Shakira to Receive Video Vanguard Award at This Year’s MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is being celebrated for leading the way…

The 46-year-old Colombian superstar singer-songwriter will receive the Video Vanguard Award at MTV‘s 2023 Video Music Awards on September 12, becoming the first South American artist to earn the award.

Shakira will accept the award and perform at the ceremony for the first time since 2006.

The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer is a four-time VMA winner and 30-time nominee.

She won her first VMA — the award for International Viewer’s Choice — Latin America (North) — in 2000 for “Ojos Así.” She snagged the same award in 2002 for “Whenever, Wherever/Suerte” and also scooped up the trophy for Best Choreography in a Video for 2006’s “Hips Don’t Lie” as well as Most Earth-Shattering Collaboration for 2007’s “Beautiful Liar” with Beyoncé.

Shakira has also earned three Grammys and 12 Latin Grammys in her career.

The Video Vanguard Award, named after Michael Jackson, went to Nicki Minaj last year. Previous winners include Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West, David Bowie, Madonna and Rihanna. The Beatles and A Hard Day’s Night director Richard Lester won the award at the first VMAs in 1984.

Shakira is nominated for four VMAs this year: Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Latin for “TQG” with Karol G, and Best Latin for “Acróstico.”

Earlier this year, her hit collaboration with Bizarrap, “Music Sessions Vol. 53,” set a number of streaming records on Spotify and YouTube.

Shakira first performed at the VMAs in 2002 with her rendition of “Objection (Tango),” and was the first artist to perform a song entirely in Spanish at the ceremony alongside Alejandro Sanz when they sang “La Tortura” in 2005.

Taylor Swift leads this year’s VMA nominations with eight, while SZA comes in second with six nominations. Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith, Olivia Rodrigo and Kim Petras each have five nominations, and Blackpink and Diddy tie Shakira’s four. Demi Lovato, Karol G, Måneskin, and Stray Kids are confirmed to perform at the ceremony, with MTV announcing more performers soon.

Alejandro Sanz Shares Track List for New Album, El Disco

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Sanzis joining voices with some of music’s biggest stars for his next album…

The 50-year-old Spanish singer‘s new album El Disco is almost out, and Sanz is giving his fans a sneak peek.

The “La Tortura” singer has posted the new project’s track list on his social media accounts.

Sanz’s El Disco, his 13th studio album, includes 10 tracks — four of which are collaborations with the likes of Camila Cabello, Nicky Jam, Residente and Judit Neddermann.

“I hope everyone likes it when it comes out, but it’s launching in no time,” Sanz previously told Billboard about the album.

On social media, Sanz also shared behind-the-scenes clips and the photo session for the cover art.

View this post on Instagram

Te he imaginado tantas veces…que llegas y me sorprendes. #ELDISCO @camila_cabello @nickyjampr @juditneddermann @residente

A post shared by Alejandro Sanz (@alejandrosanz) on Mar 19, 2019 at 10:29am PDT

El Disco will be released on April 5.

Iglesias Earns Record-Extending 29th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Iglesias is extending his chart reign…

The 41-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter’s latest single “Subeme La Radio,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Zion & Lennox, steps 2-1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart (dated April 15).

The track rises 4 percent to 21.5 million audience impressions (in the week ending April 2, according to Nielsen Music), extending Iglesias’ record for the most No. 1s ever on the 22-year-old list to 29.

Iglesias holds a large lead, with 13 more chart-topping hits than Ricky Martin, who is in second place with 16.

Iglesias first topped the chart in 1995 when “Si Tu Te Vas” spent eight weeks at No. 1.

Iglesias not only holds the most No. 1s on the Latin Airplay chart, he has also spent the most weeks at the top of the chart: 159 weeks. Seven of his songs have exceeded 10 weeks at No. 1.

Only one other act has had multiple songs spend 10 or more weeks at No. 1: Juanes, who notched two long-running chart leaders with “Me Enamora” (20 weeks in 2007) and “Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor” (12 weeks in 2004).

Iglesias’ longest-running chart-topper, “Bailando,” featuring Bueno and Gente de Zona, led the list for 20 weeks. (Shakira holds the record for longest-running No. 1, 25 weeks, earned in 2005 with “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz).

Artists with the most weeks at No. 1 on Latin Airplay:
Artist, Total weeks at No. 1

Enrique Iglesias, 159
Shakira, 63
Juanes, 56
Marc Anthony, 45
Ricky Martin, 44
Romeo Santos, 42
Don Omar, 40

Over on the multi-metric Hot Latin Songs chart, “Subeme” rises 4-3, aided in part by a 4 percent increase in streams, to 3.2 million — its best streaming week yet. The single became Iglesias’ 40th career hit on the chart when it debuted at No. 3 on the March 18-dated ranking.

Shakira’s “Chantaje,” feat. Maluma, Matches the Run of “Hips Don’t Lie” on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is still blackmailing her way to the top of the charts…

The 39-year-old Colombian superstar rules the roost on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart (dated January 21) for an eighth (nonconsecutive) week with “Chantaje,” featuring Maluma, matching the amount of weeks she spent atop the chart with her 2006 smash “Hips Don’t Lie,” featuring Wyclef Jean.

Both tracks are now tied for her second-longest command of the chart; the Colombian star’s “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz, spent 25 weeks at the top beginning in June 2005.

Meanwhile, “Chantaje,” which translates to blackmail in English, jumps 65-51 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, reaching a new peak in its eighth charting week. Apart from “Tortura,” which peaked at No. 23, “Chantaje” marks Shakira’s best Hot 100 showing for a Spanish-language song that doesn’t have an accompanying English version.

A gain in streaming for the song supports its rank on both charts. The track logged 6.1 million streams during the week ending January 5, according to Nielsen Music, an 18 percent increase. It concurrently debuts at No. 47 on the Streaming Songs chart, which ranks weekly U.S. streaming data across all genres, marking Shakira’s fourth time on the four-year-old chart, and the first with a Spanish-language song.

Of the song’s total domestic weekly streams, 62 percent stem from YouTube, where its official video has reached 395 million global views to date. Meanwhile, “Chantaje” spends a fourth week at No. 1 on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart, despite a 4 percent dip in sales (to 5,000 downloads; most titles dropped in sales in the tracking week, following Christmas-week shopping the week before).

For nine years (2005-14), “La Tortura” held the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs. It wasn’t until Enrique Iglesias‘ global hit “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, ran up 41 frames at No. 1 (through February 2015), dethroning “Hips Don’t Lie.” Since then, Nicky Jam and Iglesias also surpassed the reign of “Hips,” when their collaborative “El Perdon” tallied 30 weeks at No. 1 in March-October 2015.

Shakira is currently working on her 11th studio album, her first full-length Spanish release since 2010’s Sale el Sol.

Shakira Launches New Fragrance Called Dance

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira’s latest fragrance will make you Dance…

The 39-year-old Colombia singer’s new scent, Dance, comes in a shapely anthropomorphic bottle that mimics the curves of the “Hips Don’t Lie” singer’s own figure.

Shakira debuted a new spot to promote the eu de toilette via Twitter.

In the commercial, the “La Tortura” singer belly dances alone on an oceanside dock, smiling and beckoning to viewers while her song “Addicted to You” plays.

“Make your body speak for you when you want to say something important,” says the advertising copy describing the fragrance on the Shakira Beauty website. “When you wish to express your emotions with more freedom. Dance is the party for the senses that you have been waiting for. Are you going to miss out?”

Dance is manufactured and marketed by the Spanish fashion and fragrance giant Puig. The company’s Shakira line also features five other fragrances designed to capture Shakira’s different moods, including one called Rock!, and Wild Elixir, billed as “the scent of adventure.”

Shakira Among Finalists for This Year’s Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is known for her stellar songwriting… And, it could soon land her in the annals of history.

The 39-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter appears on the list of nominees in the performers (singer/songwriters) category to the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame 2016.

Shakira, who penned several of her hit singles, including “Inevitable,” “She Wolf,” and “Whenever, Wherever,” joins a list that includes fellow performers Juanes, Marco Antonio Solis and Draco Rosa.

Shakira won the Latin Grammy for Song of the Year in 2006 for her massive international hit “La Tortura.”

Non-performer (composers) finalists include Kike Santander, Carlos Lara, Chico Navarro and Alejandro Jean.

The final list of artists and composers chosen to be inducted into the LSHOF will be announced at the 2016 Latin Billboard Music Conference taking place in April.

The selected six winners will then be inducted into the esteemed hall during the fourth annual La Musa Awards at the Filmore Miami Beach Jackie Gleason Theater on October 13.

Here’s the full list of LSHOF 2016 nominees:

PERFORMERS
Alejandro Lerner (Argentina)
Caetano Veloso (Brazil)
Juanes (Colombia)
Shakira (Colombia)
Chucho Valdés (Cuba)
Joaquín Sabina (España)
José Mara Cano (España)
Marco Antonio Solís (Mexico)
Los Temerarios (Mexico)
Ruben Blades (Panama)
Draco Rosa (Puerto Rico)
Vico C (Puerto Rico)

NON-PERFORMING
Claudia Brant (Argentina)
Chico Novarro (Argentina)
Erasmo Carlos (Brazil)
Kike Santander (Colombia)
Jorge Luis Piloto (Cuba)
Alejandro Jaen (España)
Jose Enrique (Chelique) Sarabia (Venezuela)
Carlos Lara (Mexico)
Miguel Luna (Mexico)
Cheo Zorrilla (República Dominicana)
Luis Fernando Ochoa (USA)
K.C Porter (USA)

The non-profit organization was founded by songwriters/producers Desmond Child and Rudy Perez in 2012 to celebrate and honor Latin music creators.

J Balvin’s ‘Ginza’ Makes History on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

J Balvin makes Billboard chart history…

The 30-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer spends a 21st consecutive week at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart with “Ginza.”

With its latest frame at the top of the charts, the song makes history as the longest-leading No. 1 by a single act, unaccompanied by another.

“It’s amazing how dreams are limitless, and how discipline, along with good music, can bring you to live the unimaginable,” said Balvin in an interview with Billboard.

“Ginza” passes three other 20-week No. 1s by acts unaccompanied by other artists: Flex‘s “Te Quiero” (2008), Juanes‘ “Me Enamora” (2007-08) and Son by Four‘s “A Puro Dolor” (2000).

Overall, “Ginza” is the fourth-longest-leading No. 1 in Hot Latin Songs history (which dates to 1986) but rules as the only non-collaborative track to spend as many as 21 weeks atop the tally (which shifted from solely airplay audience measurement to a blend of airplay, sales, and streaming in October 2012). Enrique Iglesias leads with 41 weeks at No. 1 with “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona (2014-15), followed by Nicky Jam and Iglesias’ “El Perdon” (31 weeks, 2015) and Shakira‘s “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz (25 weeks, 2005).

Sustained streaming has helped to keep “Ginza” atop Hot Latin Songs, with 1.9 million U.S. streams logged in the week ending Feb. 18, according to Nielsen Music (an 8 percent hike), lifting it to No. 1 on Latin Streaming Songs for the first time. YouTube and Vevo on YouTube views account for 58 percent of overall clicks, including views stemming from the official music video (which has amassed more than 420 million worldwide streams since its July 2015 premiere). At its height, “Ginza” was streamed 2.4 million times in the U.S. during a single tracking week (reflected in the Oct. 31, 2015 chart week).

The reign of “Ginza” is also propelled by continued airplay on Latin stations, as it steps 3-2 on Latin Airplay with 12 million audience impressions in the tracking week. It previously dominated for 12 weeks on the airplay chart, peaking in September. Meanwhile, downloads of the song are up 14 percent to 3,000 downloads, earning it the No. 3 spot on Latin Digital Songs (following its No. 2 peak on the chart). The track has sold 153,000 downloads to date.

Balvin debuted the reggaeton track via a live performance on Univision‘s Premios Juventud awards show July 17, 2015, and it rose to No. 1 on Hot Latin Songs (in its 11th chart week) Oct. 17. “Ginza” is his second No. 1 on the chart, following a week atop the ranking with “Ay Vamos” earlier in the year (March 7).

Nicky Jam’s “El Perdon” Spends 26th Consecutive Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no doubt Nicky Jam’s latest single is a smash hit… But it’s now thisclose to making history.

The 34-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican American singer’s collaboration with Enrique Iglesias’ “El Perdon” is now the second-longest-running No. 1 in the 29-year history of Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, spending a 26th consecutive week at No. 1.

“I don’t believe it yet. It’s hard to digest,” Nicky Jam tells Billboard.

The track shot to No. 1 in only five weeks, after debuting at No. 50 on the chart dated Feb. 21. A music video, released in conjunction with the YouTube Music Awards (March 23), has garnered more than 229 million global views on YouTube. In addition, a lyric video on Jam’s YouTube channel has amassed 325 million views.

The 26th week at No. 1 trails only Iglesias’ own “Bailando,” featuring Descemer Bueno and Gente de Zona, which shattered the record for most weeks at the top, when it spent 41 consecutive weeks at No. 1 (on the charts dated May 17, 2014, through Feb. 14, 2015). “El Perdon” surpasses Shakira’s 25-week No. 1 run with “La Tortura,” featuring Alejandro Sanz, attained in 2005.

Seemingly unaware of the track’s reach, a humble Nicky Jam says, “My manager scolds me because he said that I don’t know how big I am, and that maybe that’s the key.” He adds, “I try not to think about the success, because it’s pressure to continue making music. If I write songs trying to top other songs, it’s a lot of pressure.”

While Nicky Jam had his first three Hot Latin Songs-charted tracks between 2005 and 2008, “El Perdon” is his breakout international smash and follows a six-year chart hiatus. His return to the chart came in 2014 with “Travesuras,” also a sizable hit, reaching No. 4 on the list (Dec. 27).

An English version of the track, “El Perdon (Forgiveness),” has given the song extra legs in recent weeks — helping the crossover hit to scale the Billboard Hot 100. On the Sept. 12-dated chart, it hops 72-68 in its 23rd week (nearing its No. 66 peak). A music video for the new version was released Sept. 1 via a live stream at YouTube Space NYC, hosted by BuzzFeed Espanol. The clip was uploaded to Nicky Jam’s YouTube channel immediately following the broadcast.

The song’s 26th crowning week on the hybrid chart (which measures radio, sales, and streaming of the Spanish version only) is supported mostly by streams, accounting for 56 percent of total points contributing to its rank. It racked up 2.5 million U.S. clicks during the week ending Aug. 28, (up 6 percent, according to Nielsen Music), with the Spanish version receiving 89 percent of total clicks.

Any bumps in sales and streaming for “Forgiveness” are expected to impact the Hot 100 rank on the Sept. 19-dated charts.

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

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

Shakira Receives France’s Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters Award

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek isn’t the only Latina celebrity being honored by the French government… Shakira has received one of the highest honors bestowed upon artists and musicians in France.

The 34-year-old Colombian superstar was decorated as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters this past weekend during a special musical even in Cannes, France.

Accompanied by her parents, Shakira said she was “happy” to receive “one of the highest honors in arts and letters, since it comes from a country like France, which has such an important cultural heritage.”

“This moment has made me feel the most honored in my career,” the “La Tortura” singer said in a statement.

French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand was on hand to present Shakira with the award. Amid cheering from the audience, he pinned the medal on her as a “symbol of culture at a planetary level,” and said that thanks to her “generosity and charm” she lets people share her “joy.”

Mitterrand compared Shakira to other Latin stars like Gloria Estefan and Jennifer Lopez, and saluted “her combination of voice, Latin style, determination and a passionate femininity.”

Shakira answered France’s gesture by speaking in French about the “special connection” she feels with the country, to the extent that her heart “is also French.”

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