, who began his career in the early 1970s, has placed a total of 32 albums on the chart (since it began in 1993).

He concurrently holds the top nine spots on the Latin Catalog Albums chart (led by his former Top Latin Albums No. 1, Mis Numero 1 … 40 Aniversario, 9,000 copies — up 1,370 percent). At No. 2, his 2014 set Los Duo, which finished as the top Latin album of the year on Billboard’s 2015 year-end charts.

Latin Catalog Albums Chart Rank (dated Sept. 17):
Rank, Title
No. 1, Mis Numero 1…40 Aniversario
No. 2, Los Duo
No. 3, Mis 40 En Bellas Artes (Parte 1)
No. 4, Mis 40 En Bellas Artes
No. 5, Los Gabriel…Cantan A Mexico (with Ana Gabriel)
No. 6, La Historia Del Divo
No. 7, Frente a Frente (with Ana Gabriel)
No. 8, Mis 40 En Bellas Artes (Parte 2)
No. 9, Los Gabriel…Para Ti (with Ana Gabriel)

On the Hot Latin Songs chart, which blends airplay, sales and streaming, 10 Gabriel tracks make the list. Only Sebastian has placed more songs on the chart at the same time, when he held 11 spots after his death (Aug. 1, 2015 chart).

Gabriel’s classic 1984 track “Querida” leads the entries at No. 4. It’s his highest charting song since 2001’s “Abrazame Muy Fuerte” reached No. 1. The Hot Latin Songs chart launched 30 years ago, and Gabriel’s “Yo No Se Que Me Paso” was the first No. 1 on the inaugural chart (Oct. 4, 1986). The posthumous entries give Gabriel a total of 36 career-charting songs on the list, with 20 having reached the top 10 (and seven No. 1s).

All of Gabriel’s tracks that debut or re-enter on Hot Latin Songs are powered primarily by streams. “Querida” leads with 2.4 million domestic plays during the week, while “Asi Fue” and “Hasta Que Te Conoci” follow with nearly 2 million streams each. Gabriel’s total on-demand audio and video streams increase 1,099 percent, to 52.9 million weekly U.S. plays.

Increased digital sales spur 21 Gabriel songs onto the 50-position Latin Digital Songs chart, the second-most simultaneous songs on the chart after Jenni Rivera placed 24 charting titles following her death in 2012.

“Querida” fronts the debuts, arriving at No. 4 (4,000 downloads). Overall digital song sales for Gabriel increased 3,045 percent, to 54,000 downloads, in the most recent week.

Rivera Biopic & Television Projects in the Works

Jenni Rivera’s legacy lives on…

Television projects and a biopic based on the life of the late Mexican-American singer, known as la Diva de la Banda, are currently in the works, her estate has announced.

Jenni Rivera

The projects are in early development and details will be announced later, but they include a music-based television series focused on the lives and stories of the Rivera family as a musical dynasty.

Rivera was one of the most successful regional Mexican musical artists of all time, selling more than 20 million records during her 20-year career.

She died in a 2012 plane crash in northern Mexico, in the midst of filming the third season of mun2 docu-reality series I Love Jenni, in which she starred. She also had just closed a deal to topline her own sitcom for ABC, Jenni.

Rivera’s estate includes several businesses, as well as a foundation named for the late singer that helps women and children facing abuse, and other charity endeavors.

Jenni Rivera’s Sister, Rosie, to Release Book Entitled “Mis Pedazos Rotos”

There’s another Jenni Rivera-inspired book headed to a bookstore near you…

Rosie Rivera, the youngest sister of the late Mexican American singer, has written a book entitled Mis Pedazos Rotos.

Rosie Rivera Book Mis Pedazos Rotos

The book will go on sale on February 2, 2016, on Celebra, the Penguin imprint that has published memoirs by major Latin names, including Jennifer LopezRicky Martin and Emilio Estefan.

The bio’s tag line reads: “Healing scars from sexual abuse through faith, family and love.”

The youngest in the Rivera family, Rosie Rivera was thrust into the spotlight after the death in a plane crash of her famous older sister Jenni in 2012. Beloved by Jenni, Rosie was left in charge of her sister’s estate and her children.

But even prior to her older sister’s death, Rosie had spoken often of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child and of how she had survived and gone beyond the horrors.

Mis Pedazos Rotos marks the first time she tells the story in book form.

“Today, as I unveil the cover of my book, is the beginning of bringing a dream to life,” said Rivera in a statement “It’s a mission that began in my sister’s heart 18 years ago. When I told Jenni about being sexually abused, she planted a seed in my heart: ‘Sister, you have to write a book about your life to help other abused girls.’ At the time, I thought she was crazy….But she saw beyond the pain and the broken pieces. She saw Victory. Sister, the seed is bearing fruit. Thanks for motivating me to fight battles. It’s our victory. High freakin five sister!!!”

Rosie Rivera’s memoir will be the latest in a string of books attached to Jenni Rivera.

Following her death Billboard writer Leila Cobo published a biography titled Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Story of a Warrior Butterfly, on Penguin.  Then came Rivera’s own memoir, Unbreakable, which she had written prior to her death and which became a New York Times bestseller.

Earlier this year, her daughter, Chiquis Rivera, published a memoir titled Forgiveness. And in October, Atria (which also published Unbreakable) put out Jenni Vive: Unforgettable, Baby!, a collection of never-before-seen photos and previously unpublished pages from Rivera’s journal.

New Rivera Book of Never-Before-Seen Photos and Previously Unpublished Journal Entries Released This Week

She may be gone, but Jenni Rivera’s legacy lives on…

The late Mexican-American singer, who died in a plane crash nearly three years ago at the age of 43, is the subject of a new book coming out on Tuesday (October 27) via Atria Books.

Jenni Rivera

Entitled Jenni Vive: Unforgettable, Baby! after one of her beloved songs (“Inolvidable”) and edited by the Jenni Rivera Estate, the book is a collection of never-before-seen photos and previously unpublished pages from La Diva de la Banda’s journal.

The book opens with a heartfelt letter from her mother, Rosa, which sets the tone for this moving tribute to the Mexican superstar’s life.

Jenni Rivera Book

Rivera’s family members personally compiled some of her most treasured keepsakes — childhood pictures, handwritten notes to her children — as well as fan and celebrity remembrances to offer an intimate look at the idol.

The journal excerpts are meant to give insight into the inspirational figure behind the diva, who persevered in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

 

Rivera’s official memoir, Unbreakable, released in 2013, was a New York Times bestseller.

Becky G Releases “We Are Mexico” In Response to Donald Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Remarks

Becky G is celebrating her roots while taking a stand against Donald Trump

The 18-year-old Mexican-American star has joined the growing list of Latino artists/celebrities standing in solidarity with Mexicans in response to Donald Trump’s recent anti-immigrant remarks.

Becky G

Becky G debuted a new track titled “We Are Mexico” on, saying she was moved by the fact that the song’s title was trending on Twitter.

#WeAreMexico‪ just started trending. I’m honestly almost in tears. This song means so much to me. It’s for us,” tweeted Becky G to her followers, later adding, “When I say us I don’t just mean the Latin community. I did this for everyone who came to this country for a better life.”

“Hard work, double time, overtime, two jobs, working till our heads hurt, but we ain’t never late to pay the bills,” sings Becky G, whose grandparents came from Mexico and settled in southern California. “Mother said, ‘Always follow your heart, make sure you keep your head above the water,’ and I promised her I always will.”

The track will be included in her forthcoming album, due later this year.

Up next, Becky will perform at a tribute concert in Long Beach, California, on July 2 honoring the late Jenni Rivera.

And starting this fall, she’ll embark on a tour with J Balvin, who also became a target in Trump’s Latin lash-out, after canceling his performance in the upcoming Miss USA pageant (an event tied to the Trump Organization).

 

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Santos Breaks His Own Record on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Romeo Santos is breaking his own records…

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer, Bachata’s reigning star, debuts two Formula, Vol. 2 album cuts on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, growing his number of simultaneous tracks on the list to eight — breaking his own record.

Romeo Santos

No other act has earned more than five concurrent songs on the list. It’s a four-way tie for those who have: Jenni Rivera, Pitbull, Wisin & Yandel and Daddy Yankee all claimed that feat. Santos’ “Amigo” and “Inocente” debut (at No. 49 and 48, respectively), while “7 Dias” re-enters at No. 42.

Meanwhile “Hilito” leaps 49-37 in its fifth week, and recently announced single “Yo Tambien,” featuring Marc Anthony, comes back at No. 11.

The remaining three tracks continue their runs in the top 10: “Propuesta Indecente” (No. 3), “Eres Mia” (No. 4), and “Odio” featuring Drake (No. 7) have all remained in the top 10 together since June 2014.

All eight tracks saw gains, mostly with streaming, specifically on Spotify and YouTube. The largest streaming increase goes to “Inocente,” which rises 77 percent to 295,000 weekly U.S. streams. “Propuesta Indecente” logs the most clicks, rising four percent to 1.5 million.