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.

Ángela Aguilar to Perform at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Ángela Aguilar is preparing for her Billboard moment…

The 18-year-old Mexican-American singer-songwriter will perform at the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards, set to take place on Thursday, September 29.

Ángela AguilarAguilar is part of a roster of recently added performers that includes Alejandra Guzmán, Calibre 50Elvis CrespoFarrukoLos Ángeles AzulesOzuna and Piso 21.

Billboard and Telemundo announced on Tuesday (Sept. 6) the second round of performers who will take the stage at Miami’s Watsco Center.

The new list of acts join an already star-studded lineup that includes Camilo, Carlos Vives, Chayanne, CNCO, Eslabon Armado, Grupo Firme, Maluma, Pablo López, Pepe Aguilar, Raphael and Tini.

Bad Bunny leads the list of finalists for the 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards, with 23 nods across 13 categories. He is up for artist of the year, tour of the year, Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, male, and top Latin album of the year for his album Un Verano Sin Ti, which has logged nine nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for album of the year at the recent MTV Video Music Awards. Bad Bunny won artist of the year — the first time a Latin artist has been in a marquee category at that show.

Following Bad Bunny is Colombian star Karol G with 15 entries in 11 categories — a record number of nods for a female artist. Karol’s categories include artist of the year and Hot Latin Songs artist of the year, female, as well as Hot Latin Song of the year, vocal event, for her Becky G collab “MAMIII.”

The 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards, the longest-running awards show in Latin music, will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET on September 29, preceded by a one-hour red carpet special.

The awards will broadcast simultaneously on Spanish entertainment cable network Universo, throughout Latin America and the Caribbean on Telemundo Internacional, the Telemundo App and on Peacock.

J Balvin Returns to Longtime Agency William Morris Endeavor

J Balvin is back with a familiar team…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer, known as the Prince of Reggaeton, has returned to his longtime agency William Morris Endeavor (WME).

J BalvinThe move follows a short stint with United Talent Agency (UTA) that started in May. No reason was given for his departure from or return to WME.

Balvin left WME for UTA in May after postponing his 25-date José tour. The move was surprising considering Balvin’s long and storied history with the agency. WME began booking Balvin when he still an emerging artist, and the agency played an integral role in his global touring and branding, securing early placements for him in major festivals. 

UTA never formally announced its deal with Balvin, but the agency has been growing its Latin roster and currently represents several high-profile Latin stars. Bad Bunny, Balvin’s Universal Music labelmate Karol G and Brazilian powerhouse Anitta are all currently on UTA’s roster.

Balvin has grossed more than $20 million and sold over 300,000 tickets, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All six of the Colombian star’s full-length studio albums — including the collaborative Oasis album with Bad Bunny — have reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, with four of them hitting No. 1. He’s charted 93 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including 35 top 10s and nine No. 1s. In every year from 2014 through 2021, he’s finished as one of the year’s top 10 artists on Billboard’s annual year-end Top Latin Artists chart.

Other WME Latin acts include Nicky JamJuanesOzuna and Shakira.

Balvin continues to be managed by longtime manager Fabio Acosta along with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects.

Ozuna Teams Up with Gims to Release FIFA World Cup Track “Arhbo”

Ozuna is sending out a World Cup welcome

In a countdown to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the 30-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican singer and rapper has joined voices with French-Congolese rapper Gims to release the new track “Arhbo,” part of the official soundtrack.

OzunaThe feel-good track is named after the local slang word for “welcome” in Qatar and “perfectly embodies the welcoming spirit of the Arabian country.

“I think ‘Bienvenidos’, ‘welcome home’ says it all,” Ozuna said in a press statement. “Whatever journey everyone was on, it brought them here, to this moment, and for that moment they are home. They say that ‘home is where the heart is, right? El hogar está donde está el corazón. For all the people who are coming, and all the people who, with all their hearts, want to come, we are saying, ‘bienvenidos’, welcome home!”

Ozuna Teams Up with Tokischa to Release Equality Single “Somos Iguales”

Ozuna is celebrating equality with a special guest…

The 30year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper has joined voices with Tokischa to release the new single for “Somos Iguales,” as well as the track’s music video.

Ozuna & Tokischa Ozuna and Tokischa met for the first time last year at an afterparty in the Dominican Republic and “we instantly clicked,” the urban artist said during an Instagram Live interview with Billboard Latin.

That great chemistry is now cemented on the new single, which features party-starting rhythms while sending a message of equality and inclusion.

“On the dance floor anything goes; here we are all the same,” says part of the lyric.

“I wanted to generalize that we are all the same,” Ozuna notes. “Things are not as complicated as before. There are many open-minded people nowadays.”

“Somos Iguales,” produced by DJ Luian, Mambo Kingz, Jowny and Hydro, is a and reggaeton dembow fusion that Ozuna has been working on for two years, even before he met Tokischa. He explains he was challenged with the song’s concept but immediately connected with the track when Tokischa sent her verse.

“Her project is fresh and something totally new for the music industry,” he explains.

“In person, she’s very smart, respectful, chill and creative.”

The track also samples the 1993 reggae dancehallRich Girl” by British duo Louchie Lou and Michie One. “This song is so special for me because it samples a very iconic track that forms part of our childhood,” Tokischa says.

The music video, helmed by Venezuelan director Nuno Gomes, brings the lyrics to life, showing the two artists breaking into a room where a meeting with leaders of different nations is held. In the end, the leaders, law enforcement and artists all end up dancing to the same rhythm.

Currently, each artist is ready to kick off their individual tours. Ozuna’s trek starts September 30 in New York, and Toki plans to visit fans in Mexico and return to the U.S. after her successful debut Popola Tour.

“It felt nice,” she expresses of touring outside of her country for the first time. “I missed my house, my family and food, but I loved connecting with so many people, especially the Dominican who’s chasing a dream in another country. It was a beautiful experience.”

 

Bad Bunny’s “Moscow Mule” Soars to No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

Bad Bunny has racked up another chart-topper…

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer returns to the summit on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Moscow Mule” soars 11-1 on the July 30-dated chart.

Bad Bunny

It’s the 17th champ for Bad Bunny, who first secured a No. 1 in February 2018.

“Moscow Mule” rallies to the top of the all-genre Latin chart in its 11th week with a 49% gain in audience impressions, to 9.9 million, earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 24, according to Luminate.

The song’s growth makes it the chart’s Greatest Gainer.

Some of the greatest radio supporters of “Moscow Mule” during the July 18-24 tracking week were in New York and Philadelphia, leading with New York’s WSKQ (2 million impressions, up 50%) and WXNY (1.3 million, up 49%) and Philadelphia’s WHAT (749,000, a 43% gain).

As “Moscow Mule” takes over Latin Airplay, the previous champ, Wisin and Camilo’s “Buenos Días,” vacates the top spot after a one-week reign, with a 34% decline in audience impressions, falling 1-13. It’s the second-largest positional fall from No. 1 in 2022 after “SG,” by the all-star team of DJ Snake, Ozuna, Lisa and Megan Thee Stallion, which dipped 1-16 on the April 19-dated ranking.

With his 17th No. 1 on Latin Airplay, Bad Bunny ties Ricky Martin for the eighth-most No. 1s since the chart’s launch in 1994.

Here’s a look at the scoreboard:

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

“Moscow” cracks the Latin Airplay No. 1 spot eight months after Bad Bunny captured his last champ, “Volví,” with Aventura, a one-week ruler in October 2021. The song also topped Tropical Airplay for 13 weeks and has ranked in the top 10 within its 51-week run (and counting).

In line with its Latin Airplay coronation, “Moscow Mule” powers to No. 1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay, also Bad Bunny’s 17th win there.

The song previously ruled Hot Latin Songs and Latin Streaming Songs for one week on the May 21-dated survey.

Elsewhere, “Moscow Muke” is back in the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a 27-25 lift, after its No. 4 debut and peak, also on May 21.

Ozuna Signs with William Morris Endeavor (WME)

Ozuna has new representation…

William Morris Endeavor (WME) has signed the 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer and rapper in all areas.

Ozuna“I am excited to collaborate with many of the top agents at WME to further connect with my incredible fans in inventive ways and continue to bring my culture to the masses,” the Puerto Rican singer born Juan Carlos Ozuna Rosado said in a statement. “As an artist, I want to expand my brand and develop new and exciting opportunities together in all aspects of entertainment.”

His WME signing comes on the heels of the announcement of his 2022 global tour Ozutochi, which kicks off June 30 in Seville, Spain, and will make its way across Europe and the U.S. before wrapping on December 9 at the FTX Arena in Miami.

Ozuna kicked off 2022 with his Christina Aguilera duet, “Santo,” and dropped a trio of singles over the past few months, including “Deprimida,” “G-Wagon” and “Apretatio.”

Most recently, he released “Ceremonia,” which will appear in the upcoming HBO Max remake of Father of the Bride.

The artist is also working on his fifth studio album, which will follow his sets Odisea, Aura, ENOC, and Nibiru, all of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. Additionally, he’s placed over 100 entries in Hot Latin Songs, including five No. 1 hits: “Te Bote,” “Taki Taki,” “Otro Trago,” “China,” and “Mamacita.”

Pabllo Vittar Added to LETSGETFR.EE Festival Lineup

Pabllo Vittar’s schedule is FREEing up…

The 28-year-old Brazilian drag queen and singer has been added to the lineup for this summer’s LETSGETFR.EE festival.

Pabllo Vittar Vittar is among a list of lineup newcomers that includes Tokischa, DJ Camilo and more.

They join the previously announced Missy Elliott, El Alfa, Ozuna, Kali Uchis and Bomba Estereo, to name a few.

The two-day event, taking place on August 20-21 in Queens, N.Y., is designed for and by Black, Brown, Asian/Pacific Islander and LGBTQIA+ individuals, and according to a press statement, “Its mission is to close the equity gap for Black, Brown, Asian, and other underrepresented people in the entertainment industry, with the aim of achieving a diversified workforce across all levels in the industry by 2030.”

For more information, click here.

Ozuna Earns 28th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Deprimida”

There’s no reason for Ozuna to be deprimido

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican singer collects his 28th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart as “Deprimida” rises 7-1 on the June 4-dated ranking.

OzunaThe song ascends from No. 7 in its 13th week due to a 50% increase in audience impressions earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 29, according to Luminate.

The 50% gain, which equates to 9.9 million in audience impressions, earns “Deprimida” the Greatest Gainer honors of the week, and sends Becky G and Karol G’s “Mamiii” to No. 2 after its second nonconsecutive week at the summit.

“Deprimida’s” top three stations, by audience, in the tracking week were in New York: WSKQ leads with 155,000 in audience impressions, followed by WXNY (827,000) and WPAT (595,000).

With 28 leaders on his Latin Airplay account, Ozuna extends his third-most ranking among all acts since the chart launched in 1994, standing only behind J Balvin’s 35 No. 1s and Enrique Iglesias’ 32 leaders.

Here’s the recap of the scoreboard mainly dominated by Latin rhythmic acts:

35, J Balvin
32, Enrique Iglesias
28, Ozuna
25, Daddy Yankee
21, Maluma
20, Wisin
19, Romeo Santos

“Deprimida” is the first single from Ozuna’s upcoming sixth studio album Ozutuchi. He has placed a total of five studio sets on the Top Latin Albums chart, all which have debuted in the penthouse, dating back to his 46-week champ Odisea in 2017.

Beyond its victory on the Latin Airplay chart, “Deprimida” concurrently ascends 4-1 on Latin Rhythm Airplay. 

It gives Ozuna his 27th leader there, also the third-most trailing J Balvin’s 34 No. 1s and Daddy Yankee’s 32.

Thanks to its radio push, the song re-enters at No. 43 on the all-metric Hot Latin Songs chart (it previously peaked at No. 34 peak on the March 12-dated recap).

J Balvin & Ed Sheeran’s “Sigue” Replaces Their “Forever My Love” at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart

It’s a special follow-up for J Balvin

The 36-year-old Colombian singer and rapper’s Ed Sheeran-collaboration “Sigue” has replaced the pair’s other single, “Forever My Love,” at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart dated April 16.

J Balvin“Forever My Love” rose to the No. 1 spot on last week’s April 9-dated Latin Airplay chart and falls to No. 4 on the latest ranking, making room for Balvin and Sheeran’s other collaboration, “Sigue,” to take over at No. 1.

The song leads with 8.1 million all-format radio airplay audience impressions earned in the April 1-7 tracking week, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.

The last act to replace themselves at No. 1 on Latin Airplay with a new song was Farruko.

He led the October 2, 2021-dated chart as a featured act on Enrique Iglesias’ “Me Pase” and then succeeded himself with his solo smash “Pepas.”

“Sigue” earns Balvin his record-extending 35th career No. 1 on the chart, and Sheeran his second.

Of Balvin’s 35 No. 1s, “Sigue” is his third of 2022, following “Una Nota” in January and “Forever My Love” last week.

He tallied five No. 1s in 2021 and nine in 2020 (his personal best).

The only other acts with multiple Latin Airplay No. 1s in 2022 are Jhay Cortez, Karol G and Ozuna, with two apiece.

Here’s an updated look at the acts with the most Latin Airplay No. 1s in the chart’s 27-year history:

35, J Balvin
32, Enrique Iglesias
27, Ozuna
25, Daddy Yankee
21, Maluma
20, Wisin
19, Romeo Santos