Jesús López to Receive Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award at the La Musa Awards

Jesús López has a pioneering spirit…

The chairman and CEO of Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula will receive the Desi Arnaz PioneerAward at the seventh annual La Musa Awards from the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

López, who is responsible for Universal Music Groupoperations in all Spanish and Portuguese-speaking territories of the world, will receive the recognition for his many contributions throughout his professional career. 

The Desi Arnaz Pioneer Award was created by the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in honor of the early television visionary, songwriter and entertainer, who developed the iconic comedy show I Love Lucy, which he produced and starred in with his wife, Lucille Ball.

For more than four decades, López has worked with some of the greatest artists in Latin music, including Juan Luis GuerraJuanesJosé Luis PeralesJoan Manuel SerratMecano and Juan Gabriel. Most recently, he has launched the careers of Karol Gand Sebastian Yatra, among many of a new generation of acts. Lopez was also behind the global hits “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and J Balvin’s “Mi Gente,” which were pivotal in the current explosion of Latin music.

Lopez’s roster of international hits also includes Los del Rio’s “Macarena,” “La Camisa Negra” by Juanes, and “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias featuring Descemer Buenoand Gente de Zona.

Previous recipients of the award include Quincy JonesNat King Coleand Raul Pablo Alarcon Sr

The La Musa Awards ceremony will take place on October 24 at the James L. Knight Centerin Miami. This year’s class of inductees includes Ivy QueenWillie ColónMichael SullivanChico Novarroand Armando Larrinaga.

Daddy Yankee to Perform at Coliseo de Puerto Rico for First Time in 12 Years

Daddy Yankee is preparing for a special homecoming…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper/singer is set to perform his first show in 12 years at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Daddy Yankee

Daddy Yankee’s Con Calma Pal’ Choli concert is set for December 5, the artist announced on social media.

Produced by Rafael Pina, Con Calma Pa’l Choli is part of Yankee’s world tour. 

The ticket pre-sale will start on Tuesday, September 17.

Daddy Yankee, considered a pioneer of reggaeton, is the mastermind behind hits like “Con Calma,” “Dura” and “Despacito” alongside Luis Fonsi. This year, he is one of the top nominees for the Latin AMAs 2019, with five nominations.

Ozuna to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Ozuna will be taking the stage at least once at this year’s Latin AMAs

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton singerhas been confirmed as a performer for the fifth annual Latin American Music Awards, taking place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on October 17, according to Telemundo

Ozuna

In addition to Ozuna, the network also announced that Colombian American artist Kali Uchis will perform.

For the second consecutive year, Ozuna leads the list of nominees for the 2019 Latin American Music Awards with nine nods. He’s followed by Bad Bunny and Romeo Santos with eight nods each; Anuel AA with seven nominations; and Banda MS with five. Daddy YankeeMalumaLuis FonsiSebastian YatraT3R Elemento and Marc Anthony each landed four nominations this year.

Fans can vote for their favorite artist online here.

The 2019 Latin AMAsnominees are based on key fan interactions with music, including sales, streaming and social activity, according to Billboard‘s analysis through their data allies Nielsen Musicand Next Big Sound, covering the period from August 10, 2018, to July 25, 2019. The awards will be broadcast live on Telemundo from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Thursday, October 17 at 8:00 pm ET.

Camila Cabello Earns Second No. 1 on Australian Singles Chart with Shawn Mendes Collab “Señorita”

Camila Cabellois the top Señorita on the charts in Australia…

The 22-year-old Cuban and Mexican singer’s collaboration with Shawn Mendes, “Señorita,” has unseated  Lil Nas X’s monster hit “Old Town Road” as the No. 1 song in Australia.

Camila Cabello & Shawn Mendes

“Señorita” rises to the top of the ARIA Singles Chart after four consecutive weeks at No. 2, giving Cabello her second singles chart-topper following her smash “Havana,” which ruled the survey for three weeks in late 2017. Mendes, meanwhile, has earned his first leader Down Under

With “Señorita” claiming top spot, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (Columbia/Sony) dips 1-2, ending its chart-topping run at 13 weeks, good enough for equal second best of all time alongside Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” and Coolio’sGangsta’s Paradise”. Only Sheeran’s “Shape Of You” has enjoyed a longer streak at the summit, at 15 weeks.

Sebastián Yatra Earns Second Chart-Topper on Billboard Latin Pop Albums Chart

Sebastián Yatra is two-for-two…

The 24-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter’s sophomore album Fantasia debuts atop the Billboard Latin Pop Albums chart dated April 27, following his debut set Mantra to the top of the chart.

Sebastian Yatra

His sophomore set Fantasia launches at No. 1 with 5,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending April 18, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 3,000 were in album sales. Both figures mark the best weeks of his career, in terms of album sales and equivalent album units.

The LP concurrently debuts at No. 5 on the Top Latin Albums chart, his second entry, following the No. 3 debut and peak of Mantra.

Yatra scored his first Latin Pop Albums leader less than a year ago, when his debut set Mantra opened at No. 1 on June 2. The album also opened at No. 3 on Top Latin Albums and even reached the all-encompassing Billboard 200, at No. 192.

Yatra’s Fantasia is just the third album to be No. 1 on Latin Pop Albums in 2019 so far. Selena’s Ones ruled for the first six weeks of the year (of the set’s total 24 weeks at No. 1), followed by Luis FonsiVida for 10 weeks.

Luis Fonsi Releases Video for New Single “Dale La Vuelta,” Featuring Sebastián Yatra & Nicky Jam

Luis Fonsi is turning the beat (and a love interest) around…

The 41-year-old Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and actor has released the official music videofor his new single “Date La Vuelta.” 

Luis Fonsi, Sebastián Yatra, Nicky Jam,

In the clip, Fonsi holds court over a giant party in the desert alongside Sebastián Yatra and Nicky Jam

Fonsi sings on the track’s bouncing chorus while surrounded by a swirl of muscle cars. 

As the sun sets, the party heats up and the scene climaxes into a giant dance party with Yatra jumping over motorcycles and Fonsi smashing an electric guitar against a speaker in revelry.

The collaboration serves as Fonsi’s first follow-up to Vida, his 2019 album that debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart in February.

Ozuna Named Contemporary Latin Songwriter of the Year at BMI Latin Awards with a Record Nine 2018 Hits

Ozunais on Cloud Nine… 

The 27-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton and Latin trap singer/songwriter was named the Contemporary Latin Songwriter of the Year at the 26th annual BMI Latin Awards.

Ozuna

Ozuna was recognizedfor writing a record-breaking nine of the most-performed Latin songs of 2018, including “Ahora Dice,” “Criminal,” “El Farsante,” “Escápate Conmigo,” “La Modelo,” “La Rompe Corazones,” “Se Preparó,” “Te Boté (Remix)” and “Tu Foto.”

Ozuna attended the night’s festivities and took the stage to accept each one of his nine awards.

Legendary Mexican singer/songwriter Mario Quinteroof Los Tucanes de Tijuana received the BMI President’s Award.

Quintero, who has seen the fortunes of his Tucanes de Tijuana ebb and rise through the years, is in the midst of a major resurgence that includes an appearance at Coachella next month. On Tuesday night, his words of appreciation were mostly to his wife.

“I have few opportunities to recognize her,” he said, admitting he was nervous. “My wife. I call her mi cielo (my heaven). Thank you, mi cielo, for giving me the freedom I need. It’s important to say that when your partner gives you too much freedom, you can make mistakes. But when you give your partner the liberty they need to grow, it’s amazing. And it’s reciprocal.”

Producer Sebastian Krys was honored with the BMI Champion Award. Krys was not only honored for his work as a producer (Elvis CostelloAlejandro SanzCarlos Vives, La Santa CeciliaLuis Fonsi and Enrique Iglesias, among many others), but also for his work as a philanthropist through his Los Producersinitiative — which raises money for multiple music education initiatives — asked songwriters to “dig deeper” in a time of short attention spans.

“You create the raw material on which our culture is based,” he said. “Most of our music does not reflect our truth. I challenge each of you to speak from your truth. We cannot allow popular music to become a version of Instagram. Some people say ‘this is what the labels want’ or ‘this is what the platforms want.’ But as Henry Fordsaid, if I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. Be bold, be brave, be real influencers.”

Other winners of the evening included J Balvin, who won Contemporary Latin Song of the Year for “Mi Gente,” and Espinoza Paz, named Regional Mexican Songwriter of the Year for his hits “Ésta Es Tu Canción,” “Las Cosas No Se Hacen Así” and “Ojalá Que Me Olvides.” Omar Robles won Regional Mexican Song of the Year for “El Color de Tus Ojos.” 

Daddy Yankee to Be First-Ever Spanish-Language Performer on “The Late Late Show With James Corden”

Daddy Yankee is bringing Spanish to late night…

The 42-year-old Puerto Rican rapper superstar will perform on The Late Late Show With James Corden.  

Daddy Yankee

In doing so, Daddy Yankee will be the first-ever Spanish-language performer on the show when it airs Wednesday on CBS.

Daddy Yankee will perform his hit single “Con Calma,” featuring Snow, which rose to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart dated March 16.

In 2018, Daddy Yankee earned 10 Guinness World Recordtitles for his achievement as the first Latin artist to reach No. 1 on Spotify, confirmed as of July 9, 2017. He received seven Guinness World Record titles for the success of the global smash hit “Despacito,” performed alongside Luis Fonsi, and two additional titles for topping Billboard‘s Latin Rhythm Airplay chart.

Keira Knightley Performs Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” with Her Teeth

Luis FonsiDaddy Yankee’s “Despacito” has some serious teeth…

During her recent visit to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, actress Keira Knightley performed the 40-year-old Puerto Rican singer and the 42-year-old Puerto Rican rapper’s smash hit song in the most unique way.

Keira Knightley

During her interview with Jimmy Fallon, the actress revealed that she can play any song with her teeth. 

When Fallon asked her to play “Despacito,” Knightley began tapping on her teeth to the beat, followed by impressed cheers from the audience and a standing ovation from the talk show host himself.

Sebastián Yatra to Release New Album “Fantasía” in April

Sebastián Yatra is ready almost ready to live his fantasy

The 24-year-old Colombian singer will release his next album Fantasía on April 12, according to Billboard.

Sebastian Yatra

During the past year, Yatra has been working hard on his new album, which will mark a new musical path for him. 

According to the singer, the 12 songs that are included on Fantasía will remind fans of the magic Latin ballads hold, like the track “Un Año” with Reik.

On March 3, Yatra officially announced his new album on social media, posting the official cover. And now he’s sharing the track list.

Sebastian-Yatra-tracklist-Fantasia

Fantasíais the representation of my heart. I also hope [it] will be [for] the people who firmly believe that love is the most powerful feeling in the world,” Yatra tells Billboard

Before the urban genre took over, singers like Luis FonsiRicky Martin and Luis Miguelused to serenade the world with romantic songs. 

“I hope that with this album, we renew the votes [for] the Latin pop/ballad, a genre that I respect and value immensely and that has marked my life. I know that this album will connect us forever and in 20 years we will sing these songs of love together,” Yatra adds.